Two ESPN3 Women's Basketball Broadcast to be held in New Jersey this Week

2/19/2014 5:10:00 PM

MAAC Sports

EDISON, N.J. – On Thursday, Saint Peter’s University will host Canisius College at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, N.J at 6 p.m. on ESPN3 and on Saturday, Monmouth University will host Niagara University at the MAC in West Long Branch, N.J. at 4 p.m. on ESPN3. The two broadcasts will be featured live on ESPN3 as part of the MAAC ESPN broadcast package.

The Saint Peter’s University women’s basketball team under first-year head coach Pat Coyle, is 3-22 overall and 2-14 in league play. The Peacocks will look to end a 10 game skid and avoid a season sweep by the Golden Griffins. Saint Peter’s currently leads the conference in rebounding defense and rebounding defense percentage. Senior forward Kaydine Bent is averaging a double-double in league play scoring 14.5 points (sixth in the MAAC) and grabbing 10.2 rebounds (third in the MAAC). Senior guard Aziza May averages 2.4 assists per contest in league games, good for 13^th. Sophomore center Hala Mostafa ranks 10^th in the MAAC in blocked shots per game.

Canisius College is currently tied for seventh place in the league at 6-10 in conference games and 10-15 overall. The Golden Griffins have gone an even 6-6 since starting 0-4 in league play. Canisius ranks third in the league in rebounding defense and blocked shots. Junior guard Kayla Hoohuli leads the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game in MAAC play. Senior Jamie Ruttle is second on the team in scoring and ranks in the top ten in the league in free throw shooting percentage. Freshman guard Lauren D’Hont currently leads the league in three-point field goal percentage, making 62.5% of her attempts in league games. Sophomore Tiahana Mills ranks seventh in the league in assists per MAAC contest dishing out 3.8.

In the first meeting on Jan. 05, the Golden Griffins edged the Peacocks 48-47. The win gave Canisius its first MAAC victory of the season as Kayla Hoohuli finished with a game-high 15 points, and Jen Lennox tallied 14. Aziza May led the Peacocks with 12 points.

In the first year as a member of the MAAC, Monmouth University sits in ninth place with a mark of 6-21 overall and 5-11 in the league. The Hawks are on a five game losing streak, with all five defeats coming from the top four teams in the league (Iona, Marist, Fairfield, and Quinnipiac twice). Monmouth is currently tied for second in the league in rebounding margin, posting a plus 1.9 margin. They also rank top five in the MAAC in defensive field goal and defensive three-point field goal percentages. Redshirt senior guard Chevannah Paalvast leads the Hawks in scoring and ranks 12^th in the MAAC averaging 12.8 points per game. She also leads the team in assists and steals during MAAC play. Redshirt junior forward Sara English grabs 6.7 rebounds per outing, good for seventh in the conference and 1 block per game, tied for fifth in the conference. Freshman Helena Kurt was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Nov. 25, while Mia Hopkins earned Rookie of the Week honors on Jan. 25.

The Niagara University Purple Eagles sit tied in seventh place in the league at 6-10 and hold an 8-17 overall record. The Purple Eagles are coming off of a 1-1 week where they knocked off Siena 65-57 on Thursday, but fell to Manhattan 64-56 on Saturday. Niagara leads the league in rebounding margin posting a plus 3.7 and defensive rebounds picking up 28 per game. Junior guard Meghan McGuiness leads the team and ranks seventh in the league in scoring, putting up 14.5 points per game in conference action. McGuiness also leads the league in free-throw shooting percentage and ranks top five in the league in three-point field goal percentage and makes. Senior Chanel Johnson is second on the team in scoring and ninth in the MAAC recording 13.6 points per contest. Junior Kelly Van Leeuwen ranks fifth in assists with 4.4 dimes and third in assists to turnover ratio posting a 2.7 ratio. Freshman Victoria Rampodo leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots. Rampodo was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Jan. 20 and Feb. 17.

The Purple Eagles won the first meeting of the two teams, 48-45, as they overcame a 14-point first half deficit for the win on Jan. 19. Victoria Rampado led Niagara with 23 points, while Danica Dragicevic led Monmouth with 10 points and eight rebounds.