Jan. 24, 2006
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Complete Sacred Heart Game Notes in PDF Format
HOME COURT: The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team will host Northeast Conference opponent Sacred Heart University on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The 7:00 p.m. tip-off provides the Knights an opportunity to build on their home victory over St. Francis College (NY), a 62-54 win on Jan. 20.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS: Sacred Heart enters Wednesday's match-up as the NEC's top team, most recently knocking off Robert Morris University, 78-59, in a battle for sole possession of first-place on Jan. 23.
The Pioneers are led by junior guard Amanda Pape, one of the conference's top scorers. The 5-foot-8 guard does it all for Head Coach Ed Swanson, averaging 16.9 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.9 assists.
Senior guard Nicolle Rubino provides a nice compliment to Pape, also averaging double-figure points, with 12.5 ppg, while hitting 18-of-47 three-pointers.
Junior forward Jasmine Walker is the squad's primary option in the low post, averaging 11.6 ppg and a team-best 9.4 rpg.
Sacred Hearts boasts a deep bench with all 12 players averaging at least 7.6 minutes per contest, in addition to four ballers starting all 17 games.
The Pioneers enter the Rothman Center on a nine-game winning streak, as they have jumped on their opponents early, outscoring the competition by an average of 9.6 points in the first-half.
SERIES: In nine games versus Sacred Heart, the Knights have only proved victorious on one occasion, a 64-60 win on Jan. 31, 2002. The Pioneers most recently beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 66-58, on March 1, 2005.
NEXT UP: The Knights travel to Western Pennsylvania this weekend for a two-game tilt. Head Coach Sandy Gordon's squad plays at Robert Morris University at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, before taking on St. Francis College (PA) at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.
LAST CONTEST: The Knights downed visiting St. Francis College (NY), 62-54, at the Rothman Center on Jan. 20, to collect its' first Northeast Conference win of the season.
Fairleigh Dickinson (4-10, 1-5 NEC) jumped out to a 7-4 lead to open the game on sophomore guard lay-up, but the Terriers outscored FDU 9-6 over the next four minutes to level the contest at 13-13. Freeman continued her hot shooting - draining her first of two first-half three-pointers - as the Knights took a 16-13 advantage with 10:22 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. Freeman contributed 10 points in the first-half, finishing with 12, in addition to snatching four steals.
St. Francis NY (3-14, 2-6 NEC) stormed back on the strength of two-consecutive baskets in the paint - the latter by sophomore center Katja Bavendam -- to take its' first lead of the night, 17-16.
Senior guard Krissy Suckow connected from behind the arc to retake the lead, 21-18, with 6:33 remaining in the opening half. Suckow scored a season-high 17 points, while capitalizing on 7-of-9 opportunities from the charity stripe.
Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster)'s lay-in increased the lead to 23-18, representing the Knights' largest lead of the first-half. In her first start of the season, Walkling contributed four points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Freshman Katie Warehime paired with Walkling down low to provide a second scoring option against SFNY's Bavendam, chipping in eight points and seven rebounds.
Fairleigh Dickinson took a 30-25 lead into halftime on the strength of 10 first-half assists.
The Knights never relinquished their lead over the final 20 minutes, with junior forward Mercedez Walker leading the way on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-3 post player scored all six of her points in the second-half, while tallying a team-high six blocks.
The Terriers trailed by as many as eight points in the second-half, yet cut the deficit to 53-52 with 2:36 remaining in the game, following sophomore guard Tiffany Hill's back-to-back free throws. The Knights held Hill - whom posted 24 points in her last outing at Robert Morris University - to 1-of-11 shooting from the field.
With a one-point advantage, sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland took control in crunch time, hitting a three-ball with five seconds remaining on the shot clock and 1:22 left in the game.
On the Knights' ensuring possession, Kirkland dropped in a jumper from the baseline with seven seconds on the shot clock and 32 seconds on the game clock to seal the victory. In her first non-starting role, the sophomore came off the bench to score nine points on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor.
PROTECTING THE HOOP: Junior forward Mercedez Walker matched her career-high of six blcoks versus St. Francis (NY) on Jan. 20. Walker paces the NEC with a rate of 2.9 blocks a game.
The 6-foot-3 defensive stud poses a threat to set the FDU single-season record for blocks, as she is on pace for 77 blocks this season. The current record is held by Janice Reaves' 69 swats in the 1980-81 season.
Walker is four blocks away from tenth-place on the Knights' career blocks list, with 54 in her career. The junior entered the season with 14 rejections in 25 games.
TICKLING THE TWINE: Senior guard Krissy Suckow poured in a season-high 17 points in the Knight's first conference victory over St. Francis (NY) on Jan. 20. In a season-best 38 minutes, Suckow also converted 7-of-9 shots from the charity stripe, marking two other season-highs.
FRESHMEN FIREPOWER: The duo of freshmen forwards Heather Coombs and Katie Warehime carried the FDU offense versus Quinnipiac on Jan. 16.
Coombs knocked down a career-high two three-pointers in two attempts, en route to her best scoring performance of the season with 11 points. Her ability to shoot from the outside and post inside - collecting a team-best and career-high five rebounds - enabled Warehime to get to work down on the block.
The 6-foot-1 forward shot 2-for-4 from the field, in addition to getting to the charity stripe seven times. Warehime, a 72.9 percent shooter from the line - good for 10th in the NEC - hit six free throws to register 11 points.
HOME STATE HOT STREAK: Junior forward Mercedez Walker returned home to Connecticut on Jan. 14 against Central Connecticut State University and impressed Fairleigh Dickinson fans with the best offensive performance of her career.
The 6-foot-3 forward dropped in six field goals for a new career-high, notching a personal-best 12 points. Walker's 12 shots also marked a new high, in addition to her career-high 26 minutes.
ON THE RISE: The Knights posted five new team-highs versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9, hard evidence of the strides the team has made over its first 11 games.
FDU's ball movement was smooth, as the team dropped in 32 field goals in 75 attempts. The open shots were a direct result of 24 assists and a season-low 15 turnovers.
The defense stepped up with 22 steals, however could not slow down the Red Flash's 56.4 field goal percentage, including 63.6 percent from long range and 80 percent from the foul line.
SHOOTER'S TOUCH: Sophomore guard Shanay Freeman zoned in versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9, taking her game to a new level. The Laurelton, NY-native found her stroke from the outside, as well as successfully penetrating the lane to get to the charity stripe, draining 7-of-10 field goals in the first-half.
The sophomore's 17 first-half points matched her previous career high versus Wagner set last Feb. 2. Freeman hit 5-of-7 free throws and connected on 8-of-13 field goals for 21 points in 32 minutes of floor time. The guard also grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and grabbed two steals.
POST POWER: Fairleigh Dickinson's inside game caught fire when the Knights hosted St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9. The starting front court - junior Mercedez Walker and sophomore Nikki Lockhart - combined for 15 points and 13 boards. Walker notched eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high three steals. Lockhart tallied seven points and six rebounds.
The Knights' success down low continued when Head Coach Sandy Gordon substituted fresh legs into the game in sophomore Jennifer Walkling and freshman Katie Warehime. Walkling played a then-season-high 20 minutes, recording 14 points and eight boards, while Warehime contributed nine points, four steals and three rebounds.
When the final buzzer sounded, the foursome posted a combined 38 points, 24 rebounds, and nine steals in 80 minutes.
DIRECTING THE FLOW: Sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland truly embodied the role of her position versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9, looking to pass first and score second. The sophomore recorded a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, on her way to posting two career-highs and Knight season-highs. FDU's floor general notched eight assists, in addition to six steals versus the Red Flash.
Kirkland also splashed in two three-pointers in four attempts, en route to eight points during a team-high 37 minutes.
NEC ELITE: The Knights rank fourth in the conference averaging 63.4 points per game. Defensively, FDU leads the NEC in blocked shots with 5.0 per game and 12.7 spg.
OWNING THE LANE: Junior forward Mercedez Walker proved one of the Knights' strong points in a physical contest versus Princeton University on Dec. 30. The 6-foot-3 intimidator put forth a season and-career-high 25 minutes, single-handedly defending All-Ivy League center Becky Brown.
Walker stepped up versus a dominating trio of Tiger post players, recording a game-high five blocks on the evening, in addition to ripping down a team-high seven rebounds. The defensive stalwart also chipped in a team-leading nine points, two steals and two assists.
Walker capped off her evening by draining her first-ever collegiate three-pointer.
A TOUGH WALK: The return of physical forward Jennifer Walkling to the Knights' lineup sparked FDU's post game versus Lafayette College, as the sophomore dropped in five points on 2-for-2 shooting in the first-half. Walkling finished the contest with 13 minutes of floor time, notching seven points, two rebounds and one block.
Through seven games this season, Walkling has posted season-highs of 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
FAST TIMES AT FDU: The Knights have begun three games this season with a bang. After running out to a 24-18 lead at Mount St. Mary's, Fairleigh Dickinson took a 17-5 advantage in the game's opening 10 minutes at Lafayette College. Hosting St. Francis (PA), FDU jumped out to a 22-9 advantage.
In those three match-ups, Head Coach Sandy Gordon's squad made runs for a combined 63-24 scoring outburst.
ROLLING: Freshman forward Katie Warehime continues to build on her early season success, racking up a career-high 19 points in 27 minutes at Barry University on Dec. 4. In her NEC debut at Mount St. Mary's, the post player poured in a team-high 18 points.
On Dec. 11, the forward was named Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week, marking the second occasion this season.
In FDU's 11 games, Warehime leads the squad with 10.3 ppg and has proven the Knights' leading scorer in four outings this season. Her 17.8 minutes per game top the Knights 11-player bench.
FRESHMEN FLOOR TIME: A youthful Knights' squad made significant strides versus the University of Miami, with five freshmen seeing double-digit minutes versus the home-standing Hurricanes.
Forward Katie Warehime sparked FDU with 13 points off the bench, including a 6-6 performance from the foul line.
Forwards Ashley Hayes and Jessica Naquin recorded career-high point totals with four and five points, respectively. The tandem also tallied career-highs in minutes, with Hayes playing 18 and Naquin 21.
Forward Heather Coombs matched her career-high minutes with 12, while setting a rebounding high with three.
SNEAKY SHANAY: Sophomore guard Shanay Freeman set a career-high in steals with five versus The University of Miami on Dec. 2. Freeman's new personal best came only two days after matching her previous career-high of four steals at St. John's University on Nov. 30.
ROLE PLAYER: Katie Warehime was named the Northeast Conference Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week, for the first time on Nov. 28.
Warehime came off the bench to score double-figure points in the Knights' 75-64 win over Binghamton. The Littlestown, PA native dropped in 14 points, posted a team-high eight rebounds, registered four steals, while shooting 4-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes.
Her performance marked the second occasion the freshman dropped in 10-straight points to spark the Knights this season. Warehime has collected seven double-digit scoring outburts this season.
PLAYING BIG: Megan Kirkland notched her first career double-double versus Columbia with 15 points and 13 rebounds. The sophomore has proven more than just Coach Sandy Gordon's floor general, averaging a 4.5 rpg and an NEC-best 3.0 steals per contest.
Kirkland also averages 8.9 ppg. The 5-6 point guard is registering 29.5 minutes per game, shooting 38.5 percent from three-point land on 39 attempts, and dishing out 3.3 assists.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: In her collegiate debut at University of Maryland - Baltimore County's Retriever Classic, forward Rachel Ormsby turned some heads in her sixth-man role, averaging 15.5 minutes per game. The freshman scored a team-high 15 points versus Columbia University on Nov. 19, in addition to notching six rebounds. The following day in the championship game, Ormsby contributed seven points and three rebounds in the Knights' loss to UMBC.
At 6-2 she has proven an outside threat, posting a 68.3 shooting percentage (7-12) from behind the arc and is 11-for-26 from the field.
Her exceptional tournament performance garnered NEC Choice Hotels Rookie of the Week honors in the first week of the season.
SETTING THE BAR: Junior forward Mercedez Walker shattered her previous career-high of two blocks versus Columbia. The junior tallied six stuffs in the contest to accompany her seven points and five rebounds. Her 11-point performance against UMBC the following day also set a career-high.
Walker continued her defensive dominance at Barry University on Dec. 4, notching four blocks, then again on Dec. 30 at Princeton, the forward tallied five.
The junior averages an NEC-leading 2.9 swats per game.
SENIOR SHOW: Lone senior Krissy Suckow was named to the UMBC Retriever Classic All-Tournament team following an impressive two-game performance. The guard averaged 11.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds en route to the Knights' runner-up finish.
COACH QUOTES:
Columbia (11/19):
· "She's our floor general and it all starts with the point guard," Coach Sandy Gordon said. "Megan (Kirkland) got us going and put forth a solid all-around performance at both ends of the court."
· "We got some big minutes off the bench from our freshmen," Gordon said. "I'm going to play a lot of freshmen because we're so young and it's good to see different people step up at various times."
· "Coming off a season like last year, the win is huge," Gordon said. "The team has worked so hard and notching this win as a result of that diligence provides a huge confidence builder."
Binghamton (11/23):
· "This is a lot of firsts, winning at home and winning the home opener," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "This is a huge win going into a tough stretch. We knew they were going to be good, so this is a good win going into the holiday."
· "The difference between last year and this year is our depth and our tempo," Gordon said. "We try to push the ball in transition. From day one we've been harping on intensity and solid defense."
St. John's (11/30):
· "Tonight was a great effort - a great effort for 30 minutes," Gordon said. "Unfortunately, games are 40 minutes long and we got killed on the boards. As young as we are, to play with a team like that, it's a positive."
· "They had a ton of points off put backs," Gordon said. "They made their run off the offensive boards. Regardless, we'll take this experience and build from here."
Mount St. Mary's (12/10):
· "Katie (Warehime) had a big game," Gordon said. "For her to come in and leave an impact the way she has in seven games has been a huge lift."
· "That's NEC basketball," Gordon said. "Every game is close. We got down 14 points but we still competed and didn't quit. The bottom line is 32 turnovers won't get it done."
Quinnipiac (1/7):
· "It's a disappointing loss," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "It was a game of runs and we had too many mistakes at key points, particularly turnovers at critical times. We missed too many lay-ups and in NEC basketball the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win the game."
St. Francis NY (1/20):
· "Tonight we played well with the lead," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We played to win and the result was a victory. We finally got the monkey off our back and got a big win, which is a huge boost to our confidence."
· "That (Kirkland's three-pointer with 1:22 remaining) was a huge shot," Gordon continued, "Especially because of the way we have a tendency to give up leads late. We changed up the line-up a bit and Meg provided a spark off the bench with her confident shooting."
· "The win's even sweeter because it was televised (on Fox Sports Network - New York)," Gordon said. "We play hard regardless of whether it's on TV but we've been fighting and battling to get a win for (Assistant) Coach (Joymarie) Swanson, who we know was at home watching. Above all, it's great to see the kids smiling."
RULE OF 10: FDU remained close in nearly every contest last season, but couldn't seem to catch a break. How close were they? A total of 18 of their school-record 25 losses were by 10 or fewer points.
PRESEASON POLL: The Knights were chosen to finish tenth in the NEC preseason coaches poll, according to a vote of the league's head coaches. The rankings and preseason all-conference team were announced during a media teleconference with coaches.
The Knights, who ended last season 2-25 overall with a 1-17 mark in league action, finished ahead of only ahead of Staten Island's Wagner College.
The squad ended the season short of the conference tournament for only the second time in Coach Gordon's six seasons as Fairleigh Dickinson.
THE COACHES: Head Coach Sandy Gordon enters her seventh season with the Knights. She has led her team to the NEC Tournament in four of her six seasons manning the bench, with the team bowing out in the first round in each of those tournaments. Gordon expects her squad of 13 underclassmen to be competitive in every game.
In Sacred Heart's six seasons at the Division I level, Head Coach Ed Swanson has guided the Pioneers to a 104-68 record and six-straight Northeast Conference Tournaments, in addition to never finishing lower than third in the final league standings. Finishing 18-11 last season, SHU ran their streak of seasons with at least a .500 record or better to 10-straight.
Last season, the Pioneers finished with an 18-11 record and a second place finish in the NEC.
In 2003-04, Swanson - a SHU alum from 1989 -- delivered a program record, 21-win season. The 14-year head coach earned his 200th career victory and was named NEC Brenda Reilly Coach of the Year.
