March 5, 2004

Stony Brook (7-19, 6-11 AE) vs. Northeastern (12-14, 6-11 AE)
March 6, 2004 * 1:00 p.m.
Solomon Court * Boston, Mass.

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Today's Matchup
The Seawolves (7-19, 6-11) play their final regular season game of 2003-04 this afternoon at Northeastern. SB has lost four of its last five outings, while the Huskies are coming off a win over UNH on Tuesday.

The Seawolves, who lead the all-time series 4-1, topped the Huskies 79-70 back on Feb. 4.

Scouting the Huskies
Northeastern enters today's game having lost five of its last six games. Last time out, the Huskies snapped their five-game losing streak with a 74-61 win over New Hampshire.

NU is led by Marlene Zwarich, who is averaging 13.8 points and 5.9 boards.

Last Time Out
Heather Ernest recorded 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead Maine to a 76-61 win over Stony Brook. Leading 29-26 with 2:55 remaining in the first, Maine closed the half with a 10-0 run behind three treys. Ashley Underwood was unconscious from downtown in the first, going 6-for-7 as Maine hit 10 threes in the first 20 minutes. That set the tone for the game, as SB got no closer than 10 the rest of the way. Sherry Jordan led SB with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while pulling down her 800th career board to become the first athlete in school history to collect 1,500 points and 800 rebounds.

Ford vs. Boston Teams
Mykeema Ford has shined in games vs. teams from Boston this season. In three contests, the freshman is averaging 20.0 points while shooting .529 (18-34) from the field, .563 (9-16) from downtown and .714 (15-21) from the free throw line. Ford scored in double-figures in each of the contests, including a 31-point performance at BU on Jan. 28.

As a team, the Seawolves are averaging 72.3 points and 41.0 rebounds while shooting .485 (79-163) from the floor and .439 (18-41) from three-point range in those outings.

Jordan Among Stony brook's All-Time Greats
Senior Sherry Jordan etched her name among the best athletes in Stony Brook history once again vs. Maine on March 3. In the contest, Jordan pulled down her 800th career rebound. With that feat, she became the first basketball player in school history, male or female, to collect 1,500 points and 800 rebounds in a career.

Jordan currently ranks in the top four in virtually every category at the school, including rebounds (third, 808), field goals (fourth, 572), free throws (third, 318) and steals (third, 263) and, with 1,524 points to her credit, needs just four more points to take over sole possession of second place.

Ford Earns Third Rookie of the Week Honor
Mykeema Ford was named America East Co-Rookie of the Week for the week ending Feb. 29. Ford, who has earned the award three times, shares the accolade with UNH's Ray Williams.

Ford finished the week averaging 19.0 points per game while shooting 40 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.

The freshman scored the game-winning basket with seven seconds remaining as SB upset then second-place BU. Ford finished the game with 11 points, five assists and three steals. She capped off the week with a game-high 27 points vs. New Hampshire.

The Seawolves have now captured at least a share of the last five rookie of the week awards, as Ford won it back on Feb. 1 before Jessica Smith won three straight.

Smith, Ford, Watson Among Top America East Freshmen
Jessica Smith, Mykeema Ford and Kelly Watson are not only three of SB's top players, but three of the top rookies in the America East this season.

Entering today's contest, Smith ranks first among first-year players in rebounding (9.3 rpg), offensive rebounds (3.96 pg) and defensive rebounds (5.35 pg) and second in scoring (11.9 ppg). Ford stands first among rookies in scoring (13.0 ppg) and three point field goals per game (1.81 pg). Watson ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (0.95) and second in assists (2.64 apg).

Smith Heating Up in February
Jessica Smith has posted several outstanding performances so far in the month of February after ending January in an offensive slump.

A three-time league Rookie of the Week this month, Smith is averaging 15.2 points and 10.8 boards while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 70.5 percent from the charity stripe in February. The freshman has scored in double-figures in eight of SB's nine games while posting double-doubles in five contests.

The end of January, however, was a different story. In the Seawolves last three games of the month, all losses, Smith grabbed 8.0 boards per game, but managed just 5.7 points while shooting 29.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the line.

Fab Freshmen
Freshmen Mykeema Ford, Inbar Orion, Jessica Smith and Kelly Watson have been a huge part of the Seawolves lineup this season.

The freshmen have led SB in scoring in 14 of its last 16 games, 18 of its last 21 and 19 of the Seawolves 26 outings this season. The rookies have also posted team-highs in rebounding in 10 of SB's last 14 contests.

The group, led by Watson's career-high 24 points, was a huge factor in SB's win over Northeastern on Feb. 4, combining for 61 of the Seawolves 79 points. Ford collected 18 points, while Smith chipped in 11 and Orion, who played just nine minutes, netted eight.

Seawolves in The America East
Five Seawolves are among the America East leaders through March 3.

Sherry Jordan ranks first in the conference with 3.18 steals, fourth with 5.59 defensive rebounds, fifth with 8.3 rebounds, sixth with 0.86 blocks, seventh with 2.68 offensive rebounds and 14th with 11.0 points. Jessica Smith ranks first in the league with 3.96 offensive rebounds, third with 9.3 rebounds, fifth with 5.35 defensive rebounds and 12th with 11.9 points. Mykeema Ford is tied for fifth with 1.81 three-point field goals and 10th with 13.0 points, while Kelly Watson is 12th with 2.64 assists and 12th with a 0.95 assist/turnover ratio. Bojana Bogetic is 10th with 0.75 blocks and 14th with 1.80 offensive rebounds.

Paw Prints
Sherry Jordan fell to 20th in the nation with 3.2 steals per game (as of Mar. 1) . . . Jessica Smith averaged 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting .520 from the field and .769 from the line during SB's four-game winning streak . . . Jordan moved into third place all-time at Stony Brook with 1,473 points vs. Hartford on Feb. 14 and 750 rebounds vs. UMBC on Feb. 7 . . . Jessica Smith is the only player to start in each of SB's 26 games this season and, along with Mykeema Ford and Theresa LoParrino, is one of just three players to play in all 26 contests.

Streaking Seawolves
Stony Brook's 2003-04 season has been one of several streaks, both good and bad. During their four-game winning streak, the Seawolves won more than two consecutive games for the first time since their six-game winning streak from Dec. 8, 2001-Jan. 13, 2002.

Prior to the winning streak, SB suffered through a seven-game losing streak from Jan. 10-Feb. 2 and an eight-game home losing skid dating back to March 5 of last season.

Tale of Two Streaks
The Seawolves have gone through several streaks so far this season, including a seven-game losing skid and a four-game winning streak.

During the winning streak, SB shot .455 (106-233) from the field and .407 (22-54) from three-point range, while outscoring its opponents by a margin of 9.6 points per game. During the losing skid, however, the Seawolves shot just .360 (144-400) from the floor and .278 (32-155) from downtown, while their opponents outscored SB by an average of 9.4 points.

T-Lo Moving Up
Senior Theresa LoParrino continues to move up on Stony Brook's all-time record book in several categories.

The guard stands in fifth place all-time with 261 free throws. LoParrino also moved into tie for eighth place with 173 assists and third with a .765 (261-of-341) free throw percentage.

LoParrino ranks in several other categories, including three point field goals (second, 102) and free throw attempts (sixth, 341).

Oh, Sherry
Senior Sherry Jordan is looking to make her final season at Stony Brook a memorable one.

A two-time all-conference pick and a preseason all-league selection, Jordan has scored in double-figures in 80 of the 97 games she has played in, including 27 games with 20 or more points and four with 30 or more.

Jordan currently has 1,524 career points, good for third all-time at Stony Brook. She needs just four points to pass Katie Browngardt (1,527 points, 1988-91) on the list for second place all-time. Michele White (1983-87) is the Seawolves' leader with 2,183 career points.

The forward stands third all-time at SB with 808 boards and 263 steals, fourth with 572 field goals and sixth with 226 assists.

Milestones Approaching
Several Seawolves are approaching milestones during the 2003-04 season.

Against Maine on March 3, Sherry Jordan collected her 800th career rebound and, vs. Boston University on Feb. 25, netted her 1,500th career point, while Danielle DeGiorgio played in her 100th career game.

Here is a look at a few of the milestones that could be reached at some point this season:

Points
200 - Kelly Watson (177)

Games Played
100 - Sherry Jordan (97)

Steals
100 - Danielle DeGiorgio (99)
100 - Theresa LoParrino (86)

Field Goals
600 - Sherry Jordan (572)

Free Throws
100 - Danielle DeGiorgio (91)

Smith Earns Third Straight Rookie of the Week Nod
Jessica Smith was named the America East Rookie of the Week for the week ending February 22. Smith averaged 15.5 ppg and 12.5 rpg while shooting 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the field in SB's two games last week. The freshman tallied two double-doubles, upping her season total to seven. In an OT loss to Albany, Smith posted 14 points and 11 boards before notching 17 points and 14 rebounds while shooting a career-best 87.5 percent from the floor at Binghamton.