GAME INFORMATION
Game #24: Daemen Wildcats (15-8, 12-2 ECC) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (22-3, 13-1 ECC)
Friday, Feb. 22 |  5:30 p.m.
Sparkill, N.Y. |  Aquinas Hall

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Game Day

Game #25: Daemen Wildcats (15-8, 12-2 ECC) vs. District of Columbia Firebirds (9-15, 6-8 ECC)
Sunday, Feb. 24 |  1 p.m.
Washington, D.C. |  UDC Sports Complex

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JUMP BALL
Regionally-ranked Daemen will look to continue its winning ways when it travels to St. Thomas Aquinas College (Feb. 22) and the University of the District of Columbia (Feb. 24) for East Coast Conference games this weekend. Daemen has won 11 straight games and enters the weekend in second place in the ECC standings. STAC has won six straight games and sits atop the league standings. Both Daemen and STAC are ranked in both the final D2SIDA East Region poll and the first NCAA Division II East Region poll. Daemen handed the Spartans their lone league loss (62-54) earlier this year at Lumsden Gym and the Wildcats are looking to sweep the season series from STAC for the first time since joining the ECC in 2013-14. Daemen rolled to a 79-47 win over UDC last month and is looking to sweep the season series from the Firebirds for the second-straight year.

THE STREAK
Daemen's current 11 game winning streak ranks as the program's longest winning streak since the Wildcats won 17 in a row during the 2007-08 season. Daemen and Bentley have both won 11 straight games, which ranks as the second longest winning streak among NCAA Division II East Region teams. Nationally-ranked University of the Sciences, which has won 14 in a row, is the only team in the region with a longer winning streak. The following graph compares the numbers over the first half of the season and the 11 game winning streak.

PLAYING WITH THE LEAD
Out of a possible 440 minutes during the winning streak, Daemen has trailed for a total of 53:20. Of that, the Wildcats have trailed for a total of 3:35 in the second half. The largest deficit faced during the streak has been six points (vs. Molloy on 1/11, vs. Queens on 1/13 and at Bridgeport on 1/20).

WILDCATS MAKE REGIONAL RANKINGS
Daemen was ranked ninth in the final NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) East Region media poll released Feb. 11, and the Wildcats are also included the the first NCAA Division II East Region poll released this past Wednesday, coming in at No. 10. It marks the first time since Daemen transitioned to NCAA Division II that it has been regionally-ranked. The East Region of NCAA Division II is comprised of teams from the East Coast Conference, the Northeast-10 Conference and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.

PLAYOFF PICTURE
Daemen has already secured a spot in the upcoming ECC Championship Tournament and can still claim the ECC regular-season championship. The Wildcats need to win just one of their final four games to secure one of the top two seeds and an opening round bye in the tournament. The ECC Championship features the top six teams in the final league standings, with first round games slated for campus sites on Wednesday, March 6. The semifinals (Saturday, March 9) and finals (Sunday, March 10) will be played at Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Bridgeport. Daemen made its first-ever appearance in the six-team tournament last year.

MORE GOOD NEWS
Daemen's 12 league wins are the most the Wildcats have posted since joining the league in 2013-14. The previous best was nine set last year.

BATTLE TESTED
Daemen posted a 54-38 victory over regionally-ranked New York Tech last weekend. It marked the third time this season the Wildcats have knocked off a team that was regionally ranked by the D2SIDA at the time of the game. Daemen has faced 10 teams that have been ranked regionally by the D2SIDA at some point this season.

BANKER RECORDS MILESTONE WIN
Daemen's 79-47 win over District of Columbia on Jan. 27 marked the 100th win as a collegiate coach for Jenepher Banker. She is in her third season as head coach at Daemen and previously spent five seasons (1988-93) as head coach at Penn State Behrend. Her overall collegiate record currently stands at 105-101 (38-40 at Daemen). 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's 1991-92 team at Penn State Behrend went 23-4 and 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 extended their winning streak to 11 games following wins over LIU Post (60-53) and New York Tech (54-38) this past weekend.

A NEW ERA
A familiar face is missing from the Daemen lineup this year 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 has emerged as a team leader in her second season. 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 is the only player to start all 23 games this season and has scored in double figures in 17 times. She scored a career-high 25 points in a win over Molloy on Feb. 8 and is averaging a team-high 13.6 points. She also leads the team in minutes played (700), three-pointers made (39), three-point field goal percentage (.371), assists (64) and steals (36).

TITUS TAKES CONTROL
Freshman forward Katie Titus has been a force at both ends of the court during Daemen's current winning streak. She is shooting 48 percent (86-for-178) from the field and is averaging 20.2 points and 10.3 rebounds over the past 11 games. Her efforts have earned conference recognition each of the past six weeks. She was named ECC Player of the Week twice over the past month and becomes the first player in team history to earn multiple ECC Player of the Week honors in the same season. Titus has also been a two-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week selection (Nov. 12-18, Jan. 14-20), and a four-time ECC Rookie of the Week pick (Jan. 14-20, Jan. 27 - Feb. 3, Feb. 4-10, Feb. 11-17). She is only the freshman to be named ECC Player of the Week so far this season, and is the only ECC player to be named Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week. Titus has appeared in all 23 games this season and has made 16 starts, including the last 15 games. She is shooting 42-percent (110-260) from the field and is averaging 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. She ranks high among the team's leaders in scoring (second), rebounding (first), steals (28 / 2nd) and blocks (29 / 2nd). She also ranks second in three-pointers made (33). She has averaged a team-high 16.4 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds during Daemen's 14 conference games. She currently ranks first among ECC freshmen in points per game and second in rebounds per game.

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 19 of 20 games this season and ranks third on the team in scoring average (10.3). She leads the team in field goal percentage (.472) and blocks (30) and ranks second in rebounds per game (5.8). She was recently named to the weekly ECC honor roll after totaling 34 points and 10 rebounds during wins over Mercy and Bridgeport and was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week this past Monday.

RICHARDS MAKES HER POINT
Junior college transfer Ranaveya Richards has started the last 10 games at point guard and the Wildcats are unbeaten (10-0) with her in the starting lineup. She scored a career-high 13 points and also added six rebounds and a career-high six assists during the win over regionally-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas on Jan. 25. She has played in all 23 games and is averaging 22.4 minutes and 5.2 points and ranks second on the team in assists (53). She is averaging 6.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and a team-high 3.7 assists during the 11 game winning streak.

NEW ROLE FOR WHITE
Sophomore Caroline White started nine of the first 10 games, but has provided a spark off the bench during Daemen's current 11 game winning streak. She is shooting 42-percent (27-65) from the field and is averaging 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds during the winning streak. She grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in the win at Molloy and scored 18 points in the win over Queens last weekend two weeks ago.

BIG SHOT BUCHSENSCHUTZ
Sophomore Autumn Buchsenschutz is playing a much larger role this year after seeing limited playing time as a freshman. She started the first 13 games this season and is averaging 18 minutes and 3.5 points a game. She ranks fourth on the team in both assists (38) and three-pointers made (18). She scored a career-high 13 points and handed out four assists in a win over regionally-ranked Gannon on Nov. 28 and followed up with 10 points and three assists in a win over Roberts Wesleyan on Dec. 5. 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.

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 played in all 23 games this year (20 starts) and drilled five three-pointers and scored a season-high 17 points in a loss to St. Michael's on Jan. 5. She has canned 94 three-pointers over her career. 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 has played in 20 games this year. She hit two clutch free throws with 11 seconds left and totaled eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the 72-70 win over Roberts Wesleyan.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SCOUTING REPORT
St. Thomas Aquinas returns 10 players and two starters from last year's team that finished 27-5 overall (16-2 in the ECC), claimed its first-ever ECC Tournament title and made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. STAC was voted third in the ECC preseason poll. The Spartans have picked up where they left off last year despite the graduation of ECC Player of the Year Jenna Erickson and ECC Defensive Player of the Year Adiya Henderson. The Spartans have won six straight games overall and bring a 19 game home unbeaten streak into Friday's game—which ranks as the second-longest home winning streak in the region behind USciences (21). STAC is ranked fourth in the final D2SIDA East Region poll and is ranked fifth in the first NCAA Division II East Region poll. Junior guard Ruth Adams and sophomore forward Emily Preston have paced offense that is averaging a league-high 70.8 points per game. Adams is averaging 11.3 points in just 16 minutes a game off the bench. She made 14-of-18 free throws and totaled 24 points and 11 rebounds in a recent 72-69 win over Bridgeport. Preston is shooting 47-percent from the field and is averaging 10.9 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds. She also ranks second on the team in assists (85). Senior Julia Winnik and sophomore Zaria Thomas both rank high among the ECC three-point shooters. Winnik has made a team-high 51 triples and is averaging 8.8 points. Thomas has drained 50 from downtown and is averaging 9.8 points. Winnik and Thomas also lead the team in steals (44). Junior Melissa Sadler scored 20 points in a recent 85-65 win over LIU Post and is averaging 8.7 points.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. St. Thomas Aquinas: 3-9
Streak: Won 1
Last Meeting: Daemen 62, STAC 54  | Jan. 25, 2019 | Amherst, N.Y.
Recap

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SCOUTING REPORT
District of Columbia returns nine players and four starters from last year's team that finished 4-24 overall and 2-16 in the ECC. Former assistant coach John Nakpodia is in his second season as head coach after taking over for Juan Dixon left after one season to become the head men's basketball coach at Coppin State. UDC was voted ninth in the ECC preseason poll. The lone starter that did not return was guard Daeja Quick, who collected ECC Rookie of the Year honors last year. The Firebirds have lost five of their last seven games and are coming off losses to NYIT (75-49) and St. Thomas Aquinas (67-60). The Firebirds host Roberts Wesleyan Friday, before taking on Daemen Sunday. Senior guards Natasha Roy and Mia-Alexis Lloyd have paced the Firebirds this season. Roy has scored in double figures in 17 of 24 games and is averaging 12.9 points with a league-high 57 three-pointers. She drilled four three-pointers and scored 27 points in a recent 64-62 win over LIU Post. Lloyd totaled 23 points in a recent 66-63 win over Bridgeport and is averaging 13.0 points. Additional production has come from sophomore guard Maya Thomas (10.3 ppg, 53 3pt FGs) and junior guard Tyra Coombs (8.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 25 3pt FGs).

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. District of Columbia: 4-7
Streak: Won 4
Last Meeting: Daemen 79, UDC 47  | Jan. 27, 2019 | Amherst, N.Y.
Recap

ON THE HORIZON
The Wildcats close out the regular season next weekend when they host Mercy College (Mar. 1) and the University of Bridgeport (Mar. 3) in ECC games. Daemen rolled to road wins over Mercy (72-47) and Bridgeport (75-53) last month.