GAME INFORMATION
Daemen Wildcats (4-3, 1-0 ECC) vs. LIU Post Pioneers (8-1, 2-0 ECC)
Friday, Dec. 14 |  5 p.m.
Brookville, N.Y. |  Pratt Recreation Center

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Daemen Wildcats (4-3, 1-0 ECC) vs. New York Tech Bears (9-2, 2-0 ECC)
Sunday, Dec. 16 |  1 p.m.
Old Westbury, N.Y. |  Recreation Hall

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JUMP BALL
The Daemen College women's basketball team heads to Long Island, N.Y. for East Coast Conference games at Long Island University Post (Friday) and New York Institute of Technology (Sunday). Both LIU Post (T-6th) and NYIT (4th) are ranked in the latest Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) East Region poll. In fact, Daemen's next four opponents are ranked in the D2SIDA East Region poll. The Wildcats play at No. 9 Le Moyne on Dec. 19, before hosting No. 6 Saint Anselm on Jan. 3.

ROAD WARRIORS
Nine of Daemen's first 10 games will be road or neutral site games. Friday's game will be the fifth of seven-straight road or neutral site games for the Wildcats. Daemen's next home game is set for Jan. 3 against Saint Anselm College.

BANKER'S BACK
Jenepher Banker enters her third season as head women's basketball coach at Daemen. Over the past two seasons she has led the Wildcats to a 23-32 overall record and a 17-19 mark in the ECC. Last year she led Daemen to its first-ever appearance in the ECC Championship Tournament. Banker arrived at Daemen with nearly 30 years of coaching experience at various levels, ranging from Division I to high school. Banker served as the head coach at Penn State-Behrend for five years (1988-93) and led the NCAA Division III program to a 67-61 overall record. Her 1991-92 team went 23-4, winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region championship. That team garnered Penn State-Behrend's first-ever national ranking in any sport. She was inducted into Penn State-Behrend's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. Banker most recently coached at the high school level, guiding the varsity team at Grand Island High School from 1998-2013. She built the Lady Vikings into a regional contender with seven Section VI championships, four appearances in the Far West Regional, and one appearance at the New York State final four.

DAEMEN QUICK FACTS
Daemen returns three starters and eight players from last year's team that posted an 12-17 overall record and a 9-9 mark in the East Coast Conference. The Wildcats earned a bid to the ECC Championship Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2013-14. Daemen suffered a 76-64 loss to Roberts Wesleyan in the ECC Tournament quarterfinals. The Wildcats are ranked eighth in the ECC preseason poll. The Wildcats have won two-straight and four of their last six games. Daemen closed out the month of November with a 58-52 win at Gannon and the Wildcats opened ECC play last week with a 72-70 win at rival Roberts Wesleyan.

COMEBACK KIDS
The Wildcats have overcome second-half deficits in each of their last three wins over Mercyhurst (74-67), Gannon (58-52) and Roberts Wesleyan (72-70). Daemen trailed Mercyhurst by 10 points (59-49) late in the third quarter, before outscoring the Lakers 25-8 the rest of the way. Gannon held a five-point lead (52-47) before Daemen scored the final 11 points of the game. Roberts Wesleyan was up eight points (58-50) with seven minutes to play before Daemen closed out the game with a 12-4 run.

HISTORIC WINS
Daemen's win over Mercyhurst marked its first win over a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team since the 2004-05 season when the Wildcats posted a 90-82 win over Gannon. Daemen's win over Gannon marked its first win in the series since the 2004-05 season, and its first at Gannon's Hammermill Center since the 1996-97 season.

A NEW ERA
A familiar face will be missing from the Daemen lineup following the graduation of Sarah Saba. A four-year starter for the Wildcats, she played in all 110 games over her career and totaled 1,774 points (16.1 ppg), 770 rebounds (7.0 rpg), 157 blocks and 157 steals. She scored in double figures in 96 of her 110 career games and ranks fifth in career points among Daemen's all-time leaders. She also ranks seventh in career rebounds and sixth in career blocks. She became the first-ever women's basketball player from Daemen to earn first-team All-ECC honors as a sophomore, and repeated the honor as a junior and senior. She averaged an ECC-best 17.7 points last year and became the first women's basketball player from Daemen to lead the league in scoring average.

SENSATIONAL SOPHOMORE
Sophomore Tiara Filbert enjoyed a solid rookie season last winter and is off to a strong start this year. Filbert, who sat out the 2016-17 season due to injury, played in all 29 games last year and started 20 of the final 21 games. She ranked second on the team in total points (252), scoring average (8.7) and defensive rebounds (115). A one-time ECC Rookie of the Week selection, she scored in double figures 12 times, including 10 of her final 19 games. Filbert scored a career-high 21 points in the win over Mercyhurst on Nov. 15 and is averaging a team-high 15.3 points. She also leads the team in field minutes played (196), goal percentage (.542), three-pointers made (18), three-point field goal percentage (.529) and steals (14). Her three-point field goal percentage ranks first among all ECC players and sixth nationally.

SUPER SUB TO SENIOR STARTER
Senior Erin Egan played in 27 of 29 games last year and averaged 17 minutes a game off the bench. She averaged 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds and ranked second on the team in blocks (34) and steals (26). She has started the first seven games of 2018-19 and ranks second on the team in scoring average (9.1), rebounds per game (4.6) and steals (12). She registered a season-high 14 points and nine rebounds in the season-opening loss to St. Rose.

BIG SHOT BUCHSENSCHUTZ
Sophomore Autumn Buchsenschutz is playing a much larger role this year after seeing limited playing time as a freshman. She has started all seven games this season and is averaging 23.9 minutes a game. She scored a career-high 13 points and handed out four assists in the win over Gannon and followed up with 10 points and three assists in the win over Roberts Wesleyan. She drilled a big three-pointer with 27 seconds left in the win over Gannon and her triple with 56 seconds left gave Daemen the lead for good (69-66) against RWC. She ranks second on the team in three-pointers made (10) and is averaging 6.9 points with a team-high 19 assists.

BACK FROM INJURY
Junior Jordan Heinold and senior Erin Sinnott both had their 2017-18 seasons cut short by injury. Heinold played in the first 13 games (7 starts) before missing the remainder of the regular-season due to injury. She averaged 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds and ranked fourth on the team in three-pointers made (27) despite missing 15 games. She has canned 77 three-pointers over her career. She scored 14 points in the season-opening loss to St. Rose. Sinnott started the first eight games last year before missing the remainder of the season. A transfer from Division I Evansville, she was averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds prior to the injury. She hit two clutch free throws with 11 seconds left and totaled eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win over Roberts Wesleyan last week.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Sophomore Caroline White and junior Sarah Young both made an immediate impact with the team last year. White played in all 29 games as a freshman and was in the starting lineup 22 times. She ranked third on the team in total points (249), scoring average (8.6), minutes per game (29.9), total rebounds (149) and rebounds per game (5.1). A three-time ECC Rookie of the Week selection, she ranked second in three-pointers made (36) and scored in double figures 11 times. She scored a season-high 15 points in the win over Assumption during the Redhawks Classic. Young contributed right away after transferring from Division I St. Bonaventure. She started 28 games last year, averaged 6.3 points and led the team in offensive rebounds (80) and field goal percentage (.500). She also ranked second in rebounds per game (5.9) and third in blocked shots (22).

TALENTED NEWCOMERS
The 2018-19 roster features six newcomers—one junior college transfer and five freshmen. Junior guard Ranaveya Richards joins the Wildcats after playing the last two seasons at Finger Lakes CC. She earned NJCAA Division III all-America honors last year after averaging 21.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Freshman guard Sydney Barney was a four-year starter at Beaver Area (Pa.) High School and earned all-district honors as a senior. Freshman forward Mickayla Ivy led East Grand Rapids (Mich.) to a 20-4 record and its first Class A District championship since 2009 last year. Freshman guard Vivian Ladd is a product of Johnson City (N.Y.) High School and collected first-team all-region and fifth-team all-state (Class A) as a junior. Freshman guard Katie Price led Fredonia (N.Y.) High School to back-to-back Section VI Class B titles as a junior and senior. Freshman forward Katie Titus enjoyed an outstanding career at regional power Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester, N.Y. A two-time first-team All-Greater Rochester selection, she led the Monarchs to 63 wins, two Section V titles and two NYSPHSAA Class AA "Final Four" appearances.

TITUS COLLECTS CONFERENCE HONOR
Freshman forward Katie Titus was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 19 after totaling 12 defensive rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the win over Mercyhurst. For the game, she totaled 14 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in 22 minutes off the bench. It marked her first career double-double. Titus scored a career-high 19 points in a loss to Eckerd and is averaging 7.0 and a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game.

LIU POST SCOUTING REPORT
LIU Post returns 12 players and all four starters from last year's team that finished 22-8 overall (17-1 ECC), claimed the ECC regular-season championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2014. LIUP was voted first in the ECC preseason poll. The Pioneers opened the year with four-straight wins, before suffering a 66-47 loss to regionally-ranked Stonehill. LIUP opened ECC play with wins over Molloy (59-46) and Queens (69-47) last week and enters Friday's game riding a four-game winning streak. The Pioneers are tied for sixth in the latest D2SIDA East Region poll. Head coach Deirdre Moore, the 2017-18 ECC Coach of the Year, enters her 11th season at LIU Post. Graduate student Sasha Paterson and junior Mikaiya Moore top the list of returning players. Patterson, a 5-10 forward, was a first-team All-ECC pick last year and was named this year's ECC Preseason Player of the Year. She has registered a double-double in each of her last four games and is averaging 14.6 pooints. She leads the ECC in field goal percentage (.610) and totaled 17 points and 18 boards in a recent win over Bloomfield. Moore, who collected second-team All-ECC as a freshman and sophomore, is averaging 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. Senior guard Shannon Doyle totaled five three-pointers and 20 points in a win over Caldwell and is averaging 11.6 points. She leads the team in three-pointers made (14) and assists per game (4.2). Freshman forward Ja'Lyn Armstrong is playing 16 minutes a game and is averaging 7.1 points.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. LIU Post: 3-7
Streak: Lost 2
Last Meeting: LIUP 74, Daemen 61  | Feb. 23, 2018 | Brookville, N.Y.
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NEW YORK TECH SCOUTING REPORT
New York Tech returns six players and three starters from last year's team that finished 19-12 overall (11-7 ECC) and advanced to the championship game of the ECC Tournament. NYIT was voted second in the ECC preseason poll. The Bears had a seven-game winning streak snapped following a 68-60 loss at Southern Connecticut this past Monday. NYIT opened ECC play with wins over Queens (76-35) and Molloy (73-45) last week. The Bears are receiving votes in the D2SIDA national poll and are ranked fourth in the D2SIDA East Region poll. The Bears host Roberts Wesleyan Friday before squaring off against Daemen Sunday. Third-year head coach Kenny Parham welcomes redshirt sophomore Margaret Knollmeyer back to the lineup. The 2016-17 ECC Rookie of the Year, she missed the entire 2017-18 season after suffering a pre-season knee injury. Knollmeyer has scored in double figures in all 11 games this year and has registered five double-doubles. A two-time ECC Player of the Week selection, she scored a season-high 25 points against Queens and is averaging 16.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. She ranks third among the ECC leaders in scoring average and second in rebounds per game. Junior G/F Corinn Baggs has scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games and is averaging 11.0 points and 4.7 rebounds. Sophomore guard Shalie Frierson has drilled a team-high 18 three-pointers and is averaging 9.3 points. Senior Tiara Place (7.0 ppg) and freshman Zoe Amalbert (6.7 ppg, 32 assists, 14 3pt FGs) have also produced. NYIT is shooting a league-high 35-percent for three-point land and leads the ECC in three-pointers made (77) and attempted (221). Five different players have registered at least 10 three-pointers on the year.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. NYIT: 1-9
Streak: Lost 1
Last Meeting: NYIT 61, Daemen 51  | Feb. 25, 2018 | Old Westbury, N.Y.
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ON THE HORIZON
Daemen returns to action Wednesday (Dec. 19) was it travels to Syracuse, N.Y. for a non-conference game at regionally-ranked Le Moyne College.