Dartmouth Welcomes Merrimack for First-Ever Meeting

Wednesday, November 13

Hanover, N.H.

8:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Merrimack

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Paula Lenart Women's basketball action versus Vermont

Junior Paula Lenart

Photo by: Doug Austin

Dartmouth Welcomes Merrimack for First-Ever Meeting

11/12/2019 11:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Dartmouth Notes (PDF)Merrimack Notes (PDF)

The Big Green stay at Leede Arena for a tough test against the Warriors

By: Mike Miezejeski

GAME 2
Dartmouth Big Green (1-0) vs.
Merrimack Warriors (1-1)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 – 8 PM
Location: Hanover, N.H. – Leede Arena
All-Time Series: 0-0
Last Time: First Meeting
ESPN+ | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS

PRIME TIME MATCHUP
After over a week off, Dartmouth is ready for its second game of the season at home Wednesday night against Merrimack, who will be playing in its third game as a division one program. The Warriors are no slouches, having won their first game of the season in convincing fashion and losing an overtime battle in game two.

STARTING STRONG

Dartmouth opened its season with a 72-55 win over Vermont at Leede Arena last Tuesday.
The Big Green shot 50 percent from the field, the defense held Vermont to 35 percent shooting.
Dartmouth trailed at halftime but outscored the Catamounts, 27-13, in the third quarter to jump ahead and win by 17 points.
It was a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures.
Anna Luce led all players with 20 points and pulled down six rebounds with two blocked shots and two steals.
Annie McKenna had an all-around game with 15 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Paula Lenart had a near double-double with 13 points on 6-7 shooting and eight rebounds.
Katie Douglas was also in double figures with 10 points, six of which came in the fourth quarter.
Elle Louie was everywhere as well with eight points, six rebounds and four assists.

BALANCED ATTACK

Having everyone on the court contribute is what Dartmouth is going to need this season.
Tuesday was the first time the Big Green had four players in double figures since February 23 of last season against Brown.
It was also the first time Dartmouth shot 50 percent or better since December 9 against Fairfield last season.
With Louie adding to the mix with eight points, five players combined for 66 of the Big Green's 72 points on Tuesday.
Asha Taylor chipped in with four points in 18 minutes and Veronica Kelly knocked down a fourth quarter jumper.
McKenna was named to the Ivy League's weekly honor roll.

D-FENSE

What stood out for the Big Green against Vermont was its second half defense, specifically in the third quarter.
Dartmouth held Vermont to 5-18 (27.8%) shooting for the quarter.
The Big Green also held Hanna Crymble (who is on the Katrina McClain Award watchlist for the top forward in the nation) to only seven points and forced her to five turnovers for the game.
Vermont's Emma Utterback was limited to eight points against Dartmouth. She has scored 19 and 14 points in her next two games.

DARTMOUTH EARLY IN THE SEASON

The Big Green continued their trend of winning early season matchup's.
Dartmouth has started each season 1-0 since beginning in 2016-17.
Two of those first games have come against Vermont.

LUCEY GOOSEY

Anna Luce did it all for the Big Green Tuesday night.
Not only did the junior have 20 points, she shot 9-11 from the field and was 2-3 from 3-point range.
It was Luce's second career 20-point game. She had a career high 22 points at Brown on February 1 of last season.
Luce combated Dartmouth's slow start in the first quarter and took things upon herself by scoring 10 of the team's 12 points in the opening stanza.
Luce did more than just score, she finished with six rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist.
Her performance earned her Dartmouth Female Athlete of the Week and a spot on the Ivy League weekly honor roll.

SCOUTING MERRIMACK

Merrimack is in its inaugural season as a Division One program and have gotten off to a nice start in its first two games.
The Warriors won their first game at UMass, 79-64, behind a triple double from Denia Davis-Stewart and lost in overtime to preseason Patriot League favorite Lehigh.
No surprise but perhaps very wrong, Merrimack was slotted to finish last in the Northeast Conference preseason poll.
Merrimack leads its conference in many categories including points per game (73.5), scoring margin (+5.5), 3-point FG percentage (.429) assists (20.0) and blocked shots (10.5).
Davis-Stewart leads the conference in points (28.0), rebounds (14.5), 3-point FG percentage (7-10 – 70%) and blocked shots (8.5). She is also a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.
Kate Mager is second on the team with 16 ppg, Jayme DeCasare averages 10 ppg and Alyssa Casey scores 9 ppg.

MERRIMACK'S LAST TIME OUT

Merrimack played a tough game in its home opener against Patriot League favorite Lehigh, but fell in overtime, 72-68.
DeCasare tied the game at 63 with 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter to send it to overtime.
The Warriors never led in overtime as Lehigh outscored them 9-5.
Davis-Stewart had a double-double, while DeCasare finished with 17 points and seven assists and Kate Mager had 10 points.

HISTORIC START FOR DAVIS-STEWART AND THE WARRIORS

Davis-Stewart had one of the best games in recent history in Merrimack's opening night win over UMass.
She recorded 31 points, 13 rebounds and 12 blocked shots.
Davis-Stewart was one of two players in Division One women's basketball to record an opening night triple along with South Carolina's Aliyah Boston.
Both players did it with points, rebounds and blocks.
She followed up that performance with 25 points, 16 boards and five blocks in the overtime loss to Lehigh.
Although not eligible for the NCAA rankings due to reclassifying, Davis-Stewart ranks second in blocks per game (8.5) and tied for ninth in points (28.0) and rebounds (14.5).

FOLLOW ALONG
To keep up-to-date on all the action over the weekend, you can visit the Dartmouth women's basketball schedule by clicking HERE and finding the links for live video and live stats associated with the games. You can also follow the game on twitter: @DartmouthWbb

WHAT'S AHEAD?
The Big Green make their first road trip of the season for a Sunday matinee at Fairfield at 2 p.m. on November 17.