Riding high after back-to-back double-digit victories over New Hampshire and Maine, the Binghamton University women’s basketball team looks for a sweep over northern New England when they play Vermont tomorrow at the Events Center.
Saturday’s 62-49 win over Maine in Orono capped off a 5-3 January for the Bearcats (9-11, 4-3 AE). Much of the team’s improved success can be attributed to the improved play of freshman Andrea Holmes and the senior leadership of Laura Franceski.
Holmes was just named America East Rookie of the Week for the second time this year after a near triple-double in the 76-59 victory over New Hampshire on Wednesday. Holmes followed up the 12-point, eight-rebound, eight-assist performance with eight points and five assists in the victory over Maine. Holmes’ standout performance of the month was on Jan. 18, when she dropped a team season-high of 32 points on Stony Brook at the Events Center.
Franceski has emerged as a leader on the court for the Bearcats. Always a defensive specialist, Franceski shattered the Binghamton Division I blocks record of 58 with four blocks against New Hampshire. Franceski actually broke her own block record, which she set the previous two seasons.
Franceski followed her 11-point performance on 4-5 shooting against New Hampshire with a career day at Maine on Saturday. Franceski had a near triple-double, scoring a season-high 22 points on 10-16 shooting, grabbing 11 boards and tying a school record with eight blocks. Her performance did not go unnoticed, as Franceski was named America East Player of the Week for Jan. 24 to 31.
“[Franceski] was all over the place defensively; it was her first real complete game of the season,” said Binghamton head coach Nicole Scholl regarding the Maine game.
Like the Bearcats, Vermont (11-9, 5-2 AE) has seen improved play with the changing of the calendar. Pegged as the America East preseason favorite by the coaches in October, the Catamounts struggled early, but are 6-2 in 2009 and sit in third place in the America East behind Boston University and Hartford, teams that account for their only conference losses.
The Catamounts are led by their Canadian duo with Greek last names, juniors Courtnay Pilypaitis and May Kotsopoulos. Pilypaitis is leading Vermont in assists, scoring 15.2 points per game and grabbing 7.9 boards a game.
“Courtnay Pilypaitis is a tough matchup; she plays in the post as well as the perimeter,” Scholl said.
Kotsopoulos is second on the team in assists and scoring, averaging 14.5 points a game.
“Kotsopoulos is playing very well, she can go to the basket and find open teammates,” Scholl said.
At 6 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 10 inches, respectively, Pilypaitis and Kotsopoulos present size mismatches for the smaller Binghamton guards. Usually the Bearcats’ sixth man, junior Darryll Peterson, will get the start and the first chance to defend Pilypaitis.
With three starters over six feet tall, Vermont has a size advantage over the Bearcats, so the rebounding margin could be a major factor in determining the outcome of the game.
“The big thing is limiting their second and third chance points,” Scholl said.
Key Matchups:
Darryll Peterson vs. Courtnay Pilypaitis
Pilypaitis looks to be headed to the America East first team squad, but Peterson is one of the Bearcats’ best defenders. As of late, Binghamton has done an excellent job of shutting down opponents’ best scorers; if Peterson can frustrate Pilypaitis early, the Catamounts might find themselves in a hole.
Laura Franceski vs. Alissa Sheftic
If the Sheftic name sounds familiar, it’s because Alissa’s brother Matt was a starting forward on Vermont’s 2003 America East champion men’s basketball squad. Alissa plays a similar game as her brother, but will have her hands full with Franceski. If Franceski can repeat her performance against Maine, Sheftic will be in for a long day, along with the Vermont guards, who make their living inside the paint as much as beyond the arc.
Game time is tomorrow, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. All Binghamton undergraduate students will receive free admission upon showing their student ID.