Max Sacco

Women's Basketball Opens ECC Play At Staten Island, UDC

12/5/2024 2:30:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Mary Margaret Johnson, Director of Athletics Communications | mmjohnso@daemen.edu

ROAD TEST
The Daemen University women's basketball team opens East Coast Conference play this weekend with a pair of road games. The Wildcats will travel downstate to play at the College of Staten Island on Friday, Dec. 6 in a 5:30 PM tilt, then head to the nation's capital for a 1 PM match up at the University of the District of Columbia on Sunday, Dec. 8.

LAST WEEK
The Wildcats earned a comeback victory for the second straight game, toppling Holy Family 55-53 on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. Daemen, who trailed by as much as eight in the game, outscored the Tigers 30 to 24 in the second half and made clutch free throws down the stretch. A trio of Wildcats scored in the double-digits in the game, with sophomore guard Sophie Auer (Lewiston, N.Y.) leading all players with a career-high 19 points on the day after goung 8-of-15 from the field. 11 of Auer's points came in the third quarter alone. Graduate student guard Danielle DiCintio (Somers, N.Y.) posted 16 points after and a team-high five assists. Junior guard Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) posted 10 points, with six of those coming off free throws, and junior forward Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) pulled down double-digit rebounds for the second time this season, totaling 10 boards – four offensive – along with two blocks, two assists, two steals and six points. Daemen shot 35% from the field, banking 21 of 60 shots and 4 of 14 beyond the arc while adding 9 of 13 from the free throw line.

WIN STREAK
After dropping three straight games to open up the season 0-3 for the first time since the start of the 2007-08 season, Daemen has won their last four games, beating Saint Michael's (67-49), Chestnut Hill (73-53), Saint Anselm (55-49) and Holy Family (55-53). Saint Anselm and Holy Family were both ranked in the East Region in the Division II College Sports Communicators (D2CSC) regional rankings when the Wildcats beat them.

STAT CATS
Through seven non-conference games, Daemen leads the league in scoring defense, allowing an ECC-low 56.4 ppg. The Wildcats rank fourth in the league in team three-point percentage (29.9%) and average 5.7 triples per game, good for third in the ECC. The league's top three-point shooter in 2023-24 while she was at Roberts Wesleyan, DiCintio leads the ECC with a 38.5% three-point percentage on the year. Daemen ranks at the top of the conference in turnover margin (5.57), forcing their opponents to average 20.7 turnovers per game while giving the ball over an average of 15.1 times. Though Daemen is fifth in the league in team rebounds, Lapertosa ranks third in the league in rebounding (8.7/game).

TRIPLE THREAT
A trio of Wildcats are averaging 10+ points per game this season. Auer, who is coming off a career-high 19 point performance and has scored in the double figures in five games, leads the Wildcats with 11.3 ppg while shooting 42.5% from the field. The ECC's three-point percentage leader last season, DiCintio has scored 6+ field goals in a single game in three games this season and averages 11.1 ppg. She leads the Wildcats beyond the arc with 20 of 52 triples for a league-best 38.5% shooting percentage. Scoring in the double figures in each of the first five games this season, Lapertosa is averaging 10.0 points per game and is shooting 40.8% from the field while also leading Daemen and ranking third in the ECC with 8.7 rebounds per game.

UP NEXT
Daemen will return to Lumsden Gymnasium to host St. Thomas Aquinas and Mercy next weekend. The Wildcats will take on the Spartans on Friday, Dec. 13 (5:30 PM) and host the Mavericks on Sunday, Dec. 15 (11 AM) in a rematch of the 2024 ECC Championship game.

SCOUTING UDC
The Firebirds are currently 1-6 and dropped their last four contests. In their last game on Nov. 30, UDC fell on the road to Virginia Union, 90-64. Laci Johnson has led UDC in scoring with an average of 14.1 points per game while on the glass, Tori Williams has averaged a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen is 12-9 all-time against the District of Columbia and has won three of the past four meetings.

SCOUTING STATEN ISLAND
The Dolphins are 5-3 this season and faced Division I Fairfield in an exhibition back on Dec. 3. Leading Staten Island in scoring is forward Jenalyse Alarcon as the Troy, N.Y., native has averaged a team-best 16.8 points per game. Her 16.8 ppg also currently ranks second in the ECC as well. Alarcon also leads the Dolphins on the glass with 62 total rebounds and an average of 7.8 per game. Along with Alarcon, Kyra Rose (10.9 ppg), Amber Abusbeih (10.8 ppg) and Dana Phelan (10.1 ppg) have all averaged 10-or-more points per game. Prior to the season, Staten Island was tabbed fifth in the ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen is undefeated all-time against Staten Island having won all seven prior meetings. The last time the two sides met on the court, the Wildcats won by a record 27 points, 71-44, on Feb. 9, 2024.

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