February 15, 1999

PROVIDENCE, RI - The Friars travel to sixth ranked Connecticut on Wednesday, February 17 for Husky Senior Day at Gampel Pavilion. Game time is 7:30 pm.

THE FRIARS AT A GLANCE: The Friars, 4-19 overall and 3-12 in the BIG EAST, broke a seven game winless streak as they defeated Seton Hall last Sunday, 82-77. Providence shot 46% (26-57 fg) from the floor and a season high 90% (26-29) from the free-throw line as they won their first game since January 17. The Friars have been led all season by sophomore Monika Roberts who has tallied 11.9 ppg and a team high 5.7 rpg.

THE HUSKIES AT A GLANCE: Currently ranked 6th in the nation, the Huskies are 21-4 overall and 14-1 in the BIG EAST. Losing last Saturday for only the fourth time this season, the Huskies fell to #8 Old Dominion, 82-77 in Norfolk, VA. Sophomore Svetlana Abrosimova leads the team in scoring averaging 17.6 ppg while pulling down 6.5 rpg. Also in double figures are Shea Ralph (16.2 ppg), Tamika Williams (14.7 ppg), Swin Cash (11.3 ppg) and Asjha Jones (10.0 ppg).

THE SERIES BETWEEN CONNECTICUT AND PROVIDENCE: Connecticut took over the lead last season in the all-time series as they now have a 23-21 edge in a series that began in 1975. The Huskies have won the last 11 contests dating back to MARCH 7, 1993 when the Friars won, 87-73 in the BIG EAST Tournament held in Providence's Alumni Hall.

GOING BACK EXACTLY SIX YEARS: The last time the Friars were victorious in Storrs, CT was exactly SIX years ago today (February 17, 1993). The Friars defeated the Huskies twice that year -- a a 76-47 win in Storrs and an 87-73 victory in Providence.

MORE ON THE SERIES: In the last 11 games between the two schools -- the Friars have scored an average of 58 points per contest while the Huskies have done 38 points better while averaging 96 points.

CONNECTICUT FACES PROVIDENCE AFTER LOSS....AGAIN!: Last season in Storrs, CT -- as the Huskies were fuming about their loss to xxxxx , the Friars entered Gampel and were shaken up, 126-48. This season....the Huskies again are coming off a loss -- this time to Old Dominion.

FRIARS LIKE TO SCORE 80 PLUS: The Friars are 4-0 when they score 81 points or more. They are 0-19 scoring less than 81 points per game.

TOUGH STRETCH ENDS FOR FRIARS: In an eleven day span that ended on February 4th (Jan 24 - Feb 4), the Friars played three of four teams ranked in the Top 15 in the nation. The Friars fell to #15 Rutgers (99-52), #7 Notre Dame (97-59) and #2 Purdue (96-67).

THE CONNECTICUT CONNECTION: Providence has two players from the state of Connecticut. Sophomore Jen Gombotz (1998 Connecticut Athlete of the Year) has started 21 of 23 games and is averaging 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. In her last five games, she is putting up 10.0 ppg. From West Haven, CT, Catrina Hawley Stewart has started the last five of nine games and turned in a season high of 14 points at West Virginia. Against Georgetown on 2/10, the forward pulled down a team high nine boards.

HINDS SPORADICALLY TAKING CHARGE: A co-captain as only a junior, Meghan Hinds has shown spurts of taking charge on the court. In the win over Seton Hall (2/14/99), Hinds scored a team high 21 points and connected on all 13 free throws. She currently leads the team on the charity stripe shooting 79% (95-120) and has recorded five perfect games from the gimmie line.

A LOOK AT THE LAST THREE GAMES: The Friars broke a seven game winless streak and won their first game on the road this season, 82-77 over Seton Hall on February 14. Meghan Hinds scored a game high 21 points as she was perfect (13-13) from the free-throw line. Also in double digits was Monika Roberts (16 pts), Jen Gombotz (15 pts, 10 rebs) and Kerri Sullivan (13 pts). Down by as many as 16 points in the first half, the Friars shot 56% in the second half and converted all 19 free throws on their way to victory. Georgetown defeated the Friars on their home court, 64-61 on Wednesday. Monika Roberts tallied a game high 20 points to lead the Friars. Down the entire second half of the game, the Friars came within one point in the final minute as Jen Gombotz stole a Hoya pass and dished it off to Catrina Hawley Stewart as she cut the lead to 59-57. Georgetown's Leslie Walker connected on a three-pointer with :52 seconds remaining before they traded free throws in the final seconds down the stretch. The Friars shot 36% from the field and held the Hoyas to only 34%. The Friars travelled to West Virginia and lost, 73-58 to the Mountaineers last Saturday. Roberts tallied a game high 15 points while Hawley Stewart added 14 points. Senior Kerri Sullivan collected a career high 15 rebounds. The Friars shot only 28.2 percent from the field while the Mountaineers had little trouble recording a 52.5 percent throughout the game from the floor.