Providence College Athletics
Providence College
UMass Lowell
Players Mentioned
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. UMass Lowell
11/22/2019 2:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Friars will host the River Hawks on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 6:00 p.m.
FRIARS SET TO HOST UMASS LOWELL... Providence College will host UMass Lowell on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
FRIARS AND RIVER HAWKS ALL-TIME... Providence College and UMass Lowell have met three times during the history of the two women's basketball programs. The Friars lead the series, 3-0. Sunday's game will mark the second meeting between the two programs at Alumni Hall.
SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL... The River Hawks were picked to finish 12th in the America East Preseason Poll. Last year, UMass Lowell finished with a 7-22 overall record. Ren'Cia Rolling is UML's leading returning scorer, having averaged 7.8 points per game in 2018-19 as a junior.
HOW THE RIVER HAWKS HAVE FARED IN 2019-20... UMass Lowell enters Sunday's game with an 0-5 record. The River Hawks lost their most recent game on Nov. 21 to Yale, 67-59. UML has two players averaging double figures in the scoring column, including Ren'Cia Rolling (11.4 ppg) and Denise Solis (11.4 ppg). Brianne Stiers leads the River Hawks on the boards with 8.0 rebounds per game.
PROVIDENCE IMPROVES TO 4-0... The Friars improved to 4-0 with their most recent win against Monmouth (68-52) on Nov. 20. It marks the second time Providence has started the season 4-0 under the direction of fourth-year Head Coach Jim Crowley. In his first season on the sidelines in 2016-17, he guided the Friars to a 7-0 start. Providence's seven-straight wins to begin that campaign marked the program's best start since the 1990-91 team also began the year 7-0.
FRIARS LEAD THE BIG EAST IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE AND THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE... The Friars are currently leading the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (.498, 105-211) and three-point field goal percentage (.456, 31-68) through four games. Junior Kyra Spiwak leads the Friars in both categories, individually. She's shooting a blistering 62.1-percent from the field (18-29) and ranks second in the BIG EAST. From beyond the arc, she's tied for second in the league in percentage (.611, 11-18) and three-point field goals made per game (3.7).
THREE-POINT THREATS... Joining Kyra Spiwak as a major threat beyond the three-point arc is sophomore Kaela Webb, who has converted 17-34 attempts from deep (.500). Webb leads the BIG EAST in three-pointers made per game (4.3) and is tied for seventh in the league in three-point percentage (.500).
KYRA SPIWAK ECLIPSES 20-POINT PLATEAU IN WIN AT MONMOUTH... Kyra Spiwak has played in three of the Friars' four games this season, thus far, and has set a new career high in scoring in each contest. She started the season with 15 points against UMass on Nov. 9, and followed with 17 points against Boston College on Nov. 17. In the Friars' most recent game on Nov. 20, Spiwak dropped a career-best 22 points against Monmouth. She became the second player on the roster to reach 20 points this season, joining Kaela Webb (22 vs. UMass).
OLIVIA ORLANDO STUFFS THE STAT SHEET... On Nov. 20, Olivia Orlando notched a season-high eight points, 10 rebounds and four steals to go along with four assists against Monmouth. Overall, she's been a steady influence on the court for the Friars. Orlando ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg), assists (4.5 apg) and steals (1.8 spg). She leads the Friars in assist/turnover ratio (3.00), having committed just five turnovers in four games (23.3 mpg) and dishing 15 assists.
EARLETTE SCOTT FINDING WAYS TO IMPACT THE GAME IN EVERY CATEGORY... Sophomore Earlette Scott has had an excellent stretch of games for the Friars. On Nov. 17, she narrowly missed a double-double as she recorded eight points and career-high eight rebounds against Boston College. Scott was 3-5 from the field and also recorded three assists, one block and one steal. On Nov. 20, Scott dished a career-high eight assists against Monmouth, including six in the first half. She also contributed five rebounds and three steals. Scott leads the Friars in assists (4.5 apg) and steals (2.0 spg) and ranks third in rebounding (5.3 rpg).
ANDREA COOPER CASHING IN AT THE LINE... Andrea Cooper has played an average of 18 minutes per game and ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in free-throw attempts (21). She also ranks 14th in the league in free-throw percentage (.762, 16-21). Cooper has scored a total of 26 points this season, with 16 coming at the stripe.
FRIARS LEAD WIRE-TO-WIRE IN 76-60 VICTORY OVER BOSTON COLLEGE... Providence defeated Boston College, 76-70, on Nov. 17 in Providence, R.I. Alyssa Geary hit a baseline jumper to get the Friars on the board first and the team never looked back, building a lead of 27 points with 3:29 left in the third quarter. Three Friars scored in double figures led by Kaela Webb's 18 points. Kyra Spiwak chipped in a career-high 17 points and Chanell Williams rounded out the list of players in double digits with 11 points. Three other players scored eight points each to provide a balanced offensive attack. The Friars shot 54.7-percent from the field (29-53), including 50-percent from three-point territory (7-14).
PROVIDENCE WINS THIRD-STRAIGHT GAME OVER BOSTON COLLEGE... The Friars defeated Boston College, 76-70, on Nov. 17 in Providence, R.I. It marked the third-straight victory over the Eagles in the all-time series. The last time Providence won three-straight games against Boston College dates back to the 1991-92 through 1992-93 seasons.
ALYSSA GEARY MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE IN STARTING LINE-UP... Alyssa Geary got her first career start for the Friars on Nov. 17 against Boston College. The sophomore provided solid minutes for Providence as she recorded eight points, three rebounds and three blocked shots. Geary hit 4-8 attempts from the field (.500).
FRIARS DEFEAT HARTFORD ON THE ROAD... Providence defeated Hartford, 75-57, on Nov. 13. Mary Baskerville led three Friars in double figures with 18 points and also added a team-best eight rebounds and three blocked shots. The Friars out-scored the Hawks, 22-13, in the opening quarter but let Hartford back into the game in the second quarter as the teams went into halftime separated by just three points (38-35). The Friars allowed 22 points in the second quarter, then locked down on defense the rest of the way to yield just 22 points combined in the final 40 minutes. Providence shot 55.8-percent from the field (29-52) and dished 22 assists on 29 made field goals.
PROVIDENCE DOMINATES THE GLASS... The Friars out-rebounded Hartford, 41-23, on Nov. 13 en route to a 75-57 victory. Providence held its opponent to 23 rebounds, marking the lowest total by an opponent since Jan. 27, 2017, when the Friars allowed just 22 boards to Marquette. It also marks the largest rebounding margin for the Friars since holding a +19 advantage on the boards against Sacred Heart on Nov. 21, 2018.Â
ALYSSA GEARY POSTS CAREER NIGHT VS. HARTFORD... Sophomore Alyssa Geary scored a career-best 15 points in the Friars victory over Hartford on Nov. 13, including 10 points in the third quarter. She shot 7-12 (.583) from the field and also contributed two rebounds and a career-high three assists. Geary has been in the starting line-up each of the last two games vs. Boston College and Monmouth. As a starter, she has averaged 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots. She recently hauled in a season-high seven rebounds and netted eight points vs. Monmouth (Nov. 20).
MARY BASKERVILLE AVERAGING JUST SHY OF A DOUBLE-DOUBLE... Through two games that she has played, sophomore Mary Baskerville is averaging 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. She opened the season with a double-double against UMass (Nov. 9) and followed with a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds against Hartford (Nov. 13). Baskerville has averaged just 21.0 minutes of action per game.
KAELA WEBB NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL IN BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS... Sophomore Kaela Webb was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll in back-to-back weeks to start the season (Nov. 11 and Nov. 18). It marks her first appearances on the league's weekly honor roll, having previously been recognized among the weekly award winners as BIG EAST Freshman of the Week last season (Jan. 21). Webb is currently averaging 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
TO BE CONTINUED... The Friars opened the 2019-20 season against Yale on Nov. 5 in New Haven, Conn. The game was suspended at halftime due to a scoreboard malfunction, with the Friars leading 42-33. The two sides will complete the remaining 20 minutes of the game on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Payne Whitney Gymnasium in New Haven at 5:00 p.m.
FIRST HALF / ONLY HALF: Sophomores Mary Baskerville and Kaela Webb each scored 12 points to pace the Friars' offense in the opening 20 minutes of the game against Yale to provide PC with a 42-33 lead at halftime. Providence shot 58.6-percent from the floor (17-29), including 41.7-percent from three-point territory (5-12). The Friars recorded 10 assists on their 17 made field goals. Baskerville and junior Olivia Orlando led the Friars in rebounding with six and five boards, respectively. Defensively, Providence held the Ivy League's top-returning scorer to 0-6 shooting from the field and just two points on a pair of free throws. Providence committed 15 personal fouls in the first half, which sent Yale to the free throw line 19 times. Thirteen of the Bulldogs' 33 points came from the charity stripe.
PROVIDENCE DEFEATS UMASS... The Friars defeated UMass, 72-63, on Nov. 9 at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass. Kaela Webb led four Friars in double figures with a game and career-high 22 points. Mary Baskerville notched her seventh career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kyra Spiwak netted a career-high 15 points, while Chanell Williams added 10 points and five assists. Olivia Orlando hauled in eight rebounds and dished a game-high six assists for the Friars. UMass used a 9-0 run late in the third quarter to take a 46-45 lead, but Providence closed the quarter with four-unanswered points to take a three-point lead (49-46) into the final frame. The Minutewomen crept within 54-53 with 7:17 left in regulation, but a 10-0 gave the Friars some breathing room down the stretch en route to the 72-63 win.
CROWLEY PICKS UP 300th NCAA DIVISION I HEAD COACHING VICTORY... Providence College Head Coach Jim Crowley picked up his 300th NCAA Division I victory on Nov. 9 as the Friars defeated UMass, 72-63. Crowley compiled 258 NCAA Division I wins in 16 seasons at St. Bonaventure (2000-16) and currently owns 45 wins at Providence in his fourth season with the program.Â
FRIARS PICKED TO FINISH TIED FOR FIFTH IN BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL... Providence College was picked to finish in a tie for fifth place in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on Oct. 10 at Madison Square Garden as part of the league's annual media day event.Â
MARY BASKERVILLE NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST AS ONE OF FOUR UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS... Sophomore Mary Baskerville was a unanimous selection to the 2019-20 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, announced at the league's annual media day at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 10. She earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Year accolades at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, in addition to a unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. She is just the second player in program history to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year recognition, and first since Friar great Tracy Lis '92 was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 1989. Baskerville also was a five-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, marking the most freshman of the week honors in program history. As a rookie, Baskerville averaged 9.5 points per game and led the Friars in rebounding (7.3 rpg), blocked shots (1.5 bpg), double-doubles (six) and field-goal percentage (.580, 141-243). She established program records for blocked shots (53) and field-goal percentage (.580) for a freshman. Additionally, her .580 field-goal percentage was the second-highest for a single-season in program history overall, trailing Elizabeth Lawlor's shooting clip of .581 (193-332) during the 1988-89 season.
MOST WINS IN BIG EAST PLAY SINCE 1996-97... The Friars completed the 2018-19 regular-season schedule with an 8-10 mark in the BIG EAST Conference and finished in tie for sixth place in the league standings. The Friars' eight wins were the most in conference play since 1996-97, when Providence also finished with an 8-10 mark. It marked just the fourth time in the last 20 years that the Friars have recorded six or more victories in league play.Â
FRIARS COMING OFF OF FIRST POST-SEASON APPEARANCE SINCE 2010... The Friars' 2019 WNIT selection marked the program's 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. Complete post-season breakdown below (records in parentheses).
2018-19 WNIT Round of 16 - (2-1)
2009-10 WNIT Quarterfinal Round (3-1)
1991-92 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1990-91 NCAA Tournament Second Round (1-1)
1989-90 NCAA Tournament East Regional (1-1)
1988-89 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1986-87 National Women's Invitational Tournament (1-2)
1985-86 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1981-82 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1980-81 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1979-80 EAIAW National Tournament (3-1)
1978-79 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1977-78 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-1)
1976-77 EAIAW Regional Tournament (2-2)
1975-76 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-2)
HEAD COACH JIM CROWLEY IN POST-SEASON PLAY... Jim Crowley guided the Friars to their first post-season appearance since 2010, having earned a bid to the 2019 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Friars claimed wins over Hartford (71-54) and Penn (64-54), before falling to Georgetown (53-46) in the Round of 16. Prior to his arrival on Smith Hill, Crowley led St. Bonaventure to four WNIT appearances and two NCAA Tournament berths. Crowley is 10-7 all-time in post-season play, including a 7-5 mark in the WNIT. Crowley is 2-1 in the postseason as head coach at Providence College.
FRIARS IN OVERTIME GAMES UNDER JIM CROWLEY... Providence is 5-4 in overtime games under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crowley, including a 3-0 mark in 2018-19. The Friars are 3-3 vs. BIG EAST opponents in overtime.
ROAD WARRIORS... The Friars are scheduled to play 12 of their first 14 games on the road. A 13th trip will be made, to complete the final 20 minutes of play against Yale on Dec. 3. The two teams faced one another on Nov. 5 in the season opener, but the game was suspended at halftime due to a scoreboard malfunction.Â
WHAT'S NEXT... The Friars will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 3 against Yale, in an effort to complete the final 20 minutes of their season-opening game on Nov. 5. The game will be held at Whitney Payne Gymnasium in New Haven, Conn. at 5:00 p.m. Through two quarters of play, the Friars hold a 42-33 lead.
