THE MATCHUP: The Stony Brook University women’s basketball team (22-3, 13-2 America East) travels across the sound to take on Hartford (2-22, 2-11 America East) on Saturday, February 19 at 2 pm The game is set to air on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY: The Seawolves and Hawks are no strangers to each other as this matchup marks the 48th time these two teams will go head-to-head. Stony Brook currently holds a 15-32 record against Hartford. The first time these two teams saw each other was Jan. 26, 2002, where the Seawolves defeated the Hawks, 75-66, on The Island. The Seawolves defeated the Hawks, 77-39, on Sunday, January 2, to secure the first win off 2022 at home.
LAST TIME OUT: The Seawolves defeated UMBC, 66-56, on Wednesday, February 16, marking their 22nd win of the season and 13th in the conference. Forward’s India Pagan and Nairimar Vargas-Reyes led the scoring for the Seawolves finishing with 11 points each. Vargas-Reyes’ 11 points were the second-most points that she scored in a game this season (scored 13 points in a win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 28). It was the third time this season that she scored double figures. Pagan added a team-high seven rebounds in addition to her 11 points. She has scored in double-digits in back-to-back games and has done so in 16 games this season. Stony Brook is a perfect 16-0 when Pagan scores in double figures.
TRENDING UPWARD: Stony Brook secured their 700th victory in program history over UMBC on Wednesday, February 16. The Seawolves’ 22 wins this season are the sixth-most in program history and the fourth-most in its Division I era. Stony Brook has won 20 or more games in three out of the last four seasons and collected a program record 28 victories during the 2019-20 campaign. For the third week in a row, Stony Brook has received votes in the WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll on Tuesday, February 15.
STRONG ISLAND BASKETBALL: The Seawolves did not let up on defense against the Retrievers winning the battle at the boards, 35-31. Stony Brook is now 17-0 when they out-rebound their opponents. The Seawolves dominated in the paint as it outscored UMBC, 42-24. Stony Brook more than tripled the Retrievers in assists, dishing out 16 assists to their five on the game. The Seawolves improved to 12-1at Island Federal Arena this season and have compiled a 58-12 record at home since the start of the 2017-18 season.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS: The Hawks fell to the Black Bears, 71-56, on Wednesday, February 16, in Orono, Me. With the loss, Hartford dropped to 2-22 (2-11 America East) on the season. Hartford’s scoring offense is led by sophomore forward Paula Maurina. Maurina currently leads the Hawks averaging 11.8 points over 19 games (16 starts). Graduate guard Abby Streeter follows closely behind Maurina averaging 9.6 points per game. Head coach Melissa L. Hodgdon is in her first year at the helm of Hartford. Hodgdon leads the Hawks after spending 16 seasons as head coach at Wheaton (MA) where she held a 214-209 record. This is Hodgdon’s second appearance against Stony Brook.
