PIKIELL NAMED AMERICA EAST COACH OF THE YEAR BY CollegeInsider.com

Pikiell led Seawolves to their most wins since joining the America East in 2001-02.

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook men's basketball head coach Steve Pikiell has been named the America East Coach of the Year by collegeinsider.com, the publication announced on Monday. Pikiell led the Seawolves to numerous program records on the way to the school's best ever finish in the America East Conference.
The 2008-09 season saw Stony Brook finish 16-14 overall and 8-8 in the America East Conference, tying for fourth-place in the final regular season conference standings, the Seawolves best-ever America East finish. The 16 overall wins and eight conference victories are the most for Stony Brook in its eight years as a member of the America East Conference, while its nine-game improvement in the win column over 2007-08 is the fourth best turnaround by a team in Division I in 2008-09. The 15 wins over Division I opponents are the most since the Seawolves joined the Division I ranks in 1999-00.
After winning just two games on the road a year ago, the Seawolves won a program record nine games away from home this season, including victories over Air Force and defending conference champion UMBC. The Seawolves also had great success in their first season at newly renovated Pritchard Gymnasium, which included a program record four sold out crowds as well as wins over Albany, UMBC and Boston University.
Defense was a major reason for the Stony Brook success this season, with the team leading the America East in scoring defense (60.4 ppg), three-point field goal defense (.309), steals per game (8.8) and turnover margin (+2.8). The scoring defense and three-point field goal defense mark rank 31st and 30th in the country, respectively, with the steals per game ranking 25th. SBU also led the America East in turnover margin (+2.8), which is the 37th best mark in the NCAA.
Stony Brook also set a program record with four players earning spots on All-America East teams. Junior Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich.) was named to the All-America East second team, the first Seawolves player named as high as the second team in five years. He was also selected as the America East Player of the Week in January, becoming the first SBU player to be honored with the award since 2004. After finishing sixth in the conference in steals per game, senior Marques Cox (Jamaica, N.Y.) was named to the America East All-Defensive team.

Stony Brook, which started three freshmen and had four in its normal rotation, had two first-year players honored by the America East Conference. Freshmen Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) and Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) were both named to the America East All-Rookie team, the first time in program history that two players have been named All-Rookie. Brenton twice tied the school Division I record for rebounds in a game with 17, finishing the season with an 8.9 rebounds per game average which is second among all freshmen in Division I. His 266 rebounds set a school Division I record, elapsing Leon Brisport's mark of 247. Brenton led the conference in rebounding in conference games and finished the season second overall in the league. Dougher broke the Stony Brook Division I record for three-pointers made in a season.

STONY BROOK SOFTBALL WINS TWO MORE, NOW 12 IN A ROW, 16-3 RECORD

Softball Overcomes Sloppy Fielding for Sweep of Monmouth
Seawolves are on a 12-game winning streak

West Long Branch, N.J. - Stony Brook University's softball team was able to overcome six errors and four unearned runs on its way to a two-game sweep of Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon. The Seawolves won both contests by a score of 4-2, with the second game ending in the fifth inning due to darkness. It is the second-straight season Stony Brook and Monmouth have had a game called early due to darkness; last year they ended in a 2-2 tie. With the pair of wins, Stony Brook moves to 16-3 on the season and wins its 12th-straight game.
In game one, Stony Brook threatened to score early putting a runner on third in the first inning and on second in the following inning, but failed to capitalize on either opportunity. In the third, sophomore Brijette Martin (New York, N.Y.) led off with the Seawolves' third single of the game. After stealing second and moving to third on groundout, senior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.) knocked Martin in with a two-out single to right field for the game's first run.
Kestranek would later lead the Seawolves to another two-out rally, this time in the fifth, by drawing a walk. A walk issued to senior Marissa Fleury (Mahopac, N.Y.) put runners on first and second for classmate Kelly Oberto (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.), who singled home Kestranek. Senior Kelsi Fanelli (Audubon, N.J.) followed that with an RBI single through the left side and freshman Bernadette Tenuto (Audubon, N.J.) finished the scoring off with a third-straight run scoring single.

Trailing 4-0, Monmouth used a two-out rally of its own in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Seawolves lead. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second with no one out before junior Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) struck out the next two batters. It looked like the Seawolves would escape the inning, but a fielding error loaded the bases for Alexa Ferrara, who singled home a run. A second error by Stony Brook would plate Monmouth's second run of the inning. Struzenberg struck the next batter out to end the inning and leave the Seawolves up by two.
Monmouth would not reach base again as Struzenberg retired the final six batters in order to maintain the 4-2 win for Stony Brook. The junior allowed just four hits while striking out ten, her fifth double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
In the second game, with the scored tied at 1-1 in the fourth, Monmouth received a leadoff single by Jessellyn Jackson. A sacrifice bunt put her on second and a throwing error by Stony Brook would advance her two bases for the 2-1 lead. Two singles later, Monmouth had the bases loaded with two-outs, but junior Casey Jacobs (Davie, Fla.) induced a grounder to junior Katelyn O'Donnell (Kingston, Mass.) who stepped on third for the final out of the inning.
Facing their last at-bats of the game due to darkness, the Seawolves would rally in the top of the fifth. Junior Crista Cerrone (Floral Park, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk and scored on a single by Kestranek, due to a fielding error by Monmouth's right fielder. With two outs, Oberto delivered what would prove to be the game-winning hit with a single back up the middle, plating Kestranek and regaining the lead for Stony Brook. Fanelli would add an insurance run for the Seawolves with an RBI single, SBU's third score of the inning.
Jacobs retried the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth, but then allowed a single up the middle to Jackson. A steal and wild pitch put her on third, but Jacobs eventually struck out the final batter to end the game.
Stony Brook opens conference play this weekend when they host a three-game series against Binghamton. The Seawolves have a double-header on Saturday, starting at noon, and then a single game on Sunday.

STONY BROOK SOFTBALL WINS HOME DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST URI ON TUESDAY, NOW 10-STRAIGHT VICTORIES AND 14-3 ON SEASON

Struzenberg, Matthes hold URI scoreless

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's softball team swept its two-game series against Rhode Island on Tuesday with shutouts by junior Alyssa Struzenberg (Cooper City, Fla.) and sophomore Colleen Matthes (Severn, Md.). The Seawolves needed only five innings to get past the Rams in game one, winning 10-0, and then topped them 6-0 in game two. Stony Brook has now won ten-straight and is 14-3 on the season.
After being named the America East Player of the Week yesterday, senior Marissa Fleury (Mahopac, N.Y.) continued to handle the bat well, driving an RBI double to right centerfield in the bottom of the first inning to score Stony Brook's first run of the game.
She would strike again in the third with a one-out homer to leftcenter, giving the Seawolves a three-run lead. Senior Kelly Oberto (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.) followed that up with a single and later scored on senior Kelsi Fanelli's (Audubon, N.J.) single up the middle. After a groundout and a walk, sophomore Brijette Martin (New York, N.Y.) drove in two with a two-out double. Junior Vicki Kavitsky (Cherry Hill, N.J.) would cap the scoring for Stony Brook in the third inning with a two-run homer to left, giving the Seawolves seven runs in the frame.
SBU picked up where it left off in the fourth inning, using three singles to plate two more runs. Junior Kendall Blumenthal (Frederick, Md.) had the two RBI shot to left, which put the Seawolves up 10-0.

Struzenberg was near perfect in the circle, allowing just two batters to reach base in five innings. She recorded seven strikeouts on the way to her seventh win of the season.
Stony Brook took advantage of some erratic Rhode Island pitching in the beginning of game two to jump out to an early lead. Kavtisky led off with a hit-by-pitch and advanced to third on two wild pitches. Freshman Suzanne Karath (Fishkill, N.Y.) then singled up the middle for a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, senior Molly Kestranek (St. Mary's, Ga.) took a 2-2 pitch over the leftfield wall for a two-run homer, extending Stony Brook's lead to three runs. Kestranek would drive in her third run of the game in the fifth inning with a double down the leftfield line which plated Karath.
Martin would tack on Stony Brook's final run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.
Matthes, who allowed five hits in the first four innings of the game, retired the last nine batters she faced for the complete game win. The sophomore picked up five strikeouts while issuing just one free pass.
Stony Brook hits the road on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Monmouth.

LACROSSE DOUBLEHEADER HIGHLIGHTS 2009 LACROSSE FOR AUSTISM EVENT SATURDAY

Stony Brook-UMBC (WUSB); Duke-Dartmouth will play on March 28

Stony Brook, N.Y. -
A collegiate men's lacrosse doubleheader featuring a pair of top-10 teams will be featured at the 2009 Lacrosse for Autism event at Stony Brook University at LaValle Stadium on March 28, 2009. Stony Brook will host preseason No. 7 UMBC in a key America East contest starting at approximately 2:30 p.m. No. 8 Duke will take on Dartmouth in the first game of the day starting at noon. Stony Brook Athletics will team with Lacrosse Unlimited, Inc. and the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities for the event that will donate a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to the Cody Center.
Lacrosse for Autism was created by Brendan and Jennifer Fleming of St. James, New York to bring Autism awareness to the Long Island lacrosse community. Each festival-style event for Lacrosse for Autism is based on sharing Autism resources and information with families and friends touched by a child with Autism.
Tickets and event information are available at http://www.goseawolves.org/, http://www.lax4autism.com/, Stony Brook Athletics Ticket office (631-632-9653), Lacrosse Unlimited retail locations and http://www.lacrosseunlimited.com/. For more information about Autism and The Cody Center, please visit their website at www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/codycenter/.

STONY BROOK EXTENDS CONTRACT OF HEAD BASKETBALL COACH STEVE PIKIELL TILL 2014

Pikiell led the Seawolves to best season in Division I history in 2008-09.

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University Director of Athletics, Jim Fiore, has announced that the contract of head men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell has been extended through the 2013-14 season. Pikiell's team just completed one of SBU's most successful seasons since its transition to Division I play in 1999.
"Coach Pikiell has led our men's basketball program with consistency while representing well the values and ideals of Stony Brook University athletics," said Fiore. "He is a highly motivated and talented leader, who is building our program with class and integrity for long term success. I couldn't be more excited about the future of Seawolves basketball with Steve at the helm."
"I'm honored and excited to have the opportunity to be the head basketball coach at Stony Brook University," remarked Pikiell. "While we still have a lot of work to do, I am certainly proud of the improvement we have made as a program and I'm grateful for the confidence and commitment that our administrative leadership continues to have in our progress and plan. I strongly believe we all share the common vision for Seawolves basketball."
The 2008-09 season saw Stony Brook finish 16-14 overall and 8-8 in the America East Conference, tying for fourth-place in the final regular season conference standings, the Seawolves best-ever America East Conference finish. The 16 overall wins and eight conference victories are the most for Stony Brook in its eight years as a member of the America East Conference, while its nine-game improvement in the win column over 2007-08 is the third best turnaround by a team in Division I in 2008-09. Stony Brook also set school records with 15 wins against 13 different Division I opponents.
After winning just two games on the road a year ago, Pikiell led his team to nine wins away from home to set another Division I record. Defense was a major reason for the Stony Brook success this season, with the team leading the America East in scoring defense (60.4 ppg), three-point field goal defense (.309), steals per game (8.8) and turnover margin (+2.8); marks that placed the Seawolves among the top-40 teams in the nation in each category.

In addition to the team's success on the court in 2008-09, Pikiell's teams have also performed in the classroom. During his tenure as head coach, 19 of 20 senior student-athletes will have graduated as members of the men's basketball team. Ricky Lucas ('08) earned America East All-Academic Team Honors, the first time a Stony Brook player has been honored with the award.
Stony Brook also set a program record with four players earning spots on All-America East teams. Junior Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich.) was named to the All-America East second team, the first Seawolves player named as high as the second team in five years. He was also selected as the America East Player of the Week in January, becoming the first SBU player to be honored with the award since 2004. After finishing sixth in the conference in steals per game, senior Marques Cox (Jamaica, N.Y.) was named to the America East All-Defensive team.
Stony Brook, which started three freshmen and had four in its normal rotation; had two first-year players honored by the America East Conference. Freshmen Tommy Brenton (Columbia, Md.) and Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) were both named to the America East All-Rookie team, the first time in program history that two players have been named All-Rookie. Brenton twice tied the school Division I record for rebounds in a game with 17, finishing the season with an 8.9 rebounds per game average which is second among all freshmen in Division I. His 266 rebounds set a school Division I record, elapsing Leon Brisport's mark of 247. Brenton led the conference in rebounding in conference games and finished the season second overall in the league. Dougher broke the Stony Brook Division I record for three-pointers made in a season (66) as well as setting a Division I freshman record for points in a season (335) and points in a game with 24 against NJIT.

McBride's Goal Lifts Stony Brook Over Delaware In Double-Overtime, 10-9

McBride's Goal Lifts Stony Brook Over Delaware In Double-Overtime, 10-9
Seawolves Extend Win Streak to Three

Stony Brook, N.Y. - In last season's men's lacrosse game between Stony Brook and Delaware, sophomore Jordan McBride (New Westminster, B.C.) scored a school-record 10 goals to lead the Seawolves to a 19-16 win. McBride was a deciding factor again in this afternoon's rematch between the two teams in LaValle Stadium, scoring with 2:57 left in the second overtime, his third of the day, to lift Stony Brook to a 10-9 win, its third straight. Sophomore Timmy Trenkle (Commack, N.Y.) also scored three times for the Seawolves.
"That was a heck of a game," remarked Stony Brook head coach Rick Sowell. "I am really proud of my guys for the way that they battled today. Our defense got us some big stops late in the game, particularly in overtime. Delaware threw a bit of a curve at us the way they defended us, but we overcame that with a couple of man-up goals. Overall it was a great effort for us."
Both teams had opportunities in the first overtime to finish off a game in which neither side held more than a two-goal advantage. After sophomore Adam Rand (Niantic, Conn.) won the opening face-off, Stony Brook (3-2) got off three shots in the first two minutes of OT number one. Delaware (2-5) goalie Noah Fossner was equal to the task, turning away two shots before the Blue Hens gained control of the ball. Delaware got off five shots in a minute span, but none were on goal and the game went to a second OT.
Rand again controlled the crucial face-off and this time it paid off. The Seawolves worked the ball for over a minute before junior Tom Compitello (Hauppauge, N.Y.) was able to send a pass to the front of the Delaware goal to McBride who put it away with 2:03 showing on the clock.

It was Stony Brook that drew first blood in the contest, getting goals from freshman Robbie Campbell (Delta, B.C.) and McBride midway through the first quarter for the early 2-0 lead. Delaware got on the board at the 3:51 mark of the first on a shot by Martin Cahill. That started the Blue Hens on a 4-0 run that went into the second quarter as they got a pair of goals from Curtis Dickson and one by Kevin Kaminski that put UD up 4-2 with 9:14 left in the second.
Trenkle notched his first goal of the game to end a Stony Brook scoring drought that lasted over 15 minutes and cut the Delaware lead down to one. The combination of McBride and Compitello that worked at the end of the game worked to tie the score at 4-4 with 2:01 left in the second when the Seawolves took advantage of a man-up opportunity. Junior Mike Palmer (Westbury, N.Y.) threaded a pass through the Delaware defense in the final seconds of the quarter, one that sophomore Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, B.C.) put home to give SBU a 5-4 lead at the break.
Delaware responded in the first five minutes of the third with two goals, retaking the lead on Cahill's second score of the game at the 10:26 mark. The Blue Hens were looking to add to their lead when junior Steven Waldeck (Levittown, N.Y.) forced a turnover and scooped up the ground ball. Taking advantage of the transition opportunity, he took it the length of the field and fired a shot past Fossner to knot the game at six-all.
Penalties gave Delaware a pair of man-up tries over the next few minutes but Stony Brook, which held the Blue Hens without a score in five extra-man tries, stopped both. Junior Charlie Paar (Huntington, N.Y.) stopped one shot during the second UD man-up opportunity and started a Stony Brook clear that was successful. Freshman Kyle Belton (Langley, B.C.) wound up with the ball on the offensive end and pushed a shot towards the Delaware goal that Fossner never saw coming. The ball rolled past him for a man-down goal for the Seawolves, putting them back on top, 7-6, with 3:54 left in the third.
After Delaware had tied things up again late in the third on another Dickson goal, Stony Brook struck twice in a minute span in the fourth, with Trenkle scoring both, to take a 9-7 advantage with 8:46 left. Dickson scored again, however, for the Blue Hens with 4:11 left and Mark Steverson tied things up a little more than a minute later, tying the game for the sixth time, setting up the overtime finish.
McBride and Trenkle's three goals led the Seawolves, with Trenkle's output a career-high. Compitello had three assists for Stony Brook, also a career best. Paar finished with 17 saves in goal for SBU. Dickson led all players with his four goals for Delaware.
Stony Brook will begin a two-game road swing over the next week when it visits Lafayette on Tuesday, March 17 at 3:00 p.m.

STONY BROOK WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LOSSES AT HARTFORD, 68-53 IN QUARTERFINALS OF 2009 AMERICA EAST PLAYOFFS

West Hartford, Conn. - Diana Delva led three Hartford scorers in double figures with 17 points to lead the #2 Hawks to a 68-53 victory over the #7 Stony Brook women's basketball team in the third quarterfinal of the 2009 America East Women's Basketball Championships. Sophomore Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) had a game-high 20 points for Stony Brook as it ends its season 6-23. Hartford (20-10) advances to play the winner of New Hampshire/Vermont tomorrow afternoon.

"I was proud of our team's effort," head coach Michele Cherry said. "We just had trouble making shots and getting stops at key times. You have to give credit to Hartford. There's a reason they're the defending champs."

Although Stony Brook missed its first six shots, it trailed just 13-10 with 12:41 left in the first half after a three from sophomore Misha Horsey (Wyncote, Pa.). But Hartford's 9-1 run, capped by a pull-up jumper from Jackie Smith, gave the Hawks' their first double-digit lead, 22-11. After the Seawolves closed to within nine, 25-16, MaryLynne Schaefer's three with just four seconds left on the shot clock stretched Hartford's lead back up to 12.

Sophomore Crystal Rushin's (Valley Stream, N.Y.) first three of the season and third career triple got the Seawolves within seven, 30-23. After Delva, who had 11 points in the first half, hit a pair of free throws with 1:08 left in the half, freshman Destiny Jacobs (Glen Burnie, Md.) block ignited a fast break. Horsey fed a slashing junior Joia Daniels (Silver Spring, Md.), whose floater in the lane got Stony Brook within 32-26. Horsey, Jeter and sophomore Jodie Plikus (Waterford, Conn.) each had five first-half points for the Seawolves. Beverly added seven points for Hartford, which started the game 9-of-16 from the floor but went just 1-of-13 the rest of the half.


On Stony Brook's first possession of the second half, Plikus, who averaged 19 points in two games vs. Hartford this season, hit a jumper to get the Seawolves within four. Jacobs' fifth point of the night got the Seawolves as close as two, 34-32, but seven straight from Hartford including five from Ilicia Mathis stretched lead back to nine. Jeter's layup with 11:00 left made it 49-40, the closest the Seawolves would get.

Amanda Weaver banked in a three to give Hartford its biggest lead of the game to that point, 56-41 with 8:29 left. Stony Brook got within 13, three times the rest of the way.

Horsey finished with nine points and Plikus had seven for Stony Brook. Beverly and Kelley each had 14 points to pace Hartford. Beverly

JETER, PLIKUS HONORED BY AMERICA EAST AT BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ON THURSDAY...WOMEN AT HARTFORD, FRIDAY - 5:45 P.M. (WUSB)

Jeter earns third team all-conference and Plikus named all-academic

Springfield, Mass. - Sophomores Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) and Jodie Plikus (Waterford, Conn.) earned All-America East honors for the Stony Brook women's basketball team when they were named third team and all-academic, respectively, at the conference's annual awards banquet held at the National Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday morning. Jeter picked up her second consecutive award after being named all-rookie last year while Plikus earned her first honor.
"We're very happy for Jodie and Kirsten," head coach Michele Cherry said. "Being honored by the America East coaches is a testament to their hard work. It's great for our program to have them recognized."
Jeter had yet another solid season for the Seawolves, averaging 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, both team-highs. During conference play, Jeter ranked in the top-10 in scoring, rebounding and steals. Starting every game this season and 53 of the last 54, she also led the team in field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
Plikus was Stony Brook's sparkplug off the bench, averaging 7.7 points per game after missing most of the non-conference season due to injury. In the classroom, she has a 3.72 GPA with a health science major.
The No. 7 Seawolves open the 2009 America East Championships against No. 2 Hartford on Friday at 6 pm.

2008-09 AMERICA EAST MEN'S BASKETBALL ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING

FOUR SEAWOLVES GARNER TOP HONORS!

First Team
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown/High School/Previous School
John Holland (1) So. G/F Boston University Bronx, N.Y./St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J)
Corey Lowe (2) Jr. G Boston University Newton, Mass./Newton North
Darryl Proctor (3) Sr. F UMBC District Heights, Md./Paul IV/Coppin State
Marqus Blakely (3) Jr. F Vermont Metchuen, N.J./Metchuen
Mike Trimboli (4) Sr. G Vermont Norwalk, Conn./St. Luke’s

Second Team
Emanuel Mayben Jr. G Binghamton Troy, N.Y./Troy/Hudson Valley CC
D.J. Rivera Jr. F Binghamton Philadephia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti/St. Joseph’s
Jay Greene (3) Sr. G UMBC Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall
Tyrece Gibbs (1) Sr. G New Hampshire Brockton, Mass./Thayer Academy
Muhammad El-Amin Jr. G Stony Brook Lansing, Mich./Holt/Lansing CC

Third Team
Tim Ambrose So. G Albany Brentwood, N.Y./Our Savior New American
Will Harris Jr. F Albany Corona, N.Y./Brewster Academy/Virginia
Reggie Fuller Sr. F Binghamton Missouri City, Texas/Hightower/Angelina College
Jaret von Rosenberg Sr. G Hartford Mission, Texas/Sharyland /Colin County CC
Colin McIntosh Sr. F Vermont Milton, Mass./Northfi eld Mt. Hermon

All-Rookie
Jake O’Brien Fr. F Boston University Weymouth, Mass./Boston College High
Gerald McLemore Fr. G Maine San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch
Tommy Brenton Fr. F Stony Brook Columbia, Md./River Hill/Hargrave
Bryan Dougher Fr. G Stony Brook Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Garvey Young Fr. G Vermont Washington, D.C./Georgetown Prep

All-Defensive
Jerel Hastings Sr. F Albany Dallas, Texas/South Oak Cliff/Lon Morris College
Reggie Fuller Sr. F Binghamton Missouri City, Texas/Hightower/Angelina College
Matt Wolff Sr. F Boston University Walpole, Mass./Walpole
Marques Cox Sr. G Stony Brook Jamaica, N.Y./Cardozo
Marqus Blakely (5) Jr. F Vermont Metchuen, N.J./Metchuen

Rookie of the Year
Jake O’Brien, Boston University

Defensive Player of the Year
Marqus Blakely, Vermont

Kevin Roberson Player of the Year
Marqus Blakely, Vermont

Coach of the Year
Kevin Broadus, Binghamton
(1) Third team, 2008
(2) Second team, 2008
(3) First team, 2008
(4) First team, 2006; Second team, 2005, 07
(5) All-Defensive, 2008