Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Utah
Players Mentioned
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. Utah
12/15/2019 12:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Friars and Utes tip-off at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Monday, Dec. 16 in Salt Lake City.
FRIARS HEAD WEST TO FACE UTAH IN SALT LAKE CITY... The Friars travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for a non-conference game against the Utah Utes on Monday, Dec. 16. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. (ET) at Jon M. Huntsman Center.
FIRST MEETING... Monday's game between Providence and Utah marks the first meeting all-time between the two women's basketball programs.
SCOUTING UTAH... The Utes started the season with three-straight losses, but enter Monday's match-up on a six-game win streak. Utah defeated Nevada, 68-62, in its most recent game on Dec. 14. Brynna Maxwell (13.7 ppg) and Lola Pendande (11.3 ppg) are the only Utes averaging double figures in the scoring column. Five other players on the roster are averaging 5.0+ points per game. Pendande also leads Utah in rebounding (5.9 rpg) and blocked shots (12). Last season, the Utes finished with a 20-10 overall record, and a 9-9 mark in the Pac-12.Â
FRIARS WIN OCEAN STATE TIP-OFF TITLE... The Friars defeated in-state rivals Bryant (76-32) and Rhode Island (58-51) in the 4th Annual Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament held in Smithfield, R.I. on Dec. 7-8. It marked the Friars' first championship in the tournament's four-year existence. Mary Baskerville was named Most Outstanding Player, while Earlette Scott claimed All-Tournament Team honors.
FRIARS TOP BRYANT BY 44 IN OPENING ROUND... The Friars defeated Bryant, 76-32, in the opening round of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament on Dec. 7 in Smithfield, R.I. Providence's 44-point margin of victory is the largest since defeating Syracuse by 46 (106-60) on Feb. 20, 1991.
TEAM EFFORT... Eleven Friars cracked the scoring column in the team's 76-32 victory over Bryant on Dec. 7, including seven players with 7+ points. Mary Baskerville was one of three Friars in double figures with 14 points in just 15 minutes of action. Alyssa Geary and Fatima Lee each added 10 points in the victory.
FRIARS GRIND OUT A 7-POINT VICTORY AGAINST URI... Providence trailed at halftime for the first time during the 2019-20 season in the championship game of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament (28-25). The game featured 11 lead changes and five ties, with Providence holding the lead for a total span of just 9:16. Providence took a 49-47 advantage with 3:01 to play in the fourth quarter and held on down the stretch for the win, out-scoring URI 17-11 in the final frame. Mary Baskerville scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter. Kaela Webb rounded out the fourth-quarter scoring with six points, including a 4-4 performance from the foul line in the final 43-seconds. Earlette Scott netted a career-high 18 points in the game on 8-10 shooting, while Olivia Orlando hauled in a career-high 14 rebounds and dished four assists.
FRIARS AMONG THE TOP SHOOTING TEAMS IN THE NATION... The Friars are ranked 16th in the nation in field goal percentage and second among NCAA Division I teams in three-point field goal percentage. Providence leads the BIG EAST Conference in both categories. Entering their game against Utah on Monday, the Friars are shooting .473 from the field (208-440), and .434 from beyond the arc (89-131).
THREE-POINT THREATS... Kyra Spiwak and Kaela Webb have been the catalysts for Providence beyond the arc. Spiwak leads the BIG EAST and ranks second in the nation in three-point percentage (.543, 16-28). Webb leads the BIG EAST and ranks 16th in the nation in three-point field goals made per game (3.25) and 12th in three-point field goals made.Â
FRIARS STRONG ON DEFENSE... Not only can the Friars shoot the ball at an impressive clip, but they also defend well. Providence leads the BIG EAST in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense. The Friars are allowing just 54.4 points per game to their opponents, which ranks 27th in the nation among 348 NCAA Division I teams. Additionally, Providence has held its opponents to .344 shooting from the field, which ranks 30th in the nation.
DOUBLE DIGITS... Seven different players on the roster have scored in double figures this season. Sophomore Kaela Webb has reached double digits in the scoring column a team-best six times. Mary Baskerville has hit double figures in the scoring column during each of the five games she has played this season.
STEPPING UP... In her first two seasons with the team, junior Kyra Spiwak played 14 minutes per game off the bench as a reserve and averaged 2.2 points per contest. Through the seven games she has played in 2019-20, Spiwak has reached double figures in the scoring column four times, including a career-best 22 points at Monmouth on Nov. 20. She ranks second on the team with an average of 13.6 points per contest. Spiwak's highest single-season scoring average coming into the 2019-20 campaign was 2.3 points per game as a freshman in 2017-18 (26 games).
REBOUNDING BY COMMITTEE... Through eight games, six different players have led the team in rebounding. Mary Baskerville and Olivia Orlando have paced the Friars on the board in three games each. Andrea Cooper, Earlette Scott, Alyssa Geary and Kyra Spiwak have each led the team in rebounding during one game. Baskerville is averaging a team-best 7.4 rebounds per contest, with a slight advantage over Orlando who is grabbing 7.3 boards per game.
UTILITY PLAYER... Junior Olivia Orlando averages a modest 3.9 points per game as a member of the Friars' starting five. What she lacks in scoring, she makes up for in every other facet of the game. She ranks second in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and assists (3.3 apg) and is tied for first on the team in steals (1.6 spg). Her 31 field-goal attempts are the fewest on the team among players who average 20+ minutes per game. When she does look to score, she shoots an efficient 45-percent from the field (14-31).Â
MARY BASKERVILLE NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL... Mary Baskerville was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 9. She guided the Friars to a 2-1 record last week, and also was named Most Outstanding Player at the 4th Annual Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament on Dec. 8. In three games, Baskerville averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game, and shot 63.3-percent from the field (19-30). In the Friars' lone loss, she tallied 19 points and nine rebounds against Yale. That game originally began on Nov. 5, before it was suspended at halftime. The Friars and Bulldogs completed the second half of play on Dec. 3 in New Haven, Conn. At the Ocean State Tip-Off in Smithfield, R.I., Baskerville tallied 14 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes of action against Bryant. She followed with 15 points and five rebounds in the championship game against Rhode Island. Baskerville scored 11 of her 15 points in a decisive fourth quarter effort, while shooting 4-4 from the field, to give Providence a 58-51 victory.
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 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
FRIARS SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON... Providence suffered an 82-79 loss to Yale, marking its first defeat of the season. In an odd scenario, the game began on Nov. 5 and was suspended at halftime due to a scoreboard malfunction, with the Friars leading 42-33. The game resumed on Dec. 3 and Providence raced out to a 17-point lead early in the third. Yale responded with a 19-2 scoring held on down the stretch for the three-point victory. Mary Baskerville posted a team-best 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Kyra Spiwak and Kaela Webb contributed 16 points and 15 points, respectively. Ellen Margaret Andrews paced Yale with 23 points, while Roxy Barahman added 19. The duo put the Bulldogs on their back en route to the victory, scoring 33 of the team's 49 points in the second half rally.Â
TOP SHOOTING PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON CLOUDED BY FIRST LOSS... The Friars shot a season-best 58.5-percent from the field (31-53) and tied their season-best shooting performance from beyond the arc (.500, 8-16) in their loss to Yale. Despite Providence's impressive shooting, Yale held a +14 scoring advantage at the foul line. The Bulldogs converted 23-32 attempts at the charity stripe, compared to the Friars' 9-15 shooting at the line.
PROVIDENCE WINS THIRD-STRAIGHT OVER REGIONAL FOE 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.
PROVIDENCE DOMINATES THE GLASS AGAINST HARTFORD... 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
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 48 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 TEAM 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 last season (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, with a 13th trip added to the schedule to complete the Yale game on Dec. 3. Providence is currently 3-0 on the road this season.
WHAT'S NEXT... After completion of the Utah game, Providence will have one day off before playing three-straight games at the Lobo Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The Friars will face New Mexico (Dec. 18), Ball State (Dec. 19) and Loyola Marymount (Dec. 20).
