Concord Plays Host to Notre Dame, Heads to Alderson Broaddus

Concord Stats - Notre Dame Stats - Alderson Broaddus Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University women's basketball team looks to end a two-game losing streak when it welcomes Notre Dame 5:30 p.m. Wednesday before taking to the road for the first time in two weeks when it opposes Alderson-Broaddus 2:00 p.m. Saturday in a pair of Mountain East Conference games.

LIVE COVERAGE
Stats: Both the Concord University and Alderson Broaddus Sports Information Departments will provide live in-game statistics of games this week. 
Video: Live streaming video of both contests will also be available through the host school.

RECORDS
Concord is 12-6 overall and has an MEC mark of 7-5.

Notre Dame sports a record of 7-9 overall and is 6-5 in the MEC.

Alderson-Broaddus is now .500 at 7-7 after a win over NDC, and has a record of 5-6 in the conference.

MILESTONE MOMENT
In Wednesday's setback versus Charleston, fifth-year senior forward Riley Fitzwater went over 500 career blocks as she swatted away a three-point attempt at the third quarter buzzer. She became the first Division II player since 2015 to tally at least 1,800 career points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 blocks. Additionally, Fitzwater is approaching both 2,000 career points and 1,500 rebounds. She begins the week with 1,873 points and 1,437 rebounds. The Glenville, West Virginia native would be the first Division II play with 2,000 and 1,500 in a career since Elizabeth City State's Celeste Trahan at the end of the 2007-08 season. And after a week where she shot 15-of-18 from the field, Fitzwater's career field-goal percentage is at 68.4 percent, nearly a whole point ahead of the Division II all-time record of 67.6 set by Valdosta State's Deidre Williams from 1993-96.

WORKING EXTRA
The Mountain Lions were unable to close out Notre Dame earlier this year as CU fell in double overtime, 82-78, on the road after holding a late lead in the first extra session. In fact, six of the last eight meetings between Concord and NDC have been decided by six points or less with two games going to overtime. The only two games with more than a two-possession margin was two CU wins in 2018-19, 85-76 and 88-81. In December, sophomore guard Jaisah Smith had a then career-high 23 points before following it up with a 27-point outburst against Fairmont State. Across eight career games versus NDC, Fitzwater is averaging 21.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest and has posted a double-double in six games. Before Charleston defeated CU Wednesday, Notre Dame was the last team to beat Concord at home, December 7, 2019—by one possession, 85-82.

HEATING IT BACK UP
In back-to-back losses to Charleston and Glenville State, Concord was held below 45 percent shooting for just the third time in consecutive games this season. Because of its offensive efficiency, the Maroon and Gray is 25^th in Division II in field-goal percentage this season at 45.0. And CU has not been held below 45 percent in three straight games this season. Although, one of the eight times Concord has been limited to less than 45 percent shooting was against Notre Dame early in the season. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Concord has only been held under 45 percent five times at home, a string of 27 games. Earlier this season, Smith was 8-of-18 against NDC, Fitzwater scored her 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting and junior forward Alexis Phillips was 3-for-5 in scoring eight points in her first career start.

BOARD BATTLE
Wednesday night will feature the two top rebounders in the MEC in Fitzwater and Notre Dame's Tamia Ridley. Riley is seventh in Division II with 12.5 boards per contest while Fitzwater's 12.2 rebounds are eighth in Division II. Ridley also leads the MEC in offensive boards per contest as she cleans up 4.1 per game. Earlier this season, Fitzwater had 14 rebounds and eight blocks to go along with her 19 points at NDC. Ridley recorded 16 points and 15 rebounds, four offensive, in Notre Dame's win. The Mountain Lions will have their hands full this week with two of the best offensive rebounding teams in the MEC. AB is fourth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game (13.5) while Notre Dame ranks fifth (13.1). However, Concord averages 28.1 defensive rebounds per game, third in the MEC and collects 67 percent of opponents' misses, sixth in the conference.

PAINTED AREA
Against Alderson-Broaddus earlier this season, Concord scored 54 points in the paint as it rolled to a 91-52 win over the Battlers. Fitzwater made all 12 of her attempts close to the basket as she finished the game 12-of-14, missing only two right-side elbow jumpers. Sophomore guard Allison Dunbar came off the bench to supply a career-best nine points as she made all four shots in the paint, and Smith added a 3-of-6 showing in the paint for the Mountain Lions. Overall, CU shot 63 percent from inside the paint while holding Alderson-Broaddus to 33 percent (13-of-39). Concord also handed out a season-best 24 assists versus AB as junior guard Ashton Funderburg had a career-high seven. At Notre Dame, Concord outscored the Falcons 42-32 in the paint, but only shot 46 percent (21-of-46). However, CU limited NDC to 42 percent in the paint (16-for-38).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4- Consecutive games that senior guard Gracie Robinson has drawn at least one charge.

15.7- Scoring average for senior guard Maggie Guynn versus NDC in the last four games, including 22 points at home in December 2019.

34- Career high in points for Fitzwater against Notre Dame as a freshman in 2017-18.

NOTRE DAME AT A GLANCE
Notre Dame enters play Wednesday night lookin to snap a four-game losing streak. After losses by seven points or less to West Virginia State, Charleston and Wheeling, NDC was dealt an 89-65 loss at Alderson-Broaddus Saturday. Alana Ellis is the Falcons' leading scorer at 15.9 points per game. Jennifer Oduho nets 13.7 points per game. Ridley just misses out on averaging a double-double with 9.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest. NDC is being outscored by 102 points in the middle two quarters of games this season.

ALDERSON-BROADDUS AT A GLANCE
The convincing win over Notre Dame ended a brief three-game losing streak for the Battlers. Alderson-Broaddus is giving up the most points in the league at 85.3 per game. Averaging 78.4 points per game, AB is one of the most balanced teams in the conference with five double-figure scorers. Hannah Taylor (13.0), Iyahnna Williams (12.9) and Nyshae' Weaver (12.9) lead the way with Ariyah Douglas (10.3) and Taylor Issac (10.2) both averaging just over 10 points per game. The Battlers have allowed at least 80 points in a game nine times this season.