Big Green Open 2016-17 with Central Conn. and Vermont

GAME 1

Dartmouth Big Green, (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) vs.
Central Conn. St. Blue Devils (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
Date: Friday, November 11, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H. – Leede Arena
All time series: Big Green lead, 6-1

GAME 2

Dartmouth Big Green, (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) vs.
Vermont Catamounts (0-0, 0-0 America East)
Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016 – 2 p.m.
Location: Burlington, Vt. – Leede Arena
All time series: Catamounts lead, 17-15

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
The Dartmouth women's basketball team opens the 2016-17 season by hosting Central Connecticut State on Friday, before traveling to twin state rival Vermont on Sunday afternoon.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
Central Connecticut heads into the 2016-17 season after a 12-18 mark and loss in the NEC quarterfinals to Saint Francis in 2015-16. The Blue Devils return a couple of key players from last year's squad, including some experienced players at the guard position. Aleah Epps also returns as a senior after she averaged 69.5 percent from the field and 9.5 points per game.

LAST TIME AGAINST CCSU
On Dec. 29, 2015, the Big Green were edged, 59-55 by Central Connecticut in New Britain. Kate Letkewicz led Dartmouth with 20 points, as she went 7 for 13 from the field and shot 5 of 8 from behind the arc. As a team, the Big Green shot 44.9 percent from the field compared to the Blue Devils' 44 percent. Central Connecticut started the second quarter on an 8-0 run before going on a 12-5 run to take a 17-14 lead. Dartmouth eventually took a 26-25 lead after Lakin Roland drained a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer. The Big Green unleashed a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter with a three-pointer by Andi Norman and jumper by Daisy Jordan, to cut the lead to 48-40. In the final stanza, Dartmouth got close, but ran out of time to complete the comeback despite Central's struggles at the free throw line in the game's final minutes.

SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
Vermont begins a new era with first-year head coach Chris Day behind the bench in Burlington. Day is no stranger to the Ivy League after serving as an assistant with Penn for three seasons. The Catamounts return four starters from last year's squad including Sydney Smith, who averaged 10.5 points per game. In this season's America East women's basketball preseason poll, Vermont was selected to finish eighth in the nine-team conference.

LAST TIME AGAINST VERMONT
On Dec. 9, 2015, the Big Green fell to Vermont, 56-54 in an exciting finish in front of a packed Leede Arena. With the score tied at 54, the Catamounts' Courtney White hit the game-winning layup with just 10 seconds to play in regulation. After a missed three-pointer by Roland, Amber Mixon put up a last second shot, but could not get it off before the clock hit zero. Fanni Szabo had her first breakout game of the season for Dartmouth, leading her team with 19 points, shooting 8 for 23 from the field. Letkewicz also had a solid game, with 12 points and nine rebounds.

CLASS OF 2020
The Big Green's freshman class is comprised of Annie McKenna, Grace Phillips, Danielle Nieters, Gabby Hunter, Julianna Thomson and Paula Lenart. By position, the class is made up of two guards (McKenna and Phillips), three forwards (Nieters, Hunter and Thomson), while Lenart looks to make an impact as a guard/forward.

TOP RETURNERS
Without last season's leading point scorer Roland, Dartmouth will need to look elsewhere to replace her 15.1 points per game. Luckily for the Big Green there are a couple of key returning players that are expected to continue their success on the hardwood this year. Last season's top three-point shooter, Letkewicz returns for her junior season after she averaged 12.4 points per game in 2015-16 and shot .369 from behind the arc. After missing a few games last season due to injury, a healthy Szabo will be key to Dartmouth's success after she was the league's second leading scorer in 2014-15. Mixon will also play a role on the defensive side of the court after a successful sophomore year.

LIVE FROM LEEDE
For the first time in recent years, Big Green basketball returns to the airwaves as each home game will be broadcast live on KOOL FM 93.9/96.3. Brett Franklin will serve as the team's play-by-play broadcaster with Jill Glessner on color commentary.

FOLLOW ALONG
Can't make it to the games? Friday's contest will be carried live in HD on the Ivy League Digital Network for subscribers and can be heard on KOOL FM 93.9/96.3. Sunday's contest can be streamed at no cost on America East TV. DartmouthSports.com will provide a live stats link for those looking to follow along during both contests. Fans are also encouraged to follow the team's official Twitter account @DartmouthWBB for live in-game updates.

LOOKING AHEAD
Dartmouth returns home on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when the Big Green host Holy Cross at 2 p.m.

Schedules