#3 Notre Dame (3-0, 0-0 ACC)
at Valparaiso (0-1, 0-0 Horizon)

Game #2 - Monday, November 23 - 7:00 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.

Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The highly-heralded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame visit the Athletics-Recreation Center Monday evening for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The Irish occupy the No. 3 spot on both the Associated Press and USA Today polls and early returns show they’re equipped to make a sixth consecutive Final Four appearance. Meanwhile, Monday represents the home debut for five Crusader newcomers.

Last Time Out: Senior Jessi Wiedemann dropped in 14 points in 12 minutes to provide a jolt off the bench, but it was too little, too late as Butler knocked off the Crusaders, 72-53, at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Nov. 13. Jasmyn Walker posted 13 points and eight rebounds in a season opener that may be remembered more for a 49-minute delay caused by a power outage. Bulldog freshman Tori Schickel registered 29 points and 22 rebounds in her collegiate debut for Butler.

Following the Crusaders: Audio - WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Parker Gatewood and Renee’ Turpa (Color). Video - ESPN3.com. Links for the audio, video, and live stats are available at ValpoAthletics.com. In addition, valporewards.com is a one-stop shop for social media interaction, rewards, and promotions all on the same page.

Head Coach Tracey Dorow: Tracey Dorow (23-70) is in her fourth season at the helm of the Valparaiso women’s basketball program in 2015-16. She collected her 250th career victory on November 14th, 2014 after a 91-57 defeat of Butler. In her first season, Dorow led the Crusaders to eleven victories overall, including five in Horizon League play. Dorow arrived in Valparaiso after 14 seasons at Ferris State. She compiled a 232-163 record while with the Bulldogs. Furthermore, Ferris State posted the #1 grade point average in all of Division II for the 1999-2000 women’s basketball season as well as the #2 ranking in 2002-03.

Series Notes: Monday will represent the 26th meeting between the two Indiana schools. Notre Dame has won all 25 of the previous contests, including a 96-46 victory in their most recent tilt (Nov. 16, 2013 at Purcell Pavilion). The Crusaders and Fighting Irish met every season from 1999-2000 until 2010-11.

Storylines
- Monday marks the 40th time the Crusaders have taken on a nationally-ranked opponent.
- Valpo is 1-38 in such contests, its lone victory coming at the expense of Purdue back on Dec. 10th, 2008.
- This is the fourth time in program history that Valpo has opened at home versus the Irish.
- The most recent occurrence was during the 2004-05 season - when Notre Dame entered with the No. 3 ranking in the country.
- The Fighting Irish are 111-6 since their current senior class arrived to Notre Dame.

@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 502-588 all-time (as of Nov. 21st).
- @ValpoWBB has made two NCAA Tournament appearances (2002-03, 2003-04) and earned one WNIT berth (2001-02).
- @ValpoWBB closed out the 2014-15 season slate with a 6-24 overall record, 2-14 in the Horizon League.
- @ValpoWBB was picked to finish 10th in the Horizon League in the 2015-16 Preseason Poll.
- @ValpoWBB’s Dani Franklin was a Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection.
- @ValpoWBB returns its three leading scorers (Franklin, Jasmyn Walker, Lexi Miller) in addition to its two top rebounders (Walker, Franklin).
- @ValpoWBB brings back 1,469 points, 767 rebounds, and 4,304 minutes played from the 2014-15 squad.

@ValpoWBB in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 44-94 (through end of 2014-15 season).
- @ValpoWBB has had one First Team All-League selection (Launa Hochstetler, 2008-09) and two Second Team All-League players (Agnieszka Kulaga, 2007-08; Tabitha Gerardot, 2012-13).
- @ValpoWBB also boasts four representatives on the All-Newcomer Team (Lauren Kenney, 2008-09; Gerardot, 2010-11; Dani Franklin, 2014-15; Jasmyn Walker, 2014-15), an All-Defensive Team member (Laura Richards, 2011-12), one Freshman of the Year (Franklin, 2014-15), and one Sixth Player of the Year (Franklin, 2014-15).

@ValpoWBB vs. @theACC
- @ValpoWBB has two ACC foes on its schedule for the second time in four seasons.
- @ValpoWBB has faced a current ACC team each year since 1999-2000.
- @ValpoWBB is 2-34 all-time versus ACC opponents.
- @ValpoWBB has defeated Wake Forest (Dec. 22, 2001) and Florida State (Nov. 29, 2008).
@ndwbb
- @ndwbb advanced to last year’s national championship game for the third time in four years following a 31-2 regular season.
- @ndwbb is 3-0 thus far in 2015-16, and didn’t break a sweat until Saturday’s 75-64 win at South Dakota State.
- @ndwbb has won 28 of its last 29 games in the month of November.
- @ndwbb has also been victorious in 46 of its previous 47 road tilts.
- @ndwbb has graced the USA Today Coaches’ Poll for 125 straight weeks and counting.
- @ndwbb’s schedule includes ten Top 25 opponents.
- @ndwbb is 68-5 all-time versus current Horizon League teams.
- @ndwbb’s Jewell Loyd was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, becoming the first Notre Dame student-athlete since 1972 to be chosen #1 overall in any American professional sports league.
- @ndwbb’s Brianna Turner was named a preseason All-American by five publications, including Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press.
- @ndwbb’s Turner, a sophomore, was also voted as the ACC Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 13.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a true freshman.
- @ndwbb’s Turner shot 65.2% (202-310) from the field last season.
- @ndwbb’s Lindsay Allen, who is expected to make her 81st consecutive start for the Irish, is a career 84% free-throw shooter.
- @ndwbb’s Tara Reimer tallied a career-best six assists and tied a career watermark in blocks (4) vs. Valpo in Nov. 2013.
- @ndwbb faced Valpo in its augural game in 1977.

@MuffetMcGraw
- @MuffetMcGraw is in her 29th season as head coach at Notre Dame (790-262 overall, 702-221 with the Irish).
- @MuffetMcGraw captured her 700th victory at ND in an 85-54 season-opening triumph over Bucknell.
- @MuffetMcGraw ranks 7th all-time among active NCAA Division I coaches in career wins.
- @MuffetMcGraw has been named a consensus National Coach of the Year three times (2001, 2013, 2014).
- @MuffetMcGraw is just one of three active coaches to lead her team to seven Women’s Final Four appearances.
- @MuffetMcGraw led the Fighting Irish to a national title in 2001.
- @MuffetMcGraw has advanced her team to the Sweet 16 13 times in the last 19 seasons.
- @MuffetMcGraw owns 125 wins over ranked foes.
- @MuffetMcGraw was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Block Party of the Century
- @ndwbb’s Turner enters Monday’s affair one block shy of 100 for her career (99 in 39 career games).
- @ndwbb’s Reimer, a junior, needs two rejections to reach 100 career blocks (98 in 77 career games).
The 2015-16 Crusaders

Meredith Hamlet
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow.
- Broke McBain High School’s scoring record previously held by older sisters, Annemarie and Elizabeth (1,856).
- Received the starting assignment in her collegiate debut on Nov. 13th at Butler.
- Poured in nine points, snagged two steals, and hauled in five rebounds at Butler.

Hannah Schaub
- One of three true freshmen to start in their first college game.
- Was a five-year letterwinner at Park Center HS (Minn.).
- Dished out a game-best three assists and chipped in six points at Butler.
- Has over 2,600 followers on Twitter (@xoxolouise21).

Abby Dean
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
- Enters Monday two assists shy of 100 for her career.
- Owns a 42.0% career field-goal percentage in 85 career tilts.

Annemarie Hamlet
- Did not appear in the season opener.
- Recorded a season-high 11 points versus Butler on Nov. 14th, 2014.

Georgi Donchetz
- Spent much of her rookie campaign rehabbing from a knee injury.
- Scored a season-high nine points at Green Bay on Jan. 29th.

Lexi Miller
- Only returner with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (76:69).
- Has logged more minutes than any Crusader on the roster (1,790).
- Finished in double figures eight times last season, including a career-high 21 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 21st.

Imani Scott-Thompson
- Made her Crusader debut at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Nov. 13th.
- Set the NJCAA record for three-pointers in a single season (143) last year at Dakota College at Bottineau.
- Averaged 22.4 PPG for the 2014-15 Ladyjacks.

Amber Lindfors
- Received the start in her college debut on Nov. 13th.
- Fell victim to foul trouble at Butler and played only eleven minutes.
- Ranked 30th top prospect in Chicago area by Bret McCormick All-Star Girls Report.
- At 6’4’’, she is the tallest Crusader since Stefanie Lang (2010-12).

Dani Franklin
- Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team
- Reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year.
- Valpo’s top scorer (13.0 PPG) and field-goal shooter (47.3%) last season.
- Finished in double figures 21 times last season including five tilts of 20 points or more.
- Led the Brown and Gold in scoring on 11 separate occasions in 2014-15.
- Shot a team-high 85.7% (42-49) from the foul line as a freshman.

Allison Schofield
- Made her first appearance in a Crusader uniform in the season opener at Butler.
- Helped lead her AAU team, Indiana Blizzard, to a national championship.

Jasmyn Walker
- Picked up right where she left off in the season debut, collecting eight rebounds and two blocks to go with 13 points.
- Has started all 31 games since arriving to Valparaiso.
- Recorded most rebounds ever by a freshman (250) and the sixth-most ever in a single season in program history.
- Amassed nine double-doubles in Horizon League play in 2014-15.
- Elected to 2014-15 Horizon League All-Freshmen Team.
- Named HL Freshman of the Week three times last season.
- Collected team watermark in rebounds in 14 contests.

Haylee Thompson
- Did not appear in the season opener.
- Notched back-to-back double-doubles on Dec. 30th and Jan. 3rd last season.
- Averaged 5.2 rebounds per game in non-league games a year ago.
- Spent her freshman season at Utah State.

Jessi Wiedemann
- Returned to 2013-14 form in the season opener at Butler, pouring in 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) in 12 minutes off the bench.
- Finished in double figures in scoring 16 times in 2013-14 (10.4 PPG).
- Missed 23 games last season due to a back injury.
- Canned three triples at Purcell Pavilion the last time the Crusaders and Irish played.