KUTZTOWN “GOLDEN BEARS” at CLARION “GOLDEN EAGLES”

PSAC WOMEN’S CROSSOVER GAME INFORMATION

DATE: Jan. 8, 2005    LOCATION: Tippin Gym, Clarion, Pa.                       TIME: 1 p.m.

CLARION RADIO/INTERNET: WWCH 1300 AM in Clarion & www.redzonemedia.com

CLARION RECORD: 8-3                                        KUTZTOWN RECORD: 7-4

NEXT FOR CLARION: vs. West Chester Jan. 9      NEXT FOR KUTZTOWN: at Cheyney Jan. 12

ALBANESE PSAC-WEST “ROOKIE OF THE WEEK”

·        Freshman forward Jessica Albanese was the PSAC-West “Rookie of the Week” for the two-week span ending Jan. 2. She helped the Eagles go 2-2 during that stretch by averaging 11.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg while hitting 20 of 27 field goals. With 52 seconds left in Clarion’s 56-53 win at Millersville Dec. 21 she made the game-winning shot and added a clinching free throw with 23 seconds to play.

EAGLES OFF TO THIRD BEST START IN SCHOOL HISTORY

·        Clarion’s 8-3 start is tied for the third best start in school history with the 1986-87 and 1975-76 teams. The best start belongs with the 1991-92 team that was 11-0, while the 1993-94 team started 10-1. All four of those teams ended with good marks. The 75-76 squad was 12-3, the 86-87 team went 16-9, the 91-92 team was 25-4 and the 93-94 group went 24-6. The 1992 and 1994 teams won PSAC-West titles with the 1994 team also winning the PSAC Title while advancing to the NCAA D-II “Elite Eight”.

FRESHMAN PLAYING KEY ROLES IN SUCCESS

·        Freshman point guard Ashley Grimm joins Albanese in giving Clarion two freshmen who are playing key roles in the early season success. Grimm is averaging 5.1 ppg, 4.7 apg and 2.0 spg while shooting 47.9 percent from the field having started all 11 games. Albanese, who has come off the bench in all but the last game for the Eagles, is adding 8.9 ppg and 5.5 rpg while shooting 53.6 percent from the floor. She also has two double-doubles on the season with both coming in games she didn’t start.

PARSONS SIX WINS SHY OF 350

·        Clarion head coach Margaret “Gie” Parsons is just six wins shy of 350 in her career. Parsons is 344-269 in her 23^rd season as a head coach including a 234-193 mark her 16^th season at Clarion, the winningest coach in Clarion history. 

HIGH SCORING GAMES A NORM FOR EAGLES

·        High scoring contests are normal this season for Clarion with the Golden Eagles ranking second in the PSAC in points per game with 73.5 but also ranking 13^th for points allowed per game at 65.5. The Golden Eagles are the best shooting team in the conference hitting 47.4 percent of their shots.

CLARION-KUTZTOWN SERIES

·        Clarion and Kutztown have played 12 times since the 1994-95 season and Kutztown holds a 7-5 edge during that span. Clarion, though, has won the last three including a 66-57 win last year at Clarion last Dec. 18. Shay Godwin led Clarion with 23 points, 19 rebounds in that game, while Heather Cigich had 17 points, 13 boards. Danielle Warntz led Kutztown with 13 points. Clarion trailed 30-21 at halftime but outscored Kutztown 45-27 in the second half to get the win. (See box score for full details.)

ABOUT KUTZTOWN

·        The Golden Bears have the fourth best defense in the PSAC allowing 59.5 ppg, but their offense ranks 11^th in the conference scoring 60.1 ppg.

·        No Kutztown player in averaging in double figures, although seven players are scoring 6.7 ppg or more.