Firebirds Visit Reigning ECC Champion Dowling Wednesday Night

2012-13 University of the District of Columbia Women's Basketball Game Notes

District of Columbia (6-9, 1-4 ECC) at Dowling (11-2, 5-0 ECC)

Wednesday, January 16^th – Dowling Gymnasim (Oakdale, NY)

Opening Tip-Off

The Firebirds visit reigning East Coast Conference champion Dowling on Wednesday night at Dowling Gym. Tip-off is at 5 p.m. Follow Live Stats.

Updating the Firebirds

District of Columbia has lost its last four games, including a 55-46 defeat at LIU Post on Saturday. Without their team captain and leading scorer Janelle Junior (Administration of Justice – Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS), the Firebirds still managed to get in striking distance with just over two minutes left in the game. An 11-1 surge helped them pull within 46-42, but a 7-0 Pioneers run erased any hope District of Columbia had left. The Firebirds are shooting just 32-percent from the field and 21-percent from three-point range while averaging just under 46 points per-game during this losing streak.

Scouting Dowling

The Golden Lions' only two losses this season have come to ranked teams as Dowling is currently on a six-game winning streak and receiving votes for the WBCA Top-25 poll heading into Wednesday night's clash with the Firebirds. The Golden Lions have the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation, allowing a mere 45.4 points per-game. Opponents are shooting just under 31-percent against Dowling all season. The Golden Lions' staunch defense was on display this past Saturday as they dominated ECC newcomer Roberts Wesleyan, 57-27. Dowling is also the best rebounding team in the ECC (17^th in the nation) with a +8.8 margin. The Golden Lions' Danielle Wilson is tops in the ECC in rebounding (10.5 rpg) and FG pct, (53.7) and she ranks 3^rd in the league in scoring with 17.2 points per-game.

The Matchup

The Firebirds have struggled shooting the basketball of late, which could play right into Dowling's hands as the No. 1 ranked scoring defense and No. 3 ranked field goal percentage defense in the nation. Still, the Firebirds have shown they can light up a scoreboard at any time, particularly when they erupted for 92 points in a win over St. Augustine's back on November 28^th. They will need solid scoring production from their two guards, Junior and sophomore Denikka Brent (Mechanical Engineering – Chesapeake, VA/Booker T. Washington HS). Junior should return to the lineup after sitting out the last game due to the aftermath of a concussion. Meanwhile, Brent is coming off a 14-point scoring effort at LIU Post on Saturday. Rebounding will also be key in this game. The Firebirds' interior players, freshman Tatyana Calhoun (Environmental Science – Disputanta, VA/Sussex Central HS), junior Robin Keke (Biology – Bowie, MD/Bowie HS) and sophomore Lianne Miller (Health Education – Fareham, England/Swanmore College of Technology) will look to hold Dowling to one opportunity per-possession and neutralize Wilson.