Women’s Basketball To Tip Off The Season With An Exhibition Game Against Bentley

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FRIARS TIP OFF AGAINST BENTLEY IN EXHIBITION PLAY… The Providence College women’s basketball team will host NCAA Division II Bentley in an exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 4. The game will be played at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I. and is scheduled to tip-off at 7:00 p.m.

HISTORY… Providence and Bentley played one another seven times during the infancy of the Friars’ women’s basketball program. As regional competitors, the two teams first met during the 1975-76 campaign and the series ended at the conclusion of the 1981-82 season. 

SEASON OPENER VS. YALE… The Friars will officially open the season on Tuesday, Nov. 9 against Yale at Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. The two teams last met during the 2019-20 campaign under a unique set of circumstances. The Friars traveled to New Haven, Conn. on Nov. 5, 2019 and led 42-33 at the half, but the remainder of the game was suspended due to a scoreboard malfunction. The game was eventually completed on Dec. 3 and the Bulldogs managed to pull out an 82-79 victory. Mary Baskerville paced the Friars with 19 points and nine rebounds. Ellen Andrews (23) and Roxy Barahman (19) combined to score 42 points to lead Yale. 

HOME-SWEET-HOME… The Friars will play 13 of their first 17 games at home in Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I. Through the first two months of the season, the Friars leave the city of Providence just twice. On Nov. 13, the Friars travel to Orono, Maine to face the Black Bears. On Dec. 31, Providence will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Xavier (and remain on the road to face Butler on Jan. 2). Providence’s only other road game during the months of November and December will be played at Brown University, which is located in Providence, R.I.

FRIARS SET TO MAKE THEIR RETURN TO THE DUNKIN’ DONUTS CENTER… The Friars will host a game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for the first time since 2010 when they welcome Connecticut on Sunday, Jan. 30. Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m. It marks the first time Providence has played a game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center since Feb. 6, 2010 against West Virginia.

NEW LOOK FRIARS… The Friars welcome eight new faces to the program this season, including two transfers and six freshmen. Andreana Wrister is a graduate transfer, who played four seasons at Tennessee State. Janai Crooms, a native of Cranston, R.I., has played three seasons of NCAA Division I basketball in the Big Ten at Ohio State and Michigan State. Both Wrister and Crooms are guards. Four more guards will join the rotation as freshmen in Kylee Sheppard, Meghan Huerter, Nariah Scott and Audrey Koch. Olivia Olsen and Emily Archibald join the frontcourt for their rookie seasons in the college ranks.

PROVIDENCE PICKED TO FINISH EIGHTH IN BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL… The Friars were picked to finish eighth in the 2021-22 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was released at the league’s annual media day at MSG in New York City. The Friars recorded 32 points in the poll and sit above Georgetown (27), Xavier (18) and Butler (17). Connecticut was a unanimous selection to win the league for a second-straight season.

MARY BASKERVILLE NAMED TO ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2020-21 SEASON… Last season, Mary Baskerville led Providence College in scoring (12.7 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg), blocked shots (1.8 bpg), steals (1.4 spg) and field-goal percentage (.538, 112-208). For her efforts, she was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. It marked her first postseason honor since earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and BIG EAST All-Freshman Team accolades in 2019. 

ALYSSA GEARY LOOKS TO PICK UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF… Senior Alyssa Geary returns for her senior year having shown steady progress in her game each of the previous three seasons. Last year, she started all 21 games ranked second among her teammates in (11.4 ppg) and blocked shots (1.3 bpg) and third in rebounding (4.8 rpg) and assists (2.4 apg). Geary recorded a team-best 15 double-digit scoring games, including six-straight to finish the season. She led the Friars in scoring (14.5 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg) and blocked shots (2.0 bpg) during the BIG EAST Tournament, including 19 points and nine rebounds in the Friars’ First Round victory over Butler (Mar. 3). 

FRIARS IN THE POSTSEASON… The Friars’ last appeared in the postseason during the 2018-19 campaign, when their current senior class came on to the scene as freshmen. Providence’s 2019 WNIT selection marked the program’s 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. In 2019-20, NCAA and WNIT Championships were canceled to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Friars did not qualify for postseason during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.  Complete post-season breakdown below (records in parentheses).

2018-19 WNIT Round of 16 – (2-1)

2009-10 WNIT Quarterfinal Round (3-1)

1991-92 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)

1990-91 NCAA Tournament Second Round (1-1)

1989-90 NCAA Tournament East Regional (1-1)

1988-89 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)

1986-87 National Women’s Invitational Tournament (1-2)

1985-86 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)

1981-82 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)

1980-81 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)

1979-80 EAIAW National Tournament (3-1)

1978-79 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)

1977-78 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-1)

1976-77 EAIAW Regional Tournament (2-2)

1975-76 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-2)

WHAT’S NEXT… The Friars will open the 2021-22 regular-season schedule against Ivy League foe Yale on Tuesday, Nov. 9. The game will be played at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.

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