Jan. 14, 2000

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (8-5/3-1)
at Boston College (14-3/3-0)
Saturday, January 15, 2000
Conte Forum (8,606)
Chestnut Hill, MA

FRIARS VERSUS EAGLES
Providence and Boston College meet for the 42nd time in the all-time series, with the Friars holding a 30-11 edge in the first 41 meetings. The Eagles have won three of the last four meetings, including the only game last season at Conte Fourm. PC has won six of the last 10 meetings between the two schools. The two teams will meet again in Providence on Saturday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. At Alumni Hall, the Friars have a 32-11 lead in the series. At Boston College, the Friars are 17-23 and on neutral courts, the Friars are 2-3.

A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
No. 25 ranked Boston College has picked up where they left off last season with an 14-3 overall record and a 3-0 mark in the BIG EAST this season. The Eagles come into the game on a 10-game win streak, with their last win on January 12 as they edged out St. John's, 67-50. Senior Alissa Murphy and sophomore Becky Gottstein led BC with 17 points apiece in the victory. Gottstein also grabbed 14 boards for a double-double, while junior Jamie Cournoyer registered her own with 14 points and 11 boards. Senior Cal Bouchard rounded out the top scorers with 10 points. Bouchard leads Boston College in scoring with 15.0 points per game. Gottstein also averages in double figures with 13.2 points per outing, while Murphy is right behind her, contributing 13.0 points a night.

Last time out
Junior Monika Roberts put in a layup at the buzzer to give Providence a 77-76 win over Pittsburgh on January 12 at Alumni Hall. The Panthers led for most of the game, thanks to a 55.2 field goal percentage. But the Friars cut it to one at the 2:09 mark, as Roberts scored off a hook shot. Thirty seconds later, she made one of two foul shots to tie the game at 71. Gombotz was also sent to the charity stripe and converted one of two attempts for ProvidenceÕs one-point lead, 72-71. In the next possession, junior Monique Toney hit a 12-foot jumper to put the Panthers up, 73-72. But Chrissy Vozab answered that with a 3-point field goal at the top left of the key as the Friars took a 75-73 lead with 13 seconds remaining. Vozab then fouled out with six seconds left, sending Toney to the foul line. Toney made the first, but the second attempt hit the front end of the rim and freshman forward Mandy Wittenmyer grabbed the rebound and put it back in the basket for PittsburghÕs one-point lead (76-75). With one second left on the clock, Providence inbounded the ball in front of their bench with a shot pass to Roberts under the basket, who netted the left-handed layup for the win. Roberts finished the evening with a team-high 17 points, while Gombotz and Hinds each contributed 16 points apiece. Vozab rounded out the FriarsÕ top scorers with her 13 points. Pittsburgh was paced by Toney, who registered a game-high 21 points and nine assists, while Wittenmyer posted a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds.

HOT FRIARS
The Friars have now won seven of their last nine games after a 1-3 start. The four-game winning streak earlier this season was PC's first since February of 1996.

PROBABLE STARTERS

OFF THE BENCH

OUT OF ACTION
The injury bug has plagued the Friars all season long. Here's the injured list heading into tonight's game versus Pittsburgh:

• Dani Trippany (Jr., C) is out 2-4 weeks with a stress fracture in her right foot. She has been out of the lineup since December 12th and has missed seven games.
• Brooke Freeburg (Fr., G) is out for the season after tearing the ACL in her right knee on November 30th at Michigan.
• Abby Charbonneau (Jr., G) is out for the season after having knee surgery on January 3rd.
• Amy Drechsler (Jr., F) is out 2-4 weeks with a stress fracture in her right leg. The first game she missed was at Villanova (1/8/00)
• Dee Cummings (Fr., G) is out with a possible ACL injury pending test results.

M*A*S*H UNIT
Going into the Boston College game, the Friars have lost 38 man-games to injury so far this season. Here's the list:

• Catrina Hawley-Stewart: 9 games with high ankle sprain suffered November 11th. Has returned.
• Meghan Hinds: 2 games with broken nose suffered in season opener with George Mason.
• Abby Charbonneau: 12 games with season ending knee surgery.
• Brooke Freeburg: 9 games after season ending knee surgery.
• Dani Trippany: 7 games with stress fracture in right foot. Out since December 8th.
• Amy Drechsler: 2 game with stress fracture in right leg. Out since January 6th.
• Dee Cummings: Today's game with possible ACL injury.

FRIAR SIGNINGS
PC head coach Jim Jabir has announced that three players have signed national letters-of-intent to attend Providence College for the 2000-2001 school year. They are:

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior center Monika Roberts was chosen as the BIG EAST Co-Player of the Week for the week ending January 2nd. In four games the previous week, the 6-2 center was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Tulane/Doubletree Classic as she scored 47 points (23.5), pulled down 18 rebounds (9.0 rpg) and had 8 blocks (4.0 bpg). She continued with a double-double (21 points/15 rebounds) in the win over Fairfield and then led PC with 13 points and six rebounds in the win over Princeton. In four games, Roberts scored 81 points (20.3 ppg) had 39 rebounds (9.3 rpg) and had 11 blocks (2.8 bpg).

FAST FRIAR FACTS FOR 1999-2000

• Senior guard Meghan Hinds needs just 64 points this season to become the 21st player in school history to reach the 1,000 point mark in her career.
• The Friars have five players scoring in double figures this season led by Monika Robert's 15.4 points per game. She is followed by Dani Trippany with 11.7 ppg, Jen Gombotz with 11.5, Meghan Hinds with 11.4 and Chrissy Vozab with 11.0 ppg. Roberts leads the team with 9.2 rebounds and is followed by Gombotz with 7.8 boards per game.
• Junior center Monika Roberts (Pittsburg, Calif.) was named to the All-Tournament teams at the Lady Tiger Classic in Memphis, Tenn. and the Tulane/Doubletree Classic in New Orleans.
• Friars' freshman forward Steffanie Shoop (Somerville, N.J.) was a three-time Street & Smith honorable mention All-America and a two-time USA Today honorable mention All-America during her high school career.
• Freshman guard Brooke Freeburg was a Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-America as a senior. She finished her high school career as the all-time leading scorer with 2,095 points...She is also the Pennsylvania State Champion in the javelin.
• Not to be outdone by her fellow freshmen, rookie point guard Dee Cummings comes to Providence after leading her Butler High School team to consecutive Alabama 6A State titles. In 1997-98 she ran the offense for the #1-ranked high school team in the nation. She was selected by Women's Basketball News Service as a Second Team All-Freshman Team selection.

A QUICK LOOK AT HEAD COACH JIM JABIR

Overall Record: 194-179 (.520), 14th season/4th at PC
Birthdate: August 12, 1962
Education: B.S. in English from Nazareth College, 1984
M.A. is Student Personnel from Buffalo State, 1987
Coaching: Assistant Coach, Nazareth College, 1984-85
Assistant Coach, Buffalo State, 1985-86
Head Coach, Buffalo State, 1986-87
Head Coach, Siena College, 1987-90
Head Coach, Marquette University, 1990-96

Season By Season

ALL-TOURNAMENT PART II
For the second time this season, PC junior forward Monika Roberts has been named to a tournament's All-Tourney team. Roberts scored 26 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots in PC's 81-57 loss to Tulane. She helped the Friars bounce back in their 82-62 win over Lehigh as she scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds and four more blocks. For the two games, Roberts scored 47 points (23.5), had 18 rebounds (9.0) and eight blocks (4.0). Earlier this season, Roberts was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Lady Tiger Classic in Memphis, Tennessee.

CAREER NIGHT
Junior forward Zahra Williams came off the bench versus Princeton to score a career high 11 points (5-11 FG, 1-3 FT), grab a carer high six rebounds and block a career high eight shots in the 74-59 win over the Tigers. She turned in that performance in just 18 minutes of action. Williams' eight blocks is the most by a BIG EAST player this season.

DEE-LIGHTFUL
Freshman guard Dee Cummings has shown a penchant for passing this season as she has dished out 5.8 assists per game through the first 13 games this season. Versus Princeton, Cummings found the scoring touch with a career-high 12-point game (4-5 FT, 2-2 3PT, 2-2 FT), while still managing to dish out nine assists in 35 minutes played. At Syracuse, Cummings followed that with a seven-point, five-rebound, two assist game. On the year, the Huntsville, Alabama native is averaging 2.8 ppg, 3.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.

ROAD WARRIORS
The Friars have played just four home games this season and are 4-0. After the Villanova game, PC plays eight of its last 14 games at Alumni Hall. PC is 3-4 on the road and 1-1 on neutral courts this season.

ROOKIE TO THE RESCUE
Freshman forward Steffanie Shoop scored a career high 12 points (4-4 FG, 4-6 FT) in 14 minutes off the bench in the Friars' 76-65 win over Syracuse on January 4th. Shoop jumper with 12:57 left in the second half tied the game at 49-49 and her free throw 20 seconds later gave PC a 50-49 lead that they never gave up.

PC DOUBLE-DOUBLES
As a team, the Friars have recorded double-doubles this season. Here's the list:

BACK IN ACTION
Steady senior guard Meghan Hinds has scored in double figures in seven of the 10 games she's played since returning to the lineup after missing two games (Memphis and Samford) with a broken nose suffered in the Friars' season opener. In her 10 games back, Hinds has averaged 11.9 points per game, including a season-high 21 at West Virginia. Hinds has had a career high 11 rebounds twice this season (vs. Lehigh and PRINCETON), including her first double-double ever with 11 points and 11 rebounds versus Princeton.

PASSING FANCY
Freshman guard Dee Cummings has had two games with ten or more assists this season. Cummings opened her PC career with a 15-assist game versus George Mason on November 20th which set the record for a PC freshman. On December 7th versus Rhode Island, the 5-6 guard dished out 10 assists versus the Rams. Through 13 games, Cummings has 76assists (5.8 per game).

ALL-TOURNAMENT FRIAR
Junior forward Monika Roberts (Pittsburg, Calif) was named to the All-Tournament Team at the University of Memphis Lady Tiger Classic November 26 and 27. Roberts scored 22 points with eight rebounds in the first game versus Memphis. Game two saw her record 16 points and a career high 18 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. In the two games, Roberts had 38 points (19.0 ppg) and 26 rebounds (13.0 rpg).

DOUBLE GOMBOTZ
The Friars' Jen Gombotz picked up her third double-double of the season in PC's win at Syracuse. The junior forward scored 12 points and had a career high 16 rebounds in that game. Previously, she had recorded a double-double versus Fairfield with 16 points and ten rebounds. Her first came in the Friars' opening win versus George Mason when she had 28 points and 11 rebounds versus the Patriots on November 21st. For that game, Gombotz was selected as the BIG EAST Player of the Week.

OFF THE BENCH
Junior forward Amy Drechsler came off the bench to score a career high 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-1 3PT) in PC's 82-62 win over Lehigh. Versus Tulane, Drechsler made her first start of the season scoring two points in eight minutes.

POUNDING THE BOARDS
Providence recorded a school record 65 rebounds in the overtime loss to Samford on November 27th. The previous high was 63 versus Long Island University on December 28, 1980.

DOUBLE THE FUN
Who says you have to be tall to get rebounds??? PC sophomore guard Chrissy Vozab turned in her second double-double of the season at West Virginia scoring ten points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Earlier in the season, the 5-7 Vozab had 14 points and ten rebounds versus Samford University. The talented guard scored a season high 22 points in the Friars win versus Lehigh. At the Tulane Tournament, Vozab had 25 points and 11 rebounds versus Lehigh. For the season, she is fifth in scoring with 10.8 per game and fourth in rebounding with 5.6 boards per game.

DOUBLE PLEASURE
Junior forward Jen Gombotz got her 1999-2000 season off to a fast start in the Friars' win over George Mason. The Southington, Connecticut native recorded her first double-double of the season with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Gombotz was 13-25 (.520) from the floor, 1-4 3PT and 1-5 FT in the game.

THE PLAYMAKER
Friars' freshman point guard Dee Cummings (Butler, Ala.) wasted little time in getting her name in the Providence College record books. In the season opener against George Mason, Cummings dished out a Providence College freshman record 15 assists while committing just five turnovers in the 82-70 victory. She also pulled down seven rebounds while scoring three points. PC's all-time record for assists in one game is 17 and is held by Shanya Evans who did it twice in her career.

SHOT BLOCKER
Junior forward Monika Roberts set a career high with six blocked shots in the PC-Michigan game. For the season, Roberts now has 34 blocked shots or 2.6 per game to be third in the BIG EAST while being ranked 12th in the nation in that category.

25th ANNIVERSARY
The Friars are now in their 25th season of Division I competition and have an all-time mark of 448-267 for a .627 winning percentage in 715 all-time games. The Friars own three BIG EAST regular season titles (1983, 1986, 1990), one BIG EAST Tournament Championship (1990), one trip to the WNIT (1987) and five NCAA appearances (1986, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992).

PROVIDENCE - BOSTON COLLEGE SERIES FACTS

Series Record: 89th meeting - Providence leads series, 51-37
BIG EAST Series: Providence leads, 21-15
At Boston College: PC trails, 17-23
At Providence: PC leads, 32-11
Neutral Courts: PC trails, 2-3
Last Meeting: 1/17/99 - PC 89 @ BC 77
Last PC win: 1/17/99 - PC 89 @ BC 77
Last Boston College Win: 11/30/97 - BC 78 - at PC 62

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

SERIES NOTES

Streaks: The two teams have split the last four meetings - each team won last year on the other's home court. PC has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two schools. The Eagles come into the game on a 10-game win streak, while Providence has won seven of its last nine games.

FRIARS CAREER STATS VS. BOSTON COLLEGE

Big East Standings

BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sue Bird - Connecticut

CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK:
Brooke Stewart - Pittsburgh
Alicia Ratay - Notre Dame

FRIAR BIG EAST STATISTICAL LEADERS
(as of January 13, 2000)

INDIVIDUAL

TEAM

FRIARS IN NCAA RANKINGS (As of 1/10/00)
Assists - Dee Cummings, 23rd (71 - 6.2)
Blocked Shots - Monika Roberts (12th - 2.7)
Rebounding - Monika Roberts (32nd - 9.7)
FG% Defense - Providence (3rd - 34.7%)