Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Villanova
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. Villanova / Georgetown
12/2/2021 1:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Friars open BIG EAST Conference action with a pair of home games against the Wildcats and Hoyas.
FRIARS SET TO OPEN BIG EAST CONFERENCE PLAY WITH A PAIR OF HOME GAMES AGAINST VILLANOVA AND GEORGETOWN ... The Friars will open the 2021-22 BIG EAST Conference schedule this weekend with a pair of home games against Villanova (Dec. 3) and Georgetown (Dec. 5). Both games will be broadcast live on the BIG EAST Digital Network via FloSports.Â
THREE GAMES IN FIVE DAYS... When the Friars tipped-off against Hartford on Wednesday, Dec. 1 it started a stretch of three games in five days. That stretch concludes with Villanova (Dec. 3) and Georgetown (Dec. 5) during BIG EAST opening weekend. The Friars also will play the final two games of a seven-game home stand at Alumni Hall .
HOME-SWEET-HOME... The Friars play 13 of their first 17 games at home in Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I. Through the first two months of the season, the Friars leave the city of Providence just twice. On Nov. 13, the Friars traveled to Orono, Maine to face the Black Bears. On Dec. 31, Providence will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Xavier (and remain on the road to face Butler on Jan. 2). Providence's only other road game during the months of November and December will be played at Brown University, which is located in Providence, R.I.
FAMILIAR FOE... The Friars and Villanova Wildcats have met 79 times, marking the most games against a single opponent in Providence College women's basketball history.
ALL-TIME SERIES... Villanova leads the all-time series against Providence, 52-27. The Wildcats have won each of the last five games against the Friars, including a season-series sweep during the 2020-21 campaign.
A LOOK AT THE LAST DECADE... Providence and Villanova have played 20 times over the course of the last decade. The Friars have claimed just three wins against the Wildcats during that stretch, with all three of those victories coming at Alumni Hall. In breaking down the series during that 10-year span, Providence is 3-7 vs. Villanova at home and 0-10 on the road.
LAST TIME PROVIDENCE DEFEATED VILLANOVA... Providence last defeated Villanova on Jan. 6, 2019 in Providence, R.I. On that day, the Friars claimed a 67-61 victory to snap a seven-game skid against the Wildcats.
THE MOST RECENT MEETING BETWEEN PROVIDENCE AND 'NOVA... The Friars and Wildcats last met on Feb. 24, 2021 at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I. Villanova escaped with a 63-58 victory in overtime. Providence held its largest lead of the game with 6:15 remaining in regulation (46-37). The Wildcats used a 10-2 run to pull within one (48-47) with 3:47 on the clock. The Friars had an opportunity to seal the game at the line with 13-seconds remaining, but missed the first of two free throws to lead by 55-52. Maddy Siegrist hit a deep three on Villanova's next possession to send the game into overtime (55-55). The Wildcats outscored the Friars 8-3 in the extra session to claim the win. Siegrist finished with a game-high 24 points and added seven rebounds. Mary Baskerville recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards and added four blocks and three steals.
PROVIDENCE VS. GEORGETOWN ALL-TIME... The Friars and Hoyas have met 68 times during the history of the two programs. Georgetown leads the all-time series, 37-31. The Friars have earned victories in each of the last two meetings between the two teams.
LAST TIME THE TWO TEAMS MET... Providence and Georgetown did not face one another during the 2020-21 season due to a string of cancellations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Friars and Hoyas last met on March 6, 2020 in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament in Chicago, Ill. Providence earned a 49-46 victory in that match-up.
FRIARS HALT 10-GAME WINLESS STREAK TO THE HOYAS... Prior to the Friars' most recent victories against Georgetown on March 6, 2020 (49-46) and Feb. 28, 2020 (62-55), Providence had lost 10-straight games to Georgetown.
FRIARS GETTING ON THE BOARDS... Providence has recorded 40+ rebounds in four of its seven games to start the season. Last year, Providence only eclipsed 40 rebounds in one game (49 vs. Butler, 3/5/21). As a team, the Friars are averaging 39.7 rebounds per game. The Friars hauled in a season-best 50 rebounds vs. Monmouth on Nov. 28.
BLOCK PARTY... The Friars head into conference play leading the BIG EAST in blocked shots (51). The squad is averaging 7.3 blocks per game. Second place on the list is held by Connecticut (5.2 bpg). Mary Baskerville leads the Friars in blocks (3.3 bpg), but has not played in enough games to qualify for an individual ranking among BIG EAST players. However, three other Friars are on the list: Olivia Olsen (5th, 1.4 bpg), Janai Crooms (6th, 1.3 bpg) and Alyssa Geary (t-12th, 0.9 bpg).Â
JANAI CROOMS AMONG BIG EAST LEADERS... Junior guard Janai Crooms ranks among the BIG EAST leaders in eight different statistical categories. Through seven games, Crooms ranks 12th in the BIG EAST in scoring (15.1 ppg) and second in rebounding (10.4 rpg). She also ranks sixth in assists (4.9 apg), fourth in steals (2.3 spg), sixth in blocked shots (1.3 bpg), first in offensive rebounds (4.1 orpg), fourth in defensive rebounds (6.3 drpg) and fourth in minutes played (36.1 mpg).
CROOMS ONE OF TWO PLAYERS IN BIG EAST AVERAGING A DOUBLE-DOUBLE... Janai Crooms is one of just two players in the BIG EAST who are currently averaging a double-double. Through seven games, Crooms has put up 15.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. DePaul's Aneesah Morrow also is averaging a double-double with 18.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest.
FLIRTING WITH A TRIPLE-DOUBLE... Janai Crooms has narrowly missed out on a bid for a triple-double in two games this season. On Nov. 20 against Boston College, she finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. In Providence's most recent game against Hartford on Dec. 1, she logged 25 points, 11 boards and eight assists. In the program's 48-year existence, a Friar has never recorded a triple-double.
BALANCED ATTACK... Through seven games, the Friars have had six different players lead them in scoring. Janai Crooms is the only player to repeat as the team's leading scorer (18 vs. Yale; 25 vs. Hartford). Of the five remaining players to lead the team, three of them are freshman: Emily Archibald (20 vs. Maine), Kylee Sheppard (18 vs. Boston College) and Olivia Olsen (12 vs. Monmouth). They are joined by Mary Baskerville (15 vs. URI) and Alyssa Geary (24 vs. UMass).
STEADY IMPROVEMENT AT THE FOUL LINE... The Friars struggled at the foul line early in the season, shooting 50-percent or lower in their first three games. In the Friars' last four games, the team has shot better than 70-percent each time, including a season-best 23-28 (.821) vs. Hartford on Dec. 1.
EMILY ARCHIBALD NARROWLY MISSED OUT ON FIRST COLLEGIATE DOUBLE-DOUBLE... Freshman forward Emily Archibald narrowly missed out on her first double-double as a Friar in PC's victory against Monmouth on Nov. 28. She recorded nine points and nine rebounds in the effort, while shooting 4-8 from the field (1-1 from three-point range).Â
TWO-TIME MAINE GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR EMILY ARCHIBALD RETURNS TO HER HOME STATE AND DROPS 20 ON THE BLACK BEARS... On Nov. 13, Kennebunk, Maine native Emily Archibald returned to her home State of Maine and dropped a team and career high 20 points on the Black Bears. She shot 57-percent from the field (8-14) and added six boards and two steals. Archibald is a two-time Maine Gatorade Player of the Year (2020, 2021) and was named Miss Maine Basketball (2021).
ARCHIBALD LEADS THE FRIARS AND RANKS 12TH AMONG BIG EAST PLAYERS IN FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE... Archibald has been a solid presence for Providence this season, having reached double figures in the scoring column three times. She has started all seven games and is averaging 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds per game. She leads the Friars and ranks 12th among BIG EAST players in field-goal percentage (.491, 28-57).
ALYSSA GEARY NETS CAREER-BEST 24 POINTS AGAINST UMASS... Senior forward Alyssa Geary scored a career-high 24 points against UMass on Nov. 23. It marked the second 20-point game of Geary's career. She previously scored 22 points in a match up against BIG EAST foe Villanova during the 2020-21 campaign. Against the Minutewomen, she shot 8-20 from the field and was 7-8 from the charity stripe. Her seven made free throws tied her career high. In addition to her 24 points, she added seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
STREAKING... In the season opener vs. Yale on Nov. 9, senior Alyssa Geary went 0-7 from the floor and was held scoreless. Since then, Geary has reached double figures in six-straight games. She enters the weekend ranked third on the team in scoring (12.3 ppg)Â and also ranks second in assists (3.0 apg). Geary is shooting a solid .434 from the field (33-76) and .727 from the charity stripe (16-22).
MARY BASKERVILLE NOTCHES FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE OF THE SEASON... Mary Baskerville recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds against URI on Nov. 17, marking her first double-double of the season. Baskerville owns 18 double-doubles in her career with the Friars.Â
MARY BASKERVILLE NAMED TO ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2020-21 SEASON... Last season, Mary Baskerville led Providence College in scoring (12.7 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg), blocked shots (1.8 bpg), steals (1.4 spg) and field-goal percentage (.538, 112-208). For her efforts, she was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. It marked her first postseason honor since earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and BIG EAST All-Freshman Team accolades in 2019.Â
CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF... The NCAA cleared Janai Crooms to play during the 2021-22 season on Nov. 4, prior to the Friars' exhibition game against Bentley. Crooms was a four-star recruit and ranked No. 36 in 2018 class by Prospect Nation coming out of St. Andrew's (Barrington, R.I.). She played two seasons at Ohio State (2018-20) before transferring to Michigan State for the 2020-21 campaign. Crooms has two years of eligibility remaining, including the current 2021-22 seasons.
MARY BASKERVILLE RANKS 20th ALL-TIME AT PROVIDENCE IN CAREER REBOUNDS... Senior Mary Baskerville ranks 20th all-time in career boards at Providence with 623. She hauled in a team-best nine rebounds in the Friars' season opener against Yale (Nov. 9) and passed former Friar Mi-Khida Hankins '11 (602) in the rankings.Â
1,000-POINT MILESTONE ON THE HORIZON... Mary Baskerville has scored 956 points with the Friars in 87 career games. She is on pace to become the 35th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone, needing just 44 points.
FRIARS SET TO MAKE THEIR RETURN TO THE DUNKIN' DONUTS CENTER... The Friars will host a game at the Dunkin' Donuts Center for the first time since 2010 when they welcome Connecticut on Sunday, Jan. 30. Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m. It marks the first time Providence has played a game at the Dunkin' Donuts Center since Feb. 6, 2010 against West Virginia.
PROVIDENCE PICKED TO FINISH EIGHTH IN BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL... The Friars were picked to finish eighth in the 2021-22 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released at the league's annual media day at MSG in New York City. The Friars recorded 32 points in the poll and sit above Georgetown (27), Xavier (18) and Butler (17). Connecticut was a unanimous selection to win the league for a second-straight season.
JANAI CROOMS NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL... Janai Crooms was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Nov. 15. In two games last week to start the 2021-22 season, she averaged 18.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.5 blocked shots per game. In the Friars' game against Maine (Nov. 13), Crooms exploded for 18 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and two steals.
FRIARS IN THE POSTSEASON... The Friars' last appeared in the postseason during the 2018-19 campaign, when their current senior class came on to the scene as freshmen. Providence's 2019 WNIT selection marked the program's 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. In 2019-20, NCAA and WNIT Championships were canceled to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Friars did not qualify for postseason during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign. Complete post-season breakdown follows (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)
FRIARS EARN SECOND-STRAIGHT WIN... Providence is coming off of a 73-62 victory over Hartford in its most recent game on Dec. 1. Junior Janai Crooms scored a season-high 25 points and added 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead winning effort. Emily Archibald chipped in 18 points, while Alyssa Geary scored all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter. The Friars were an impressive 23-28 from the free throw line (.821).
FRIARS OVERPOWERED MONMOUTH FOR FIRST HOME WIN... The Friars overpowered Monmouth from start to finish in a 64-34 victory on Nov. 28. It marked the Friars first victory at home this season after dropping their first four games at Alumni Hall. Freshman Olivia Olsen scored 12 points to lead three Friars in double figures. Kaci Donovan led Monmouth with seven points.Â
SHORT-HANDED FRIARS FALL TO EXPERIENCED UMASS SQUAD... Providence fell to UMass, 80-62, on Nov. 23 in Providence, R.I. The Friars had just eight players available for the game due to various injuries - four of which were freshmen. Providence got out to a 20-12 lead after 10 minutes of play, but the Minutewomen outscored the Friars 49-23 during the course of the second and third quarters to take control of the game. UMass held a 49-33 advantage on the glass and used a 24-6 edge in second chance points.
FRIARS DROP 66-53 DECISION TO URI... The Friars fell to URI, 66-53, on Nov. 17 in Providence, R.I. Providence got out to a 12-5 lead, but the experienced Rams recovered to take a 17-14 advantage at the first intermission. URI held a slim scoring advantage in two of the next three quarters to take the win. Turnovers and the three-point line were key factors in the outcome. The Friars turned the ball over 21 times, which led to 23 of the Rams' points - including 17 points in the first quarter alone. URI converted nine three-point field goals (.474) compared to a 2-14 showing for the Friars (.143). Mary Baskerville led the Friars with 15 points and 11 boards. URI got a game-high 21 points from Dolly Cairns and a 15 points and 17 rebound effort from Seton Hall graduate transfer Dez Elmore.
FRIARS OVERCOME 17-POINT DEFICIT TO DEFEAT MAINE IN OVERTIME...The Friars started 1-13 from the field against Maine on Nov 13 and had to overcome a 17-point deficit to take the win in overtime (66-61). A strong second quarter got the momentum going for PC, outscoring the Black Bears, 21-11, and cutting the deficit to 28-24 at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Maine gained a 54-48 advantage on an 8-0 run with 5:45 remaining on the clock. Maine went scoreless for over two and a half minutes and the Friars managed to tie the game, 56-56, capped by a traditional three-point play from Mary Baskerville. In overtime, Providence outscored Maine 10-5. Freshman Emily Archibald (four) and junior Janai Crooms (three) combined to score seven of the Friars' 10 points in the extra session. Archibald paced the Friars with 20 points, while Crooms recorded a double-double on 18 points and 19 rebounds. Senior Alyssa Geary contributed 15 points.
FRIARS DROP SEASON OPENER TO YALE IN OVERTIME... The Friars dropped their season opener to Yale in overtime (63-57) on Nov. 9 in Providence, R.I. The Bulldogs used a +9 scoring advantage at the free throw line, which proved to be a critical factor in the game. Providence shot just 9-20 from the stripe (.450), while the Bulldogs shot 18-23 (.783). Janai Crooms led the Friars with 18 points in her debut with the program and also added seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Senior Mary Baskerville contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and four steals before fouling out. Freshman Emily Archibald started at forward and played 36 minutes in her collegiate debut, recording 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
WHAT'S NEXT... The Friars will conclude their 2021-22 non-conference schedule with a road game at Brown on Dec. 8 (6:00 p.m.) and a home game against Quinnpiac at Alumni Hall on Dec. 11 (1:00 p.m.).
