Tag: women’s basketball
Sports Shorts Week of No. 22-Dec. 5
by The Cowl Editor on December 5, 2019
Friar Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
Women’s Basketball:
The women’s basketball team is off to an excellent start to the 2019-2020 season. The team began the season with four consecutive wins and took the momentum into their Nov. 24 contest against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. PC beat the visiting Riverhawks handily by a score of 63-38, with four Friars scoring in double digits. Leading the way for PC was Chanell Williams ’21 who scored 12 points while tallying four rebounds and four assists. PC took its 5-0 record into a matchup with Yale University, which was a continuation of a suspended game from Nov. 5.
On Dec. 3, PC traveled to Yale to resume the game with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Despite a 19-point performance by Mary Baskerville ’22 and 16 points by Kyra Spiwak ’21, PC fell short 79-82. The loss marks PC’s first of the season as its record drops to 5-1. The team will play at Bryant University on Dec. 7.
Men’s Ice Hockey:
The men’s ice hockey team entered the 34th edition of the Mayor’s Cup with a record of 8-3-4. PC took the ice on Nov. 30 against the Bears of Brown University looking to take home the trophy, and did just that. PC beat Brown University by a score of 4-2 to win the Mayor’s Cup and improve to 9-4-3 on the season. Despite Brown scoring the first goal of the game in the early minutes, Patrick Moynihan ’23 leveled the game at one towards the end of the first period. PC would take control from there, as Patrick Ford ’23, Tyce Thompson ’22, and Shane Kavanagh ’20 each scored goals to make the score 4-1. The Brown Bears would add a late goal, but it was not enough. Goaltender Michael Lackey ’20GS recorded 23 saves in the game and Jack Dugan ’22 tallied two assists to stay atop the NCAA points leaderboard with 31 total points. PC is now set to face UMass-Lowell on Dec. 6.
Women’s Ice Hockey:
The women’s ice hockey team also hosted Brown University in the Mayor’s Cup on Nov. 30. This meeting marked the 25th edition of the Mayor’s Cup, with PC having won the previous four meetings between the teams. PC entered the game with a record of 8-6-2 and was ready to continue its winning streak against the Bears. Lauren DeBlois ’23 started the scoring off early for PC with a goal six minutes into the game. Isabelle Hardy ’23 followed shortly after with her first career goal to increase the lead to 2-0. Sara Hjalmarsson ’22 then increased the lead to 3-0 with a goal of her own on a power play. Hjalmarsson would go on to score two more goals in the game and tally three assists for a total of six points. Her single-game point total from this game marked the highest in Mayor’s Cup history. PC would go on to win by a score of 10-0. The team now looks ahead to its next contest against the University of Connecticut on Dec. 5.
Women’s Basketball Coach Hits Career Milestone
by The Cowl Editor on November 21, 2019
Friar Sports
Coach Jim Crowley Lands 300th Career Win
By Marc DeMartis ’21
Sports Staff
Coach Jim Crowley of the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team earned his 300th career win last Saturday over the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Minutemen. He has been coaching for more than 20 years.
Coach Crowley’s career started back at his alma mater, Keuka College, in upstate New York. After spending three seasons with the team and leading them to an Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship appearance, Crowley caught the eye of St. Bonaventure University. At St. Bonaventure, he spent his first four seasons as the assistant coach of the team before being promoted to the head coaching position, where he would remain for another 16 years. During his long tenure, Crowley experienced immense success.
He saw a lot of this success come in his last eight seasons at St. Bonaventure; six of those eight were 20 plus win seasons. Most importantly, however, Crowley led the Bonnies to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2012 during the same season that he broke St. Bonaventure’s record for most wins in a season with 31. That season he was also awarded Coach of the Year by ESPN.com.
With such an impressive past, Crowley caught the eye of PC’s Athletic Director, Bob Driscoll, who decided to name him the 10th head coach in PC women’s basketball history in the spring of 2016. Coach Crowley brought all three of his assistant coaches, Priscilla Edwards, Tiara Johnson, and Jessica Jenkins, with him from St. Bonaventure to help continue his success. So far, he has proven that he will turn the Friars back into a winning program considering his team has kicked off their season undefeated, with a 3-0 record.
Now, looking at his 300th win, Crowley’s great coaching was on full display as the team looked incredibly efficient against the UMass Minutemen. Four players for the Friars posted scores in the double digits. Kyra Spiwak ’21 scored a career-high 15 points, shooting 50 percent from the field. Spiwak said, “It was really special for Coach Crowley to get his 300th win, and I was honored to be a part of it. I think it says a lot about his hard work and commitment to all of the teams he has coached in his career. It is an incredible accomplishment and definitely well deserved.”
Spiwak explained that Crowley “was a big part of why I chose to play at Providence. He pushes us to be the best players we can be on and off the court. He cares about us as people and wants to see us succeed in all aspects of life, not just basketball.”
With regards to Crowley’s coaching staff that followed him from St. Bonaventure, she said, “It’s a privilege to play under him and the entire coaching staff he has. They know how to make it a family atmosphere.” Comments like these are important for a team’s success and it is great to hear how well the team is performing under Coach Crowley and his staff this season.
Coach Crowley and the Friars take on the University of Massachusetts-Lowell this Sunday, November 24 as they try to remain undefeated.
Sports Shorts Week of Nov. 7-Nov. 14
by The Cowl Editor on November 14, 2019
Friar Sports
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
Men’s Basketball:
The team remains undefeated this season after they beat New Jersey Institute of Technology 76-47 on Nov. 9. David Duke ’22 scored a career high of 21 points during the game, while also registering five rebounds and five assists. In addition to Duke, both Alpha Diallo ’20 and Maliek White ’20 registered double digit points; Diallo finished the game with 15 points and White finished with 11.
Women’s Basketball:
After their first game of the season against Yale University was suspended due to a scoreboard malfunction, the women’s basketball team won their first game of the season against the University of Massachusetts-Amherst 72-63 on Nov. 9. After a close first quarter, which was tied until Andrea Cooper ’21 hit one of two free-throws in the final 0.1 seconds, the Friars pulled away in the second half of the second quarter after they went on a 10-0 run. The Minutemen managed to come back and it was not until the fourth quarter that the Friars were able to solidify their lead. Kaela Webb ’22 was a game standout, collecting 22 points during the game. This was the first time she surpassed 20 points in a single game in her career at PC. The win was Head Coach Jim Crowley’s 300th career win.
Men’s Hockey:
The team matched up against Boston University this past weekend, collecting a tie and a win against the Terriers. On Friday, November 8, despite gaining a 3-1 lead in the second period, the Friars let up two unanswered goals in the third; one at the beginning of the period and one at the end. Goaltender Michael Lackey’22GS made 35 saves. Greg Printz ’21 scored twice—first off of a deflection and the second was a snipe to the top right corner of the net—and Patrick Moynihan ’23 one-timed the third and final goal for the Friars. Saturday night was a back -and-forth game against Boston University, but the Friars solidified their 6-5 win early in the third period when they took a 6-4 lead over the Terriers. Jack Dugan ’22 notched four assists during the game and Max Crozier ’23 docked two goals; a redirect from Dugan’s shot and a slap shot from a pass from Dugan. The Friars are now 5-3-2 for the season.
Women’s Hockey:
Also playing BU this past weekend, the women’s team was unable to pull off a win and fell to the Terriers 1-2. Neve Van Pelt ’20 was the lone scorer for the Friars. Sandra Abstreiter ’21RS was between the pipes and finished the game with 21 saves. Despite the loss, PC outshot BU 27-23. The team is now 4-5-2 for the season.
Young Talent Ready to Take Women’s Basketball Team to the Next Level
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Friar Sports
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
In the beginning of October, the Big East unveiled the coach’s poll preseason rankings for all Big East women’s basketball teams for the upcoming 2019-2020 season. While DePaul University was unanimously voted first, the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team came in fifth, tied alongside Villanova University. Both teams are coming off of trips to the 2019 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Following this news, the team looks to carry on the success from the 2018-2019 season and play to the strengths of each player.
Last season, the Friars posted a 19-16 record, which earned them sixth overall in the Big East standings. The team made it to the second round of the Big East Tournament, where they lost to St. John’s University.
The Lady Friars earned themselves a spot in the WNIT, where they made a run to the Sweet Sixteen, losing to Georgetown University. The 19 wins were the most overall wins the team has had since 2009-2010, which, coincidentally, was the last time they had made it into a postseason tournament.
The team had to say goodbye to three seniors who graduated from PC last spring, including Clara Che ’19, a 2019 Big East Weekly Honor Roll selection, Maddie Jolin ’19, the winner of the Rev. Robert A. Morris O.P. ’46 Memorial Award, and Jovana “Yoyo” Nogic ’19, a fan favorite and the Providence College Female Athlete of the Year.
Last season marked numerous career highs for Nogic. She was ranked 12th on the most points per game in the Big East at 13.8 points, and averaged 19.3 points in the WNIT.
While the Friars lost three seniors, they also gained some new faces in the locker room: Hevynne Bristow ‘23 from Brooklyn, NY, Fatima Lee ’23 from Queens, NY, and Lauren Sampson ’23 from Waltham, MA. All are ready to answer the call for the team and bring their skills and strengths to make a difference both on and off the court this upcoming season.
Four of the starters are back this season in the lineup for the Friars, including reigning Big East Freshman of the Year, Mary Baskerville ’22.
Last season Baskerville finished as one of the leaders for rebounds per game at 7.3, leaders for blocked shots at 1.5, and even field goal percentage at .580 percent. Her breakout season made her the ultimate candidate for a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Big East Team.
Herself and other Friar favorites like Kaela Webb ’22 and Chanell Williams ’21 are ready to give it their all and do great for the team.
In his fourth season with the Friars, Head Coach Jim Crowley is ready to lead his ladies into battle and give everything he has for the team to repeat the success they earned last season and once again make it into the postseason rankings.
The biggest threats the Friars face this season are rival teams DePaul University and St. John’s University. DePaul retains their title this season as the most successful Big East program for women’s basketball, posting a 91-17 record since the 2013-2014 season and has numerous returning starters this year.
The Friars hope to turn things around against the DePaul Blue Demons after losing last season’s series to the team 0-3 including a loss in the quarterfinal of the Big East Tournament.
When it comes to St. John’s, the Red Storm is expected to make a big jump from 2018-2019, with the return of a group of starters who lead in scoring, steals, and even assists.
However, this season, the Friars are ready to eliminate all who stand in their way by constantly practicing and grinding their way to the top. They are ready to show the world whose time it is and where they stand in the Big East.
Mary Baskerville Reflects on Freshman Year
by The Cowl Editor on April 11, 2019
Friar Sports
High School Experience Paying Dividends in Freshman Year
“Take every day to become better as a whole.” That was one of the main goals that Providence College Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jim Crowley preached to his players throughout the 2018-2019 season. This season for the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team has been one filled with exceeding expectations.
Coming into this season, the Friars were tabbed to finish ninth in the Big East preseason poll. “We wanted to prove that we deserved higher than that,” Mary Baskerville ’22 stated. “We knew that this year we wanted to be the start of an era that would begin to do things that have not been done in a while.”
Baskerville was just one of the six players to join Crowley’s squad this year. However, the first sport the 6’3” forward came across was track and field. Baskerville ran for the Hershey Track and Field organization where she competed in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the long jump event. Baskerville first picked up basketball from her older sister.
“Anything she did, I wanted to do too. Once we were able to play basketball together I would only play if she played with me.”
The Baskerville sisters would team up at Enfield High School where winning was not always a tradition. In 2010 and 2011, Enfield High School girls basketball did not win a game. In 2012, they picked up three wins. In the final three seasons of Baskerville’s high school career, they made the state tournament semifinals.
Throughout her high school career, Baskerville would go on to earn four All-Conference selections, two All-State selections, and holds the record for the most career points between both the boy’s and girl’s program with 1,870 points.
Baskerville was proud to leave such a significant footprint on the program and hopes that “somebody as passionate about this sport like I am will look at that as a challenge to one day want to try and beat my scoring record. For me to be able to leave such a tremendous impact on my high school basketball organization is something that I will never forget.”
In November 2017, Baskerville signed her letter of intent to play collegiate basketball at PC.
Baskerville’s impact was immediately felt when she pulled down 13 rebounds against Yale University in her fifth game of the season. Baskerville and the Friars enjoyed success from all over. The Friars finished their season 19-16 with an 8-10 record in Big East play. The Friars picked up their most Big East wins since the 1996-97 season and their first Big East tournament win since 2001. To top off the season, the Friars made their first postseason appearance since 2010 and advanced all way to the 16th round of the WNIT before falling to fellow Big East team, the University of Georgetown Hoyas.
Baskerville was grateful to play in the postseason during her freshman year and reminisced to her high school basketball days. “I feel that playing postseason in high school kind of set a standard for me as a player…Not only that I wanted to play as much as I could, but to also take every game as an opportunity to better myself and my teammates.”
Baskerville also enjoyed success throughout her first season in a Friars uniform. She led the Friars with six double-doubles including four during Big East play. Baskerville now holds the program record for blocks by a freshman and recorded the second highest field goal percentage in program history. Baskerville finished her freshman season with 9.5 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game.
After her rookie season success, she became the second Friar ever to win the Big East Freshman of the Year award and was a unanimous selection to the Big East All-Freshman Team. Baskerville was joined by fellow Friar Kaela Webb ’22 on the All-Freshman Team.
Baskerville and the rest of the Friars squad have bigger aspirations over the next few seasons; “Getting the women’s basketball team more recognition for all of the hard work that we put in every day on and off the court… Another goal that my teammates and I hope to achieve is to be known as a team that works hard, sticks together through tough times, can bounce back from just about anything…a team that will never give up and fights to the very end.”
With the talent that this Friars team boasts, this program under control by Coach Crowley is sure to be on the rise and one that will be fun to watch in the future. “We want to take this program as far as we can every season,” Baskerville concluded. With the taste of postseason experience this year, the Friars can build off of this season and work to compete for a Big East Championship and a NCAA tournament bid next season.
Women’s Basketball Falls in Big East Semifinals
by The Cowl Editor on March 21, 2019
Friar Sports
Friars Finish Season with Winning Record; Secure Spot in WNIT
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
After an impressive regular season, the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team headed to Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois to test their fate in the Big East Tournament. The official seeding was not set until the final weekend of Big East play. The Friars earned the #7 seed in the tournament and were faced with the task of the #10 seed, the Xavier University Musketeers.
The Friars were able to down the Musketeers by a final score of 70-62 to advance to the Big East Quarterfinals. The Friars held a 12-point lead at half but, the Musketeers kept pursuing the Friars, cutting the lead within six at one point before the Friars went on a 6-0 run and ultimately won the game. The Friars were led in scoring by Olivia Orlando ’21 who caught fire for a career high 18 points (9-11 FG). Maddie Jolin ’19 poured in another 15 points for the Friars.
The keys to the win were the Friars’ ability to control the glass and also only turn the ball over eight times which was the second lowest total of the season. “We have very little chance tomorrow if we turn it over a bunch like we’ve done the two times we’ve played DePaul,” stated Providence Head Coach Jim Crowley. “Now, they force it, they play at a really high pace, but we have to be better taking care of the ball. We’re fairly efficient offensively when we do take care of it.” The Friars’ win over Xavier was their first victory in the Big East tournament since 2001.
The Friars faced the future Big East Champs, the DePaul University Blue Demons. The Friars once again fell early as they trailed 9-20 after the first quarter. At one point, the Blue Demons were on a 12-0 run before the Friars took a timeout. The Blue Demons continued to roll in the second quarter where the lead was pushed up to 19 points before the Friars used a run of their own to close it within 12. In the second half, the Friars closed the defecit to single digits halfway through the third quarter before the Blue Demons were able to close things out and defeat the Friars 85-60. Mary Baskerville ’21 scooped up 10 of her team high 17 points in the 4th quarter. Each squad finished the game with 19 turnovers but benefited DePaul. “Their shot-making is exemplary, it’s outstanding, and they really put a lot of pressure on you because you make a mistake and they make you pay, and they did so to us,” Crowley commented after the game.
Although this loss ended their regular season and conference play, Coach Crowley alluded to some hope for postseason play. “Having coached in the WNIT a few times, we think that’s an amazing opportunity and we’d be honored to be a part of that.”
On Monday night, the Women’s National Invitation Tournament field was announced, and the Friars were able to secure a bid. This is the Friars’ first postseason appearance since 2010. The Friars will host the University of Hartford Hawks on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall.
Women’s Basketball Gears Up for Big East
by The Cowl Editor on March 7, 2019
Friar Sports
Friars Prepare for Tournament with Senior Game
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
The Providence College Women’s Basketball Team ended the Big East regular season the way that they began it—with a pair of home matchups against two of the best teams in the Big East, #24 DePaul University and #13 Marquette University.
Last Friday night, the Friars hosted DePaul, who used a late run to fuel a 76-61 victory over the Friars. The Friars were able to keep it close by ending the first quarter with a 7-0 run to trail by only one basket. The Friars were able to tie things up at 17 a piece before DePaul had a 10-0 run. At the half, the Blue Demons led the Friars 34-24.
In the third quarter, Maddie Jolin ’19 and Jovana Nogic ’19 combined for 17 points and outscored the Blue Demons 24-19. The Friars were able to stay within five points at the start of the fourth quarter before the Blue Demons used a 12-0 run to gain a comfortable lead, ultimately leading to their 76-61 victory over the Friars.
For the first time this season, the Friars were defeated after they out-rebounded their opponent (31-30). A lot of the Friars’ troubles came at the hands of the Blue Demons defense, which forced 23 turnovers and allowed them to score 34 points. Nogic led the Friars with 17 points.
After the game, Head Coach Jim Crowley said, “Too many turnovers and fouls in the second quarter. A great third quarter, we gave ourselves a chance, and then again it’s too many turnovers.” Crowley credited DePaul’s defense, stating, “They’re good enough without giving any possessions away, and we just gave them way too many.”
The Friars had a quick turnaround and had to prepare for another nationally ranked opponent on Sunday: the #13 Marquette Golden Eagles.
Friar fans were able to celebrate three Friar players for Senior Day. Clara Che ’19, Maddie Jolin ’19 and Nogic each walked out to half court during the pre-game ceremony and were greeted by Athletic Director Bob Driscoll, President Father Brian J. Shanley, O.P., Crowley, and many others.
The Golden Eagles sported some of the best players not only in the conference, but in the nation. However, the Golden Eagles lost two of their starters due to injury and dropped a road game against Creighton University on Friday night. The Golden Eagles needed a win to win the Big East Regular Season Title outright, and the Friars were still jostling for seeding position in the Big East.
The Friars started the game on a 5-0 run before the Golden Eagles closed the quarter on a 18-3 run and led 18-8 after the first. The Friars turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter which gave Marquette eight points.
Marquette was able to push their lead to 17 at one point during the second quarter before the Friars used a 12-4 scoring run, capped off by Chanell Williams ’21 making a lay-up at the horn before time expired. Williams tallied eight of her 12 points in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Friars got within three points with 3:14 to go before Marquette went on a 8-3 run to end the half. Marquette flexed their muscles in the final frame, outscoring the Friars 22-7, resulting in an 80-57 win for the Golden Eagles.
After the game, Crowley stated, “I thought we competed hard, but it was similar to Friday night where after two quarters, the game got away from us…you look at the stat line and things are fairly even until you get to one big number and that’s our turnovers.” The Golden Eagles employed similar defense tactics as the Blue Demons did on Friday night with their full court pressure that led to many turnovers in the first half. Friars turned the ball over 22 times in the loss. Williams led the Friars in scoring with 12 points while Jolin added 11 points, including three long-balls from downtown.
The Friars finish the regular season with a 16-14 overall record and an 8-10 mark in Big East play. Their 16 wins is the most since the 2009-2010 campaign, and their eight Big East victories is the most since the 1996-1997 season.
Two Friars received regular season awards. Mary Baskerville ’22 was awarded Big East Freshman of the Year. She led all freshmen in scoring with 9.4 points per games and rebounding with 7.3. Nogic was named to the All-Big East Honorable Mention Team after breaking the College’s 3-point record and scoring 13.7 points per game.
The Friars snagged the #7 seed in the Big East tournament held in Chicago at Wintrust Arena and are set to face the #10 seed, Xavier University.
Women’s Basketball Splits Weekend Series
by The Cowl Editor on February 14, 2019
Friar Sports
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
This past weekend, the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team returned home, where they had a two game homestand against the Seton Hall University Pirates and the St. John’s University Red Storm. The Friars had previously played both of these teams on the road earlier in the year, falling to the Pirates back on Jan. 13, 79-73. The Friars hosted Seton Hall on Friday, February 8, defeating them 82-75 in Alumni Hall.
Both teams started the game off hot by shooting over 50 percent from the floor before Seton Hall took a nine-point lead heading into halftime. The Friars were able to keep it close thanks to Kyra Spiwak ’22, who scored 11 points in 12 minutes off the bench in the first half of the game. It was all Friars in the second half, led by Maddie Jolin ’19 who scored 21 of her 25 total points in the second half. Jolin finished the game three for five from behind the arc and a perfect 10 for 10 from the charity stripe. Mary Baskerville ’22 also pulled in a strong performance for the Friars, notching her 4th career double-double, scoring 14 points, 14 rebounds, and adding three blocks. Baskerville now has 41 blocks, tying the freshman program record, with five more Big East regular season contests to come.
The Friars continued the charge with their defensive presence by holding the Big East leading scorer Shaheen Samuels to just three points in the second half after her 14-point burst in the first half. The Friars came back from a 13-point deficit to split the season series.
After the game, Head Coach Jim Crowley believed that his team was outhustled in the first half, “The last three minutes of the 3rd quarter got us believing…a couple of shots dropped, and it just got us going.” Coach Crowley emphasized his team “being able to get to the foul line” was key in the second half. The Friars shot 18 for 19 from the free throw line in the game while going 17 for 17 from the line in the second half.
On Sunday, the Friars took on St. John’s University. The Friars defeated the Red Storm in overtime back on Jan. 11 with a score of 67-66. The Friars started the game hot with a 9-0 run before St. John’s was forced to call a timeout.
The Friars continued to surge in the second quarter, when an 8-2 run put them ahead 23-12 before St. John’s closed the half on a 15-4 run. The Friars once again tried to get to the free throw line in the second half as they did on Friday night. The Friars were a perfect 10 for 10 but were unable to lift the lid off the basket. Friars shot just 1-14 from downtown in the game. The Friars were defeated in the end by a final score of 60-57. They were once again led by Jolin, who scored 14 points while Baskerville followed suit with another double-double, scoring 11 points and snatching 11 rebounds. The Friars are now 14-11 ooveralland 6-7 in the Big East.
The Friars will head out to play the Xavier University Musketeers and the Butler University Bulldogs on the road before heading back to Providence to finish their regular season with a three game homestand. You can watch the Friars take on Xavier this Friday on Fox Sports 2 at 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Sweep Homestand
by The Cowl Editor on January 24, 2019
Friar Sports
By Thomas Zinzarella ’21
Sports Staff
The weather this weekend was well below freezing in the Providence area, but the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team continued their scorching hot streak, winning four of their last five Big East games. The Friars improved their Big East conference record to 4-4 with a thrilling triple overtime victory over the Butler University Bulldogs on Friday and a 71-58 victory over the Xavier University Musketeers.
Friday’s game also featured the 12th annual Project Providence game where there were over 1,000 local elementary and middle school students from eleven schools in three different states. The home court advantage was seen early on thanks to the over 1,000 local kids that turned up. The Friars started the game on an 11-2 run where their suffocating defense led to a fast offense. The Friars started 3-3 from downtown with two of those shots coming from Maddie Jolin ’19. The Bulldogs mounted a 14-0 run in the second quarter but the remainder of this game was a back and forth affair with eight lead changes and six ties. In the end, it was the Friars defense that outlasted the Bulldogs after their second leading scorer Tori Schickel fouled out in the second overtime period.
A layup by Earlette Scott ’22 sealed the win for the Friars with the final score being 74-68. After the game, Jovana Nogic ’19 really stressed the defensive effort of her and her teammates. “We know defense wins games and we were always going into the next overtime thinking we need to win this game on defense.”
Nogic also added a game total of 24 points to the winning effort. The Friars scoring was also aided by Kaela Webb ’22 who piled on 16 points. Coach Crowley praised his squad’s offensive aggressiveness throughout the game. “A big key was our offensive aggressiveness…we fouled out four or five of their kids because we were being really aggressive offensively,” Coach Crowley stated. It was only the fourth triple overtime game in Big East history. The game that would help set up success for the rest of the weekend.
In Sunday’s victory over the Xavier Musketeers, the Friars led the game straight from the opening tip until the end of the game. Nogic led the Friars with 16 points on 6-16 shooting from the field. It was also a freshman showing in Alumni Hall with Webb putting up 15 points and with Mary Baskerville ’22 producing 11 points and 6 rebounds. Webb’s performance this week garnered her Big East Freshman of the Week honors. She averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, three assists, and two steals this past week which helped lift the Friars to a weekend sweep.
Webb is the second Friar to earn the Big East Freshman of the Week honors. Mary Baskerville earned the award three times this year including the prior two weeks. In fact, four of the last five weeks a Friar has been awarded the Big East Freshman of the Week award. It is the first time since 2000-2001 that two freshmen Friars have earned this award. Both freshmen contributed to a strong weekend showing, and it was the first time since the Big East realignment that the Friars have swept a weekend series.
With the 4-4 conference record, it is their best start in conference play since 2011-2012 as the Friars look to continue this recent success when they hit the road for the next three games. The Friars will head out to Omaha to play the Creighton University Bluejays this Saturday, January 26 at 2 p.m. You can tune in to the Big East Digital Network on Fox Sports Go to catch the action.
Lady Friars Roll Into Big East
by The Cowl Editor on January 17, 2019
Friar Sports
Nogic Breaks 3-Point Record; Team Sweeps Friar Classic
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
This basketball season has been one full of turnarounds and milestones for the Providence College Women’s Basketball Team. Only 18 games into their season the Friars have already matched their overall win total from last season at 10. The team is on pace to have its best record under third-year Head Coach Jim Crowley.
Just before students left for winter break, Jovana Nogic ’19 broke the school record for three-pointers when she hit her 253rd shot against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell on Dec. 8, breaking former Friar Julie Wheeler’s ’98 record set in 1998. Nogic felt that achieving the record has been a reward for the work she has put in during her four seasons at the College.
“It is truly a blessing to be among great Friar names and to be able to be at the top of them,” said Nogic. “And of course, it shows as well how much my teammates trust me.”
She is also climbing up the team’s all-time scoring list. With 1,483 points to her name, Nogic currently has the eighth most points in team history.
The Friars ended their nonconference schedule on a high note, going 3-0 in the Friar Holiday Classic at Alumni Hall, highlighted by a 77-47 victory over La Salle University, putting them at 8-4 going into the Big East schedule. Nogic was named the Classic’s MVP while Mary Baskerville ’22 was also named to the All-Tournament Team after she scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds against La Salle.
While the team had plenty of momentum going into Big East play, the Friars started out with a tough task as their first two conference games were against Marquette University and DePaul University, both of which are Top 25-ranked teams. PC struggled shooting the ball in both games and took two tough losses.
The Friars got their first Big East win of the season on Jan. 6 at home, defeating Villanova University 67-61. Nogic scored 23 points in the game, leading all scorers. Maddie Jolin ’19 also scored a season-high 18 points.
With the score being tied at 56 and about three minutes left, PC went on an 11-2 run, highlighted by eight points from Nogic, to put the game out of reach down the stretch and seal the win.
In their next game against St. John’s University, the Friars once again found themselves in a close game after a slow start that caused them to fall into an 11-point deficit halfway through the third quarter. The Friars managed to work themselves back into the lead after a 9-0 run to begin the fourth quarter, taking the lead 51-48.
The Friars held onto the lead with the clock winding down, but St. John’s sunk a three at the buzzer to tie the game 57-57 and force overtime.
In overtime, the Friars led by as many as five points but saw their lead disappear when they fouled St. John’s with the score at 66-63. Akina Wellere of St. John’s would hit three free-throws with 11 seconds left. Jolin, who finished with 19 points, came in clutch for PC as she forced a foul and sealed the game by making one of two free throws and gave the Friars their second victory in a row.
Currently, the Friars’ record in the Big East stands at 2-4. While this does not seem impressive on the surface, the team is still optimistic that they can compete in the Big East Tournament. Looking forward to the rest of the season, Nogic wants the team to keep working every day to put themselves in a good position come March. “We definitely want to keep improving each game and being able to finish close games. The goal is to have the best record we can have walking into the tournament.”