Game #17: Cornell vs. Brown
Tip Off: Friday, Jan. 31, 2014; 7:00 p.m.
Location: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Records: Cornell (9-7; 1-1 Ivy); Brown (6-10; 0-2 Ivy)
Series Record: Brown leads, 47-21
Last Meeting: Brown won, 58-51; March 1, 2013
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/cornell/wbball/
Video Webcast: www.IvyLeagueDigitalNetwork.com

Game #18: Cornell vs. Yale
Tip Off: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014; 6:00 p.m.
Location: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Records: Cornell (9-7; 1-1 Ivy); Yale (8-8; 2-0 Ivy)
Series Record: Yale leads, 47-22
Last Meeting: Yale won, 71-64; March 2, 2013
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/cornell/wbball/
Video Webcast: www.IvyLeagueDigitalNetwork.com

GAME NOTES (PDF)

THE MATCHUP: The Big Red women's basketball team (9-7, 1-1 Ivy) will look to carry the momentum from a dominating win over Columbia last weekend into this weekend's contests against Brown (6-10, 0-2) and Yale (8-8, 2-0) at Newman Arena. Cornell will face the Bears on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m., before tipping off against the Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:00 p.m.




THE SERIES VS. THE BEARS: Cornell's rivalry with the Bears began in the 1974-75 season when Brown defeated the Big Red, 34-30. The Bears dominated the series during the first 20 years, with Cornell winning only three times prior to the 1994-95 season. Since that year, the series has been far more competitive with Brown holding a slight 20-18 lead, though the Bears still hold the advantage in the all-time series with a record of 47-21. Cornell has won two of the last three meetings, including back-to-back victories that were both won on last second layups from Clare Fitzpatrick '13.

SCOUTING BROWN: The Bears are on a three-game skid, having lost back-to-back meetings with Yale over the past two weekends. Brown has two players averaging double-figures – Lauren Clarke (16.4) and Sophie Bikofsky (13.9) – with Jordan Alexander falling just short of the mark. Bikofsky also pulls down a team-best 4.5 rebounds per game, while freshman Rebecca Musgrove is handing out a team-high 2.6 assists per game. A tough defensive team, the Bears average 8.1 steals per game.

LAST TIME VS. THE BEARS: Stephanie Long was a perfect 6-for-6 beyond the arc and scored a season-high 18 points, all in the second half of play, but it wasn't enough to help the Big Red overcome a slow start, as the visitors fell to Brown, 58-51, on March 1, 2013 at the Pizzitola Center. Long hit back-to-back 3 pointers in a span of 13 seconds to make it a three-point game with 49 seconds to play, but the Bears hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. Joining Long in double figures was Clare Fitzpatrick and Allyson DiMagno with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Fitzpatrick also pulled down seven rebounds, handed out three assists, came up with two steals and blocked one shot, while DiMagno registered her 12th double-double of the season with 14 rebounds to go along with three steals. Brown was led by a trio of players in double-figures – Shelia Dixon (14), Sophie Bikofsky (13) and Lauren Clarke (11). The Bears shot 47.8 percent from the field (22-46) and held the slight advantage on the boards (36-32). Cornell shot 34.5 percent overall (19-55) and a blistering 50 percent from beyond the arc (7-14), but was undone by a poor shooting first half (25.9 percent) that led to a 24-17 deficit at intermission.

THE SERIES VS. THE BULLDOGS: Cornell first faced the Bulldogs in the 1974-75 season, with Yale taking the 31-23 victory. Cornell has held the lead in the series since 2000 (leading 13-12), winning seven-straight from 2000 to 2003, and splitting the series in 2005-06 and 2006-07, before sweeping Yale from 2006-09. However, the Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings to improve its lead in the all-time series history to 47-22.

SCOUTING YALE: The Bulldogs played a challenging non-conference schedule and pulled their record even at 8-8 with consecutive wins over Brown. Yale is led by Sarah Halejian (15.2 ppg) and Janna Graf (10.6 ppg), while Meredith Boardman has a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game. Halejian also averages 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per contest.

LAST TIME VS. THE BULLDOGS: Spencer Lane registered the first double-double of her career, including a personal-best 20 points to lead three Big Red players in double-figures, but a late Yale run led the Bulldogs to 71-64 victory on March 2, 2013 at Lee Amphitheater. Lane had an outstanding evening overall, also pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with six steals and three assists. The Big Red had two players register a double-double for the first time since the 2007-08 season, as Allyson DiMagno finished the night with 18 points and 13 rebounds, as well as three assists. With her 13 rebounds, DiMagno set the school record for rebounds in a season with 288, surpassing Rhonda Anderson who pulled down 287 boards in the 1982-83 season. Clare Fitzpatrick added 17 rebounds and six rebounds. Yale was led by Megan Vasquez with 18 points, while Jana Graf came one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards. Sarah Halejian also chipped in 17 points. Both teams finished with 43 rebounds, while Cornell forced Yale into 15 turnovers with 11 steals, while the Big Red turned the ball over just 12 times. Cornell got off to a slow start, shooting just 18 percent in the first half and trailing 28-17 at the intermission, but the visitors knocked down 50 percent of its shots over the final 20 minutes to get back into the contest.

DAVIDSON PLAYER OF THE WEEK: After having the best game of her career, Cornell senior Joelle Davidson was named the Ivy League Player of the Week on Jan. 27. It was the first honor of Davidson's career and she became the first Big Red women's basketball player other than Allyson DiMagno, a six-time honoree, to be named Ivy League Player of the Week since Lauren Benson on Feb. 2, 2009.

DIMAGNO PLAYER OF THE WEEK: After setting the Cornell school record with four Ivy League Player of the Week selections a year ago, Allyson DiMagno has earned the award twice this season, moving to 12th all-time on the Ivy League's record list. She picked up the Ancient Eight's first weekly award of the 2013-14 season after helping Cornell defeat Colgate (76-62) on Nov. 8, and followed that up with a selection on Jan. 20 after the Big Red's Ivy opener vs. Columbia.

IVY OPENERS: Since Ivy League round robin play began in the 1982-83 season, Cornell has posted a 16-16 record in conference openers. Head Coach Dayna Smith's record is 5-7 in the first game of Ancient Eight play. Cornell has faced the Lions more than any other team, opening the season against Columbia 16 times.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Nia Marshall was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, becoming the first Cornell women's basketball player to receive back-to-back Rookie of the Weeks awards since Jeomi Maduka in 2005-06 and the first Cornell player to receive two Rookie of the Week awards in a single season since Lauren Benson in 2006-07 … Marshall was named Rookie of the Week again on Jan. 13, becoming the first Big Red player to earn three Rookie of the Week selections since Maduka.

WINNING NON-CONFERENCE SLATE: The Big Red finished the non-conference portion of its season with an 8-6 record for the second straight year, giving Cornell a winning non-conference record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000/2000-01. It is just the third time in program history that the Big Red has had back-to-back winning non-conference records (1982-83/1983-84).

NCAA LEADER: Allyson DiMagno is among the NCAA's active career leaders in Division I for free throw percentage (11th – 83.2 percent).

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT: With Its 81-46 victory over Vermont on Jan. 4, the Big Red had its best offensive output in more than four years, as Cornell last scored more than 80 points in a game when it racked up 92 points vs. Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 21, 2009.

MARGIN OF VICTORY: Cornell's 35-point margin of victory against Vermont was its largest since in more than five years, having defeating Brown by 33 points on Feb. 1, 2008.

I'LL TAKE THAT:
• Cornell has posted 162 steals (10.1 per game) so far this season, which is up significantly from last year when the Big Red registered 8.1 steals per game.
• Cornell entered the week ranked first in the Ivy League and 41st in the nation.
• Cornell ranks first in the Ivy League and 52nd in the nation in turnover margin (+3.06).
• The Bi g Red's 18 steals vs. Seattle were the most since the 2001-02 season, and the most ever during head coach Dayna Smith's time at the helm of the program.
• In Cornell's next game vs. Binghamton, the team finished with 16 steals, good for second overall during Coach Smith's tenure.

FREE THROW FIENDS: Allyson DiMagno (.845) and Aspen Chandler (.810) rank first and third, respectively, in the Ivy League in free throw percentage. As a team, the Big Red makes free throws at a clip of 71.16 percent, ranking fourth in the Ivy League.

13TH TO 1,000: On Nov. 26 vs. Loyola (MD), senior Allyson DiMagno became the 13th player in Cornell history, and fourth under head coach Dayna Smith, to join the 1,000-point club … She currently ranks 10th overall in Cornell history for career points (1,160) and needs just 30 more to move into ninth place overall, surpassing Mary LaMacchia (1992-96).

TOP TEN REBOUNDS: Allyson DiMagno currently ranks second overall in Cornell history for career rebounds (815) and needs 106 more to surpass Patti Froehlich (1985-89) and become the Big Red's all-time leader … She already holds the school record for career defensive rebounds (516) and career offensive rebounds (299).

1,000/800: With her 11 rebounds vs. Howard, senior Allyson DiMagno became just the second player in Cornell history, and first ever under head coach Dayna Smith, to register at least 1,000 points and 800 rebounds for her career. The only other Cornell player to achieve that feat was Patti Froehlich, who ended her career with 1,194 points and 931 rebounds in 1989 – three years before DiMagno was born.

FRESHMAN [FOUR]CE: With two starters and two others contributing significant minutes, four members of the freshman class – Kerri Moran, Nia Marshall, Nicholle Aston and Megan LeDuc – are already putting their stamp on the 2013-14 season. All four average more than 10 minutes per game and as a group, they are shooting 39 percent (135-of-346) from the floor. The quartet is also contributing an average of 23.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

100 WINS AND COUNTING: Head Coach Dayna Smith is already the winningest coach in Cornell history, and she reached the 100-win mark for her career with the team's victory over Manhattan on Nov. 20, 2012. She has since added to that and has 119 career coaching wins.

IVY LEADERS: Several Big Red players are ranked among the top 10 in various categories in the Ivy League, including:
*Allyson DiMagno – sixth in scoring (13.8 points per game)
*Nia Marshall – 10th in scoring (12.6 points per game)
*Allyson DiMagno – third in rebounding (7.5 rebounds per game)
*Nia Marshall – seventh in rebounding (6.0 rebounds per game)
*Allyson DiMagno – fifth in field goal percentage (.513)
*Nia Marshall – ninth in field goal percentage (.468)
*Kerri Moran – seventh in assist per game (2.9)
*Stephanie Long – eighth in assist per game (2.8)
*Allyson DiMagno – first in free throw percentage (.845)
*Aspen Chandler – third in free throw percentage (.810)
*Nia Marshall – third in steals (2.2 steals per game)
*Allyson DiMagno – fourth in steals (1.9 steals per game)
*Shelby Lyman – eighth in steals (1.6 steals per game)
*Shelby Lyman – 10th in 3-point field goals made (1.3 per game)
*Nia Marshall – third in blocked shots (1.2 blocks per game)
*Allyson DiMagno – second in offensive rebounds (2.6 per game)
*Nia Marshall – eighth in offensive rebounds (2.0 per game)
*Allyson DiMagno – fifth in defensive rebounds (4.9 per game)
*Nia Marshall – 10th in defensive rebounds (4.0 per game)
*Allyson DiMagno – fifth in minutes played (33.1 per game)

MAY I ASSIST YOU?: So far this season, the Big Red has assisted on 236-of-340 baskets (69.4 percent). That is well above last season, as Cornell assisted on 66 percent of its baskets (378-of-573).

STARTING STREAK: Senior Allyson DiMagno has a 95-game starting streak, which is by far the longest active streak on the team, with four others – Stephanie Long, Shelby Lyman, Kerri Moran and Nia Marshall – tied for second at 16 games apiece. Both Long and Lyman had a starting streak ended in the final game last season.

CLOSE CALLS: Since the beginning of the 2010-11 season, the Big Red has had 37-of-96 games (39 percent) decided by eight points or fewer. In those games, Cornell has posted a 20-17 record (.541).

LOW PERCENTAGE SHOTS: Since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, Cornell held 25 of its 44 opponents (57 percent) to below 40 percent shooting from the floor.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Seattle University Delta Dental Thanksgiving Tournament served as a homecoming for senior guard Shelby Lyman, who hails from Snohomish, which sits approximately 45 miles from the Redhawk's campus.

DIMAGNO'S GOT CLASS: Allyson DiMagno has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Award in women's collegiate basketball. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The list of 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot.

100 THREES: The Big Red has connected on at least 100 3-pointers in each of the last six seasons and currently sits at 65 treys (4.1 per game) on the year. With 12 games left to play, Cornell needs to make just 2.9 3-pointers per game to reach the mark again this year. The Big Red has registered at least 100 3-pointers in all but one season under head coach Dayna Smith, with the 2006-07 squad coming up just short with 98 treys.

WINNING NOVEMBER: Cornell finished November with a 4-3 record overall for the second straight season, giving the Big Red a winning record in consecutive Novembers for the first time since 1999-2000 (4-1) and 2000-01 (3-2).

EVERYBODY'S (ACADEMIC) ALL-AMERICAN: Allyson DiMagno was named a 2012-13 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team selection during her junior season. A biological sciences major with a 3.7 grade-point average, she is just the second Academic All-District selection in the history of the Big Red women's basketball program, joining Virginia McMunigal '10, who was a second-team selection during her senior season.

FIRST NIGHT: Four members of the freshmen class saw action in the team's season-opening victory over Colgate. Kerri Moran and Nia Marshall earned the start, while both Megan LeDuc and Nicholle Aston saw significant action off the bench. The quartet played a total of 75 minutes and contributed 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven steals, five blocks, and three assists. They also hit 53 percent of their shots from the field, 67 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free throw line ... The final member of the freshman class, Taylor DePalma, saw her first collegiate action a week later at Syracuse.

FOR OPENERS: The Big Red is 19-24 all-time in season openers. After defeating Colgate in each of the past two season openers, Coach Dayna Smith's record has improved to 3-9 in the first game of the season. Cornell has now registered back-to-back season opening victories for the first time since winning three straight from 1998-99 to 2000-01.

OPENING AT 2-0: With the 79-72 win over Buffalo, the Big Red started the season at 2-0 for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign, and just the fifth time in program history.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Senior Aspen Chandler comes from a long line of athletes. Her father, Brian Hopgood, had a successful professional basketball career playing in the various domestic and overseas leagues. Collegiately, he played at University of Louisville and Oklahoma City University. While at OCU, he led his team to the NAIA national championship and was a two-time All-American. Her cousin Shelton Johnson played football for the University of Wisconsin and her grandfather Wayne Long ran track and field in college.

BASKETBALL PEDIGREE: Stephanie Long isn't the only member of her family to play collegiate basketball. Her father Dennis played basketball for three seasons at UConn.

HI, MY NAME IS: Cornell has a new face on the bench for the 2013-14 season – volunteer assistant Jim Sheehan – who spent the past two seasons serving as a volunteer assistant to Cornell's video coordinator. Sheehan is a 2010 graduate of Cortland with a bachelor of science degree in sports management.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: The Big Red has added five players to this year's squad, as Nicholle Aston (Woodland Hills, Calif.), Taylor DePalma (Ithaca, N.Y.), Megan LeDuc(Vienna, Va.), Nia Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio) and Kerri Moran (Fair Hills, N.J.) have joined the team for the 2013-14 season. The class of five comes from five different states and consists of three guards and two forwards.

RECORD BREAKER: Last year, Allyson DiMagno set the Cornell single-season record for rebounds (321), defensive rebounds (196) and offensive rebounds (125) in a single season. She also set the school record for Ivy League Player of the Week selections in a season with four and set the Cornell mark for minutes played in a single game when she stayed on the court the full 50 minutes of the Big Red's double-overtime victory over Columbia

2012-13 SEASON RECAP: The 2012-13 season was one of steady improvement and individual accomplishments as a four-member senior class and a talented junior made their way up the Big Red record books. Led by Allyson DiMagno, who earned second-team All-Ivy honors following the season, the team posted a 13-15 record overall and a mark of 5-9 in the Ivy League to finish fifth overall in the conference standings. DiMagno, who moved from guard to forward prior to the season, went on to set the Cornell record for rebounds in a season. The team's seniors also left their mark on the program, beginning with Clare Fitzpatrick '13, who left Cornell ranking seventh in Big Red history in points (1,201), sixth in rebounds (609), fourth in free throws made (328), and fifth in blocked shots (68). She also became the first-ever player under Smith to reach 1,200 career points and 600 career rebounds. Spencer Lane '13, who led the Ivy League during her senior season in assists per game and assist/turnover ratio, finished her career ranking eighth all-time in Cornell history in assists (284) and 14th overall in career steals (113). Taylor Flynn '13, ended her career ranking eighth all-time in 3-pointers made (110), while forward Kristina Danielak '13 left Cornell ranking fourth all-time in career field goal percentage (.497) and 10th all-time in Cornell history with 55 career blocks.

TICKLE THE ALL-IVY: Last season, Allyson DiMagno was named second-team All-Ivy after leading the Big Red in both points and rebounds, averaging a double-double for the season with 14.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. She finished the season with 16 double-doubles, the most by any member of the Ancient Eight since former Ivy League Player of the Year Judie Lomax of Columbia posted 21 during the 2009-10 season. DiMagno also ranked third overall in the Ivy League with 14.7 points per game, but was even better against conference foes, ranking second overall with 15.5 point per game in Ivy League contests.

WHAT WAS LOST: The Big Red graduated four players from the 2012-13 squad – Kristina Danielak, Clare Fitzpatrick, Taylor Flynn and Spencer Lane – and lost three other non-letter winners. The seven players accounted for an average of 28.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

WHAT REMAINS: Cornell returns three starters and five letter winners from last season's squad. The Big Red returns 51% of its scoring (811-of-1,601 points) and 67% of its rebounding (645-of-968) from a year ago.

PRESEASON HONORS: Allyson DiMagno was named a College Sports Madness Preseason All-Ivy second-team selection.

UP NEXT: The Big Red will wrap up a five-game homestand next weekend when it welcomes Penn and Princeton to Newman Arena on Friday Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8, respectively. The game with the Quakers will tip-off at 7 p.m., while the game with the Tigers will begin at 6 p.m.