Daily Word: First Impressions Part 6

When we started the First Impressions series back on November 20th, the season was just over a week and a half old. Now we are into December and have reached the halfway point in non-conference play. Teams have gelled together and certain players have begun to emerge. We covered the men from New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Vermont yesterday and today we'll round it out with the women. Hopefully you're enjoying the young season as much as we are.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire's Cari Reed

Senior Cari Reed has been one of the conference's best players so far. Second to only Chantell Alford in points per game (14.1 ppg) and currently fourth in rebounding (7.9 rpg), Reed has also been a force from beyond the arc. The six-foot senior guard is making 2.3 treys per game while shooting just over 42 percent. Only one other player in the conference (UMBC's Brittany Crowell) ranks in the top ten in points, rebounds and three-points makes. Reeds ability to rebound like a forward puts her in a unique class in the conference, as she has led the Wildcats in scoring in five of their seven games.

Kelsey Hogan missed a few games, so she doesn't show up on the America East leaderboards yet (must have played 75% of teams' games). But don't let her absence distract you from her importance to the Wildcats. Hogan led the conference in three-point percentage last season, and while she has yet to get on track there, she's been distributing the ball very well. Her 24 assists lead the team. Hogan also logs the second most minutes on the team and would rank fifth in the conference.

Stony Brook

The Seawolves have defeated to Mid-Major Top 25 teams already this season (Navy and Sacred Heart), and much of the credit can go to senior Jessica Previlon. The forward is percentage points away from being the only player in the conference to average a double-double (9.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg). Previlon has also been extremely efficient with her scoring chances (49.2 FG%) and has done great work on the offensive glass (3.4 /g).

Pairing with Previlon in the frontcourt has been sophomore Saber Proctor. Leading the Seawolves in scoring at 10.0 per game, Proctor has been a regular at the free throw line, leading the team in free-throw makes and percentage despite only starting three of the team's seven games. In addition to her solid shooting at the free-throw line, Proctor is also converting on 47.1 percent of her attempts from the field. Having already matched its win total from a season ago, Stony Brook has a good duo in Previlon and Proctor that can play a big role as we approach conference play.

Vermont's Lauren Buschmann

Vermont

For the Catamounts, senior Lauren Buschmann has been one of their most important players. The team's leading scorer at 9.9 points per game, Buschmann is also one of the conference leaders in field goal percentage (.466). The 6-2 forward/center has also been adept at getting into the passing lanes, tying for the team lead with 13 thefts.

Vermont has been without senior guard Shanai Heber because of a shoulder injury and her absence has certainly been felt. Heber is another guard that rebounds like a forward, as she leads the Catamounts with 7.8 boards per contest. That number would also rank fifth in the conference had Heber played enough games. Her athleticism on the court is a huge bonus for Vermont and once she gets healthy, the scoring output could increase.

Linked Up

The Newburyport Daily News profiled New Hampshire cross country star Keely Maguire.

Second-year Sam Rowley is finding his niche for Albany and coach Will Brown.

The Burlington Free Press looks at the Vermont women and their tough upcoming road trip.

In case you needed another reason to attend a Hartford basketball game...here it is.

Check out how the Stony Brook women's softball team is getting ready for the upcoming season.

What's Next?

Just one game tonight as New Hampshire hosts Dartmouth in women's basketball starting at 5:30 p.m.