Women's Basketball Takes on Binghamton to Open AE Play (Jan. 9; 4 p.m.)

Saturday, January 9

Vestal, N.Y.

4 PM

University of New Hampshire

Binghamton University

Photo by: Gil Talbot

Women's Basketball Takes on Binghamton to Open AE Play (Jan. 9; 4 p.m.)

1/8/2016 11:43:00 AM | Women's Basketball

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team is set to take on Binghamton University to open America East play Saturday, Jan. 9 (4 p.m.), at the Events Center.

STORYLINES

UNH opens America East play and ends a five-game roadtrip at Binghamton.
Next up, the Wildcats play Albany on Wednesday at noon for Education Day in their return to Lundholm Gymnasium.
Senior Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) (54-61, 88.5 percent) and Carlie Pogue (28-33, 84.8 percent) rank second and third in the league in free throw shooting percentage.
The magic 60.4. UNH, Binghamton and Maine are all averaging 60.4 points a game. Binghamton also allows 60.4 a game.
The Wildcats lead America East in free throws made (192) and free throw percentage (73.8).
Junior Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) helps the free throw numbers by making 14 of 15. She does not have enough makes to qualify as a league leader.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats finished 6-7 in nonconference play and have lost five straight games heading into America East competition. In their two games since Christmas, they gave North Carolina a run before dropping a 65-60 decision in Chapel Hill on Dec. 29 and lost at Yale, 63-46, on Jan. 2. Senior guard Belanger hit career highs in points (28) and free throws made (14) at North Carolina.

Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Wildcats in scoring with nine points and in rebounding with six against Yale. Freshman forward Ashley Storey (Cumberland, Maine) had eight points and a season-high five rebounds in her first start at Yale. Belanger added eight points and five rebounds against Yale. Sophomore guard Peyton Booth (Wadsworth, Ohio) also made her first start against Yale and contributed three points, three assists and a pair of rebounds.

Belanger leads UNH in scoring (16.1 points per game), rebounding (6.5 per game) and three-point field goals made (15). She has made 54 of her 61 free throws and ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (.885 percent). Coia is second on the team in rebounding at 5.2 per game and Pogue is next at 4.8.

UNH, Maine and Binghamton all average 60.4 points per game, which is tied for fourth best in the league. The Wildcats 59.2 per game.

SCOUTING BINGHAMTON: Binghamton lost its league opener at Stony Brook, 64-58, on Wednesday afternoon to fall to 5-9 overall. The Bearcats led 51-42 after three periods and were outscored 22-7 in the fourth. Binghamton has won two of its last four games.

Sophomore guard Imani Watkins scored 27 points and had seven rebounds in the loss at Stony Brook. Sophomore forward Alyssa James added 13 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Kim Albrecht and freshman guard Rebecca Carmody each had nine points.

James leads the Bearcats and is one of the top scorers and rebounders in the league. She averages 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. Both numbers place her third in America East. James is far and away the league leader in blocked shots. She has 3.1 per game and the next closest player has 1.4. Watkins at 16.4 and Albrecht at 11.4 also average in double figures in scoring. Carmody is second on the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game and Watkins has 5.4.

Linda Cimino, a 2001 graduate of Adelphi University, is in her second season as head coach at Binghamton. The Bearcats were 4-26 overall and 2-14 in America East last season. Cimino came to Binghamton after eight years as head coach at Caldwell College.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. BINGHAMTON: The Bearcats and Wildcats meet for the 31^st time in the all-time series. Binghamton controls the series with a 19-11 record overall, including a 9-5 record at the Events Center. The Wildcats topped the Bearcats in the last matchup with a 76-58 victory on the road. UNH has won the last four meetings.

BELANGER AT THE STRIPE: Elizabeth Belanger, a career 78.8 percent free throw shooter, is having a breakout year from the charity stripe. The senior guard has knocked down 54 of 61 attempts, boasting a .885 free throw percentage. She is second among America East players and ranked 19th in the nation as of Jan. 6.

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 38.0 rebounds per game this season, fourth-best in America East. In 13 games this season, New Hampshire has been only outrebounded once. The Wildcats are boasting their highest rebounding average in the Magarity era and own a +4.5 margin on the glass.

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 37.6 points per game this season, accounting for 62 percent of New Hampshire's points. The 'Cats inflict much of their scoring near the rim. New Hampshire is 5-1 this season when outscoring its opponent in the paint. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Wildcats are 31-7 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 14 times in her career and five times this season. She leads the Wildcats in scoring (16.1 points per game) rebounding (6.5 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.885) and 3-point percentage (.375). 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. The senior's 1,149 career points ranks third among active America East players and 11th 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 eight 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. Coia averages 10.7 points per game, thirdd 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 seven 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. Pogue registers 10.8 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). The sophomore leads 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 5.2 points and 4.1 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 17.5 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 11th in program history with 1,149 career points.

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.	Kelsey Hogan	2008-14	1,181
11.	Elizabeth Belanger	2012-Present	1,141

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 79-83 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 are back in action at Lundholm Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 13 (12 p.m.), hosting the University at Albany for Education Day. For tickets, please visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000. 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.