Women's Basketball | 11/8/2018 6:41:00 PM
Listen to Coach Mac's Corner (11/8/18)
FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State women's basketball will return five of its top six scorers from a season ago when it takes the floor for the first time on Friday at 4 p.m. during its season opener against Seton Hill, on day one of the MEC/PSAC Challenge, presented by McDonald's, the JW Ebert Corporation.
The action will begin at 2 p.m. Friday when Concord takes on Lock Haven in a neutral site matchup at Joe Retton Arena.
Day two of the MEC/PSAC Challenge, presented by McDonald's, the JW Ebert Corporation, will begin at 2 p.m. with Concord squaring off with Seton Hill. Fairmont State will wrap up the weekend's action with a showdown against Lock Haven at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
2018 MEC/PSAC Challenge Schedule
Friday, Nov. 9
2 p.m. – Concord vs. Lock Haven |
Live Stats | Live Video
4 p.m. – Fairmont State vs. Seton Hill |
Live Stats |
Live Video
Saturday, Nov. 10
2 p.m. – Concord vs. Seton Hill |
Live Stats | Live Video
4 p.m. – Fairmont State vs. Lock Haven |
Live Stats |
Live Video
Women's Basketball Notebook
- The Fairmont State women's basketball team will open the 2018-19 season against Seton Hill during the MEC/PSAC Challenge at Joe Retton Arena on Friday at 4 p.m. Concord and Lock Haven will open the women's action at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the day.
- Head coach Steve McDonald is entering his 19th season at the helm of the Fairmont State women's basketball program. McDonald enters the season with a 409-215 overall record (.655) as a collegiate head coach, including a 354-180 record (.663) as head women's basketball coach at Fairmont State.
- Fairmont State is coming off a 16-14 campaign that ended with the Falcons winning four of their final six regular season games before Fairmont State advanced to the semifinal round of the MEC Tournament in Charleston.
- Five of Fairmont's top six scorers from a season ago return for the 2017-18 season, led by Sierra Kotchman at 18.5 points per game. Kotchman scored a Fairmont State freshman record 556 points as a true freshman and earned Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year and second team all-conference honors last season. Kotchman was also named to the DII Bulletin All-Freshman Team last season.
- In addition to leading the Falcons in scoring a season ago, Kotchman also ranked fourth in the country in free throw percentage (91.5) and 27th in NCAA Division II in three-pointers made (78).
- Brooke Kurucz also returns for her second season with the Falcons after transferring from Akron prior to the 2017-18 season. Kurucz averaged 14.0 points and 3.7 rebounds as a sophomore with the Falcons last season.
- Fairmont State will need to replace the production of Kelli Jo Harrison in the post last season. Harrison averaged 10.8 points and 10.0 rebounds at the 5-position for the Falcons last season. Harrison is now in her first season as an assistant coach for the Falcons.
- Rachel Laskody (5.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Molly Rinkevich (4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds) will see extended action in the post for the Falcons this season.
- Senior Ozge Yarga is returning at the point guard position for the Falcons this winter after averaging 5.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior.
- Fairmont State owns an 11-4 all-time record against Seton Hill, and a 2-0 all-time record against Lock Haven. The Falcons have defeated Lock Haven during the MEC/PSAC Challenge the last two years, including a 92-53 win in 2016 and a 76-62 win last season.
