On Tuesday night, Davidson extended its winning streak to 10 while handing LaSalle its 8th straight loss.  Wildcats have 5th longest win streak in country.  They are receiving votes in both AP and USA Today polls.  St Joe's is also receiving votes in USA Today poll.  And Elle Sutphin is back.  Elsewhere, Rhode Island won its 4th in a row edging George Mason.  UMass won its first A10 game sending Dayton to its 3rd straight conference loss.

Davidson (2-0, 12-1) 69, LaSalle (0-2, 3-10). Millie Prior led the Wildcats with 14 points and 9 rebounds.  Charlese Dunn scored 13 while Issy Morgan had 8 rebounds.  Sutphin only played 15 minutes in her return but shot 6 - 7 FG for 12 points,  Molly Mascantonio scored 17 for LaSalle and reserve Makayla Miller added 12.  Davidson/VCU is the 2 pm game on CBSSN on Sunday.

Rhode Island (H 2-0, 10-5) 70, George Mason (1-1, 10-2) 68.  Teisha Hyman hit  2  FT with 7.7 seconds on the clock and then Sophie Smith stole Mason's inbound pass.   Phillips scored 22.  Hyman was 13/8.  Maye Toure and Dee Dee Davis had 11 each.  Anaelle Dutat had 3 rebounds after 2 double figure performances but added 2 blocks.  Tenin Megassa did not play again.  The Patriots were led by Sonia Smith with 20 points and Zahirah Walsh with 15/7.  

UMass (H, 1-1, 3-11) 76, Dayton (0-3, 6-8) 66.  Kristen Williams had 15 points with 3-7 beyond the arc and 6-6 FT.  Lilly Taulelei had 14 points, in front of her parents in from New Zealand, on 5-9 FG and 4-4 FT.  Stefanie Kulesza scored the first seven points for UMass and finished 13/8 with 4 assists and 3 steals.  UMass which had only 8 assists last game, had a season high 22 including 6 from Bre Bellamy (6 points) and 4 from Alexsia Rose (8 points but 3-8 FT.). Lilly Ferguson added 7/6. Tori Hyduke scored all 7 of her points in the first half, a key part of UMass staying close and then ending the half 32 - 32 on a Ferguson lay-up off a Rose-caused turnover and a Hyduke assist.  For Dayton, Arianne Smith (19) and Destiny Bohannon (16) combined for 35 points on 14 - 19 FG.  Smith added 11 rebounds.   Ivy Wolf had 13 points incluiding  2 three pointers late in the 3rd to tie the game again until Kristen Williams hit her own 3 at the end of the period for a 55 - 52 lead at the end of the period.   Dayton went scoreless for several minutes in the 4th, as UMass started the quarter with a 9-0 run.  

Mikenizie Jones (Denver) saw her first action for UMass, just 6 minutes.  She's listed at 6'1" and is supposed to be a good rebounder.  Only oft injured Allie Palmieri (Seton Hall, Boston College) has yet to dress for a gems  as UMass gets healthier.  Although Jermany Mapp, a frequent starter has missed a couple of games.

------------------------------  Early Wednesday action:

Fordam (H, 1-2, 6-8) 65, St Bonaventure (1-1, 4-9). 57.  Taylor Donaldson had 24 points for the Rams, while Emy Hayford added 12 and Matilda Flood 10.  Nadechka Laccen scored 13 for the Bonnies and Taylor Napper had 12.

 

Last edited by WMC (1/03/2024 1:52 pm)

After 7 weekday games, there are still 5 undefeated (2-0) teams in A10: play St Joe's, Davidson, Richmond. URI and inconsistent Duquense, GW's next foe.  Five teams are 1-1: VCU, George Mason, Loyola Chicago, UMass and St Bonaventure.  Fordham is 1 - 2.  Besides GW, St Louis and LaSalle are 0-2 while Dayton is 0-3.  The Billikens have lost 5 in a row, going in to their Saturday game at UMass., which is 3-2 at home.  

---------- Wednesday's games:

St Joseph's (H) 67, GW 47.

Fordham (H) 65, St Bonaventure 57

Richmond (H) 72, VCU 65.  Spiders needed a 24 - 11 4th quarter to win.  Grace Townsend had 21 points and 7 assists.  Reserve Rachel Ullstrom scored 21.  The only other scorers were Addie Budnick (12), Maggie Doogan (10 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists) and reserve Laren VanAesdale (9).  Siobhan Ryan was the only other player to even attempt a shot (0-2.).   Reserve Deniz Targa scored 12 for VCU on 4 - 5 beyond the arc, her only shots.  Timaya Lewis-Eutsy had 11 points.  

Loyola Chicago (H)) 74, St Louis 72.  Alyssa Fisher had 28 points, for the Rmblers.  Sam Galanapoulous added 19.  They're forming a potent 1-2 scoring punch.  Reserve Brooklyn Gray had 19 for the Billikens.  Reserve Tierra Simon addled 13 rebounds.  She's part of the Pearl River CC duo.  Kyla McMakin was 5 - 15, to go with her 6-18 last game  Both teams shot over 50% from the field and had over 20 assists.

All 4 teams that played on Sunday now sit at 2 -1 in the conference standings, joining St Joe's.  The remaining undefeateds are Richmond and Rhode Island at 3-0.  Both visiting teams won.

George Mason 101, Duquense 75.  Sonia Smith had herself a game for the Patriots with 30 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.  Reserve Kennedy Harris scored 23.  Ta'Viyanna Habib added 14.  Megan McConnell had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists for the Dukes.  Four teammates also scored in low double figures.  

VCU 65, Davidson 55.  Timaya Lewis-Eutsey led the Rams with 21 points.  Sarah Te-Bisau had 19 while Mary-Anna Asare added 13.  Suzi-Rose Deegan had 17 points for the Wildcats.  Millie Prior had 10 points and 8 rebounds.  In her second game back, Elle Sutphin played 18 minutes off the bench, scoring 2 points on 1-4 FG.  
 

In Friday's Midwest rivalry game, host St Louis held off a late charge by Dayton for the win.  Dayton, 1- 4, is tied with Fordham for 13th in conference play and hosts GW next Wednesday.  St Louis, 2 - 3, is 10th and next travels to George Mason and then GW on January 20.  

The St Louis solo announcer was very good.  He identified players and reported significant statistics, and stayed in the flow of the game, and never got hysterical.  I wonder if St Bonaventure's home announcers are still those same two guys, who misidentified a GW player the entire game.  

St Louis 74, Dayton 70.  All five starters scored in double figures for the Billikens, led by Kyla McMakin with 17 points (7-15 FG, no three point attempts), 5 rebounds and 3 steals.  Marccavia Shavers (Pearl River CC)  had 15 and Peyton Kennedy had 13.  Julia Martinez scored 12, with 3 assists and 3 steals.She's always reliable with a couple of steals, and turnovers.    Kennedy Calhoun had 11 points.  Brooklyn Gray (5'11"' SO, Wabash Valley College) scored 6, but left with a leg injury in the fourth quarter and did not return.  
Ivy Wolf led Dayton with 16 points and Destiny Bohannon scored 14 including 4 three pointers.  Arianna Smith had 12 points and 13 rebounds, her 8th double double . Riley Rismiller (FR) came off the bench for a 3 pointer to pull Dayton within 2 in the last minutes. 

In a Monday matinee, host St Joe's (16-2, 5-1)  stopped LaSalle's 3 game win streak (6-11, 3-3.).  GW hosts LaSalle on Valentine's Day.

St Joesph's 64, LaSalle 39.  Tayla Brugler scored 26 points and had 5 rebounds.  Laura Ziegler was 16/16 with 6 assists.  Mackenzie Smith had 9 points.  Chloe Welch scored 6, on only 2-12 FG.  The other starter Julia Nystorm and Reserve FR Gabby Casey each had a three pointer for their only points.  FR Aleah Snead added the last point on 1 -2 FT.  SR Emma Boslet, averaging under 2 peg, played 23 minutes and had 5 assists.

LaSalle was led by Makayla Miller (GR, Ouachita Baptist) with 14 points and JR Emilee Tahata (Lativa) had 12.  Reserve Gabby Turco added 5 points.  Fifth year Molly Masciantonio had a frustrating 0 - 12 game.  FR Nicole Melious, the leading scoring for the Explorers with  10.0 ppg, . scored 8 points.  From Staten Island, she is the all time leading scorier, both boys and girls for New York City.  Her 3,140 points is fourth for the entire state.  Melious commted to Purdue as a Freshman and later to Georgia Tech, before choosing LaSalle, to be closer to home so her father can attend games.   GW also recruited her.

UPDATES:  Nationally ranked Louisville recently beat Tory Verdi's home standng Pitt team by 74 - 44.  Sydney Taylor (UMass) was the leading scorer for the Cardinals wit 13 points against her former coach.  She had 4 rebounds and 4 assists.  Pitt is now 6-13, 0-6 ACC after its most recent loss at Boston College.

Harvard star Harmoni Turner did not play in the Crimson's loss to Rhode Island and I wrote that there was speculation she might have knee surgery and miss a lot of games.  Turner "only" missed 5 games and is back in action.

Last edited by WMC (1/17/2024 10:28 am)

Richmond moves to 7 - 0 and VCU to 5 - 1.  All 3 Sunday games are on national TV - ESPNU at noon and then 2 games on CBSSN starting at 2 pm.

St Louis (3-4). 66, GW (H,1-5) 56

Richmond (H, 7-0), Dayton (2-5) 39.  Maggie Doogan scored 21 fro the Spiders while Addie Bunick had 16.  Alyssa Jones led the Flyers with 13.  Arianna Smith had another double/double with 12/12.

VCU (H, 5-1) 66, LaSale (3-4) 50.  Timaya Lewis-Eutsey had 22 points and 11 rebounds.  Sarah Te-Bisau had 15.   Mary-Anna Asare scored 13.  Mikel Parham pulled down 9 rebounds.  Makayla Miller scored 16 for the Explorers.
Loyola Chicago (H, 4-3) 78, St Bonaventure (1-6) 56.  Alyssa Fisher scored 24.  Sam Galanopoulous had 16 nad Sitori Tanin had 15.  Isabvellah Middleton and Danie Haskell each scored 13 for the Bonnies.

On Wednesday, Richmond lost its first game, becoming one of four one loss teams.  There are four one win teams.  

VCU (5-1) 73, Dayton (h, 2-6) 62.  Flyers were down 12 at the half but played a relatively even second half.  A Kids Day crowd of 12,097 was the largest non Power 6 attendance this season.  Rams scoring leaders were their usual group: Sarah Te-Bisau (22), Timaya Lewis-Eutsey (19) and Mary-Anna Asare (18.). Mykal Parham grabbed 10 rebounds.  Anyassa Jones score 15 for Dayton.  Ivy Wolf had 14 and Arianna Smith scored 12,.

Rhode Island (5-3) 75, LaSalle (H, 3-5) 47.  Kids Day crowd of 1,202.  Maye Toure had 17 points and 7 rebounds.  Anaelle Dutat (7,3 rebounds per game) must have had her eligibility issues settled and had 13 rebounds.  Reserve Tenin Megassas was 11/10.  URI won rebound battle 51 - 21,  Nicole Melious scored 15 for the Explorers, 3 - 6 from beyond the arc.  Makayla Miller scored 13,

George Mason (6-1) 57, GW (H, 1-6) 41.  Was the noontime game a Kids Day type event ?.  I noticed a couple of enthusiastic groups in the crowd.  Attendance was 602. 

Duquense (H, 6-2) 72, Richmond (7-1) 39.  Amaya Hamilton was 16/6 for the Dukes.  Ayanna Townsend was 14/8.  Megan McConnell scored 11 and had 14 rebounds.  Reserve Jenini Kiako (SO, North Carolina Central) scored 18 points.  Siobhan Ryan led the Spiders with 13 points.  Grace Townsend had 11 points 7 rebounds and 5 assists.  Addie Budnick scored 10.  Maggie Doogan had 5 points on 2-10 FG,

St Joe's (7-1) 65, St Bonaventure (H, 1-7) 40.  Bonnies scored 2 points in the second quarter.  Hawks are 
10-0 on the road.  Mackenzie Smith scored 20.  Laura Ziegler was 14/11.  Chloe Welch had 10 rebounds.  St Joe's had a short bench, but was able to play 2 FR guards about half the game.  Aleah Smead had 9 points and Gabby Casey scored 5.  Isabellah Middleton led the Bonnies with 10 points.

Loyola Chicago (5-3) 73, Fordham (H, 1-7) 64.  Sam Galanopoulous scored 20 for the Ramblers and Ali Berg had 18,  Alyssa Fisher scored 15.  Taylor Donaldson scored 22 for the Rams.  She is the A-10's leading scorer at 17.8 ppg.  Emy Hayford (#24 A10, 11.9 ppg) scored 13.  Reserve Kailah Harris had 12 points. She is a 6'1" GR transfer who played limited minutes at Seton Hall.  

Davidson (H, 4-4) 72, UMass (1-7) 42  Wildcats were short-handed with Elle Sutphiin injured again.  Suzi-Rose Deegan is out for the season with an ACL injury according the the Massachusetts Daily Collegian.  Davidson had 5 double figure scorers including Mallorie Haines with 15 and Maddie Plank with 14/9.  Like St Joe's, two FR reserves also got extended playing time:  Katie Donovan  scored 10 and Cholie Oliver had 4 points in 26 minutes.  UMass scored just  8 points in each of 3 periods.  They had 18 in the second quarter, as Kristen Williams hit 3 consecutive three pointers.  Williams finished with 13 points. Chineye Odenigbo had 9 points and 6 rebounds.  Her fellow FR Big  Lilly Taulelei, back from a wrist injury, scored 6.

Last edited by WMC (1/26/2024 11:04 am)

After Sunday's games, Richmond and St Joe's are on top of the conference at 8 - 1, followed by George Mason at 7 - 1, on a 6 game winning streak.  Duquense edged Into 4th place at 7 - 2, a half game ahead of VCU.  GW, 1 - 7, sits in 13th place, ahead of UMass and St Bonaventure.  Fordham is 12th, the only 2 win team, with 3 teams with 3 wins. 

All 4 home teams on Sunday drew over 1,000 fans:  St Louis (1,112), Duquense (1,232), Mason (2,048) and Dayton leading the way with 2,503.. 

Dayton (H, 3-6) 64, St Bonaventure (1-8) 43.  Ivy Wolf and Alyssa Jones had 16 each for the Billikens.  Arianna Smith had 17 rebounds.  Nadechia Laccen and Dani Haskell each scored 13 for the Bonnies.  

Duquense (H, 7-2) 73, Loyola Chicago (5-4) 57.   Dukes have a 4 game winning streak.  Reserve Precious Johnson had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks.  Megan McConnell had 14 points 9 rebounds and 8 assists.  Naelle Bernard and Ayanna Townsend scored 11 points each.  Sam Galanopoilous had 14 for the Ramblers.  Sitori Tanin was 13/10.

Richmond (8-1) 72, St Louis (H,3-5) 61.  Addie Budnick led the Spiders with 21.  Grace Townsend scored 16 and reserve Rachel Ullstrom had 15.  Katie Hill pulled down 10 rebounds.  Peyton Kennedy led the Billikens with 20/8.  Kyla McMakin and reserve Kenndy Calhoun each had 12.  Julia Martinez didn't score but had 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.  

George Mason (H, 7-1) 60, VCU (6-2) 47.  Ta'Viyana Habib and reserve Zahirah Walton had identical 13 point, 9 rebound lines. for the Patriots.  Sonia Smith scored 11.  Sarah Te-Biasu had 19 points for the Rams and Tamaya Lewis-Eutsey was 8/9.

More on the Rhode Island press that caused 9 UMass turnovers in the 3rd quarter. on Saturday.  Rams upped the pressure from the first half by putting 4 defenders in the back court and double teaming the Minutewoman who received the throw in.  UMass was unable to throw over the top to the front court to beat the press.  

All three 1 win teams won on Saturday, although St Joe's, without Laura Ziegler (14.5 pig, ) had to hold off a stiff challenge from UMass.  And Duquense claimed 5th place with a win over URI.

Richmond (H, 9-1) 74,  Fordham (2-9) 60.   Reserve Rachel Ullstrom led the Spiders with 18 pints.  Grace Townsend had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.  Addie Budnick, Siobhan Ryan and Maggie Doogan each scored 10 points.  Taylor Donaldson scored 23 for the Rams and Emy Hayford had 16.

George Mason (9-1) 61, Loyola Chicago (H, 5-6) 52.   Sonia Smith had 21 for the Patriots and reserve Taylor Jameson had a 14/7 game.  Sam Galanopoulous' 12 points led the Ramblers who had 3 others in double figures.  

Duquense (H, 8-3)  70, Rhode Island (7-4) 61.  Amaya Hamilton had 16 for the Dukes, while Megan McConnell and reserve Precious Johnson scored 13 apiece.  McConnell also had 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals.  Dee Dee Davis was 91/9 for the Rams and Maye Toure was 13/8.  Araelle Dutat had 8 rebounds.  

Davidson (H, 6-5) 68, St Louis (4-6) 58.  Charlese Dunn scored 27 for the Wildcats and Millie Prior had 16.  Both had 10 rebounds.  Reserve Brooklynn Gray led the Billikens with 15.  Kyla McMakin had 13 points, 3-17 FG.  Julia Martinez again didn't score but had 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals.  

St Joseph's (H, 10-1) 77, UMass (1-10) 67.  UMass was within 2 in the 4th quarter but could never take the lead.  Tayla Brugler scored 30 points, many in the paint, and Mackenzie Smith had 14.  The Hawks are developing some bench strength with 3 reserves playing just over 20 minutes and scoring - Emma Boslett (5 points), Gabby Casey (FR, 5 points in the second half) and Paula Maurina (6' SR from Latvia who had 4 points.)

Alexsia Rose had 22 points for UMass.  She has improved by playing more under control and squaring up and not rushing her shots.  Bre Bellamy had 12 for the Minutewomen.  Tori Hyduke scored her 5 points in quick order in the second half.  In 24 minutes she had 2 rebounds, a steal and no turnovers.

Personal Fouls - UMass 23, St Joes 13.  Foul shooting - UMass 1 - 3.,  St Joe's 24 - 28.
 

Last edited by WMC (2/04/2024 11:29 am)

After the mid-week games, there are 2 A10 teams with 1 conference loss, and there are  3 twenty win teams:  St Joe's (11-1, 22-2, 9 game winning streak), Richmond  (10-1, 20-4) and VCU (9-2, 20-3.)

Wednesday:

GW (H, 2-9) 69, St Bonaventure (1-10) 48

VCU (9-2) 76, St Louis (H, 4-7)  67  Timaya Lewis-Eutsey led the Rams with 24 points while Sara Te-Bisau scored 19.  Scoring 11 each were Lucia Sotelo Miguez and Mykel Parham (10 rebounds.)  Kyla McMakin scored 15 for the Billikens.

Richmond (10-1) 68, URI (H, 7-5) 49.  Siobhan Ryan led the Spiders with 14 points.  Maggie Doogan had 12.  Addie Budnick was 10/6 with 6 blocks as well.  Dee Dee Davis had 10 points for the Rams.  Maye Toure only scored 4 on 2-12 shooting and Sophie Phillips was scoreless, 0 - 6 FG.

Fordham (H, 3-9) 70 Dayton (4-8) 48.   Emy Hayford led Fordham with 16 points.  Taylor Donaldson was 10/9..  Aminata Ly and Taya Davis each scored 10.  Destiny Bohanon had 13 for the Flyers.  Arianna Smith was 11/14 and Mariah Perez was 8/11.

Duquense (9-3) 79, UMass (1-11) 62.  Game was tied at 2 after the first period.    UMass scored 7 points in the second.  Naelie Bernard was 15/6/4 assists for the Dukes.  Megan McConnell was 14/9/7 assists.  Alexsia Rose missed her first few shots  but finished with 23, 7 - 18 FR.  Stefanie Kulesza was 10/6 and fouled out late in the game.

Thursday:

St Joseph's (11-1) 59, George Mason (H, 9-2) 47.  Laura Ziegler had 19 points for 14 rebounds for the Hawks,.  Talya Burgler and Mackenzie Smith each had 11.  Ta'Viyanna Habib was 12/8 for the Patriots.  Paula Suarez, Sonia Smith and reserve Taylor Jameson each scored 8 points.  

Loyola Chicago (6-6) 73, LaSalle (47) 37.  Sitori Tanin had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Ramblers.  Nicole Melious led the Explorer with 14.
-------------------------------------------------

URI's Tammi Reiss was named as Assistant Coach for the 2024 USA National Team USA 3x/3 team.  Jennifer Rizzotti is the Head Coach.  Rizzotti was the Head Coach for 3 different gold medal winning 3x3 teams last year.  Reiss was head coach of 2 other 3x3 teams.  Reiss worked at the training camp last summer and one of the 20 players in the try-out group was UMass' Sam Breen.  Breen is apparently tearing up the Finnish professional league this season.  

Last edited by WMC (2/09/2024 3:11 pm)