Notes Rochester, Mich. (Dec. 22, 2006) - Oakland's women's basketball will face its toughest opponent yet in the #6 Connecticut Huskies at the Hartford Civic Center Saturday at noon. I???ll Be Home For Christmas Oakland ends its three-game road series this afternoon at Connecticut and will make it home just in time for Christmas. The Golden Grizzlies opened the road swing at West Virginia, falling to the Mountaineers 61-70, before heading south to face Auburn. The Tigers downed OU 74-55, although Nicole Piggott???s 19 points were tops among all players. OU???s match against UConn will be its last against the Big East this season and its third contest against a Big East team in its last four. The Golden Grizzlies hosted #24 Marquette Dec. 9, coming out on the wrong end of a 64-51 final. Oakland headed to West Virginia after seeing the Golden Eagles. After today???s meeting with the Huskies, the Golden Grizzlies will be taking a break until after the New Year. OU opens 2007 with two home games, hosting former Mid-Con member Chicago State Jan. 6 before starting conference play against IUPUI Jan. 8. Scouting the Huskies Connecticut is a perfect 8-0 this far, having defeated Colorado State 93-58 the last time out. The Huskies have been held below 80 points just once this season; Purdue kept the Huskies close, falling 66-55. All five starters for the Huskies average double digits, led by Renee Montgomery???s 14.9 average. Charde Houston follows with 12.9 points, proceeded by UConn???s three-point shooter in Mel Thomas. Thomas averages 12.8 points and has drained 23 threes. Kalana Greene averages 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, while Tina Charles rounds out the starting five, averaging 10.5 points and leading the team with 8.0 rebounds. The Series This will be the first meeting between Oakland and Connecticut in the Division I era. Last Time Out Oakland suffered a 55-74 loss at Auburn last Thursday. After falling behind by 15 points early, the Golden Grizzlies clawed their way back to within five points several times, but were unable to draw any closer before the Tigers wrested control of the game from OU. Nicole Piggott registered 19 points to lead all scorers, while Jessica Pike also posted double digits with 14 and Charlese Greer led OU with seven rebounds. DeWanna Bonner???s double-double (18 points, 13 rebounds) led the Tigers to the victory. Can I Get Some Help? Oakland is currently ranked eighth in the NCAA in assists per game, averaging 19.2. OU rates in the top 50 in fouls per game (14.5, 20th), free throw percentage (.745, 37th), field goal percentage (.454, 39th) and turnovers (15.8, 43rd). 7-Up Junior Charlese Greer led the Golden Grizzlies with seven rebounds at Auburn Thursday, a career best for the junior. Greer???s previous benchmark had been five rebounds against Marygrove in OU???s season opener. Pike???s Peak For the second straight game and the fifth time this season, Jessica Pike led Oakland in scoring when she tallied 19 points at West Virginia Dec. 16. She also lead the team with six rebounds, the third time this campaign she???s grabbed the most boards. Pike is currently second on the Golden Grizzlies in scoring (13.5), field goals (53), 3pt. field goals (11), free throws (18) and assists (37), while compiling the most steals (24) and averaging 4.3 rebounds (third). Big Games Against the Big East After facing four Mid-American Conference schools in a five-game clip, Oakland left the MAC behind and moved along to the Big East, to play three of four against one of the country???s top conferences. OU opened the Big East stint by hosting Marquette, falling to the Golden Eagles 64-51. The Golden Grizzlies then hit the road, traveling to West Virginia and falling to the host Mountaineers 61-70. Oakland has a brief hiatus from the Big East in tonight???s meeting with Auburn before closing out the slate at Connecticut Saturday. A Tale of Two Halves Oakland defeated Toledo 76-60 Dec. 5 in a game that displayed two very different sides of the Rockets while the Golden Grizzlies were noted for their consistency. UT jumped out to a 9-2 lead within the first two minutes of the game, but the Golden Grizzlies came roaring back to gain a four-point advantage 26-22 with nine minutes remaining in the half. By halftime the Rockets had tied the game 39-39. Oakland took command of the second half immediately, opening with a 15-0 run from which the Rockets never completely recovered. OU outscored Toledo 37-21 while outshooting the Rockets 51.6 percent to 29.6 percent in the second half to claim the victory. Hitting Her Stride Senior Bonnie Baker had her best game of the season to date, scoring 17 points, pulling down seven rebounds and dishing five assists to help guide OU past Toledo Dec. 5. She currently leads the Golden Grizzlies with 37 assists and is second in rebounding, averaging 5.6 boards a game. MAC Attack OU recently concluded three-game set and four-of-five against Mid-American Conference teams, all road games for the Golden Grizzlies. Oakland opened the threesome with a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Eastern Michigan, defeating the Eagles 68-62. The next time out OU was no so fortunate, falling to Central Michigan 69-57. The Golden Grizzlies ended the swing with an 89-58 loss at Bowling Green. After a one-game hiatus, Oakland concluded its games against MAC opponents this season with a 76-60 victory over Toledo. Jeltema Sets Career Highs Freshman Melissa Jeltema had a career night against Rochester College Dec. 2, scoring 14 points in five field goals and four free throws. Crazy Eights Sophomore Jessica Pike set new career benchmarks in rebounds, assists and steals with eight in each category in Oakland???s victory over Rochester College Dec. 2. Pike has set new personal bests in every statistical category this season, just seven games into her sophomore year. Greer Soars Against Falcons Junior Charlese Greer registered 16 points off the bench to lead the Golden Grizzlies in scoring at Bowling Green Nov. 29. Greer was 5-6 from the floor and 6-8 from the line in 14 minutes of play at BG. n She set season highs in points, field goals and free throws.