Women's Hoops Welcomes Rival Maine on ESPN3 (Jan. 18; 3 p.m.)

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team is primed for rival University of Maine to come into town, for an ESPN3 game at Lundholm Gymnasium on Monday, Jan. 18 (3 p.m.).

UNH Storylines

The Wildcats made 12 of 14 free throws against Stony Brook and upped their foul shot percentage to 74.4 percent, second-best in the league.
Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) made 9 of 10 from the foul line and is at 87.2 percent for the season.
Belanger passed assistant coach Kelsey Hogan (1,181) and moved into the No. 10 spot on the UNH career scoring list at 1,194 points.
Belanger's three steals against Stony Brook upped her team-leading total to 23.
UNH outrebounded Stony Brook, which is the second-best rebounding team in the league, 41-36.
The Wildcats have a two-game, home-stand this week. After Maine, they face UMass Lowell in Lundholm Gymnasium on Thursday at 7 p.m.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senior guard Belanger poured in a career-high 32 points and UNH gave Stony Brook a run before dropping a 63-54 decision on the road on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats slipped to 6-10 overall and 0-3 in America East with their eighth straight loss.

Belanger also collected nine rebounds, made 9-of-10 foul shots and had three steals in 40 minutes against Albany. Freshman forward Ashley Storey (Cumberland, Maine) chipped in with eight points and a season-high eight rebounds. The Wildcats outrebounded the Seawolves 41-36. Davion Wingate led Stony Brook with 18 points.

Belanger leads UNH in scoring at 16.1 points per game and rebounding at 6.8 per contest. Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) is next in both categories (10.6 points, 4.9 rebounds) and is followed by senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) at 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine), who leads the team in assists with 3.8 per game, has missed the last three games with an injury.

UNH averages 60.1 points a game, which is sixth-best in America East, and allows 58.8 points a contest, also sixth-best.

The Wildcats have a pair of home games this week. After Monday's 3 p.m. game against Maine on ESPN3, they play UMass Lowell on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Lundholm Gymnasium.

SCOUTING MAINE: The Black Bears had their three-game winning streak snapped and lost their first America East game at Albany, 64-59, on Saturday afternoon. Maine is now 12-7 overall and 3-1 in the league. The Black Bears won their first three league games at Vermont, 62-41, and against UMBC, 62-55, and UMass Lowell, 74-44.

Junior guard Sigi Koizar had 17 points and senior forward Mikaela Gustafsson 16 in the loss at Albany. Koizar is the only Black Bear averaging in double figures at 16.7 points per game. She also averages 4.1 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Gustafsson is scoring 9.4 points per game and senior forward Liz Wood is at 8.6 points and leads the team in rebounds with 7.4 per contest.

Maine made six of its 19 three-point field goal attempts against Albany and leads the league with 122 three-pointers made. Koizar tops America East with 43 three-pointers and in three-point percentage at 41 percent. The Black Bears allow 52.3 points a game, which is the league low. They score a third-best 61.3 points a game.

Richard Barron, a 1991 graduate of Kenyon College, is in his fifth year as the head coach at Maine. The Black Bears were 23-9 overall last season and earned a share of the America East regular season championship by matching Albany's 14-2 league record. Barron was an assistant coach for two-year stints at North Carolina State and Baylor before coming to Maine. He was the head coach at Princeton for six seasons before that.

BELANGER'S BIG NUMBERS: Twice in the span of five games, Elizabeth Belanger set new career highs in scoring. She scored 28 points in UNH's 65-60 loss at North Carolina to raise the bar on December 29. She crushed that mark with 32 points in Saturday's 63-54 loss at Stony Brook. She led a fierce Wildcat rally that came up short in the fourth quarter by scoring 15 of UNH's 20 points in the frame. For the game, Belanger made 10 of 25 field goals and nine of 10 foul shots and she also had nine rebounds.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. MAINE: The Black Bears and Wildcats meet for the 77th time in the all-time series. Maine controls the series with a 46-30 record overall. The Wildcats hold their best record against the Balck Bears at home (18-19) and will look to tie the Durham series up at 19.

BELANGER AT THE STRIPE: Elizabeth Belanger, a career 77.4 percent free throw shooter, is having a breakout year from the charity stripe. The senior guard has knocked down 68 of 78 attempts, boasting a .872 free throw percentage. She is third among America East players and ranked 27th in the nation as of Jan. 17.

ROAD WARRIORS: UNH will travel a total of 2,743.4 miles in its season-long five-game road swing. The 'Cats start the road trip at Boston College on Sunday, Dec. 13 (1 p.m.). New Hampshire then treks to Bryant University on Sunday, Dec. 20 (1 p.m.). After a visit to the Tar Heel State on Tuesday, Dec. 29 (2 p.m.) against the University of North Carolina, UNH travels to Yale University to close out its non-conference schedule Saturday, Jan. 2 (2 p.m.). New Hampshire caps off the road trip at Binghamton University to open the America East schedule Saturday, Jan. 9 (4 p.m.).

CLEAN GLASS: UNH pulls down 37.3 rebounds per game this season. In 16 games this season, New Hampshire has been only outrebounded twice. The Wildcats own a +2.9 margin on the glass, which is good for third-best in the America East.

UP FRONT AND PERSONAL: The front court of Elizabeth Belanger, Corinne Coia and Carlie Pogue have backboned the scoring for UNH this season. The trio registers 37.0 points per game this season, accounting for 63 percent of New Hampshire's points. The 'Cats inflict much of their scoring near the rim. New Hampshire is 5-2 this season when outscoring its opponent in the paint. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Wildcats are 31-8 when they win the scoring battle in the paint.

LEAD AT HALF AND NEVER LOOK BACK: The Wildcats have led five times entering the locker rooms and won all five of those games this season.

6-OH-E: Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger earned the nod as a member of the America East Preseason First Team this season. An America East All-Conference First Team honoree last season, the guard has scored at least 20 points 15 times in her career and five times this season. She leads the Wildcats in scoring (16.1 points per game) rebounding (6.8 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.872) and steals (23). The senior tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, including the go-ahead basket to help the Wildcats rally to a 61-57 win at Dartmouth on Nov. 16. Belanger followed with a double-double effort of 22 points and 10 rebounds in an 81-69 win at Sacred Heart (Nov. 18). She exploded for a 23-point, 13-rebound effort in a 67-60 setback against Penn on Nov. 22. Belanger tallied a game-high 17 points in the 64-50 win at CCSU on Nov. 29. She poured in 27 points in the 66-54 loss to Northeastern (Dec. 2). The guard engineered another 20-point performance, dropping 24 against Boston University in a 69-52 rout. Against Siena (Dec. 9), Belanger matched her personal best with four 3-pointers made as part of a 14-point effort in a 57-53 loss. The senior tallied a game-high 15 points as part of a 55-42 setback at Bryant (Dec. 20). Belanger set career-highs in points scored (28) and free throws made (14) in a 65-60 loss at North Carolina. She then broke that career-high with an impressive 32-point performance in a 63-54 loss at Stony Brook (Jan. 16).The senior's 1,198 career points ranks third among active America East players and 10th in program history.

COIA IS BACK: Corinne Coia returns to the squad after being sidelined by an injury for the 2014-15 season. In her first full season playing for UNH in 2013-14, the America East All-Conference Second Team honoree played in 30 games with 25 starts. She averaged 11.8 points per game and ranked first on the squad in field goal percentage (.475). The 6-foot-4 forward eclipsed at least 10 points in a team-high 21 of 30 games and paced the Wildcats with six double-doubles. The senior has hit double figures in nine games this season. In her season debut, Coia posted 10 points at home against Colby-Sawyer (Nov. 13) in a 74-41 win. She followed with a 16-point performance on the road at Dartmouth (Nov. 16) in the come-from-behind 61-57 win. Coia notched a season-high 21 points and eight rebounds in an 81-69 win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18. The senior logged 11 points and six rebounds in the 67-60 loss at home against Penn (Nov. 22). Coia tallied a game-high 19 points to help propel the Wildcats to a 72-57 win over Manhattan on Nov. 24. She poured in 14 points in the 60-44 triumph at Central Connecticut (Nov. 29). Against Boston University (Dec. 5), the senior turned in 13 points in the 69-52 triumph. The forward eclipsed double figures with a 10-point effort in a 57-53 loss against Siena on Dec .9. On Jan. 13 Coia notched 13 second-half points against a tough UAlbany team. Coia averages 10.3 points per game, third best on the squad.

CP32: A member of the America East All-Rookie Team in 2014-15, Carlie Pogue is putting together a strong sophomore campaign. The 6-foot-2 center has registered at least 10 points in nine games this season. In the second game of the 2015-16 slate, she chalked up a season-high 19-point performance on 9 of 10 shooting in the 61-57 win at Dartmouth (Nov. 16). Pogue followed up by pouring in 15 points in the 81-69 win on the road against Sacred Heart (Nov. 18). She chalked up 14 points in the 67-60 loss against Penn (Nov. 22). Against Manhattan (Nov. 24), Pogue pitched in 10 points in a 72-57 win. She notched her first double-double of the season with a 13-point 11-rebound performance in a 66-54 setback against Northeastern on Dec. 2. The sophomore notched a season-high three blocks in the 69-52 win against BU (Dec. 5). Pogue logged a season-high 22-point performance in a 57-53 setback against Siena (Dec. 9), just two points shy of matching her personal best. She turned in 10 points, three rebounds and a steal at North Carolina on Dec. 29. The sophomore logged 12 points and 2 blocks against UAlbany (Jan. 13). Pogue registers 10.6 points per game.

GRANITE STATE GROWN: Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.), a sophomore guard, chose to play collegiate basketball in her home state of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Gatorade and NHIAA Player of the Year in 2013-14, is off to a good start to her sophomore season. Against Colby-Sawyer (Nov. 13), the sophomore scored 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the season debut. On the road at Dartmouth (Nov. 16), the guard was one-point shy of a double-double, posting nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Simpson also matched her personal best in steals with four. Against Boston University (Dec. 5), Simpson was one-point shy of a personal best in scoring with a 12-point performance to help the 'Cats forge a 69-52 win. The guard also reached 12 points in a 71-51 setback at Boston College (Dec. 13). Against UAlbany, Simpson tallied six points and four assists (Jan. 13). The sophomore is second on the team with 22 steals.

SPARK OFF THE BENCH: Senior guard/forward Stephanie Spoto (Pittsford, N.Y.) has enjoyed a good start to the 2015-16 season coming off the bench. She has averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds, setting new personal bests in scoring three times this season. She first hit a career-high in scoring with 10 points in an 81-69 win at Sacred Heart (Nov. 18). She bested her career-high in the scoring column with a 12-point effort against Manhattan (Nov. 24) in a 72-57 victory. In the win against Manhattan she also matched her personal best on the glass with eight rebounds. Spoto has registered 16.4 minutes per game this season.

PASS THE ROCK: Kristen Anderson dished out a career-high nine assists in the 81-69 win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18. The junior guard leads the team with 45 helpers this season. Anderson ranks sixth among active conference players with 221 assists.

MOVING UP THE LEADERBOARD: Elizabeth Belanger hit the 1,000-point milestone on a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter at Lundholm Gymnasium against Penn on Nov. 22. She became the 19th player in program history to accomplish the feat and ranks 10th in program history with 1,198 career points. She passed assistant coach Kelsey Hogan (1,181) with her 32-point effort at Stony Brook (Jan. 16).

Below are the UNH all-time scoring records 7 through 11.

7.                  Danielle Clark                          2003-07                           1,331
8.                  Candance Williams                  2006-10                           1,277
9.                  Theresa Redmond                  1979-83                            1,252
10.                  Elizabeth Belanger              2012-Present                  1,198

20-20: Elizabeth Belanger and Corinne Coia each scored over 20 points in the win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18. It marks the first time two UNH players scored 20 or more points in a game since Coia and Kelsey Hogan '14 accomplished the feat on Feb. 22, 2014.

FROM THE 603: Two student-athletes on the 2015-16 roster hail from New Hampshire. They are junior Kat Fogarty (Peterborough) and sophomore Aliza Simpson (Londonderry).

WILDCATS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Four of New Hampshire's games this season will be televised. UNH and Maine renews its rivalry in Durham on Jan. 18, which will be featured on ESPN3. New Hampshire is back on ESPN3 six days later on Jan. 24 in a rematch of the America East quarterfinals at Hartford. The game between UNH and UMBC at Lundholm Gymnasium on Jan. 30 will be featured on WBIN Classics. In the following game (Feb. 6), New Hampshire and Binghamton will air on Fox College Sports. Additionally, every game of the 2015 America East Women's Basketball Championship will air on the ESPN networks, including the championship game.

MO' WINS MO' YEARS: On April 24, 2014, head coach Maureen Magarity agreed to a five-year extension with the UNH women's basketball team.

In five seasons at New Hampshire, Magarity has led the Wildcats to back-to-back semifinal appearances in the America East tournament in 2013 and 2014. In the 2013-14 season, she guided the Wildcats to a personal-best 19-12 overall record and 12-4 in conference play, the most wins in a single season since the 1998-99 season (19-8, 13-5 AE).

UNH has not had a 20-win season since the 1983-84 season. Here is a look the at the past seasons in program history with at least 19 wins:

1982-83    23-7
1983-84    20-8
1987-88    19-8 (11-3)
1998-99    19-8 (13-5)
2013-14    19-12 (12-4)*

* Coached by Maureen Magarity

TURNING IT AROUND: With the win over Boston University on Dec. 5, head coach Maureen Magarity had an all-time winning percentage above .500 during her tenure at UNH. The sixth year head coach currently owns a 79-86 lifetime record. Magarity has led the Wildcats to four winning seasons during her tenure at UNH. In comparison, New Hampshire was a combined 33-87 the four years prior to her arrival.

LEADER OF THE 'CAT PACK: The 2015-16 season marks the sixth season for head coach Maureen Magarity, who became the sixth head coach in program history in May 2010 and the youngest coach of a Division I team – men's or women's – in the country. Magarity quickly made a positive impact on the program with a 73-76 record in her first five seasons; in comparison, UNH was a combined 33-87 the four years prior to her arrival. In 2014-15, New Hampshire finished the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 17-12 and 9-7 against America East opponents. The Wildcats finished the season fourth in the league standings and reached double digit wins for the fourth consecutive year. Magarity led the Wildcats to a 19-12 record and 12-4 in America East play, the most wins in a single season since the 1998-99 season. Additionally, Magarity directed New Hampshire to its second consecutive appearance in the America East semifinals, topping Vermont 85-79 (March 7). In just her second year at the helm in Durham, Magarity guided the Wildcats to their second postseason appearance (beyond conference postseason play) in the program's 37-year history when UNH advanced to the 2012 Women's Basketball Invitational. New Hampshire finished the year with a 16-14 overall record to mark the team's first winning season since 2006 and most wins since 2002. In her first season, Magarity led the Wildcats to a 9-20 overall record and they doubled their conference wins from the previous season.

WILDCATS ON THE AIR: In 2015-16, select UNH basketball games can be heard on three channels spanning the Seacoast and Manchester. Jim Jeannotte, 23-time New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year, handles the play-by-play. Mike Murphy, a five-time winner of the New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year award, does the color commentating.

The Wildcat Sports Radio Network will broadcast a total of 14 UNH women's basketball regular-season games during the 2015-16 season and will air the games during the America East Championships. The Wildcat Sports Radio Network affiliates include:

WPKX-AM - 930 - Rochester
WGIR-AM - 610 - Manchester
Live Stream - Stretch - UNHWildcats.com

Here is the complete schedule:

Nov. 13 vs. Colby-Sawyer
Nov. 22 vs. Penn
Dec. 2 vs. Northeastern
Dec. 5 vs. Boston University
Dec. 9 vs. Siena
Dec. 20 at Bryant
Jan. 13 vs. UAlbany
Jan. 18 vs. Maine
Jan. 21 vs. UMass Lowell
Jan. 30 vs. UMBC
Feb. 6 vs. Binghamton
Feb. 14 vs. Stony Brook
Feb. 20 vs. Hartford
Feb. 25 vs. Vermont

DUE NEXT: The 'Cats stay at home for another contest this week, taking on UMass Lowell on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Lundholm Gym.

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