March 1, 2016

Women's Basketball Release 3.1.16 

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- All ten seeds will be determine after Wednesday's regular season finales for the Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament, which begins with the first round on Saturday, March 5. Lafayette will host Bucknell to kick off Wednesday’s contests and will be aired on the Patriot League Network and American Sports Network at 6 p.m. The other four games – Army West Point at Boston University; Holy Cross at Loyola Maryland; Lehigh at Colgate; Navy at American -- will also be broadcast on the Patriot League Network but will begin at 7 p.m.

Patriot League Twitter Notebook - @PL_WBB
* All ten seeds have yet to be determined for the Patriot League Tournament and will be set Wednesday night.
* Army West Point and Bucknell will be the top two seeds, which could potentially be determined by College Basketball News RPI ratings.
* Lehigh has clinched a quarterfinal home game and will be the third or fourth seed.
* Holy Cross and Loyola Maryland will play for the last quarterfinal home game.
* Navy will play on the road in the quarterfinals as either the No. 5 or 6 seed.
* American and Lafayette need Colgate and Boston U. to lose to host the first round games.
* Tournament brackets will be released Thursday morning, if College Basketball News RPI ratings will be utilized for seeding.
* Lafayette, American, Boston U., and Colgate will kick off the Patriot League Tournament in the first round on Saturday.
* The Patriot League Network will show the tournament first round, quarterfinals, and semifinals.
* The tournament championship game will air Saturday, March 12 on CBS Sports Network.

Patriot League Notebook

Holy Cross, Loyola will Battle for Final Quarterfinal Home Game
How they ended up where they are may be different, but it sure is a strange coincidence that Holy Cross and Loyola Maryland are the two teams fighting for the last quarterfinal home game. Because they play each other to end the regular season slate. The Crusaders and Greyhounds each went 3-8 against non-League opponents this season and currently sit tied in third with a 10-7 League record, bringing their overall record to an identical 13-15. The pair have been silently battling for positioning all season, but it will come to a head on Wednesday night in Baltimore, when they play for the final time in the regular season finale. The two teams hadn’t even met this season until their first encounter on Feb. 24, when Loyola captured a 59-49 road victory at the Hart Center. A win in the season finale could mean the difference between a No. 3 seed and a No. 6 seed; a quarterfinal home game, and a quarterfinal road game. While all the contests are equally important on Wednesday night, as none of the ten teams are locked into a seed, the matchup between Holy Cross and Loyola is shaping up to be one not to miss.

Exciting Midweek Matchups Close Out Regular Season
While the top six and bottom four teams have been determined, all ten spots in the Patriot League Women’s Basketball Tournament seeding are still up for grabs and will be finalized with the conclusion of the regular season on Wednesday night. Lafayette will host Bucknell to kick off the day’s contests, which will air on the Patriot League Network and American Sports Network starting at 6 p.m. The Leopards can secure a first round home game with a win over the Bison, while a loss could potentially drop them to a No. 9 seed and first round road game. The eight other teams will all begin an hour later and will broadcast on the Patriot League Network. In addition to the Holy Cross-Loyola Maryland matchup, the Navy-American and Lehigh-Colgate outcomes could mean significant shifts for multiple teams, particularly if both the Midshipmen and Raiders win. If Navy loses they will be locked in as the No. 6 seed and if Lehigh wins, they will be the No. 3 seed. The other contest that will be going on at the same time is Army West Point at Boston University. If the Terriers can knock of the League leaders and Lafayette, Colgate, and American all lose, they can earn a No. 8 seed and first round home game.

Seeding Scenarios -- What We Know
While pretty much anything can still happen on Wednesday night, there are a few certain pieces of information that are known about the Patriot League Tournament seeding.

• Army West Point, Bucknell, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland, Holy Cross, and Navy all receive first round byes.
• Army West Point and Bucknell will be the top two seeds and make up half of the quarterfinal sites. If both remain tied after the season finale, College Basketball News RPI ratings will be used to determine the No. 1 seed.
• Lehigh cannot drop lower than the No. 4 seed and will therefore host a quarterfinal game.
• Navy can only reach as high as the No. 5 seed and will be on the road for the quarterfinal round; if they lose to American, the Midshipmen are the No. 6 seed.
• Loyola Maryland and Holy Cross will be playing for the final home game but both have the potential to finish as low as the No. 6 seed.
• Lafayette, American, Boston University, and Colgate will all play in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament on Saturday, March 5.
• If the bottom for all lose on Wednesday night, Lafayette and American would be the first round hosts.

For complete Patriot League Women’s Basketball Tournament Scenarios, click here.

1,000 Point Club Adds Five this Season
Lehigh junior Lexi Martins is the newest member of the 1,000 Point Club, reaching the milestone during Saturday night’s game against Army West Point. Martins is the fifth player across the League to accomplish the feat this season and is the 98th in Patriot League women’s basketball history. She joins Colgate senior Josie Stockill, Bucknell junior Claire DeBoer, Holy Cross senior Lisa Mifsud, and Lafayette senior Jamie O’Hare

Army’s Kelsey Minato on Pace to Set Patriot League Scoring Record
Army West Point’s senior All-America candidate Kelsey Minato became the Academy’s all-time scoring leader on Wednesday, Feb. 10 against Colgate when she buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 27 seconds on the clock in the third quarter. She surpassed Kevin Houston’s (USMA’87) record of 2,325 and finished the game with 29 points. Earlier in the season, Minato also became the first women’s basketball player at the Academy to reach 2,000 career points. The senior guard now has 2,445 career points and is just 18 points away from breaking the women’s basketball Patriot League scoring record of 2,462 points -- held by Bucknell’s Molly Creamer (1999-03). Minato is currently averaging 23.4 points per game.

End of Season Awards to be Announced on Friday, Including New Category
The women’s basketball end of the season Patriot League awards will be announced on Friday morning and will include a new category in addition to the first, second, and third team All-League squads and the All-Rookie Team. For the first time, the 2016 awards will also feature a five-member All-Defensive Team. Individual honors will still be awarded for Player, Defensive Player, Rookie, and Coach of the Year. Patriot League head coaches will vote on the honors following the conclusion of the regular season.

2016 Patriot League Tournament
The 2016 Patriot League Tournament, featuring all 10 teams playing at campus sites, begins with the first round on Saturday, March 5 (#10 seed plays at the #7 seed and the #9 seed visits the #8 seed) followed by the quarterfinals two days later (#1 overall seed hosting the 9/8 winner and the #5 seed playing at the #4 seed on one half of the bracket and the #2 seed at home against the 10/7 winner with the #6 seed at the #3 seed on the other side). The four remaining squads then move to on the semifinals and championship, which will be hosted by the highest-seeded semifinal team on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12. The first round and quarterfinal games will be shown on Patriot League Network as will the semifinals, while the championship game will be aired on CBS Sports Network. All Patriot League Tournament games will be played at the site of the higher seed.
More information can be found on the women’s basketball championship page, here.

Team Notebook

AMERICAN (6-22, 4-13) In a game that featured six tied scores and six lead changes, the Eagles were held off by Greyhounds and dropped Saturday’s contest 55-50 at Bender Arena … While Loyola Maryland led for much of the game (33:01), American stayed within close throughout the game and only allowed the deficit to reach six points … The last tied score of the game came at 8:24 in the fourth quarter when AU junior Lauren Crisler hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 40-40 … However, Loyola matched the trey and held the lead the rest of the way … Though the Eagles weren’t going down without a fight and closed the gap to just one point, two times … Freshman Cecily Carl posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds … Crisler also netted 13 points and grabbed six rebounds … Sophomore Maria Liddane chipped in seven points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while junior Jordan Light notched a team-high five assists and also added four rebounds and two steals.

ARMY WEST POINT (25-2, 16-1) The Black Knights added their 15th straight win and matched a program record of 25 victories when they defeated the Mountain Hawks Saturday evening, 69-49, at Stabler Arena … Army West Point jumped out to an 8-2 lead, thanks to six points from senior Aimee Oertner … Despite going on a scoring drought through the final 6:52 of the game, the Blacks Knights outscored the Mountain Hawks 10-8 in the final period and were still able to secure a 20-point win … Minato scored a game-high 23 points, making five three-points to reach 87 triples this season to pass her own team single-season record of 84 she set last year … She also added seven assists and five steals … Oertner, who grew up 20 miles away from Lehigh in Slatington, Pa., put on a show for her family and friends and finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks … Morris and freshman Madison Hovren each pitched in nine points off the bench, while Hovren also tallied a career-high-tying seven rebounds.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY (3-25, 3-14) The Terriers fell to the Crusaders in a battle of the Turnpike Trophy rivalry series 74-50 on Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center … After Boston University opened the game with the first points on a Meghan Doogan layup, Holy Cross scored nine answered points and ended the first quarter with a 12-point lead, 22-10 … BU cut the deficit to eight three times in the second period but went into the break trailing by 10, 37-27 ... The Crusaders then held a double-digit lead the rest of the way … Doogan led the way and finished with 19 points and hauled in four rebounds … Sophomore Corinne Williams pitched in 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while junior Meghan Green added seven points, three rebounds, and two assists.

BUCKNELL (22-6, 16-1) The Bison set a program record for wins in a season of 22 after capturing a 64-52 win over the Midshipmen Saturday night at Sojka Pavilion, celebrating Senior Night … The three seniors honored before the game – Tyler Craig, Sheaira Jones, Claire Maree O’Bryan – made the most of their final regular season home game at Sojka Pavilion … Craig finished with 11 points, scoring eight in the first quarter alone, and also added three rebounds and two assists … O’Bryan contributed two points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Jones added four points … The trio also set a school record by winning the 71st game of their careers, passing the Class of 2009’s 70 career wins … Junior Claire DeBoer led the Bison with 16 points and five assists, followed by freshman Kaitlyn Slagus with 13 points and three rebounds ... Klotz just missed a double-double with 12 rebounds and nine points.

COLGATE (5-22, 3-14) The Raiders The completed the sweep of the Leopards on Saturday while celebrating Senior Day at Cotterell Court with a 70-55 win to stay in the hunt for a home contest in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament … After Colgate opened the scoring on a three-pointer from junior Katie Curtis, Lafayette scored eight-straight points and ended the first quarter with a 16-13 advantage … The Raiders went ahead 25-23 midway through the second period and extended it with 11 more points to head into the break with a 36-28 lead over the Leopards … Colgate then outscored Lafayette 34-27 in the second half to secure the victory … Seniors Randyll Butler, Paige Kriftcher, and Josie Stockill were recognized during the pregame ceremonies … Stockill led all scorers with 18 points and posted a career-high 16 rebounds … She also added three blocks and two assists … Curtis followed with 15 points, while Kriftcher chipped in 10 … Sophomore Julia Barcello contributed a career-high 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.

HOLY CROSS (13-15, 10-7) The Crusaders earned a point in the Turnpike Trophy rivalry series after defeating the Terriers 74-50 on Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center … Boston University opened the game with the first points but Holy Cross scored nine unanswered points and ended the first quarter with a 12-point lead, 22-10, capped off by a three-pointer from senior Kate Gillespie with three seconds remaining … BU cut the deficit to eight three times in the second period but were unable to get any closer the rest of the way … The Crusaders celebrated Senior Day and honored its four seniors before the game – Gillespie, Lisa Mifsud, Molly Hourigan, and Raquel Scott … Mifsud was named the Turnpike Trophy Most Valuable Player, after leading the team with 21 points and three assists … Sophomore Katie Doherty followed with a career-high 17 points, that included four treys, while adding four assists … Gillespie notched a season-high 14 points, which included a 4-of-7 clip from downtown … Sophomore Infiniti Thomas-Waheed posted a career-high six steals and added seven points, six rebounds, and five assists.

LAFAYETTE (6-21, 4-13) The Leopards were hoping to avenge its Patriot League season-opening loss to the Raiders at Cotterell Court on Saturday but came up short, 70-55 … After Colgate opened the scoring on a three-pointer, Lafayette scored eight-straights points and ended the first quarter with a 16-13 advantage … The Raiders went ahead 25-23 midway through the second period and extended it with 11 more points to head into the break with a 36-28 lead … The Leopards couldn’t catch up in the second half and were outscored 34-27 … Freshman Angela Ribarich totaled 16 points off the bench and added five rebounds and two blocks … Senior Jamie O’Hare chipped in with 15 points and moved into 11th on the all-time scoring list, while junior Maia Hood was just shy of her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and nine rebounds.

LEHIGH (17-11, 10-7) The Mountain Hawks celebrated Senior Night at Stabler Arena on Saturday but were unable to send their seniors off with a win, falling to the Black Knights 69-49 ... Trailing 43-24 after the break, Lehigh started off the third period on a 14-4 run to cut the deficit to nine ... However, Army hit back-to-back three pointers and led by double-digits the rest of the way ... Lehigh junior Lexi Martins became the 17th 1,000 point scorer in program history when she converted a free throw with 3:26 left in the third quarter … She also becomes just the seventh member in program history to join the 1,000 point/500 rebound club … The junior registered her 22nd double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds … Senior Kerry Kinek followed with 11 points, while sophomore Quinci Mann pitched in seven … The Mountain Hawks also celebrated Senior Night and recognized its four seniors – Amina Affini, Elizabeth Jordan, Kinek, and Elizabeth Sharlow – before the game began.

LOYOLA MARYLAND (13-15, 10-7) In a game that featured six tied scores and six lead changes, the Greyhounds were able to hold off the Eagles and capture a 55-50 victory at Bender Arena on Saturday … While Loyola Maryland led for much of the game (33:01), American stayed hot on the team’s tail, allowing the deficit to reach just six points … At 8:24 in the fourth quarter when AU hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 40-40 but sophomore Bri Betz-White matched it with a trey of her own to give the Greyhounds the lead for good … Loyola was led by senior Colleen Marshall with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals … Betz-White followed with 15 points, while senior Jeneh Perry tallied her eight double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

NAVY (15-13, 9-8) The Midshipmen came up short to the Bison and dropped a 64-52 decision at Sojka Pavilion Saturday night ... The two teams traded points at the start of the game and were tied at 4-4, but Bucknell went on a 19-3 run to close out the first quarter … Trailing the Bison 35-19 at the start of the third, Navy went on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to nine ... However, a pair of good free throws put Bucknell back ahead by double digits and was held the rest of the way ... Junior Danielle Poblarp led the team with 11 points … Freshman Molly Sanders followed with nine points and four assists, while classmate Christina Potts grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.