University of New Hampshire Athletics

Photo by: Elise Austin-Washburn
Women's Basketball to host UMass Lowell (Jan. 21; 7 p.m.)
1/20/2016 1:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team battles the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Thursday, Jan. 21 (7 p.m.), at Lundholm Gymnasium.
UNH Storylines
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) fueled a late rally for the second game in a row, but UNH came up on the short end of a 62-52 decision against Maine in a Martin Luther King Day matinee on Monday afternoon in Lundholm Gymnasium. Maine led 45-31 early in the fourth quarter when Belanger scored six straight points and sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) added a layup to cut the lead to six. The Wildcats could get no closer.
Belanger had 13 of UNH's 21 points in the period and Pogue had the other eight. Belanger scored 15 of UNH's 20 fourth quarter points in the team's previous game against Stony Brook. Belanger finished with 17 points and eight rebounds against Maine and Pogue had 16 points and nine rebounds.
Liz Wood had 23 points and Sigi Koizar 20 for Maine, which improved to 13-7 and 4-1.
Belanger leads UNH in scoring at 16.2 points per game and rebounding at 6.9 per contest. Pogue averages (10.9 points and 5.1 rebounds) and senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) is at 10 points and 4.5 rebounds. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) leads the team in assists with 3.8 per game, but has missed the last four games with an injury.
After UMass Lowell, the Wildcats hit the road for a pair of games. They are at Hartford on Sunday at noon for a game on ESPN3 and play at Vermont next Wednesday at 7. UNH's next home game is Saturday, Jan. 30 against UMBC at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL: UMass Lowell fell to 3-14 overall and 0-5 in America East with a 59-51 loss at home to Vermont on Monday afternoon. The River Hawks have lost seven straight games. Down 43-35 early in the fourth quarter, UMass Lowell pulled to within 49-48 in the closing minutes, but Vermont held on for the win. Junior guard Asia Mitchell-Owens led UMass Lowell with 16 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Gibbs had her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The River Hawks are in the third year of a four-year transition to Division 1 from Division 2. They are in their third season in America East and become eligible for the league tournament in the 2017-18 season.
Senior forward Lindsey Doucette leads UMass Lowell in scoring and rebounding with per game averages of 14.2 and 8.9. Gibbs averages 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and Nicole Hayner averages 10 points a game. Gibbs is third in the league in field goal percentage at 55.7 (78-140) and first in free throw percentage at 91.4 (32-35).
UMass Lowell is tied for fifth in scoring average at 58.6 points per game, just ahead of UNH at 58.4. UNH is seventh in scoring defense at 60.2 and UMass Lowell is ninth at 71.8.
Jenerrie Harris led the River Hawks to a 14-15 overall record and 7-9 America East mark in her first season as coach last year. She played at the University of Kentucky and coached at Navy, Wright State and Longwood before arriving at UMass Lowell.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UMASS LOWELL: The Wildcats hold a 3-1 overall record against the River Hawks and are 2-0 at Lundholm Gym. Currently, the Wildcats are on a one game losing streak after the River Hawks defeated the 'Cats 70-65 in the last meeting.
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.
BELANGER AT THE STRIPE: Elizabeth Belanger, a career 77.8 percent free throw shooter, is having a breakout year from the charity stripe. The senior guard has knocked down 74 of 84 attempts, boasting a .881 free throw percentage. She is tied for second among America East players and ranked 18th in the nation as of Jan. 19.
ROAD WARRIORS: UNH traveled a total of 2,743.4 miles in its season-long five-game road swing. The 'Cats began the road trip at Boston College on Sunday, Dec. 13 (1 p.m.). New Hampshire then trekked 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 traveled to Yale University to close out its non-conference schedule Saturday, Jan. 2 (2 p.m.). New Hampshire capped off the road trip at Binghamton University to open the America East schedule Saturday, Jan. 9 (4 p.m.).
CLEAN GLASS: UNH pulls down 34.1 rebounds per game this season. In 17 games this season, New Hampshire has been only outrebounded twice. The Wildcats own a +2.2 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 37.1 points per game this season, accounting for 63.5 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 room 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 (16.2 points per game) rebounding (6.9 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.881) and steals (24). 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 1,215 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 10.0 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 10 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 10.9 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 4.6 points and 3.5 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 15.5 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 1,215
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 renewed its rivalry in Durham on Jan. 18, which was 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 79-87 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 play the University of Hartford on Sunday, Jan. 24 (12 p.m.) at the Chase Family Arena on ESPN3. After another road game at the University of Vermont on Wednesday, Jan. 27 (7 p.m.), New Hampshire returns home on Jan. 30 (1 p.m.) for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on WBIN Classics. Limited tickets are Available so be sure to check out UNHWildcats.com or call 603-862-4000.
For the most up-to-date information on the women's basketball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply. 1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE. Click HERE to sign up for newsletters on your favorite sports.
UNH Storylines
- UNH and UMass Lowell lead the league in free throw percentage: The Wildcats are at 75.4 and the River Hawks at 75.1.
- Elizabeth Belanger scored 28 fourth quarter points in UNH's last two games: 15 against Stony Brook and 13 against Maine.
- Belanger made all six of her foul shots vs. Maine and is at 88.1 percent (74-84) for the season.
- Belanger ranks No. 10 on UNH's career scoring list with 1,215 points. Theresa Redmond (1979-83) is No. 9 with 1,252.
- UNH and UMass Lowell split their games last season. UNH won 78-71 in Durham and lost 70-65 in Lowell.
- The Wildcats hit the road for their next two games (at Hartford on Jan. 24 and at Vermont on Jan. 27). Their next home game is Jan. 30 vs. UMBC at 1 p.m. Limited tickets are available so be sure to check out UNHWildcats.com or call 603-862-4000 for ticket information.
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) fueled a late rally for the second game in a row, but UNH came up on the short end of a 62-52 decision against Maine in a Martin Luther King Day matinee on Monday afternoon in Lundholm Gymnasium. Maine led 45-31 early in the fourth quarter when Belanger scored six straight points and sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) added a layup to cut the lead to six. The Wildcats could get no closer.
Belanger had 13 of UNH's 21 points in the period and Pogue had the other eight. Belanger scored 15 of UNH's 20 fourth quarter points in the team's previous game against Stony Brook. Belanger finished with 17 points and eight rebounds against Maine and Pogue had 16 points and nine rebounds.
Liz Wood had 23 points and Sigi Koizar 20 for Maine, which improved to 13-7 and 4-1.
Belanger leads UNH in scoring at 16.2 points per game and rebounding at 6.9 per contest. Pogue averages (10.9 points and 5.1 rebounds) and senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) is at 10 points and 4.5 rebounds. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) leads the team in assists with 3.8 per game, but has missed the last four games with an injury.
After UMass Lowell, the Wildcats hit the road for a pair of games. They are at Hartford on Sunday at noon for a game on ESPN3 and play at Vermont next Wednesday at 7. UNH's next home game is Saturday, Jan. 30 against UMBC at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL: UMass Lowell fell to 3-14 overall and 0-5 in America East with a 59-51 loss at home to Vermont on Monday afternoon. The River Hawks have lost seven straight games. Down 43-35 early in the fourth quarter, UMass Lowell pulled to within 49-48 in the closing minutes, but Vermont held on for the win. Junior guard Asia Mitchell-Owens led UMass Lowell with 16 points. Sophomore forward Kayla Gibbs had her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The River Hawks are in the third year of a four-year transition to Division 1 from Division 2. They are in their third season in America East and become eligible for the league tournament in the 2017-18 season.
Senior forward Lindsey Doucette leads UMass Lowell in scoring and rebounding with per game averages of 14.2 and 8.9. Gibbs averages 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and Nicole Hayner averages 10 points a game. Gibbs is third in the league in field goal percentage at 55.7 (78-140) and first in free throw percentage at 91.4 (32-35).
UMass Lowell is tied for fifth in scoring average at 58.6 points per game, just ahead of UNH at 58.4. UNH is seventh in scoring defense at 60.2 and UMass Lowell is ninth at 71.8.
Jenerrie Harris led the River Hawks to a 14-15 overall record and 7-9 America East mark in her first season as coach last year. She played at the University of Kentucky and coached at Navy, Wright State and Longwood before arriving at UMass Lowell.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UMASS LOWELL: The Wildcats hold a 3-1 overall record against the River Hawks and are 2-0 at Lundholm Gym. Currently, the Wildcats are on a one game losing streak after the River Hawks defeated the 'Cats 70-65 in the last meeting.
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.
BELANGER AT THE STRIPE: Elizabeth Belanger, a career 77.8 percent free throw shooter, is having a breakout year from the charity stripe. The senior guard has knocked down 74 of 84 attempts, boasting a .881 free throw percentage. She is tied for second among America East players and ranked 18th in the nation as of Jan. 19.
ROAD WARRIORS: UNH traveled a total of 2,743.4 miles in its season-long five-game road swing. The 'Cats began the road trip at Boston College on Sunday, Dec. 13 (1 p.m.). New Hampshire then trekked 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 traveled to Yale University to close out its non-conference schedule Saturday, Jan. 2 (2 p.m.). New Hampshire capped off the road trip at Binghamton University to open the America East schedule Saturday, Jan. 9 (4 p.m.).
CLEAN GLASS: UNH pulls down 34.1 rebounds per game this season. In 17 games this season, New Hampshire has been only outrebounded twice. The Wildcats own a +2.2 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 37.1 points per game this season, accounting for 63.5 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 room 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 (16.2 points per game) rebounding (6.9 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.881) and steals (24). 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 1,215 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 10.0 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 10 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 10.9 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 4.6 points and 3.5 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 15.5 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 1,215
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 renewed its rivalry in Durham on Jan. 18, which was 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 79-87 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 play the University of Hartford on Sunday, Jan. 24 (12 p.m.) at the Chase Family Arena on ESPN3. After another road game at the University of Vermont on Wednesday, Jan. 27 (7 p.m.), New Hampshire returns home on Jan. 30 (1 p.m.) for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on WBIN Classics. Limited tickets are Available so be sure to check out UNHWildcats.com or call 603-862-4000.
For the most up-to-date information on the women's basketball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply. 1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE. Click HERE to sign up for newsletters on your favorite sports.
Players Mentioned
UNH WBB vs Binghamton 1-5-19 Highlights
Saturday, January 05
UNH Women's Basketball vs Princeton Highlights (12-29-18)
Saturday, December 29
UNH Women's Basketball vs Dartmouth Highlights (12-21-18)
Friday, December 21
UNH Women's Basketball vs Holy Cross Highlights (12-9-18)
Sunday, December 09