Allowing the fewest points in
school history, Valparaiso cruised to an 80-28
victory over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center,
posting the largest margin of victory for a Crusader team in 32 years.
The Crusaders limited the
Penguins to just 8.3% (2-of-24) shooting in the second half and just 16.7%
(9-of-54) for the game while holding the visitors without a three-point field
goal for the contest.
Valpo’s previous school
record for points allowed in a game was 31, set against UMKC on December 30,
2005. The 52-point margin of victory is
second in school history, only behind a 54-point win, 88-34, at Grace on
February 1, 1978.
Lauren Kenney
(Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville H.S.) led the Crusaders
with 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor while playing just 18
minutes. She also grabbed a game-high
eight rebounds. Laura Richards (Connersville,
Ind./Connersville H.S.) added a
career-high 11 points, making 5-of-6 from the floor, and registered a
collegiate-best five steals as well.
Betsy Adams
(Monticello, Ind./Twin
Lakes H.S.) added nine points while Gina
Lange (Wyoming,
Minn./Forest Lake H.S.) tallied a career-best
eight points. Lange also pulled down
seven boards.
The Crusaders jumped on top
quickly, outscoring the Penguins 20-4 over the game’s first 7:23. Valpo continued to play strong the rest of
the half, taking a 40-16 lead into the locker room.
“We are a team that needs to play with passion and everything came together
today,” head coach Keith Freeman
said.
After Youngstown State
(0-24, 0-13) scored four of the first six points of the second half, Valpo
surged with a 22-0 run over six minutes to take a 64-20 lead and never looked
back.
“I was pleased because at
halftime we had a big lead,” Freeman added.
“We came out the second half and said we wanted to allow less than 32
points for the game. On the defensive
side we did a good job today. We got a
lot off of our press.”
Valpo shot 60% (15-of-25)
from the floor over the final 20 minutes on the way to season-high 53.3% for
the game. The Crusaders outrebounded Youngstown State 46-32 and finished with 18 assists
to just 11 turnovers. The Penguins
committed 17 turnovers.
Brandi Brown led Youngstown State with 12 points and six rebounds,
making 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
Valparaiso (7-16, 4-8) will return to the court on Thursday
evening as the Crusaders head to Dayton, Ohio to face Wright
State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CST.
Game Notes: Valpo
has won four of the last five against Youngstown State … the Penguins hold a
14-13 all-time advantage but Valpo is 9-4 against YSU at the ARC … Lange
entered the game with six career rebounds before grabbing seven on the
afternoon … Stephanie Thomas (Avon,
Ind./Avon H.S.) pulled down a career-best five boards … Kelly Peller (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) tied a career-high
with four assists … Valpo outscored the Penguins 14-2 on fast break points,
38-12 in the paint, and 27-9 off turnovers.
