Geoff Schneider

Sarah Cloutier and Daemen women's basketball look for 13th straight ECC win in 2021-22 campaign at Dist. Columbia Sunday.

Wildcats Visit Firebirds In Washington D.C. For Sunday Matinee

Daemen looks for 13th straight ECC win in road tilt

2/11/2022 2:05:00 PM

GAME #18
Daemen Wildcats (14-3, 12-0 ECC) vs. University of Dist. Columbia (11-11, 7-6 ECC)
Sunday, February 13 | 2 p.m. | UDC Gymnasium | Washington, D.C.

Watch - ECC Sports Network
Live Stats
Game Notes (PDF)

JUMP BALL
Daemen travels to our nation's capital on Super Bowl Sunday when they face the University of District Columbia Firebirds in an East Coast Conference matchup. Still at the top of the ECC standings, Daemen has now recorded 12 straight wins (21 consecutive in ECC play since last season) following a 79-45 home win versus D'Youville on Feb. 9. UDC hosts Daemen after a quick turnaround from visiting Roberts Wesleyan Feb. 12 and are playing their fifth game in eight days (third at UDC Gymnasium.)

A MAGICAL RUN
The Wildcats earned their second consecutive NCAA tournament berth and captured their first regional title last March. After entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the East Regional, the Wildcats ran to a 73-54 win over third-seeded Georgian Court in the regional semifinals, marking the program's first-ever NCAA tournament victory. The Wildcats followed up with a 58-40 defeat of fifth-seeded Roberts Wesleyan in the regional final, avenging a loss just nine days prior in the ECC Championship final. Katie Titus was named the Most Outstanding Player of the East Regional after netting 22 points to go with seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the regional final. The postseason run came to an end just over a week later in Columbus, Ohio where the Wildcats suffered a 66-49 loss in the Elite Eight to top-seeded and eventual national champion Lubbock Christian.

RELOADED
Daemen is set to return 13 players, including four starters, from their regional championship team – players responsible for 78% of scoring, 81% of rebounds and 85% of their assists from a season ago. Among the returners is senior forward Katie Titus who was recently named the ECC Preseason Player of the Year. A 6-foot forward, Titus produced a career-high 14.8 points per game last season. She led the ECC in three-point field goals (48) and blocks (40) while also ranking second in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and third in scoring en route to earning honorable mention All-American honors. Redshirt senior guard Tiara Filbert - the 2020-21 ECC Preseason Player of the Year - is also set to return after being limited to just eight games by an injury last season. A three-time All-ECC selection, Filbert enters her final collegiate season with 1,096 points in 93 games played. Senior forward Mickayla Ivy (9.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and sophomore guard Alahna Paige (2020-21 ECC Rookie of the Year) also return.

BANK ON IT
Jenepher Banker returns for her sixth season on the Daemen bench and her 11th overall as a collegiate head coach. The veteran mentor has led Daemen to an 92-53 record since taking the reins in 2016, with 69 of her victories coming over the past four seasons. The Wildcats' success under Banker includes a 23-win season in 2019-20 (a benchmark for wins during the program's NCAA Division II era), back-to-back regular season conference titles, the program's first ECC tournament championship, a pair of NCAA tournament berths and the 2021 regional title. She was named the ECC Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to an unbeaten run through conference play. Including her five seasons as the head coach at Penn State Behrend, Banker recorded her 150th win at the collegiate level in Daemen's 76-59 victory at Staten Island on December 17.

IN THE POLLS
For the first time in the program's NCAA Division II era (2015-present), Daemen was nationally ranked to start the season. Daemen was ranked 20th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll and eighth in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Preseason Media Poll. The Wildcats ended the 2020-21 season ranked eighth in both polls - the first time they've finished a season in the national rankings. For a third straight week, Daemen is ranked eighth in D2SIDA'S latest East Region Poll. The Wildcats have now been ranked in 33 consecutive D2SIDA regional polls, since January 2019.

MILESTONE MOMENT
By converting a free-throw in the second quarter of a 54-53 win over Angelo State on November 19, senior Katie Titus became the 27th member of Daemen's 1,000-point club. In 90 career games, Titus has made 82 starts and totaled 1,282 points, 715 rebounds and 145 blocked shots. She ranks 14th in career scoring all-time at Daemen. A three-time All-ECC selection, Titus is one of only four players in program history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a career. Titus has reached double-figure scoring in 16 contests (13 consecutive) and recorded six double-doubles while averaging an ECC-best 19.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season.

HIGH ECC-XPECTATIONS
For the second straight season, Daemen has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the ECC. The Wildcats were the near unanimous choice atop the ECC Preseason Coaches Poll, garnering nine of the 10 first-place votes and 97 points. The Wildcats posted a 9-0 ECC record last season - the program's first unbeaten conference season since 2003-04 - and hold a 53-8 conference mark since the start of the 2018-19 season.

SWEET CAROLINE
The biggest missing piece from last season is forward Caroline White who was lost to graduation last spring. White earned ECC Player of the Year honors last season after averaging 15.2 points (second in ECC) and 8.5 rebounds (first in ECC) per game.

T IT UP
Daemen has regained the services of redshirt senior guard Tiara Filbert to start the 2021-22 season. A three-time All-ECC selection, Filbert missed the final nine games last season with an injury. She has appeared in 110 games and 101 starts in her career, averaging 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. In Daemen's 2020-21 season opener, she became the 25th member of the program's 1,000 Point Club. Filbert currently ranks 13th in program history with 1,291 career points.

BREAKOUT SEASON
Senior forward Mickayla Ivy will look to take her game to another level after experiencing a breakout campaign in 2020-21. After averaging 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in her first two seasons, Ivy emerged as a consistent performer at both ends of the floor last season. She started all 17 contests and averaged 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the field. Her contributions were recognized by the ECC coaches who voted her onto the All-ECC Second Team.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
Daemen has held 51 of its last 61 opponents to 65 points or less, posting a 47-4 record in those games. The Wildcats were among the best defensive teams in the country in 2020-21, ranking third nationally in both field goal percentage defense (.325) and scoring defense (51.6).

SUSTAINED SUCCESS
Daemen has posted a 65-13 record in their last 78 games, a span that dates back to mid-January of 2019. The Wildcats have won 12 of their 18 regular season, non-conference games in that time.

FRESH FACES
Daemen welcomes just two newcomers to the roster this season. Junior guard Sarah Cloutier is a transfer from NAIA affiliate Southeastern where she appeared in 38 games over two seasons while helping the Fire post a 53-6 record. Guard Sydney Hvizdzak is the lone freshmen on Daemen's roster. She comes to the Wildcats after earning All-Western New York honors last winter when she averaged 26.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while leading Randolph to the Section VI Class C title game. Hvizdzak is one of only 15 women in Section VI history to surpass 2,000 career points.

CACC DOMINANCE
Since gaining full NCAA membership in 2015, Daemen is 9-1 against affiliates of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The Wildcats won their eighth straight game with a CACC opponent when they defeated Felician 72-50 on Nov. 13 at the Redhawks Classic.

BATTLING THE NE10'S BEST
Daemen will play four games against Northeast 10 Conference opponents this season, including teams picked first, second and third in the NE10 Northeast Division preseason coaches' poll. The Wildcats suffered a five-point loss to Saint Anselm (picked third) in their season opener and two-point loss to Stonehill (picked first) on Nov. 30. Daemen will visit Bentley (picked second) on Jan. 2, and will also host Le Moyne (picked fourth in NE10 Southwest Division) on Dec. 30.

TEXAS SQUEAKER
Mickayla Ivy hit a jumper with 19 seconds to go and then secured a defensive rebound to help Daemen get past Angelo State, 54-53, in the opening round of the Lady Chap Classic hosted by Lubbock Christian on Nov. 19. It was the Wildcats' first one-point victory since defeating rival Roberts Wesleyan, 70-69, on Jan. 20, 2015. Katie Titus scored 22 points – including the 1,000th of her career – and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Wildcats past the Belles.

ELITE REMATCH
On Nov. 20, Daemen suffered a 62-37 loss to Lubbock Christian in a rematch of the Wildcats' first-ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight game from last March. The Chaps are the defending national champions and were ranked No. 1 in both national polls to start the season.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSIONS
After averaging 59.8 points in their first five games of the season, the Wildcats broke out offensively with three consecutive wins in conference play in December. It started Dec. 8 when they canned 18 three-pointers on 32 attempts (.563 shooting %) during an 83-46 romp over Roberts Wesleyan in what was the teams' first meeting since last season's East Regional finals. Sydney Hvizdzak (5-8, 15 points), Tiara Filbert (4-4, 16 points), Katie Titus (4-5, 16 points) and Kaytlyn Matz (3-7, 9 points) all made multiple three-pointers in the win. Then, on Dec. 12, the Wildcats erupted again during a 97-83 win over Bridgeport. It marked their first game with 95+ points since a 96-84 win over LIU Post on Jan. 25, 2017. Titus scored a career-high 38 points on 15-of-22 shooting, matching the highest individual scoring effort of the program's NCAA Division II era. Filbert, who shares the record, chipped in 20 points and nine rebounds. Then, on Dec. 17, the Wildcats made timely shots down the stretch in a 76-59 victory over Staten Island, the first meeting in program history. Titus recorded her sixth double-double of the season (26 points, 16 rebounds) as one of four Wildcat players to finish in double-figure scoring. Kaytlyn Matz set new career-highs in made three-point field goals (5) and attempts (11) as part of a 16-point night plus seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Mickayla Ivy added 10 points and seven rebounds and Autumn Buchsenschutz scored eight of her 11 points in the second half alone, including 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.

BACK IN ACTION
After a 28-day absence due to the NCAA-mandated holiday break in late December followed by the postponement of four consecutive games related to COVID-19 protocols, Daemen returned to the hardwood with a 61-58 victory over Molloy on Jan. 14 in the friendly confines of Lumsden Gymnasium. The Lions scored 11 straight points to fuel a 17-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Daemen found its shooting rhythm in the second quarter and cut the deficit to as much as four points (26-22.) Molloy went into the break with a 28-23 lead. By scoring the final seven points of the third and another 10 unanswered points at the start of the fourth, the Wildcats scored a total of 17 unanswered points to take a 54-47 lead. A Daemen scoring drought gave the Lions a chance to make this a one-possession game (54-51) with just over three minutes to play. Molloy converted two free-throws with 1:34 left to make the score 55-53 Daemen, which remained the score until Filbert's two free-throws with 15 seconds left. Molloy drained a three-pointer with three seconds left to make this a one-point game (59- 58), but Daemen again converted two free throws to close out the scoring. Tiara Filbert finished with a team-high 20 points in the victory.

MORE SUCCESS AT LUMSDEN
On Jan. 16, Daemen extended their winning ways with an 80-43 victory over Queens College to record their 28th consecutive regular season victory in ECC play at Lumsden Gymnasium, dating back to the start of the 2017-18 season. Daemen held a 14-2 lead halfway through the first quarter and took a 24-4 lead into the second quarter. The lead ballooned to 32 points, 41-9, late in the second quarter and the hosts took a 48-15 lead into intermission before maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the second half. Freshman Sydney Hvizdzak connected on 4-of-8 three-pointers and scored a season-high 18 points for the Wildcats in just 18 minutes of action off the bench while senior Katie Titus added 13 points and six rebounds. Daemen converted 10 three-point shots, the fourth time in a five game stretch that the Wildcats made 10 or more three-pointers in a game. Daemen also registered 23 assists, the third time in a five-game stretch where the blue-and-white handed out 20 or more assists in a game (season-high 25 vs. Roberts Wesleyan on 12/9/21).

THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY CONQUERED
Behind a pair of double-figure scorers – 21 points from senior Katie Titus and 11 points from redshirt senior Tiara Filbert – and quality contributions from fellow veteran play-makers, the regionally-ranked Wildcats recorded a sixth consecutive win and their eighth in their last 10 contests following a 64-48 victory against St. Thomas Aquinas on Jan. 21 in an East Coast Conference matchup held at Aquinas Hall. Sophmore guard Kaytlyn Matz, junior forward Marina Maerkl and sophomore guard Alahna Paige added nine points apiece in the victory. Matz also had a team-high four assists and tied with Paige for the team lead in rebounds (8.) In addition to finishing in double-figure scoring for the seventh straight contest (10th time this season), Titus recorded a season-high four blocks and went a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. The victory marked just the second time Daemen defeated STAC at Aquinas Hall in program history. The first victory came in a 79-73 overtime thriller on February 11, 2016.

BATTLE OF THE UNDEFEATED
On Jan. 23, Daemen went down to Dobbs Ferry to face fellow ECC unbeaten Mercy and returned to Main Street with a 55-51 win and first place in the conference standings. The Wildcats turned an early 14-2 deficit into a 28-6 run over the final 14:10 of the first half. Redshirt senior Tiara Filbert (Batavia, N.Y.) led the Wildcats offensively by scoring 10 of her game-high 18 points in the first half alone and tied her season-high in assists (6) for the third time this season. As a result, Filbert passed Joanna Daugenti '05 for 13^th place in career scoring. This marked the second time this season where Daemen won a contest after scoring less than 60 points (Angelo State, Nov. 19, 2021.) This is also the 13th time Daemen has accomplished this feat since the Jenepher Banker era began in the 2016-17 campaign. The Wildcats have now won 12 straight in the series and nine of the last 10 meetings in Victory Hall. Daemen leads the all-time series, 15-2.

BOMBS AWAY
Four players made multiple three-pointers and Daemen canned 16 shots from downtown as a team en route to a 79-46 win over the D'Youville Saints on Jan. 25. This game was originally scheduled for Jan. 8 but was postponed due to established health and safety protocols related to COVID-19. The Wildcats outscored their Western New York rivals, 42-14, over the second and third quarters while extending their winning streak to eight straight games. A back-and-forth opening stanza was capped when Daemen's Tiara Filbert drilled a pull-up three-pointer just before time expired, giving the Wildcats a 21-20 advantage. The Wildcats continued their three-point barrage in the second with guards Alahna Paige and Sydney Hvizdzak sinking two triples apiece while also limiting the host to just 3-for-20 shooting (0-for-8 from three-point range) in the period and took a 39-27 lead into halftime. Daemen squelched any thoughts of a D'Youville comeback by opening the third quarter with an 18-2 run. Three-pointers from Paige and Hvizdzak book-ended the spurt. Daemen made six trifectas in the period and took a 63-34 lead after 30 minutes of play. In the fourth, the Wildcat advantage swelled to as much as 36 points (79-43). The Wildcats ended up 16-for-31 from deep (51.6%) - their fifth game this season with at least 10 triples and two shy of their season-high. In a game decided by 33 points, Daemen outscored D'Youville (3-for-17) by 39 points from behind the three-point line. Senior forward Katie Titus netted a game-high 19 points in just 20 minutes ot action to pace the Wildcats. Hvizdzak, a freshman, matched her season-high with five three-pointers as part of a 17-point outing, her third double-figure game of the season. With tonight's win, Daemen improved to 17-0 against D'Youville during the program's modern era (1986-present). Daemen has won all three meetings in ECC play by at least 33 points. Daemen dished 24 assists - one shy of their season-high. Daemen has recorded 10 or more assists in 10 straight games.

SPLISH SPLASH
Behind a 31-point (12-of-22 FG, 5-of-12 3-pt), nine-rebound, five-steal performance from Katie Titus to lead the Wildcats offensively, Daemen continued their winning ways with a 73-48 victory over The College of Staten Island on Jan. 29 in Lumsden Gymnasium. The Wildcats have now won 18 consecutive regular season conference games dating back to the start of last season. Daemen opened the game with a three-pointer by Titus and never trailed after that. The Wildcats held a 9-6 lead halfway through the first quarter and later took their first double digit lead of the game, 17-6, after Titus swished two free throws with 2:21 left in the frame. CSI responded with back-to-back three-pointers and the Wildcats would take an 18-14 lead into the second quarter. The teams traded points early in the second quarter and the Daemen lead was three points, 22-19, when the hosts ran off nine unanswered points to take a 31-19 lead. Daemen would take a 13-point lead, 38-25, into the break. Daemen maintained a double-digit lead the entire second half, and a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter secured the win for the Wildcats. Sophomore Kaytlyn Matz and Titus hit back-to-back three-pointers to ignite the run, while redshirt senior Tiara Filbert's lay-up with 2:11 left capped the stretch (68-46.) Titus' 31-point performance marked the second time this season where she netted 30 or more points in a game (season-high 38 points versus University of Bridgeport on Dec. 12.) Filbert recorded her first double-double of the season and flirted with a triple-double in all 40 minutes (13 points, career-high 11 rebounds, season-high seven assists. Daemen dished out 17 assists tonight and have now recorded 10 or more assists in 11 straight games.

TEN IN A ROW
With senior Mickayla Ivy leading the way offensively by scoring a team-high 13 points in just 18 minutes of action, Daemen women's basketball won their 10th straight contest this season versus upset-minded University of Dist. Columbia on Jan. 30 in Lumsden Gymnasium. The Wildcats have now won 30-straight home regular-season conference games dating back to the 2017-18 season. Daemen, which never trailed in the game, held a 13-7 lead midway through the first quarter and later took an 18-11 advantage following a three-pointer by senior Katie Titus with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. The Wildcats would take a 21-13 lead into the second quarter after redshirt senior Tiara Filbert drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Both teams struggled to score early in the second quarter and the Daemen lead was six points, 21-15, when the hosts got two free throws from sophomore Alahna Paige and redshirt sophomore Alina Estrella's three-pointer later gave the blue-and-white its first double-digit lead of the game (26-15.) A layup by Titus with just under three minutes left in the frame gave the hosts a 34-20 lead, but the Wildcats went scoreless the rest of the half (34-24.) An old-fashioned three-point play from Ivy and a three-pointer from Kaytlyn Matz helped Daemen extend their lead, 42-28, with 5:27 left in the third quarter. The Firebirds, however, ended the frame on an 8-2 run to cut Daemen's lead to four points, 48-44, heading into the fourth quarter. After scoring the first four points of the fourth quarter, the Wildcats went scoreless for over three minutes, which UDC was not able to take advantage of. UDC had one last attempt to stay in the game (54-50) before Daemen sophomore Natalie Angeletti came up big with, first, a three-pointer (just her second of the season) and a jumper in the lane to extend Daemen's lead to 59-50 with just under two minutes left. In the victory. Angeletti finished with seven points and four boards in 18 minutes off the bench. Filbert played all 40 minutes for the second straight game and nearly recorded her second straight double-double (seven points, career-high 11 rebounds, four assists.) Daemen dished out 17 assists versus the Firebirds and have now recorded 10 or more assists in 12 straight games.

COMEBACK KIDS
On Feb. 2, Daemen came away with a late 73-68 win at Roberts Wesleyan for a 20th consecutive regular season conference victory dating back to the start of last season and extending their current winning streak to 11 straight contests. The Redhawks held a 64-58 lead with just over four minutes left. That's when redshirt senior Tiara Filbert and fellow veterans Katie Titus and Mickayla Ivy took over and led the Wildcats on an 11-2 run. Ivy sparked the run with back-to-back buckets and her jumper with 1:30 left capped the run and gave the visitors a 69-66 lead. Filbert hit a pull up three-pointer during the rally, while Titus gave the Wildcats the lead for good (67-66) with 2:01 left. Filbert helped seal the deal with four free-throws – all within the last 20 seconds of the contest. Filbert totaled a season-high 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out a season-high seven assists. Titus scored 16 points and has now scored in double figures in 12 straight games. Ivy added eight points and equaled her season-high with 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Alahna Paige went 3-of-4 from downtown and finished with a season-high 13 points while freshman guard Sydney Hvizdzak drilled three three-pointers (11 points total) in 15 minutes off the bench. Daemen has now prevailed in 10 of the last 11 meetings with RWC (50-25 all-time.)

SCOUTING DIST. COLUMBIA
The University of District Columbia Firebirds are members of the East Coast Conference and are led by fourth year head coach John Nakpodia. The Firebirds saw their 2020-21 season cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Nakpodia is a familiar face within the women's basketball program as he served as an assistant coach in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Before coming to our nation's capital, Nakpodia served as an associate head coach and trainer with Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 2014 through June 2015 and beforehand served as the Director of Basketball Operations for the men's basketball team at Howard University.

Only two players, sophomore guards Halia Ellis and Latavia Jackson, return from UDC's 2019-20 team that finished 8-20 overall and 4-12 in East Coast Conference play.

As of Feb. 11, Jackson leads the Firebirds in points per game (14.9), shooting 36.4% from the floor and has finished in double-figure scoring 12 times this season, including in each of her last nine appearances. Ellis is currently third in scoring (8.7) and leads the team in converted three-point field goals (28-of-89, 31.5%.) Sophomore guard Destiny Ryles is second in scoring (11.5) and leads the Firebirds in assists per game (4.5, third-best in ECC as of 2/11.)

UDC enters Sunday's contest following recent home contests against ECC opponents D'Youville (64-59 loss on Feb. 7) and Bridgeport (69-61 win on Feb. 9) and will visit Roberts Wesleyan in Rochester on Feb. 12 as a back-to-back slate this weekend. This is also UDC's fifth game in the last eight days, dating back to a 58-44 road win at Queens on Feb. 5. After winning four of their first six contests, the Firebirds are 7-9 in their last 16 contests, as of Feb. 11.

SERIES HISTORY VS. DIST. COLUMBIA
All-Time Series: 8-7
At Dist. Columbia: 3-4
Current Streak: Won 8
Last Meeting: Daemen 61, Dist. Columbia 51 | January 30, 2022 | at Amherst, N.Y.

DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that Daemen is 5-3 all-time when playing on Super Bowl Sunday in the program's modern era (1986-present?) This is the first time Daemen is playing on the big day since an 83-48 victory versus Roberts Wesleyan on Feb. 7, 2021. Sunday also marks the first time Daemen faces Dist. Columbia on Super Bowl Sunday since an 71-62 road win on Feb. 4, 2018.

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