CHICAGO STATE (8-18, 3-12 Mid-Con) at VALPARAISO (16-11, 10-5 Mid-Con)

WHEN: Monday, March 1, 2004, 7:05 p.m. CST.

WHERE: Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000), Valparaiso, Ind.

RADIO: WVUR (95.1-FM), Valparaiso, Ind. Ed Schillinger will handle the play-by-play with Jesse Shale providing the color commentary.

TV: Comcast Cablevision Ch. 43-tape delay. Dick Harlan will handle the play-by-play, while Paul Curtis will provide color commentary. The game will air on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is led by Keith Freeman, who is in his 16th season of coaching, and 10th with the Crusaders. He is 300-164 overall and 171-117 at Valpo. Chicago State is led by Angela Jackson, who is 8-18 in her 1st season overall and with the Cougars.

SERIES RECORD: Valparaiso leads the all-time series with Chicago State 29-2.

LAST MEETING: Valpo defeated the Cougars 63-58 back on Feb. 9 in Chicago. Kathryn Knoester led four Crusaders in double-figures with 13 points, while Suzie Hammel added 12. Kafayat Davies, Loretta Ellul, and Tina Hill scored 12 points each for Chicago State.

Valparaiso will conclude the 2003-2004 regular season on Monday night as the Crusaders host Chicago State. Valpo has won five of its last six games, and still has a chance to finish in a second place tie in the Mid-Continent Conference standings.

FREEMAN WIN 300: Valpo head coach Keith Freeman recorded the 300th victory of his career on Saturday afternoon against IPFW. In his 16th season of coaching, Freeman has posted a 300-164 record overall. Of that win total, 171 have come at Valpo, 85 at St. Joseph's (Ind.), and 44 at Huntington, Freeman's first school.

VALPO AMONG NATION'S BEST: The Crusaders currently rank 22nd in the nation in turnovers per game according to the February 24 NCAA rankings. Valpo has turned the ball over just 14.7 times per game. The Crusaders have also committed the 32nd fewest number of personal fouls of any team in the country (15.2/game). Individually, Suzie Hammel is 36th in the country in three-point percentage (38.8%).

A WINNING TRADITION: Valpo has assured itself of its 13th winning season in the last 14 years. The only time the Crusaders have not finished over .500 during that time was in 2000-2001. Valpo's 16 wins thus far this season are currently tied for the seventh most victories in a season in Crusader history.

DEFENSE: Valpo's defense has allowed just 56.0 points per game during league play, and allowed just one opponent, UMKC, to reach 70 points in a game. In fact, just four conference foes have even reached the 60-point mark.

KNOESTER SHINES ON SENIOR DAY: Kathryn Knoester made the most of Senior Day on Saturday against the Mastodons. She scored a career high 21 points, making 8-of-8 free throws. The senior also starred defensively, recording a career-best six steals.

CHICAGO STATE NOTES: Chicago State visits the ARC this evening looking to hold on to the eighth and final spot in the Mid-Continent Conference standings and qualify for the league tournament. The Cougars moved into that position on Saturday following a 74-72 victory over Centenary at home.

The Cougars are paced by Kafayat Davies, who enters play tonight eighth in the Mid-Con in scoring tallying 13.8 points per contest. The senior registered her second double-double of the year against the Ladies on Saturday, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Loretta Ellul is the team's top shooter, connecting on 46.3% of her shots from beyond the three-point arc. She is second on the team in scoring, having posted 11.4 points per game this year following her 21 point outburst against Centenary.

Tina Hill is the third Cougar scoring in double-figures, chipping in 11.3 points per game. She dished out eight assists against the Ladies.