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NEC Player of the Week: Jessica Kovatch, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Jessica Kovatch, SFU
Previous NEC Releases: Nov. 16 | Preseason Poll Release
NEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JESSICA KOVATCH, SAINT FRANCIS U
Fr., G, 5-9, Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg
WEEK 2 STATS: 25.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.7 spg, 1.4 apg, .440 FG pct., .410 3FG pct.
Kovatch has exploded onto the scene as the NEC’s leading scorer through the season’s first two weeks. She reached the 30-point mark in back-to-back games last week, a first for a NEC freshman. Over the course of three games, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 25.3 points, 3.7 steals and 3.0 rebounds per outing. After a 14-point performance during a setback to ACC member Pittsburgh, Kovatch erupted for 62 points in 61 minutes of playing time against a pair of mid-major opponents. First, the Garden State product poured in 30 points and dished out four assists in a runaway victory over Big South member Coastal Carolina. She finished 11-of-20 shooting from the floor and also secured five steals in the 106-74 triumph. After becoming the first NEC rookie in eight seasons to reach the 30-point mark, Kovatch topped her initial effort later in the week at Canisius. She victimized the Golden Griffs for 32 points, including an 8-for-16 clip from downtown. In her last two games, Kovatch has shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from three-point range.
NEC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week
JESSICA KOVATCH, SAINT FRANCIS U
Fr., G, 5-9, Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg
WEEK 2 STATS: 25.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.7 spg, 1.4 apg, .440 FG pct., .410 3FG pct.
Kovatch has exploded onto the scene as the NEC’s leading scorer through the season’s first two weeks. She reached the 30-point mark in back-to-back games last week, a first for a NEC freshman. Over the course of three games, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 25.3 points, 3.7 steals and 3.0 rebounds per outing. After a 14-point performance during a setback to ACC member Pittsburgh, Kovatch erupted for 62 points in 61 minutes of playing time against a pair of mid-major opponents. First, the Garden State product poured in 30 points and dished out four assists in a runaway victory over Big South member Coastal Carolina. She finished 11-of-20 shooting from the floor and also secured five steals in the 106-74 triumph. After becoming the first NEC rookie in eight seasons to reach the 30-point mark, Kovatch topped her initial effort later in the week at Canisius. She victimized the Golden Griffs for 32 points, including an 8-for-16 clip from downtown. In her last two games, Kovatch has shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from three-point range.
PRESEASON FAVORITE COLONIALS TAKING EARLY ROAD TEST HEAD ON
They won’t see the Sewall Center again until November 29.
Sal Buscaglia’s Colonials are in the midst of a four-game road swing and already have a pair of wins to show for their travels.
Robert Morris ran past Atlantic 10 member La Salle on Saturday (Nov. 21) only two days after a double-digit victory over former NEC rival Monmouth (Nov. 19), which has spent the past two years in the MAAC.
“I want our kids to believe they can compete against anyone from any conference just by playing hard, playing smart and playing together as a team. That’s exactly what happened tonight,” said Buscaglia following a 31-point victory over La Salle in Philadelphia.
“We missed some shots early, but we stayed with it. It was great that everybody got to play – they all deserve time because they’ve all been working hard.”
They’ve all been playing and scoring, too.
The Colonials have had at least nine players score in all four games this season and twice have had 11 or more players find the scoring column. Robert Morris has 10 players on its roster who are averaging at least 10 minutes per game.
RMU showed its depth in the 60-47 road win over Monmouth.
Five different bench players scored at least two points as the Colonials ended the Hawks’ three-game win streak in the series. Creeping closer to Robert Morris’ all-time record for 3-pointers, senior Ashley Ravelli scored 16 to lead a trio of starters in double figures.
“I’m really proud of the way battled for 40 minutes and that’s been our theme since our last game,” said 13th year RMU head coach Sal Buscaglia. “When they cut the lead to one, that’s when I was most proud that we were able to answer with a big run.”
The Colonials end the four-game road stretch with a short trip to Youngstown State (Nov. 24). They’ll come home to face Northern Kentucky (Nov. 29) and Morgan State (Dec. 2) before hitting the road again for three in a row prior to Christmas.
BLACKBIRDS FIND WIN COLUMN, SOUNDLY DEFEAT HOWARD
LIU Brooklyn’s offense was sizzling during the Blackbirds’ first victory of the season – an 89-72 road triumph over MEAC member Howard.
Rookie head coach Stephanie Oliver’s team shot 61.5 percent from the field in the win, and had three players score in double digits.
Senior Shanice Vaughan had a career-high 23 points, along with five assists and two steals. Junior Shanovia Dove had 20 points and a team-high six assists, while sophomore Paris Jones chipped in a career-high 18 points off the bench. At 1-1 overall, LIU returns to Brooklyn to open its home schedule with the annual Turkey Classic in the Steinberg Wellness Center. The Blackbirds host ACC member Florida State on November 27 before taking aim at Sam Houston State two days later.
AROUND THE ARC
? Bryant, which picked up a win over Vermont (Nov. 21), will face an America East member for the second game in a row. The Bulldogs visit UMass Lowell (Nov. 24) with a chance to even their overall record at 2-2. Bryant dropped an 86-85 decision in Lowell on Dec. 10, 2014.
? Central Connecticut posted an 11-point victory over UMass Lowell (Nov. 17) in what was the second of five contests the Blue Devils will play against members of the America East Conference. CCSU opened with a setback at Vermont. They’ll contest road games against Maine (Nov. 25) and Hartford (Dec. 2) while welcoming New Hampshire to Detrick Gym in between. The win over UMass Lowell means that CCSU has won five of its last six home openers.
? Fairleigh Dickinson suffered through a winless three-game stretch at the Naismith Hall of Fame Challenge in Chapel Hill, NC. Seniors Kelsey Cruz (Chester, VA) and Erika Livermore (Nazareth, PA) averaged 11.0 points per game apiece during the Knights’ stay in the Tar Heel State. The Knights will close out competition in the Naismith Challenge when they contest one final game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on November 29.
? Mount St. Mary’s will visit Bucknell (Nov. 24) for the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs. Despite dropping a 74-49 decision to the Bison last season, the Mount owns a 6-2 record in the series. ... Junior Alexis Carter, a Hofstra transfer, has paced the Mount St. Mary's offense this season, averaging 18 points per contest while leading the team in scoring in all three games. The junior also owns a share of the team-lead in rebounds with 7.7 per game. Harris ranks second on the Mount with 12 points a contest, having tallied double-digit point outputs in each of the opening three games.
? Robert Morris has three of the program’s all-time leaders in three-point field goal percentage on this year’s roster. Three current RMU players rank amongst the top-eight three-point shooters in RMU annals. Guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou (Thessaloniki, Greece) sits fourth (.382) followed by Rebecca Navarro (Galicia, Spain) in seventh (.368) and Lou Mataly in eighth (.353).
? Sacred Heart saw three of its players score in double figures for the third consecutive contest. Senior forward Alissa Tarsi (Clinton, NJ) scored a game-high 17 points in a setback to cross-town rival Fairfield (Nov. 21). Guard Adaysha Williams (LaCrosse, WI) scored 15 for SHU and Hannah Kimmel (Harpursville, NY) went for 11 points. … The Pioneers look to break into the win column during their visit to Puerto Rico for the San Juan Shootout. SHU will play two contests in two days (Nov. 27 & 28).
MILESTONE MAKERS
ALISSA TARSI (Sacred Heart)
The senior forward recorded her first career double-double in the Pioneers’ setback at crosstown rival Fairfield (Nov. 21). Tarsi posted game highs in points (17) and rebounds (10).
BREANNA RUCKER (Bryant)
The reigning NEC Player of the Year powered the Bulldogs past America East member Vermont (Nov. 21) by recording her first double-double of the season. Rucker accounted for 21 points and 14 rebounds in the home win one season after leading the conference with 23 double-doubles, a mark that ranked sixth amongst national Division I leaders.
MIKALAH MULRAIN (Robert Morris)
The center posted her second double-double in the season’s first four games. She tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes at A-10 member La Salle. The 2015 all-defensive selection also had two blocks.
ASHLEY RAVELLI (Robert Morris)
The Italian-born guard hit four treys last week to run her career total to 160 three-pointers made and move into third place on RMU’s all-time list. Now that Ravelli has passed Noelle Chiodo (158) for third place, Sade Logan (205) is her next target. Jenna Burkett (208), who played from 2003-07, holds the all-time RMU record.
STEPHANIE OLIVER (LIU Brooklyn)
The first-year head coach secured the first win of her LIU tenure when the Blackbirds tamed the Howard Bison on Nov. 22 in our nation’s capital. Oliver, who competed for Marist from 2000 through 2004, spent the past two seasons as the top lieutenant to Seton Hall head coach Anthony Bozzella.
SAL BUSCAGLIA (Robert Morris)
Now in his 13th season at RMU, Buscaglia (208) is just three wins away from the team record of 211 victories held by Dan Swalga (1978-1990). Buscaglia has more 20 win seasons, NEC championships, and postseason tournament berths than the program’s other four coaches combined.