January 17, 2013
EMMANUEL VS. ANNA
MARIA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Setting the Scene
The Emmanuel College Saints will conclude a four game home-stand on Thursday night when they host the Anna Maria College AMCats at the Jean Yawkey Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The Saints go into the game with a 10-4 record, including a 2-0 mark in conference play. Anna Maria will enter the contest at 4-10 overall and 0-1 in league play. The Saints are currently 2-1 in their home-stand coming off back-to-back wins by 30-plus points including an 81-37 win over Mount Ida College on Tuesday night. Emmanuel is currently riding a 31-game GNAC regular season win streak, dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Saints have faced the AMCats just once since Anna Maria joined the conference last season. Emmanuel won last year�s game, a 66-43 decision, on January 18, 2012.
Locking down on
defense
The Saints are coming off back-to-back dominating wins, over Albertus Magnus and Mount Ida, in which they allowed an average of just 39 points per-game. Over their last four games, the Saints are 2-2 and have allowed a miniscule 48.25 points per-game. The defensive dominance comes on the heels of Coach Andy Yosinoff expanding the role of his bench. In Tuesday night�s win over the Mustangs, the Saints forced 34 turnovers, including 25 steals. The Saints also won the rebounding battle 49-29 with a 26-17 edge coming on the defensive glass.
Standing Tall
The Saints biggest advantage on Thursday comes in their size. Anna Maria travels to town with only one player six feet or taller, that being 6-foot Senior Chelsea Blair. The Saints have four players on their roster at six feet or taller, Jen Bujnowski, Vanessa Bramante, Victoria Johnson and Liz Daley. They also have two players that stand 5-feet 11-inches, Fiona O�Dwyer and Lena Negri. If the Saints are able to utilize this height advantage both in the low post and on the boards, it could be a long night for the AMCats.
Chasing History
Saints Coach Andy Yosinoff sits just four victories shy of 700 career wins. If the Saints can take their next three GNAC contests, Yosinoff will have his first opportunity for win #700 at the Jean Yawkey Center on January 23rd when Emmanuel hosts the 4th-ranked Jumbos of Tufts University.