Sports
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. Monmouth – Providence College Athletics
Women’s Basketball
FRIARS HOST MONMOUTH FOR A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON GAME… The Providence College women’s basketball team will face Monmouth on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m. The game will be played at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I.
ALL-TIME VS. MONMOUTH… The Friars are 9-0 all-time vs. Monmouth, including a 4-0 mark at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium.
THE LAST TIME THE TWO TEAMS MET… Providence and Monmouth last met on Nov. 28, 2021 in Providence, R.I. The Friars claimed a 30-point victory on that day (64-34). There are three players on the Friars’ current roster who played in that game. Olivia Olsen came off the bench to score a team-high 12 points on 4-4 shooting. Emily Archibald added nine points and a career-high nine rebounds. Audrey Koch tallied three points, three rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal. The Friars held the Hawks to 20.9-percent shooting (14-67), while Providence converted 49-percent of its attempts (24-49).
BLOCK PARTY… Through four games, the Friars lead the BIG EAST and rank 36th among NCAA Division I teams in blocks per game (5.0 bpg). The Friars have had 5+ blocks in three of their four games, including a season-high eight rejections vs. Vermont. Junior Olivia Olsen is averaging 2.0 blocked shots per game, which ranks second in the BIG EAST 39th in the nation among 232 players.
GRACE EFOSA IN DOUBLE FIGURES… Grace Efosa is the lone Friar to reach double figures this season in each of the Friars’ four games. She recorded a season-high 21 points in the season opener vs. Hampton on Nov. 7. Efosa netted 15 points in the Friars’ most recent game against Boston College. She heads into Wednesday’s game against Monmouth ranked second on the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game.
HELPING HANDS… Kylee Sheppard leads the Friars in assists through four games (5.0 apg). She dished a career-high eight assists in the Friars’ season opener vs. Hampton. In Providence’s most recent game against Boston College she was one assist shy of tying her personal best, finishing the game with seven assists. Sheppard also ranks third on the team in scoring (8.3 ppg) and has scored or assisted on 36-percent of Providence’s field goals.
TURNOVERS… The Friars have committed 20+ turnovers in three of their four games this season. Providence most recently recorded a season-high 27 miscues against Boston College. It proved to be the difference in the game as the Eagles outscored the Friars 31-10 in points off turnovers.
OLIVIA OLSEN NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL… Olivia Olsen was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 13. The junior forward averaged a team-best 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and a BIG EAST-best 3.0 blocked shots in a 2-0 week. Olsen scored a career-high 25 points in the Friars’ victory over Hampton on 9-11 shooting from the field and a 7-7 performance from the foul line. She added eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. On Nov. 10, she paced the Friars with 14 points, seven boards and four blocked shots in a win over Vermont. Through two games, Olsen has converted 69.6-percent of her attempts from the field (16-23), which is the second-highest field-goal percentage in the conference. She also hit 7-8 shots from the foul line (0.875).
OLIVIA OLSEN AND GRACE EFOSA COMBINE FOR 46 POINTS IN OPENER… Olivia Olsen and Grace Efosa combined to score 46 points in the Friars’ season opener vs. Hampton on Nov. 7. Their scoring total equaled Hampton’s offensive output as a team, as Providence cruised to a 76-46 win. Olsen hit for a career-high 25 points on 9-11 shooting from the field and a 7-7 performance from the foul line. Fifteen of her 25 points came in the second half. Efosa netted 21 points on 6-7 shooting from the field and a 8-9 showing at the foul line.
TWO 20-POINT SCORERS… Olivia Olsen (25) and Grace Efosa (21) are the first players to score 20+ points in the same game since the 2018-19 campaign. Jovana Nogic (27) and Mary Baskerville (22) last achieved the feat on March 21, 2019 vs. Hartford in the first round of the WNIT.
FRIARS’ SCHEDULE FILLED WITH 2022-23 POSTSEASON PARTICIPANTS… Providence will face 13 teams that qualified for postseason play last season. Ten of those 13 teams competed in the NCAA Tournament, while three others earned invitations to the WNIT. Among the list of 2022-23 NCAA Tournament participants are Vermont, Iona, Sacred Heart, Baylor and five BIG EAST Conference opponents, UConn, Creighton, Marquette, St. John’s and Villanova. The teams Providence will face that competed in the WNIT are Columbia, Rhode Island and Seton Hall.
2023-24 CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED… Seniors Grace Efosa and Brynn Farrell and juniors Kylee Sheppard and Emily Archibald were named team captains ahead of the 2023-24 season. Head Coach Erin Batth made the announcement on Oct. 30, prior to the team’s exhibition game vs. New Haven (Nov. 1).
OLIVIA OLSEN, GRACE EFOSA AND KYLEE SHEPPARD RETURN TO FRIARS TO PLAY FOR FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH ERIN BATTH… Olivia Olsen, Grace Efosa and Kylee Sheppard entered the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. The trio each finished in the top four on the team in scoring and rebounding. All three players decided to return to Friartown after exploring their options and speaking to Coach Batth and her newly assembled staff. The three players combined for 43.9-percent of the Friars’ scoring last season, totaling 853 of Providence’s 1,942 points.
LEADING RETURNING SCORER, REBOUNDER AND SHOT BLOCKER… Olivia Olsen averaged 10.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in 2022-23 and led the team in each category. Olsen recorded double figures in the scoring column 18 times and ranked second on the team in double-doubles (two). She also shot a team-best 0.481 from the field (129-268). Through four games this season, she leads the team in scoring (15.0 ppg), rebounding 6.8 rpg) and blocked shots (2.0 bpg). Olsen has converted 68.6-percent of her attempts from the field this season (24-35).
MARTA MORALES ROMERO AND UGNE SIRTAUTAITE REPRESENT THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES IN FIBA EVENTS… Junior Marta Morales Romero (Spain) and freshman Ugne Sirtautaite (Lithuania) have each represented their respective countries in high-level FIBA-sponsored events. Morales Romero most recently competed in the 2023 FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship (Jul. 29-Aug. 6) and helped guide Spain to a Bronze Medal while averaging 8.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. She finished second among her teammates in scoring (8.3 ppg) and shot 43.5-percent from the floor overall (20-46). Sirtautaite recently played in the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup held in Madrid, Spain (Jul. 15-23). She averaged 10.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game, while shooting 43.3-percent from the field (23-53). Additionally, she scored a personal-best of 19 points on 7-10 shooting during the Round of 16 vs. Egypt (July 19) and recorded a personal-best 11 rebounds during classification play against Mali (July 22).
SARAH BANDOMA MAKES HER WAY BACK TO THE OCEAN STATE… Junior forward Sarah Bandoma played two seasons of NCAA Division I basketball at St. Francis College Brooklyn. The college announced it was eliminating its athletics programs at the close of the 2022-23 academic year, so Bandoma entered the transfer portal. The Johnston, R.I. native signed with the Friars and first-year Head Coach Erin Batth and has two years of eligibility. During her two seasons at St. Francis, Bandoma appeared in 49 games and was a member of the starting line-up 29 times. Last season, she led the team in rebounding (7.0 rpg), offensive rebounding (3.3 orpg), blocked shots (44) and field-goal percentage (.491, 81-165). She chipped in 6.1 points per game.
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE / JOHNSTON TIES… Sarah Bandoma attended nearby Johnston Senior High School, where she earned Second-Team All-State and Second-Team All-Division I North honors. Bandoma became the second player in school history to jump directly to an NCAA Division I basketball program. The first was former Friar great Chelsea Marandola (2005-10). Marandola was three-time All-BIG EAST selection and ranks third on the Friars’ all-time scoring list with 1,795 points and 19th all-time in rebounding (651).
ERIN BATTH ERA BEGINS IN FRIARTOWN… Erin Batth was hired as the 11th women’s basketball coach in program history at Providence College on March 20, 2023. Batth arrived in Friartown with 17 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience, with her most recent stops coming at NC State (2018-22) and Michigan (2022-23). She has been part of five conference championships, eight NCAA Elite Eight appearances and three trips to the NCAA Sweet 16. She also served as an assistant coach at Liberty (2017-18), Georgia State (2014-17), Tennessee Tech (2012-14) and Towson (2010-12). Batth earned her first career win as a head coach on Nov. 7 vs. Vermont (76-46).
ERIN BATTH’S PLAYING CAREER… Batth played collegiately at Clemson and graduated in 2001. She earned Second-Team Defensive All-America honors and All-ACC Second Team honors during her career. As a senior, she averaged 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and finished her impressive four-year career with 972 points, 722 rebounds and 116 blocked shots. She helped the Tigers to four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and helped Clemson advance to the Sweet 16 in 1999. Batth was the first player from Clemson drafted into the WNBA, going to the Cleveland Rockers in 2001. She played professionally with Panithnaikos and Appollon (in Greece) and Migros (in Turkey). Her WNBA experience also included time with the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Sacramento Monarchs.
ERIN BATTH RADIO SHOW TO DEBUT ON 790 THE SCORE… The second recording of the Erin Batth Radio Show will air on Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 4:30-5:00 p.m. on 790 The Score. The show was developed via an existing partnership between Providence College Athletics, LEARFIELD’s Providence Friars Sports Properties and Cumulus Media Providence. The show is hosted by Mike Mancuso, who is in his sixth season as the lead the play-by-play voice of Friar women’s basketball. Nine shows are scheduled to air this season, through March 6, with additional shows to be added during post-season play. Listen live online at: https://www.thescore790.com or tune in to 790AM. The show also will be available online via the Varsity Network app. A full schedule is available below:
Nov. 1 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. (complete)
Nov. 15 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. (complete)
Dec. 6 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 20 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 10 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 24 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 7 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 21 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 6 • 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
FRIARS SIGN TWO PLAYERS… First-year Providence College women’s basketball Head Coach Erin Batth announced today [Nov. 8] that Orlagh Gormley (North Quincy, Mass.) and Audrey Shields (Troy, N.Y.) have each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Providence in the Fall of 2024. Gormley, a 5-7 point guard, currently attends Dexter Southfield, where she earned NEPSAC AA First-Team All-Star recognition, Patriot League Most Valuable Player and Dexter Southfield MVP honors. During the 2022-23 season at Dexter, Gormley averaged 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 4.2 steals per game, while recording a 2.8 assist/turnover ratio. Before arriving at Dexter Southfield in 2022-23, she spent the previous two years at Quincy High School, where she was named Boston Globe First Team Dream Team and Boston Herald All-Star accolades. Gormley led North Quincy to the MIAA Elite 8 and was named Team MVP, enroute to setting the all-time scoring record at Quincy. Additionally, she was selected to play with the U-18 Irish National Team and helped the team win a Gold medal at the Four Nations Tournament in Cardiff, Wales (2023). Gormley played AAU basketball for MCW Starz Elite. Shields, a 6-1 guard/forward, currently attends Emma Willard School. She is a three-time First-Team All-Wasaren League and two-time team captain. During the 2022-23 campaign, Shields averaged 18.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.1 steals per game. She was named Team MVP last season. In her first year with the program, she was the recipient of the prestigious Helen S. Cheel Award in recognition of athletic achievement, sportsmanship and spirit. Additionally, Shields has had the opportunity to compete with the youth German National Teams in 2019 and 2022.
Shields played AAU basketball for New York Havoc and has competed in the Nike EYBL. Shields averaged 11.1 points per game playing on the prestigious Under Armour Circuit.
HOW THE FRIARS FARED IN 2022-23… Last season, the Friars compiled a 13-19 overall record, including a 4-16 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. Janai Crooms led the team in scoring (11.8 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and assists (3.6 apg).
GAMES DECIDED BY 10 POINTS OR LESS… Fifteen of the Friars’ 32 games were decided by 10 points or less last season. Providence posted a 5-10 record in those games. Additionally, the Friars compiled a 3-5 record in games decided by five points or less.
FRIARS IN THE POSTSEASON… The Friars last appeared in the postseason during the 2018-19 campaign. Providence’s 2019 WNIT selection marked the program’s 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. In 2019-20, NCAA and WNIT Championships were canceled to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Friars did not qualify for postseason during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign. Complete post-season breakdown follows (records in parentheses):
2018-19 WNIT Round of 16 (2-1)
2009-10 WNIT Quarterfinal Round (3-1)
1991-92 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1990-91 NCAA Tournament Second Round (1-1)
1989-90 NCAA Tournament East Regional (1-1)
1988-89 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1986-87 National Women’s Invitational Tournament (1-2)
1985-86 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1981-82 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1980-81 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1979-80 EAIAW National Tournament (3-1)
1978-79 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1977-78 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-1)
1976-77 EAIAW Regional Tournament (2-2)
1975-76 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-2)
WHAT’S NEXT… The Friars will play back-to-back road games against Penn State and Columbia. The Friars take on the Nittany Lions on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 1:00 p.m., followed by an 11:00 a.m. tip-off at Columbia on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
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