Women's Basketball Hits the Road for Hartford (Jan. 24, 12 P.M.)

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team is set to play at the University of Hartford on Sunday, Jan. 24 (12 P.M.).

STORYLINES:

Elizabeth Belanger has averaged 27 points and eight rebounds a game in her last three games.
Belanger established a career-high of 32 points against Stony Brook three games ago and then matched that number last game against UMass Lowell.
Belanger ranks No. 10 on UNH's career scoring list with 1,247 points. Theresa Redmond (1979-83) is No. 9 with 1,252.
UNH won both regular season games against Hartford last year. The Hawks beat UNH in the league tournament quarterfinals.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: Senior Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) did a whole lot of everything to lead UNH to a 65-61 win over UMass Lowell on Thursday night in Lundholm Gymnasium. The victory not only marked UNH's first America East triumph of the year, but snapped a nine-game losing streak. The Wildcats improved to 7-11 overall and are 1-4 in the league. UMass Lowell dropped to 3-15 and 0-6.

Belanger matched her career high of 32 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field. She made three of her five three-pointers, pulled down seven rebounds and had four steals. Senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) and freshman forward Ashley Storey (Cumberland, Maine) chipped in with eight points apiece and sophomore guard Peyton Booth (Wadsworth, Ohio) had seven. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) returned after missing four games with an injury and led the team with three assists.

Belanger has upped her scoring average to 17.1 points per game, which is third best in America East. She ranks ninth in rebounding with 6.8 per game. Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) is averaging 10.4 points per game and Coia is at 9.9. Pogue averages five rebounds a game and Coia 4.4.

SCOUTING HARTFORD: Hartford has been on a win one, lose one pattern in America East games and beat UMBC, 67-57, on Thursday night. The Hawks rode a 13-0 fourth quarter run to the win and had five players score in double figures. Senior Katelyn Skinner led the way with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Sophomore Janelle Harrison had 13 points, sophomore Darby Lee and freshman Lindsey Abed each had 12 and freshman Jalay Knowles added 10.

Hartford is 7-11 overall and 3-2 in the league. Leading scorer Deanna Mayza (11.7 points per game) has missed the last three games with an injury. Lee is next on the scoring list with 7.8 points per game and Abed is at 6.2. Harrison scored 18 points to lead Hartford to a 51-47 win over Vermont. Junior La'Trice Hall is the leading rebounder with 5.4 per game.

The Hawks are last in the league in scoring offense at 50.3 points per game. UNH is fourth at 58.8. Hartford is sixth in scoring defense at 59.9 points allowed, just ahead of UNH at 60.3.

UNH beat the Hawks, 65-63, last year in Hartford and 55-50 in Durham during the regular season. Hartford knocked off the Wildcats, 58-42, in the quarterfinals of the America East tournament.

Former UConn standout Jennifer Rizzotti is in her 16th season as coach of the Hawks and last season went over the 300-mark for wins. The Hawks finished 16-17 overall and 8-8 in the league last season.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. HAWKS: The Hawks hold a 33-32 overall record against the Wildcats and are 13-20 in Hartford. Last year, the Wildcats defeated the Hawks in both regular season contests, but fell by a score of 58-42 in the America East quarterfinals.

BELANGER'S ON FIRE: Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger has been on a tear for the Wildcats. She scored a career-high 29 points against North Carolina on Dec. 29 and has eclipsed that number twice since. She had 32 points with nine rebounds against Stony Brook, 17 points with eight rebounds against Maine and 32 points again with seven rebounds on Thursday against UMass Lowell. The UMass Lowell game was especially impressive. Belanger made 12 of the 16 field goals she attempted, including three of her five three-pointers. She made five of her six free throws. And oh yes, for good measure, she had four of UNH's six steals in the game.

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 79 of 90 attempts, boasting a .878 free throw percentage. She is second among America East players and ranked 17th in the nation as of Jan. 22.

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 36.6 rebounds per game this season. In 18 games this season, New Hampshire has been only outrebounded three times. The Wildcats own a +2.2 margin on the glass, which is good for fourth-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 37.4 points per game this season, accounting for 63.6 percent of New Hampshire's points. The 'Cats inflict much of their scoring near the rim. New Hampshire is 6-2 this season when outscoring its opponent in the paint. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Wildcats are 32-8 when they win the scoring battle in the paint.

LEAD AT HALF AND NEVER LOOK BACK: The Wildcats have led six times entering the locker room and won all six 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 (17.1) points per game) rebounding (6.9 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.878) and steals (28). Belanger produced 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. 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) and tied it again with 32 points against UMass Lowell (Jan. 21). The senior's 1,247 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. On Jan. 13 Coia notched 13 second-half points against a tough UAlbany team. Coia averages 9.9 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 10.4 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 24 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 4.3 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 47 helpers this season. Anderson has 223 career 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                  1,247

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 80-87 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 another road game at the University of Vermont on Wednesday, Jan. 27 (7 p.m.). New Hampshire then returns home on Jan. 30 (1 p.m.) to take on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on WBIN Classics.

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