Opening Tip
- Lafayette looks to move above .500 for the season, and for the month of December, as Monmouth comes to town on a three-game winning streak.
 
- Last time out, sophomore Olivia Martino tallied a game-high 17 points while going 9-for-9 from the free throw line in a loss at Manhattan.
 
- Lafayette was outrebounded for the just the second time this season at Manhattan, but is still tops in the Patriot League ranked 28th in the nation in rebounds per game and holds a 7.5 advantage against its opponents on the glass so far in 2018-19.
 
- The Leopards are in the home stretch of their nonconference schedule, as they'll take a week off from competition for finals week before returning to action on Dec. 20 when Cornell comes to College Hill for the final non-conference home game of 2018-19.
 
Scouting Monmouth
The Hawks have won three consecutive games after dropping their opening four contests of 2018-19. Sierra Green leads the way, averaging 14.4 ppg while Erica Balman patrols the glass with 6.4 rpg.
 
Monmouth is coming off a victory at George Washington on Dec. 2, having a week to prepare for the Leopards. They defeated a common opponent in Albany prior to knocking off Sacred Heart as part of the streak.
 
Two of the Hawks defeats come from Patriot League members in the season opener against Bucknell, as well as Lehigh in Bethlehem.
 
In her second season, Monmouth is led by Jody Craig, who took over the head coaching position a month into the 2017-18 season.
 
All-Time Series
The Leopards trail in the overall series as Monmouth holds a 5-2 advantage all-time against Lafayette.
 
This is just the second meeting between the programs at Kirby as Lafayette claimed the first during the 2007-08 campaign.
 
Last Meeting
Lafayette dropped an early season meeting with Monmouth in the 2012-13 season in New Jersey, 62-43.
 
Emily Homan was a rebound away from a double-double as she led the Leopards with 18 points.
 
 
My Hero Martino
Last time at Kirby, sophomore Olivia Martino scored 17 of her career-high 19 points in the second half and overtimes against Albany to help the Leopards overcome a 13-point deficit with eight minutes left in regulation. Martino hit the game-tying layup with one second left in the fourth quarter and hit the eventual game winner with 20 seconds left in overtime number two.
 
She followed up that performance with a game-high 17 points at Manhattan, going 9-for-9 from the foul line.
 
A Comparison
To this point in the season last year, Lafayette is much improved in a number of areas, including the wins column. The Leopards are scoring more efficiently, up from 52.5 ppg to 57.5, shooting better at the free throw line from 64 percent to 71 percent, and turnovers are down from 19.5 a game to 17.8. Lafayette has been a top notch rebounding team, pulling in 44.8 a contest this season from 40.6 in 2017-18. The rebound margin is up as well, from +0.3 to +7.5.
 
Windex Wipes
The Leopards are tops in the Patriot League and 28th nationally in rebounds per game, pulling in 44.8 per contest. Kucowski's 11.8 rpg ranks her second in the League and 15th in all of college basketball. Lafayette is ranked 44th nationally in rebounding margin with a 7.5 advantage on the glass and best in the conference.
 
Getting Defensive
The Leopards rank inside the top five in the Patriot League in major defensive statistical categories. Lafayette is third in scoring defense and 61st nationally (57.0 ppg) and second in opponent field goal percentage and 62nd nationally (35.8 percent).
 
Ups and Downs from Beyond the Arc
After leading the Patriot League in 3-point field goal percentage in 2017-18, the Leopards have been inconsistent from deep this season. In the opening round of the PL Tournament last year, Lafayette set a program record with 12 3-balls against Boston U. led by now-junior Sarah Agnello who went 6-for-8 while Martino was 4-for-6.
 
This season, Lafayette has hit seven 3-pointers twice and eight once. However, the Maroon and White failed to hit a 3-pointer against Manhattan, the first time Lafayette didn't make one in a game since the 2015-16 season.
 
Youth Movement
Lafayette did not start an "upperclassman" until the Albany game, as the Leopards featured three sophomores and a pair of freshmen in the starting lineup in seven of the eight games this season. However, the Maroon and White have turned to senior Alex Cantwell and junior Tasha Vipond to be the first and second players off the bench this season. Sophomore Natalie Kucowski is leading the team at 30.0 minutes per contest.
 
Classroom Success
The 2017-18 Leopards ranked No. 14 among Division I women's basketball programs for team GPA. Lafayette compiled a team GPA of 3.538 last season and were 1-of-2 Patriot League institutions to rank inside the top-25.
 
Record Double-Doubles
Sophomore Natalie Kucowski became the first player in Lafayette history to record three consecutive double-doubles to open a season, recording double-digits in points and rebounds in the first four games of 2018-19. She was a rebound shy of a double-double in the FAU game, but regained her form with a 16-point, 10-rebound performance against Delaware. It was the 14th of the Philadelphia native's career in the Maroon and White. 
 
Now Boarding
In just her freshman season, Natalie Kucowski set the Lafayette record for rebounds in a single season with 309 in 2017-18, passing Alicia Yapsuga who had 299 in the 1996-97 season. Kucowski entered the final game of the season five rebounds shy of the record and pulled down 14 in the Patriot League quarterfinals. She was 1-of-2 players in the Patriot League to average a double-double in 2017-18.
 
Overtime triumph
The Leopards won their first overtime game since the 2012-13 season when Lafayette outlasted Bucknell, 66-61, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. After not playing any overtime games last season, it was the first time since the 2016-17 season that Lafayette played extra time. The last overtime game was a triple overtime thriller against Army that went in favor of the Black Knights.
 
Free and Easy
The Leopards shot 29 free throws in the Delaware contest, making 22 in the game. It was the most free throws a Lafayette team attempted and made since Feb. 8, 2017 when the Leopards were 23-of-32 from the Line in an 85-70 win over Holy Cross.
 
Three for Three
The Leopards featured three players to rank inside the top-10 on the Lafayette single-season 3-point percentage list in 2017-18, featuring Freeland (39.7%), Martino (38.6%) and Agnello (36.8%).
 
Returning Points
Lafayette returns nine players from last year's team and 74 percent of its total points production from the 2017-18 season. The Leopards also return four of their five leading scorers in junior Alexis Santarelli (8.0 ppg) and sophomores Drew Feeland (7.2 ppg), Natalie Kucowski (10.9 ppg), and Olivia Martino (7.4 ppg).
 
The Damon-Olson Effect
The Maroon and White saw drastic improvements in head coach Kia Damon-Olson's first season at the helm. The Leopards topped the Patriot League in 3-point field goal percentage (34.7%), ranked third in rebounding margin (plus-0.5), fourth in rebounds per game (36.4) and free throw percentage (70.8%), and fifth in scoring defense (60.7).
 
OH MY Alex Cantwell!
Senior Alex Cantwell has had the clutch gene this season for the Leopards in crucial moments. Against Saint Peter's, Cantwell scored 10 points in the final minute to tie the game. She also hit back-to-back 3-balls down the stretch against Albany to help the Leopards overcome a 13-point fourth quarter deficit, where they'd eventually win in double overtime.
 
Maroon and White Debuts
In the season opener, five Leopards made their Lafayette debuts in freshmen Nicole Johnson, Makaila Wilson, Jiselle Havas, and Naomi Ganpo, along with junior Sydney Sabino. All four of the freshmen recorded their first collegiate points in the win. Freshman Becca Margolis made her collegiate debut in the Delaware game, grabbing a rebound in two minutes of action.
 
Meet the Rookies
Each of the three freshmen from a season ago were key contributors in their rookie campaigns and the five newcomers this season will have big roles to fill, as well.
 
Naomi Ganpo comes to College Hill by way of Ontario, Canada and is a big time presence in the paint. Standing at 6-3, Ganpo will play a true forward position and play a factor in the rebounding and defensive game while continuing to develop her offensive package.
 
Jiselle Havas is the southern-most resident on the team hailing from Windermere, Florida, winning two state championships in high school. Havas comes in with the ability to shoot from distance which plays right into the strategy of the team.
 
Nicole Johnson was a four-year starter at East Brunswick High School in New Jersey. She is a true point guard and brings speed to both sides of the ball.
 
Becca Margolis was a three-time all-league performer in high school on the hardwood while starting all four years on the basketball and soccer teams. 
 
Makaila Wilson was a state champion at Penfield High School in Fairport, New York and brings size at 6-foot. Wilson has the ability to play multiple positions and started all four years on the basketball court and soccer field in high school.
 
No Captains... Leaders
When head coach Kia Damon-Olson took over, she introduced the Lafayette Women's Basketball Leadership Council, consisting of one student-athlete from each class. This year's representatives are senior Alex Cantwell, junior Alexis Santarelli, sophomore Drew Freeland, and freshman Nicole Johnson.