BLOOMSBURG (1-6, 0-4 PSAC East) at CLARION (6-4, 3-1 PSAC West)
Saturday, December 10, 2016 - 1:00 p.m.
Clarion, Pa. | Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium

GAME NOTES:
Bloomsburg vs Clarion Game Notes

GAME COVERAGE:
Live Stats/Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/clarion/portal.htm?eventId=317725&streamType=video
Live Audio (WHLM-AM): http://www.whlmam.com

RELATED LINKS:
Bloomsburg - Roster | Schedule | Statistics
Clarion - Roster | Schedule | Statistics

LAST WEEKEND ...
The Huskies dropped a pair of PSAC crossover contests at Mercyhurst and Gannon last Saturday and Sunday. Bloomsburg suffered a 66-46 loss against the Lakers on Saturday and then lost against the Golden Knights, 71-63 in overtime, to fall to 1-6 overall on the season. Against Mercyhurst, the Huskies had one player in double figures - sophomore Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) who tied a career-high with 11 points. The Lakers led 31-25 at halftime but then outscored the Huskies, 35-21, in the second half to pull away. Bloomsburg mustered only 24 rebounds and turned the ball over 27 times in the loss. On Sunday, the game was close throughout as no lead, for either team, got into double figures. The Huskies led by three with 11 seconds left in regulation before the Golden Knights tied the contest on a three-pointer from Julia Braungart. Gannon then outscored Bloomsburg, 15-7, in the extra session. Freshman Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) posted a career-high 14 points to lead the Huskies while sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) had 13 points and a career-high six assists.

STARTING FIVE ...
1 - Points have been tough to come by through the first seven games of the season. The Huskies are 17th in the PSAC, and 295th out of 300 teams in the country, in points per game (54.0). However, on the flip side, Bloomsburg is fifth in the conference, and 79th in the country, in scoring defense (60.0). The Huskies have been held to under 60 points five times out of seven games. They scored 61 against Georgian Court in their only win of the season and then scored 63 (seven in overtime) in last Sunday's loss at Gannon.

2 - Entering last weekend, the Huskies led the PSAC, and were second (by percentage points) in the country, in blocked shots per game (6.8). Bloomsburg's average came down after swatting six total shots in two games last weekend and now, with its 5.7 blocks-per-game average, the team is second in the conference and 13th in the country. Freshman Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) did not block a shot last weekend and dropped to a tie for fourth in the conference. Senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) blocked two shots and is now tied for fifth in the PSAC in the category.

3 - Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) is no worse than second on the team in nearly every statistical category through seven games this season. She is tops on the team in rebounding (6.0), assists (3.0), steals (2.0), and free-throw percentage (82.1%). She ranks second on the team in scoring (10.4). Klunk has moved into 13th place on the school's all-time list for career assists with 244. She needs 13 helpers to tie Kayla Oxenrider (2009-13) for 12th on the list. Klunk also needs 180 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career.

4 - The Huskies have a very young roster that features only two seniors - Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) - and no juniors. The rest of the 12-player roster is comprised of five sophomores, one redshirt freshman, and four true freshmen. One of the sophomores, Allie Barber (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area), joins the team for the first time this season. Barber was an All-PSAC Second Team selection and an NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) All-Atlantic Region Third Team honoree for the Huskies' women's soccer team this fall.

5 - Bloomsburg started the season with a number of injuries but is starting to get some players which should help the team develop a rotation. Due to the injuries, the Huskies have four players - senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic), senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), and freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) - ranked among the top 45 in the conference in minutes played. Two weekends ago, sophomore Taylor Sneidman (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) returned to the Huskies' lineup and last weekend, redshirt freshman Leah Myers (York, Pa./Eastern York) made her Huskies' debut. Bloomsburg is still waiting on freshman Ciara Forde (Glenmoore, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), who is getting close, to join the lineup. Freshman Lauren Oeth (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy) will be making her debut next season as she is redshirting this year.

THE SERIES ...
Bloomsburg leads the all-time series against Clarion, 20-12.

LAST MEETING AGAINST CLARION ...
The teams last played on December 16, 2014 with the Huskies posting a 65-48 victory in Clarion. Bloomsburg led 29-23 at the break but then outscored the Golden Eagles, 36-25, in the second half to pull away. Jocelyn Ford and Camden Boehner led the Huskies with 13 points apiece while Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) and Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) added ten points each in the victory. Ford also tied for the team-high in rebounds (6) and led in assists (5). Tania Holmes led Clarion with 11 points while Hannah Heeter had 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Huskies, 47-26. Bloomsburg hit 10-of-21 from long range while Clarion was 0-for-8.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES ...
After winning a total of 11 games over the first two seasons under head coach Jana Ashley, Clarion has already won six games this season and enters with a 6-4 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the PSAC Western Division. The team has won four straight, including a 76-58 decision against Malone on Wednesday, December 7 in its last time out. The Golden Eagles are third in the conference in scoring average (73.7) and seventh in the PSAC in scoring defense (62.5). The team is second in the PSAC in rebounding margin (+6.2). Clarion has also hit 92 three-pointers this season which is tops in the conference by a wide margin. Three players average in double figures in scoring - Tyra Polite (15.4), Quorea Pearyer (13.0), and Amesha Harden-Pullium (11.1). Jordan Bekelja is tops on the squad in assists (3.7) while Delrika Jones-Carey pulls down a team-best 7.7 rebounds per contest.

BLOCK PARTY ...
Through seven games this season, the Huskies are second in the conference, and 13th in the country, in blocked shots per game (5.7). Bloomsburg has blocked 40 shots though seven games. The Huskies have blocked at least four shots in all six of the seven games and have blocked ten shots in a game twice - against Chestnut Hill on November 22 and at Philadelphia on November 27. Freshman Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) is tied for fourth in the PSAC in blocks per game (1.7) while senior Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) is tied for fifth in the league (1.6). Freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) is tied for 12th as she averages 1.1 blocks per contest.

LOW SCORING ...
Bloomsburg comes into the weekend having scored more than 60 points in a game only twice this season (61 at Georgian Court on November 26 and 63 at Gannon on December 4) and is averaging only 54.0 points per game - 17th in the PSAC and 295th in the country. The Huskies average more points than only Cheyney in the PSAC and only five schools in the country. The Huskies have shot better than 40% in a game only twice this season (46.5% at Philadelphia on November 27; 41.0% at Mercyhurst on December 3). However, the Huskies' defense has allowed only 60, or more, points in a game four times and allow only 60.0 points per game to their opponents. That figure is the fifth-best in the PSAC and is the 79th-best scoring defense in the country. Only IUP (55.1), California (57.0), Mercyhurst (58.3), and Shippensburg (58.4) have better defenses in the conference.

SLOW STARTS ...
In the first quarter of games this season, the Huskies have been outscored, 97-69, and have trailed after the opening ten minutes in four of the seven games, including a 19-4 deficit in the team's only win of the season at Georgian Court on November 26. However, in the other three quarters and overtime, the Huskies have only been outscored by their opponents, 323-309.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP ...
With only two seniors and no juniors entering the season, a lot of focus has been on the lone upperclassmen - Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) and Alex Ross (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township). Klunk has been a mainstay on the floor as she leads the team in minutes played per game (33.4). She is tops on the team in rebounding (6.0), assists (3.0), and steals (2.0) while ranking second on the team in scoring (10.4). She also posted her first double-double of the season, and fourth of her career, with 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Huskies' 61-41 win at Georgian Court on November 26. Klunk has moved into 13th place on the school's all-time career assists list with 244 and she needs 180 points to reach the 1,000-career point milestone. Ross, meanwhile, has also done some of everything for the Huskies as she is fourth on the team in scoring (7.7), third in rebounding (5.3), third in assists (2.3), second in blocks (1.6), and second in steals (1.6). Ross is nine blocks shy of moving into the top 15 on the school's list for career blocked shots.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP ...
Three sophomores that saw decent playing time last season have stepped up their roles through the first five games this year. Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), who averaged 7.1 points per game last season, is up to 11.0 points per game this season and leads the team in scoring. She is also second in assists (2.4) and leads the team in three-pointers (11). Casey Warley (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) has started six games this season and, after averaging only 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds a year ago, is up to 4.7 points and 3.1 boards this season. She is averaging 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds over her last four games. Finally, Marissa Molnar (Erie, Pa./McDowell) has also increased from 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds to 3.3 and 1.9, respectively, this season. She tied a career-high with 11 points, and grabbed a career-best five rebounds, at Mercyhurst on December 3.

HUSKIES FOR HIE ...
The women's basketball team held a benefit during its season opener against Pitt-Johnstown for three-year-old Luke Antolick who has been diagnosed with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Luke's parents, Lance and Alyson, grew up with BU head coach Alison Tagliaferri while Alyson, the former Alyson Taylor, played softball at Bloomsburg from 2003-06. The benefit, which is still going on through a GoFundMe page, has raised more than $1,000 for the Antolick family to help with medical expenses. For more information or to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/luke-antolick-benefit-fund.

A LOOK AT THE EXHIBITIONS ...
The Huskies played exhibition contests against two Division I schools prior to the start of the regular season. Bloomsburg dropped an 85-41 decision at Penn State on October 30. Freshman Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) scored nine points to lead the Huskies. Then, on November 4, the Huskies dropped a 65-45 decision at Buffalo. Sophomore Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) led the way with 14 points while also pulling down eight rebounds. Senior Morgan Klunk (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) added 13 points and a team-high nine boards. After falling behind 39-17 at halftime, the Huskies outscored the Bulls, 28-26, in the second half.

TAG, YOU'RE IT ...
Alison Tagliaferri takes over the reins as the head coach of the Bloomsburg women's basketball team after serving four seasons as the head coach at Mansfield. Tagliaferri replaces Bill Cleary who, after eight seasons, departed for Division I Colgate University. Cleary went 164-69 in his eight seasons with the Huskies and posted a 97-42 record against PSAC opponents. Tagliaferri is certainly no stranger to the PSAC East. Prior to her four-year coaching stint at her alma mater, Tagliaferri was a force on the floor for the Mountaineers from 2002-06. She departed as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,795 points and is the most accurate shooter in program history (48.4%). She also ranks first in Mansfield's record books in career blocks (130) and free throws made (457) while ranking fourth in rebounds (852). During her senior season, she was named the PSAC East Player of the Year to become the first Mansfield women's athlete ever to earn the distinction. In 2011, Tagliaferri was inducted into both the Mansfield University Athletic/Alumni Hall of Fame as well as the West Branch Hall of Fame.

UP NEXT ...
Bloomsburg returns to the Nelson Field House on Sunday, December 18 to host the nation's third-ranked team, California (PA), in a non-conference contest. Start time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.