2008 Woodie Awards
Rubino set for big night in home opener
Brian Fitzsimmons
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Sports
Tonight the women's basketball team tips off against the Yale Bulldogs. The lady Bulldogs have struggled thus far, registering a 0-4 record and running into the red hot Pioneers won't help their situation.
Sacred Heart is coming off an 84-57 win in New York over Syracuse, a big program respected all around the country.
Junior forward Amanda Pape's leadership is nothing new to Pioneer hoop fans and she worked her magic once again to allow Sacred Heart improve to 2-0 against the Big East conference during this early campaign. She registered 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to boost her season averages to 16.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Pape is also proving her honor of being chosen a pre-season pick as a NEC All-Conference player was not a fluke.
The real story which will unfold tonight will be all about senior Nicolle Rubino. Throughout her three years at SHU, she has provided a serviceable balance for head coach Ed Swanson on both ends of the floor, and come time for tip off, it will become her show. She is currently four points away from reaching the 1,000 career milestone, and averaging 10.7 points per contest this season, her goal is well within reach for tonight's game.
The Pioneers and Bulldogs met last year on November 19th, and Sacred Heart came out victorious by a 66-53 edge.
Yale is an interesting team aside from their record. Their seven player rotation consists of all underclassmen, and their leading scorer is freshmen guard Kaitlyn Lillemoe with 13.2. She is also one of two players shooting for more than 60.0% from beyond the three point arc.
Chances are, Kerri Burke, Pioneer point guard, will have the duty of sticking with Lillemoe, and shutting her down is the answer to caging the rest of the Bulldogs. Here is an in-depth look at tonight's game and key match-ups.
Kerri Burke vs. Kaitlyn Lillemoe: Burke, who led the NEC in assists per game last year, has struggled thus far shooting from the floor and her 26.7% proves it, but she is too good of a player to let this slump carry itself any further. If Lillemoe isn't quick enough to stop the constant Burke penetration, Yale is big trouble.
Sacred Heart is coming off an 84-57 win in New York over Syracuse, a big program respected all around the country.
Junior forward Amanda Pape's leadership is nothing new to Pioneer hoop fans and she worked her magic once again to allow Sacred Heart improve to 2-0 against the Big East conference during this early campaign. She registered 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to boost her season averages to 16.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Pape is also proving her honor of being chosen a pre-season pick as a NEC All-Conference player was not a fluke.
The real story which will unfold tonight will be all about senior Nicolle Rubino. Throughout her three years at SHU, she has provided a serviceable balance for head coach Ed Swanson on both ends of the floor, and come time for tip off, it will become her show. She is currently four points away from reaching the 1,000 career milestone, and averaging 10.7 points per contest this season, her goal is well within reach for tonight's game.
The Pioneers and Bulldogs met last year on November 19th, and Sacred Heart came out victorious by a 66-53 edge.
Yale is an interesting team aside from their record. Their seven player rotation consists of all underclassmen, and their leading scorer is freshmen guard Kaitlyn Lillemoe with 13.2. She is also one of two players shooting for more than 60.0% from beyond the three point arc.
Chances are, Kerri Burke, Pioneer point guard, will have the duty of sticking with Lillemoe, and shutting her down is the answer to caging the rest of the Bulldogs. Here is an in-depth look at tonight's game and key match-ups.
Kerri Burke vs. Kaitlyn Lillemoe: Burke, who led the NEC in assists per game last year, has struggled thus far shooting from the floor and her 26.7% proves it, but she is too good of a player to let this slump carry itself any further. If Lillemoe isn't quick enough to stop the constant Burke penetration, Yale is big trouble.