NEC Player of the Week: Kelsey Cruz, FDU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Madison Johnson, SFU
Previous NEC Releases: Preseason Poll Release
NEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KELSEY CRUZ, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
Sr., G, 5-7, Chester, VA/Lloyd C. Bird
WEEK 1 STATS: 41.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, .625 FG pct., .750 FT pct.
Cruz accounted for the highest single-game scoring output of all NCAA Division I players during the season’s opening weekend. The senior guard exploded for a career-high 41 points during Fairleigh Dickinson’s lid-lifter against MAAC member Manhattan. She also recorded five rebounds and two assists during 32 minutes of floor time. Cruz was 15-of-24 shooting from the field, finishing one point short of the Knights’ single-game program record. Fourteen of her points came during FDU’s second-quarter surge that resulted in a 45-28 halftime lead. Cruz sank 2 of 4 three-point attempts and the former NCAA statistical champion produced a 9-for-12 clip from the charity stripe.
NEC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week
MADISON JOHNSON, SAINT FRANCIS U
Fr., G, 5-7, Knox, PA/Keystone
WEEK 1 STATS: 18.0 ppg, 1.0 apg, .875 FG pct., 1.000 FT pct.
Johnson came off the bench during her collegiate debut and erupted for a team-high 18 points during 17 minutes of action against American Athletic Conference member Cincinnati. The Keystone State product was sensational shooting the basketball during the 93-86 road setback. She made all but one of her eight field goal attempts and produced a perfect 4-for-4 clip from the free throw line. Johnson broke into the scorebook with a traditional three-point play that extended the Red Flash lead to 21-17 late in the first quarter. The 5-foot-7 freshman provided a spark with Saint Francis looking to erase a deficit late in the third period. She scored six points to power a 7-0 spurt that tied the score at 61-61 with 10:56 left in the game.
FIREWORKS TO START SAL'S FINAL SEASON
The Colonials opened their head coach’s final season by turning in a record offensive performance during a 124-59 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan.
Robert Morris set five single-game program records in the lid-lifter.
The Colonials established new standards in the following statistical categories – points (124), field goals made (49), scoring margin (+65), rebounds (67) and assists (37).
"I really like the way we came out ready to play with great excitement in the first game of the season" said 13th-year RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia, who is set to retire at the conclusion of the 2015-16 campaign.
"We talked about the fact that our season is a journey and that we wanted to start out strong on that journey. Although we certainly didn't play a perfect game, I think it was a good way to start our season. We still have to understand that there are both individual and team things that we need to work on if we are going to be successful."
If the NEC preseason coaches’ poll proves right, then Buscaglia’s is in for a special swan song. Robert Morris, which has appeared in the NEC Championship Game each of the past two years, is the preseason favorite to capture the conference’s bid to the NCAA Tournament.
RMU returns four starters from last year’s team that earned the No. 3 seed in the NEC Tournament and came up one win shy of a second consecutive crown.
Around the Arc
? Central Connecticut senior guard Kayla Miller scored a team-high 14 points in the opener at Vermont, a 79-63 setback, and did so before a raucous crowd of school children. UVM hosted Catamount Classroom Day inside Patrick Gymnasium on Friday. CCSU’s second game of the season ill also come against an America East member as Beryl Piper’s Blue Devils welcome UMass Lowell to Detrick Gym on Nov. 17.
? Fairleigh Dickinson heads south to contest the Naismith Hall of Fame Women's Challenge in Chapel Hill, NC. The Knights tip off the event against No. 20 North Carolina (Nov. 20) before facing Yale (Nov. 21) and Iona (Nov. 22) on the two subsequent days.
? Mount St. Mary’s had won each of its last three meeting with CAA member William & Mary. Despite seeing four players score in double figures, the Mountaineers dropped a two-point decision to the Tribe in the season opener. Former Sacred Heart head coach Ed Swanson, the all-time NEC wins leader, is in his third season at W&M.
? Sacred Heart freshmen Cleo Polyzou (Athens, Greece) and Erin Storck (Commack, NY) scored three points apiece as they made their collegiate debuts Sunday against Hartford.
? Wagner is idle until November 22 when the Seahawks conclude their season-opening three-game road swing. Lisa Cermignano’s team will face Big Ten power Ohio State at Value City Arena.
MILESTONE MAKERS
ERIKA LIVERMORE (Fairleigh Dickinson)
The senior center, whose 14 double-doubles ranked second amongst NEC leaders last year, scored 18 points and secured 11 caroms in FDU’s opener against Manhattan. The performance marked the 44th time she reached double digits in both points and rebounds in the same game. The 44 double-doubles are tied for fourth most amonst Division I active career leaders.
MIKALAH MULRAIN (Robert Morris)
The sophomore center established a reputation as a fierce defender during her freshman campaign, but wasn’t shy to score during Robert Morris’ season opener against West Virginia Wesleyan. En-route to the first double-double of her career, the 6-foot-3 Mulrain scored 20 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
HANNAH KIMMEL (Sacred Heart)
The preseason all-NEC selection, who led the Pioneers with 12 double-doubles last season, tallied 21 points and 10 rebounds in Sacred Heart’s season opener against America East member Hartford. She has 17 double-doubles (36th amongst NCAA active leaders) in 59 career games.
ASHLEY RAVELLI (Robert Morris)
The Italian-born guard has hit a trio of three-pointers over the first two games of her senior season and continutes to ascend up Robert Morris’ all-time list. Ravelli’s 156 three-pointers made are tied for fourth in RMU’s career record book. She is two makes away from pulling even with Noelle Chiodo (158) for third place. Jenna Burkett (208), who played from 2003-07, hold the all-time RMU record.
KATRICE DICKSON (Mount St. Mary’s)
Surging into her sophomore season, the 5-foot-9 guard was one of four Mountaineers to score in double figures against William & Mary. She tallied career-high 16 points, on 5-of-6 shooting, in 25 minutes off the bench. Dickson appeared in 23 games off the bench as a freshman in 2014-15.