BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Both the Bridgewater College women's and men's basketball teams are set to pen the 2023-24 campaign against Mary Baldwin this evening in Staunton.

Bridgewater at Mary Baldwin
When: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023
Where: Staunton, Va.
Arena: Mary Baldwin PAC
Tip Off: 5:00 p.m.(W) / 7:30 p.m. (M)
Series Record: Women: 39-4 (BC) | Men: 2-0 (BC)

Women's Game Notes

FRESH START: Bridgewater brings back a healthy mix of experience and new faces heading into 2023-24. Coach Flamini's crew is led by returning All-ODAC picks Jaden Alsberry and Riley Corcoran who provide stability on each side of the ball. Nine Eagles return to the program while eight freshmen and three transfers help make up the 2023-24 roster. 

DEFENSE AND MORE DEFENSE: Last season the Eagles led the ODAC and ranked fifth in Div. III in opponent field goal percentage, limiting opponents to just 30.9% shooting from the floor. On top of that BC ranked 28th in the country in points allowed as Flamini's defense limited opponents to 52.0 points per game and allowed under 50 points 12 times a season ago.

CLEAN THE GLASS: Mary Baldwin ranked second in the USA South a season ago in defensive rebounds averaging 27.6 rebounds per game on the defensive end, but still totaled a negative rebounding margin (-6.4).

NEW LOOK MBU: First-year head coach DeEarnest McLemore begins his tenure at Mary Baldwin after serving as the head girls basketball coach at Riverside High School in Durham the last two years. McLemore is a graduate of Wagner College and was named te Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and also played in the European Basketball Federation. MBU's roster also only features a trio of returners to the program from the team's 1-20 mark in 2022-23.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES: In the last two matchups between MBU and BC at least one BC player has recorded a double-double. Last season Riley Corcoran's 11 points and 11 rebounds did the trick while Jaden Alsberry put up 17 points to go with 14 boards in the Eagles loss in 2021-22.

Men's Game Notes

FRESH START: Bridgewater 11 returners along with a pair of transfers and seven freshmen. BC returns experience on the blocks with Alec Topper, Landon Hawes and Aaron Oates while the guard spots could look different from a season ago

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE: Alec Topper totaled six double-doubles in 2022-23 to rank among the conference leaders. The senior grabbed double-digit rebounds eight times last season including a season-high 15 twice. Despite the effort on the glass, BC went 2-6 in those games last season. 

BLOCK PARTY: Bridgewater sat among the conference leaders in blocked shots per game in 2022-23 averaging just over three a game behind an astounding 10 blocks in a loss to Washington and Lee. BC totaled eight or more blocks three times a year ago. 

LIVE AND DIE BY THE THREE: Quentin Hart ranked second in the USA South last season in three pointers made and attempted and shot a career best 36.9% from long range a season ago. Hart sank a bucket from long range in all but two MBU games last season but missed six or more three's in seven different games for coach Matt Griggs' crew. 

THE CHARITY STRIPE: Each team ranked in the top three in their respective conferences in free-throw percentage as both sides hovered around 71% from the charity stripe last season. Brett Asbury ranked second in the USA South shooting at a 79.8% clip while Alec Topper led BC with a 80.6% mark. 

PLAYING IN THE QUEEN CITY: Wednesday marks the first time the Bridgewater men's basketball team has played in nearby Staunton and the first time inside the intimate MBU PAC.