1/7/2002 - Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball Game Notes - Navy at Holy Cross

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Navy Outlook

The Navy women's basketball team will open its 2002 Patriot League season Tuesday night when the Midshipmen travel to Worcester, Mass., to play Holy Cross in a 7 p.m. game at the Hart Center. The game can be heard live on WNAV-AM 1430, as well as www.navysports.com (.)

Navy Review

Navy's season thus far can be best summed in one word -- streaky. After opening the season with a loss at the College of Charleston, the Mids put together back-to-back victories before suffering back-to-back losses. Navy responded by winning six-straight games -- its longest winning streak since the 1998-99 campaign -- but has since lost its last two games.

The Midshipmen closed its slate of nonconference games with an 8-5 record. Most recently, Navy dropped an 85-69 decision last Saturday at Air Force.

Courtney Davidson continued her strong recent play by drilling a career-high four three-point field goals and totaling 27 points against the Falcons. The Patriot League's Dec. 31 Player of the Week, Davidson has scored 20 or more points in four-straight games, while averaging 25 points and four three-point field goals a game during that span.

Davidson leads the league in scoring (20.4 ppg), free throw percentage (91.1%), three-point field goal percentage (50.0%) and three-point field goals made a game (3.29).

Bryanna Herring ranks second on the team in scoring with 13 points per game, while leading the squad in rebounding at 6.6 boards per contest. Herring barely missed recording a pair of double-doubles last week, totaling 12 points and 10 rebounds against Valparaiso, followed by 13 points and nine rebounds against Air Force.

Herring leads the Patriot League with 3.29 offensive rebounds a game.

Maile Shimoda is the third Mid to average in double figures this season with 12 points per game, whole also leading the squad with 47 assists and 22 steals.

The MVP of the recent Navy Classic, Shimoda totaled nine points against Air Force, ending a streak of four games with at least 10 points.

As a team, Navy is scoring 67.8 points per game, shooting 40.6 percent from the field, and a league-best 76.7 percent from the charity stripe. The Mids rank second in the league in five categories, including three-point field goals made per game (5.62).

Navy foes are scoring 65.8 points per game, shooting 40.5 percent from the field and converting 35.7 of its three-point field goal shots.

Holy Cross Preview

Holy Cross opens the league season with an 8-4 record, including a 4-0 mark at home.

Four players average in double figure points for the Crusaders, who are led by Katie O'Keefe and Amanda Abraham with averages of 15.5 and 14.5 points per game, respectively. Maggie Fontana is the leading Holy Cross rebounder at 6.8 boards per game, followed closely by O'Keefe with 6.2.

As a team, Holy Cross is scoring 73.1 points per game, is shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 26.5 percent from behind the three-point line and 69.3 from the free throw line. Crusader foes are averaging 71.2 points per game and are shooting 41.8 percent of all field goal attempts, including 33.5 percent from the three-point line.

Series History

Holy Cross leads the series with victories in 21 of 24 previous games, including all 13 contests played in Worcester.

A Look Ahead

Navy will play host to Bucknell Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

Patriot League Openers

Navy has posted a 4-6 record in opening games of the Patriot League season, including a 1-2 mark when opening the league season on the road.

Navy and Holy Cross have never faced each other in the first league game of the season.

Adrienne Roseti

Navy will be without the services of Adrienne Roseti for an undetermined amount of time.

The sophomore frontcourt player received a deep bruise on her lower left leg during Navy's Dec. 29 game at Columbia. Since then, the bruise has become infected, causing her absence from Navy's last two games.

Roseti will not play Tuesday against Holy Cross or Saturday against Bucknell. Navy's Jan. 16 contest against Lehigh remains a possibility based upon her recovery.

Adrienne started all 28 games for Navy last season while averaging just under nine points and eight rebounds a contest and setting a Navy freshman record with 21 blocked shots. This season, Roseti has averaged 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.

Seeing the World

The Navy women's basketball team has spent the majority of the season on the road. The year began with Navy playing six of its first seven games on the road, with all six road games being played in different states. So far this season, the Mids have played eight road games in seven different states including South Carolina (College of Charleston), Florida (Jacksonville), California (San Diego State), Maryland (Towson), New York (Albany and Columbia), West Virginia (Marshall) and Colorado (Air Force).

All told, the Mids will play 14 road games in nine different states this season, traveling a total of 15,048 miles.

Navy Travel Odometer (Direct miles used)

Miles Traveled this Season 11,998

Roundtrip Miles to Holy Cross 770

Miles Remaining After Trip 2,280

Total Miles on Season 15,048

Close Calls

Seven of Navy's 13 games this season have been decided by 10 points or less, with four games decided by four points or less.

On the Road

Navy has already won four road games this season after winning three last year and one during the 1999-2000 campaign. With one more victory away from Alumni Hal, Navy will match its total of road wins for the 1998-99 season.

Patriot League Predictions

Navy was tabbed to place sixth in the Patriot League.

2001-02 Patriot League Pre-Season Poll

Rk. School (1st Votes) Pts.

1 Holy Cross (13) 96

2 Bucknell (3) 87

3 Lehigh 64

4 American 54

5 Army 48

6 Navy 46

7 Colgate 32

8 Lafayette 21

Common Opponents

Navy and the rest of the Patriot League will face a number of common opponents this year:

Air Force

Navy Air Force, 85-69

Army Air Force, 77-52

Albany

Navy Navy, 69-55

Army Albany, 65-63

Bucknell Bucknell, 64-45

Colgate Colgate, 77-66

Lafayette Albany, 74-62

Columbia

Navy Navy, 81-70

Army Columbia, 64-61

Colgate Columbia, 67-63

Lehigh Lehigh, 67-58

Marshall

Navy Navy, 71-61

American American, 89-87

UMBC

Navy Navy, 47-45

American UMBC, 75-69

Lehigh UMBC, 71-57

Towson

Navy Towson, 55-54

American Navy, 69-60

Three-Point Shots

Navy is continuing to have great success from behind the three-point line this season, one year after it set a Patriot League record with 176 three-point field goals made.

Individually last season, both Maile Shimoda and Courtney Davidson smashed the Navy freshman record of 30 three-point field goals, finishing with 48 and 47, respectively.

This season, Navy has made 73 three-point field goals, an average of 5.6 per game. Davidson has accounted for 35 triples this season, with Shimoda second with 23.

Navy connected on a season-high 11 three-pointers last Saturday at Air Force, tying the mark for third-most triples made in a game (Navy record is 14). The Mids have made six or more three-pointers in eight-straight games, including each of the past four.

The Midshipmen have made at least one three-point field goal in 122 consecutive games. The last time Navy was held without a three pointer was Nov. 23, 1997, vs. Sacramento State.

Three's - Part II

Davidson and Shimoda both have moved into the top-10 in Navy history for most three-point field goals made in a career:

Navy 3-Point FG Made - Career

Pl. 3FGM Player (Years)

4. 85 Jennifer Bombinski (1998-01)

5. 82 Courtney Davidson (2001-02)

6. 79 Hilary Goodrich (1999-2000)

7. 71 Maile Shimoda (2001-02)

Accepting Charity

Navy has had great success at the free throw line through the first part of the season, connecting on a Patriot League-best 76.7 percent of its free throw attempts.

oNavy converted 14 of 15 second-half free throws, as well as 21 of 24 attempts in the game at Jacksonville.

oNavy made 17 of 20 second-half free throws, as well as 22 of 26 in the game at Marshall.

oThe Mids made 14 of 14 free throws in the final 1:52 at Columbia. Navy was successful on 25 of its 30 shots from the line against the Lions.

Individually, Courtney Davidson, whose 76.7 percent shooting from the free throw line last season was the second-best percentage by a Navy freshman, leads the Patriot League at 91.1 percent.

Courtney Davidson

Last year, Davidson scored 324 points and joined Colleen Cassidy (1978-79) as the only freshman to lead Navy in scoring. At the end of the year, she was named Second-Team All-Patriot League and garnered all-rookie team honors.

This year, Davidson has scored 20 or more points in seven games - including a career-high 28 in the season opener at the College of Charleston - and has scored in double figures in all 12 games she has played in.

Davidson leads the league in scoring (20.4 ppg), free throw percentage (91.1%), three-point field goal percentage (50.0%) and three-point field goals made a game (3.29).

o Drilled a career-high six three-point field goals and totaled 27 points at Air Force.

o Named Patriot League Player of the Week on Dec. 30 when she averaged 20.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while also shooting 58 percent from the field, 64 percent from three-point land and converted 14 of 15 free throw attempts against UMES, Winthrop and Columbia.

o Scored 20-second half points on her way to a game-high 26 points at Columbia, while also grabbing a game-high six rebounds.

o Missed the first game of her career Dec. 16 vs. UMBC due to a right ankle injury.

o Named to Navy Classic (Dec. 19-20) All-Tournament Team after scoring 10 points in 20 minutes of action against UMES, then poured in 25 points while tying a Navy Classic record with five three-point field goals against Winthrop.

o Davidson was held to 14 points against Appalachian State, but scored on a three-quarter court drive with less than four seconds remaining to give Navy a 72-71 victory.

o Tied career-high with five assists at Towson.

o Made four or more three-point field goals in five games.

Davidson has done more than just score points this season, grabbing at least four rebounds in all but two games and ranking second on the team with 26 assists and 18 steals.

Courtney - Part II

o Has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in eight games, including the last five.

o Davidson has played 40 minutes in four games this season.

o Her 20 second-half points at Columbia marked the first time since Hilary Goodrich in Feb. of 2000 a Mid scored 20 or more points in one half.

o Needs just 31 points to total 600 in her career (has played 40 career games).

Bryanna Herring

Bryanna Herring has continued her strong play since the start of the 2001-02 season.

o Recorded double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Valparaiso, then just missed repeating that feat with 13 points and nine boards at Air Force.

o Made nine of 11 shots from the field on her way to a 22-point effort at Columbia.

o At San Diego State, Herring scored 19 points and tallied nine rebounds. At Towson, Herring scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

o Against Appalachian State, Herring scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds

for the second double-double of her career. Eight of her rebounds came on the offensive end.

o Played just 23 minutes at Jacksonville, but scored in double figures in both halves and finished the day with a career-high 25 points. Herring connected on nine of 14 attempts from the field and drilled seven of her eight free throw attempts against the Dolphins. Herring also led Navy with eight rebounds and added three steals.

o Has made nine field goals in three games this season.

o Has scored 10 or more points in eight games.

Navy Depth

Don't be surprised to see a lot of players shuttle in and out of the Navy lineup this season. Head coach Joe Sanchez has used a minimum of 10 players in each of Navy's games this season, with 11 or more players taking to the court in all but one contest.

Game # of Mids Playing

at Coll. of Charleston 12

at Jacksonville 11

Appalachian State 11

at San Diego State 11

at Towson 11

at Albany 15

at Marshall 13

UMBC 10

UMES 15

Winthrop 13

at Columbia 11

Valparaiso 14

at Air Force 13

Maile Shimoda

Maile Shimoda capped off her pre-holiday slate of games by being named MVP of the Navy Classic. The sophomore guard scored 10 points and tied a career high with eight assists against Maryland-Eastern Shore, then in the title game scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half against Winthrop.

o Shimoda was key down the stretch of Navy's victory over UMBC, scoring the last-five points of the game, including the decisive two free throws with 7.2 seconds left in the game.

o Against Marshall, Shimoda grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and drilled a season-high four three-point field goals on her way to Navy scoring honors with 19 points.

o Playing for the first time in her collegiate career in her home state of California, Shimoda made a trio of three-point field goals and totalled 14 points at San Diego State.

o Against Appalachian State, Shimoda scored all but three of her team-high 18 points after halftime, while accounting for six of Navy's final-10 points.

o Recorded the 100th assist of her career Dec. 16 against UMBC.

Super Sophs

Navy's eight-member sophomore class has continued its strong play from last season when they were freshmen.

Navy's sophomore class scored:

o 67 of Navy's 69 points at San Diego State

o 56 of Navy's 61 points at Marshall

79 of 81 points at Columbia

On the year, sophomores are accounting for nearly 88 percent of Navy's scoring.

Navy's Class of '04

'00-01 '01-02

Stat as freshmen as sophs

Starts 84 of 140 60 of 65

Led in Scoring 23 of 28 13 of 13

Led in Rebounding 21 of 28 12 of 13

Scored 10+ Points 52 34

Scored 20+ Points 8 9

Pct. of Navy Points 62.2% 87.1%

1148 of 1848 768 of 881

Block Party

After totaling just 39 blocks all of last season, Navy players have already rejected 34 shots this season.

On its current pace, the Mids would block a total of 72 shots this season, which would be the most by a Navy team since the 1994-95 team totalled 82 blocks.

Blocks Part II

Leading the way with blocked shots this season has been Bryanna Herring and Adrienne Roseti. Herring leads the team with 16, while Roseti is close behind her at 10.

Herring's 16 blocks this season is already the fifth-most blocks recorded by a sophomore, while Roseti has moved into seventh place on Navy's career blocked shot list.

Navy Blocked Shots - Sophomores

Pl. Bl. Sh. Player (Year)

1. 30 Kim Cowling (1992)

2. 25 Laurie Coffey (1997)

3. 23 Yolanda Ray (1992)

4. 22 Adria Schneck (1995)

5. 16 Bryanna Herring (2002)

10 Adrienne Roseti (2002)

Navy Blocked Shots - Career

Pl. Bl. Sh. Player (Years)

5. 38 Adria Schneck (1994-97)

6. 32 Joanne Groth (1993-95)

7. 31 Adrienne Roseti (2001-02)

Navy's Rallies

Navy has rallied from both an eight-point and seven-point halftime deficit to win games this season.

The Mids trailed 41-34 at intermission to Appalachian State before rallying to post a 72-71 victory. Navy also found itself down 41-33 at Columbia before outscoring the Lions 48-29 in the second half for an 81-70 win.

Now in its 25th season, Navy has rallied to win games from halftime deficits of seven points or more just 13 times in 633 games, with its largest comeback being 10 points (Feb. 12, 1987 vs. Towson; Dec. 20, 1998 vs. Mississippi).

Rallies Part II

Twice this season the Mids have rallied from double-digit deficits, once to take the lead and once to close to within one point. This is no surprise, as Navy accomplished this feat five times last year.

Opp. Deficit (Time) Mgn. Became (Time)

App. State 24-37 (4:22) -13 48-47 (11:35)

SDSU 35-50 (12:24) -15 53-54 (7:29)

Abi Campbell

Abi Campbell had what everyone hopes will be the breakout game of her career last Saturday at Air Force. The freshman guard/forward drilled all four three-point attempts after halftime to finish with a career-high 12 points against the Falcons.

Campbell has made two starts this season, Dec. 16 against UMBC and three days later against UMES.

Second-Half Team

Through the first part of the year, Navy has proven to be a second-half team, having scored more points in the second half of 10 of their 13 games thus far. Navy is averaging just 30.4 points per first half, but is scoring 37.3 points per second half. Navy has scored 40 or more points in the first half of just one game this year, but have surpassed 40 points in six second halves.

Navy by Half First Second

Points Scored 395 486

Scoring Average 30.4 37.3

20-29 Point Halves 6 3

30-39 Point Halves 6 4

40+ Point Halves 1 6

Career Milestone Watch

Upcoming

Courtney Davidson needs 31 points for 600 ... Lisa Steinmetz needs 25 points for 300 ... Catherine Dunn needs 11 points for 100 ... Kate Maslowski needs 14 rebounds for 100.

Past

Maile Shimoda recorded her 100th assist Dec. 16 vs. UMBC ... Bryanna Herring grabbed her 100th rebound Dec. 16 UMBC ... Adrienne Roseti grabbed her 250th rebound against Dec. 19 UMES ... Lisa Steinmetz grabbed her 200th rebound Dec. 19 vs. UMES ... Courtney Davidson scored her 500th point Dec. 29 at Columbia ... Bryanna Herring scored her 200th point Dec. 29 at Columbia ... Maile Shimoda scored her 400th point Dec. 29 at Columbia.