1 HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
NEED TO KNOW GAME DAY NOTES
BY THE #’S
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The Hawks have four foreign countries represented on their roster: Canada (Farkic), France (Benharouga), Latvia (Maurina) and Spain (Primo).
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Returning five players who appeared in games last season, Hartford brings back 67.3% of its offense, including four of its five top scorers from 2019-20
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Joining five returners is a quartet of rookies, including three forwards (Paula Maurina, Sophie Benharouga, Marisa Lee) and a guard (Mackenzie Reed).
NOTES TO KNOW SETTING THE SCENE
The Hartford women’s basketball team tips off what has become an unconventional 2020-21 campaign when it hosts Maine in an unconventional America East opener. The Hawks look to snap a four-game drought in the series, which features backto-back dates with the Black Bears on Tuesday and Wednesday.
READY TO HOOP
In addition to five returners and four freshmen, head coach Morgan Valley bolsters the lineup with a trio of transfers. Both Abby Streeter and Nina Farkic are eligible to play after sitting out last season, joining newcomer Breyenne Bellerand, who was granted a waiver after transferring from James Madison.
FLOCKING TO THE BOARDS
Junior foward Sierra Smith had a breakout sophomore campaign during the 2019-20 season. She averaged a career-high 7.1 rebounds per game, leading the Hawks and ranking fourth in the America East. Smith’s 7.1 rebounds per game were the most by a Hartford player since Cherelle Moore (‘15) averaged 7.3 boards per game during her senior campaign. Grabbing 207 rebounds, Smith is just the second Hawk to grab over 200 rebounds in a season since 2009-10, joining Moore, who had 234 in 2014-15 and Diana Delva (‘10), who corralled 259 in 2009-10.
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SCHEDULE & RESULTS
HARTFORD HAWKS 0-0 OVERALL [0-0 AMERICA EAST] DEC. 22
MAINE *
ESPN+
1 p.m.
DEC. 23
MAINE *
ESPN+
1 p.m.
DEC. 27
NEW HAMPSHIRE *
ESPN3/+
3 p.m.
DEC. 28
NEW HAMPSHIRE *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
Jan. 2
at Binghamton *
ESPN3/+
3 p.m.
Jan. 3
at Binghamton *
ESPN3/+
2 p.m.
JAN. 9
UMASS LOWELL *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
JAN. 10
UMASS LOWELL *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
JAN. 16
UMBC *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
JAN. 17
UMBC *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
Jan. 23
at Vermont *
ESPN3/+
4 p.m.
Jan. 24
at Vermont *
ESPN3/+
2 p.m.
Jan. 30
at NJIT *
ESPN3/+
2 p.m.
Jan. 31
at NJIT *
ESPN3/+
2 p.m.
FEB. 13
STONY BROOK *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
FEB. 14
STONY BROOK *
ESPN3/+
1 p.m.
Feb. 27
at UAlbany *
ESPN3/+
2 p.m.
Feb. 28
at UAlbany *
ESPN3/+
2 p.m.
HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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MEET THE HAWKS
#1
#3
#5
JORDAN
JADA
NINA
JR » G » 5-8
SR » G » 5-5
SR » G » 5-9
PALISADES PARK, NEW JERSEY
NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT
KITCHENER, ONTARIO
McLEMORE
LUCAS
FARKIC
#12
#11
#14
PAULA
MACKENZIE
SOPHIE
FR » F » 6-0
FR » G » 5-6
FR » F » 6-1
RIGA, LATVIA
MOREHEAD CITY, NORTH CAROLINA
SASSENAGE, FRANCE
MAURINA
REED
#15
BENHAROUGA
#21
#24
IRENE
CHARLETTE
MARISA
SO » G » 5-4
JR » F » 6-2
FR » F » 6-1
TRES CANTOS, SPAIN
BRONX, NEW YORK
MARLBOROUGH, CONNECTICUT
PRIMO
LEURS
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LEE
MEET THE HAWKS
#25
#30
#31
BREYENNE
KAELA
ABBY
SR » F » 5-10
SO » G » 5-8
SR » G » 5-11
EMERSON, NEW JERSEY
LEXINGTON PARK, NEW JERSEY
NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE
DOTHARD
BELLERAND
JABRIA
#32
INGRAM
STREETER
#40 SIERRA
SMITH
JR » G » 5-8
JR » F » 6-0
UPPER DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA
MADISON, VIRGINIA
COACHING STAFF
MORGAN
MELISSA
COURTNEY HAILEE
DAVIDSON
BARRON
MADDIE
Head Coach 2nd Season
Assistant Coach 2nd Season
Assistant Coach 2nd Season
Assistant Coach 2nd Season
Director of Operations 2nd Season
VALLEY
HODGDON
SEARLE
HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHUP THE MATCHUP
HARTFORD HAWKS (0-0, 0-0 AE)
vs
MAINE BLACK BEARS (3-0, 0-0 AE)
SERIES BREAKDOWN
SERIES HISTORY The Hawks have done battle with the Black Bears more than any other opponent, as the teams meet for the 81st and 82nd time this week. Maine, which has won the last four contests, holds a 5129 advantage over Hartford. LAST MEETINGS Maine swept the season series in 2019-20. The Black Bears defeated the Hawks, 87-73, in Orono, before downing Hartford again in the series finale, 69-52. Sierra Smith was solid in last season’s series, averaging 8.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.
Division I Series....................... Maine leads, 51-29 At Hartford............................... Maine leads, 22-15 At Maine.........................................Maine leads, 28-11 At Neutral Venue....................Hartford leads, 3-1 Current Streak.........................Maine, four games Last Meeting..................... Maine, 69-52 (2/1/20)
STAT BREAKDOWN*
STREAK
W3
52.7
POINTS PER GAME
62.0
67.5
POINTS ALLOWED
52.3
-1.9
REBOUND MARGIN
+1.0
.338
FG%
.445
.404
FG% DEFENSE
.369
.266
3-PT FG%
.286
.305
3-PT FG% DEF
.378
.650
FT%
.714
9.7
ASSISTS/GAME
14.3
19.3
TO/GAME
14.0
5.7
STEALS/GAME
8.0
2.7
BLOCKS/GAME
3.3
W1
*Hartford's numbers based on 2019-20 statistics
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MAINE'S ROSTER MAINE BLACK BEARS 3-0 OVERALL [0-0 AE] # Name
Yr. Pos. Ht.
1
Fr.
G
5-5
Windsor, Vt.
2 Lexi Mittelstadt
Fr.
G
5-8
Wilton, Maine
3 Anne Simon
So.
G
5-8
Sandweiler, Luxembourg
4 Alba Orois
Fr.
G
5-7
Mollet del Vallès, Spain
5 Maeve Carroll
Sr.
F
5-11
Oakton, Va.
10 Anna Kahelin
So.
G
5-11
Helsinki, Finland
12 Katie White
Fr.
F
6-2
La Plata, Md.
13 Caroline Bornemann
Fr.
F
5-10
15 Dor Saar
Sr.
G
5-6
Ma’anit, Israel
20 Kelly Fogarty
Sr.
G
5-9
Walpole, Mass.
22 Blanca Millan
5th.
G
6-1 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
23 Abbe Laurence
So.
F
6-2
Portsmouth, N.H.
51 Fanny Wadling
5th.
F
6-1
Nacka, Sweden
Olivia Rockwood
Hometown
Hørsholm, Denmark
Head Coach: Amy Vachon, Fourth Season, 10th Season at Maine (Maine ’00) Assistant Coaches: Courtney England, Tom Biskup, Parise Rossignol Assistant Sports Performance Coach/Director of Ops: Matt Peyton
SCOUTING REPORT Maine takes the court for the fourth time in 202021 entering the series. The America East preseason favorites enter the contest at 3-0 after defeating Northeastern, 63-62, on the road Sunday afternoon.
#22 BLANCA MILLAN The reigning America East Player of the Week, Millan is averaging 25.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
WHO TO WATCH
HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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LAST TIME OUT HARTFORD vs. STONY BROOK
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Jada Lucas scored 20 points and added three assists to carry Hartford to a 70-67 win over America East Regular Season Champion Stony Brook inside Reich Family Pavilion on Feb. 26, 2020. The Hawks used a 20-6 run in the fourth quarter to turn a seven-point deficit into a lead they would not relinquish down the stretch.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
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HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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FEATURED HAWK JADA LUCAS
Jada Lucas is a senior guard that gained head coach Morgan Valley’s trust as the Hawks’ floor general during the 2019-20 season. A native of New London, Conn., she was the offensive spark that led Hartford last season. Averaging a team-high 35.0 minutes per game, Lucas also led the team in scoring with 12.9 points per game, including four performances of 20 points or more.
GET TO KNOW...
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FEATURED HAWK
IN THE HOT SEAT...
JADA
LUCAS JADA’S FAVORITE SONG TO ROCK OUT TO IS “PAIN AWAY” BY LIL DURK AND MEEK MILL
IF JADA COULD BE AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE, SHE WOULD BE A SWIMMER
ACCORDING TO JADA, THESE THREE EMOJIS BEST DESCRIBE HER:
IF SHE COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, JADA WOULD BE A LION BECAUSE THEY ARE FAST AND HAVE A MEAN DEMEANOR
JADA’S STRANGEST TALENT IS THAT SHE IS AN ELITE PLAYER IN CALL OF DUTY
THREE WORDS THAT JADA USES TO DESCRIBE COACH VALLEY ARE INSPIRING, MOTIVATIONAL AND OPTIMISTIC
HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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HARTFORD STATISTICS & STANDINGS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
CLICK HERE FOR ALL 2019-20 STATISTICS
SCORING Jada Lucas 12.9 per game REBOUNDING Sierra Smith 7.1 per game ASSISTS Jordan McLemore 3.3 per game STEALS Jada Lucas 1.5 per game MINUTES Jada Lucas 35.0 per game 3-PT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE Carmen Villalobos 36.4% (36-of-99) FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE Sierra Smith 47.8% (66-of-138)
AMERICA EAST STANDINGS
Stony Brook Vermont UAlbany UMass Lowell UMBC New Hampshire NJIT Maine Hartford Binghamton
OVERALL AE W-L PCT W-L PCT
4-2 .667 2-0 1.000 1-1 .500 1-1 .500 2-3 .400 1-1 .500 2-3 .400 1-1 .500 1-3 .250 1-1 .500 1-4 .200 1-1 .500 1-4 .200 1-1 .500 3-0 1.000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 0-4 .000 0-2 .000
HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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ALUMNI FEATURE WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
JACKIE SMITH BY THE #’S
292
Despite being a full-time starter for only two seasons, Smith’s 292 career assists rank ninth all-time in Hartford women’s basketball history.
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Tallying 102 assists during the 2009-10 season and following with 116 in the 2010-11 campaign, Smith is one of two players in program history to record consecutive 100+ assist seasons.
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Smith shot 81.5% from the charity stripe during the 2009-10 season, which is seventh best in program history. Her 81.5% career percentage from the free-throw line ranks third all-time.
It didn’t take much for then-Hartford women’s basketball head coach Jen Rizzotti to know that Jackie Smith was her point guard of the future. Nearly 15 years later, one could look back at two America East championships and say that Rizzotti’s numerous trips to Westfield, Mass. were worth it. Concluding her high school career with 1,040 points, leaving as the program’s assists leader and a McDonald’s AllAmerican nomination under her belt, Smith had a choice to make. One that would impact her for the rest of her life. Following Rizzotti to West Hartford, Smith found her footing early with the Hawks. As a freshman during the 2007-08 season, she appeared in 25 games for a team that won the America East and upset the higherseeded Syracuse Orange in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. After appearing in 32 games and making one start as a sophomore, Smith grew into
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ALUMNI FEATURE her role as a team leader entering her junior campaign. Despite making one career start entering the season, she earned the trust of her teammates and was elected captain. Holding the reigns as captain, Smith had a breakout season. She led the team with 102 assists en route to earning a spot on the America East All-Conference Third Team. Despite leading Hartford to the America East finals, the Hawks fell short against Vermont. However, Smith would lead Hartford to the Big Dance again in 2011, tallying 14 points and five assists in the Hawks’ victory America East Championship victory over Boston University. After leading the Hawks on the hardwood, Smith found her calling in coaching shortly after retiring from playing. She eventually returned to Hartford as an assistant coach on Rizzotti’s staff for three years, before departing with her former college coach and mentor to George Washington. Now, Smith serves as the head women’s basketball coach at Connecticut College. Since taking over the program in the 201819 season, she has amassed 20 wins as head coach. Jeff Dooley, the voice of the Hartford Hawks, had a chance to catch up with the former women’s basketball standout. To hear more about Smith’s journey, and her time as a Hawk, check out the interview below.
ONCE A HAWK, ALWAYS A HAWK
HARTFORD HAWKS // #FLYHIGH
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