The Daily Word: Conference Roundup

A full slate of America East basketball last night, so let's get right to our recaps before checking out the weekend schedule. March is always a little closer than you think it is, a subtle reminder of how important each conference game is.

Box Scores, Recaps and Highlights

Men's Basketball

Albany 68, at New Hampshire 62: Box/Recap/Highlights

• Top Performer
• Mike Black (Alb): 22 points (7-12 FG; 1-3 3FG; 7-8 FT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
• Big Stat
• The difference in this game came at the foul line, where Albany attempted 22 free throws in the second half, compared to New Hampshire's 10 attempts for the entire game. The Great Danes made them count too, hitting 72.4 percent of their free ones for the game.
• X-Factor
• Another start, another double-double for Sam Rowley of Albany, who now has three straight game of 10-plus points and rebounds. For the Wildcats, Chris Matagrano turned in a great game off the bench, netting 15 points (5-9 FG) in 24 minutes while only committing a single turnover.
• Local Media
• Albany Times Union
• Seacoast Online

at UMBC 70, Hartford 57: Box/Recap/Highlights

• Top Performer
• Mark Nwakamma (Hart): 21 points (8-14 FG; 0-2 3FG; 5-11 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
• Big Stat
• While Hartford did its best to get back in the game, UMBC's defensive performance in the first half was just too much to overcome. The Retrievers held their opposition to just 10.3 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes, including missing 16 three-pointers.
• X-Factor
• Ryan Cook turned in another excellent game, scoring 16 points (5-10 FG; 5-5 FT) while adding seven boards, four assists, two steals and a block. Brian Neller of UMBC also had a stellar performance. The senior guard had 15 points on the strength of five three-pointers.
• Local Media
• Hartford Courant

at Vermont 61, Binghamton 37: Box/Recap/Highlights

• Top Performer
• Trey Blue (UVM): 19 points (6-12 FG; 3-7 3FG; 4-6 FT), 3 steals, 2 rebounds
• Big Stat
• This is not so much "big" with respect to the game as much as it is one of those cool statistical oddities: Vermont shot exactly 11 for 27 in both the first and second halves of the game, good for a .407 field goal percentage for the game.
• X-Factor
• Brian Voelkel nearly threw up a double-double last night...while taking two shots and attempting no free throws. That's what happens when you rip down 15 boards and pass off seven dimes. Voelkel also had three steals for the Catamounts.
• Local Media
• Burlington Free Press
• Press and Sun

Women's Basketball

at Albany 78, New Hampshire 43: Box/Recap

• Co-Top Performers
• Ebone Henry (Alb): 16 points (6-12 FG; 1-3 3FG; 3-5 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
• Lindsey Lowrie (Alb): 16 points (5-7 FG; 5-6 3FG, 1-2 FT), 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
• Big Stat
• Albany played 12 players and only one didn't have at least one bucket. Nine different players played at least 14 minutes as the Great Danes displayed the type of depth that they bring on a nightly basis.
• X-Factor
• Great Danes freshman Shereesha Richards continues to impress. Yesterday she put up 12 points and 10 rebounds while only taking seven shots in 23 minutes. Sophmore guard Sarah Royals dealt out an impressive 10 assists as well. For the Wildcats, Cari Reed played extremely hard and turned in 11 points to lead her squad.
• Local Media
• Albany Times Union

at Hartford 51, UMBC 44: Box/Recap/Highlights

• Top Performer
• Katie Roth (Hart): 16 points (7-10 FG; 2-2 3FG), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
• Big Stat
• The UMBC women stuck with their starters for all 40 minutes in this one, as Brittany Crowell (18 points) again turned in an excellent game in a near victory for the Retrievers.
• X-Factor
• In her first game back from an injury, Amber Bepko chipped in 11 points for the Hawks, helping them overcome a late deficit. For the Retrivers, Raven Harris had eight helpers to go with her 10 points.

Vermont 61, at Binghamton 56: Box/Recap/Highlights

• Top Performer
• Sharae Swinson (Bing): 25 points (9-24 FG; 2-7 3FG; 5-8 FT), 8 rebounds, 1 assist
• Big Stat
• Vermont won this game on the glass, grabbing 52 rebounds to Binghamton's 31 including 16 offensive boards.
• X-Factor
• Niki Taylor and Annie Wheeler both had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead the Catamounts, but Tierra Shumpert's 10 assists were a big time help to the Catamounts in the road victory.
• Local Media
• Burlington Free Press

Boston U. 85, at Maine 54: Box/Recap

• Top Performer
• Chantell Alford (BU): 21 points (8-15 FG; 5-9 3FG), 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
• Big Stat
• A 16-2 first half run for the Terriers sent them on their way to victory. The defense was huge in this run, as it held Maine without a field goal for more than eight minutes. 
• X-Factor
• Liz Wood of Maine turned in a double-double (14 points, 10 boards) for Maine while also chipping in two assists and two steals. For the Terriers, Whitney Turner had an efficient outing, netting 13 points on just five shots from the floor. 
• Local Media
• Bangor Daily News

What's On Tap

Men's Basketball

Stony Brook at Vermont, Friday 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Binghamton at Maine, Saturday 2 p.m.
Boston U. at New Hampshire, Saturday 4 p.m.
Albany at Hartford, Saturday 7 p.m.

Women's Basketball

Hartford at Albany, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Vermont at Stony Brook, Saturday 2 p.m.
Boston U. at New Hampshire, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Binghamton at Maine, Sunday 2 p.m.

Linked Up

Alex Ogundadegbe is finding his role for the Binghamton men.

Stony Brook has hired a new volleyball coach.

The Albany Big Purple Growl is coming soon!

Former New Hampshire offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was hired as the newest coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.