Women's Basketball Conference Schedule to Resume this Week
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – The women’s basketball programs of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference resume league play this week with five games on Friday, Jan. 2 and five contests on Sunday, Jan. 4.
The January conference slate kicks off with Saint Peter’s hosting Rider in Jersey City, N.J. at 1 p.m. on Friday. Both the Peacocks and the Broncs are looking to win their first MAAC game of the season, as both teams currently hold 0-2 records. Rider finished 2014 with an overall record of 3-9, highlighted by two December wins, while Saint Peter’s concludes 2014 looking for their first win of the season.
The remaining four games on Friday begin with another 1p.m. tip-off between Quinnipiac and Niagara in Hamden, Conn. Quinnipiac sits at 10-3 and has been ranked among the top mid-major programs in the country. The Bobcats are 2-0 in conference play and are the only MAAC team currently with double digit wins, while securing a seven game winning streak from November 30 to December 28. Niagara is also 2-0 in conference play and sit at 6-5 overall. The Purple Eagles have won six out of their last eight games, highlighted by a five game winning streak.
The Gaels and the Hawks sit at 1-1 and played to a double overtime thriller on December 7, with Monmouth coming out victorious 75-74. Iona sits at 4-7 overall, highlighted by a 75-67 win over Central Florida on December 14. Monmouth’s overall winning mark of 5-6 includes wins over Wagner and LIU Brooklyn with their last win being an 82-62 victory over Colgate. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.
Another 7 p.m. start features the matchup of the day as 6-5 Marist takes on 7-4 Siena. Siena is riding a four game winning streak, and began the year on November 14 with a big 58-50 win over Buffalo. The Saints are 0-2 in conference play, while Marist is 2-0. The Red Foxes are on a five game winning streak of their own, highlighted by wins over Albany on December 10 and South Dakota on Dec 21.
Closing out the 7 p.m. games are Manhattan and Canisius in Riverdale, New York. The Jaspers, who are 0-2 in conference games, welcome the 2-0 Griffs to Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan closed out the 2014 calendar year at 1-10, while Canisius posted an overall record of 4-7. The Jaspers’ lone win came on November 16 versus Holy Cross, a 66-60 victory on the road. On November 30, the Griffs attained their largest comeback win in school history against Saint Francis Pennsylvania and sparked a four game winning streak after the 87-74 finish.
The schedule for Sunday, Jan. 4 includes Siena at Saint Peter’s at 12 p.m., Monmouth at Quinnipiac at 1 p.m., and Canisius at Iona, Niagara at Fairfield, and Rider at Manhattan all tipping at 2 p.m. Fairfield sits at 1-1 in conference play and currently sports a 2-9 mark. The Stags secured their first win at home versus Butler 81-77 on November 22.
Heading into 2015
Quinnipiac and Marist both have five wins at home with Marist, Niagara and Siena all currently sitting on winning streaks.
Team National Rankings
Canisius ranks 14th in three point field goal percentage hitting 38.1 percent of shots.
Iona ranks 16th in free throw percentage with a mark of 76.4 and 44th in three point field goals per game with 7.4.
Marist ranks 31st in assist to turnover ratio, 11th in free throw percentage, third in fewest personal fouls per game and seventh in fewest turnovers per game.
Monmouth ranks 10th in three point field goal defense with a mark of 23.9 and 44th in three point field goals per game with 7.4.
Quinnipiac ranks sixth in assists, eighth in assists per game, 14th in assist to turnover ratio, 26th in three point field goals per game, 15th in three point field goals, 21st in blocked shots per game and 14th in blocks.
Individual National Rankings
Fairfield’s senior guard Felicia DeCruz ranks 32nd in assist to turnover ratio.
Iona’s senior guard Damika Martinez ranks third in points per game, ninth in total points, 38th in free throw percentage, and 17th in three point field goals per game. Junior forward Joy Adams ranks 23rd in defensive rebounds per game, second in offensive rebounds per game, fourth in rebounds per game, eighth in rebounds and 22nd in double-doubles. Sophomore guard Marina Lizarazu ranks 26th in assists per game.
Marist’s junior forward Madeline Blais ranks third in free throw percentage and 23rd in three point field goal percentage. Sophomore forward Katharine Fogarty ranks 23rd in free throw percentage.
Monmouth’s junior guard Sarah Olson ranks 17th in three point field goals per game.
Niagara’s senior guard Meghan McGuinness ranks 44th in 3 point field goal percentage.
Quinnipiac’s senior guard Gillian Abshire ranks 16th in assist to turnover ratio, eighth in assists and 15th in assists per game. Senior forward Samantha Guastella ranks 33rd in blocks per game and 26th in blocks.
Siena’s sophomore forward Meghan Donohue ranks 13th in field goal percentage. Senior guard Tehresa Coles ranks seventh in steals per game and 26th in steals.
The 2014-15 season culminates with the MAAC Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. March 5-9. Tickets can be purchased here.
The MAAC will host the NCAA Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen Albany Regional at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased here.
For the full women’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.