Valparaiso (0-5, 0-0 Horizon)
at Louisville (2-4, 0-0 ACC)
Game #6 - Saturday, December 5 - 3:00 p.m. CT
KFC Yum! Center (22,000) - Louisville, Ky.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: It’s only the first week of December, but the Crusaders head to Louisville for their final non-league road tilt of the 2015-16 season. The Cardinals, who were ranked as high as 8th in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls, but staggered out of the gate to the tune of a 1-4 start, are coming off a statement win over #19 Michigan State in East Lansing on Thursday night. The 4:00 pm ET/3:00 pm CT tipoff is the back-end of a doubleheader with the Louisville men hosting Grand Canyon at 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT.
Last Time Out: For the second time in as many games, a valiant comeback attempt from the Crusaders just wasn’t enough to erase a first-quarter hole. Miami (Ohio) outscored Valpo 22-11 in the opening period, and needed every bit of the surplus to hang on for a 75-72 victory Wednesday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Dani Franklin dropped in a season-high 18 points while Jasmyn Walker produced her second straight double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds).
Following the Crusaders: Audio - WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Tommy Mantice (Color). Video - CardsTV ($6.95). Links for the audio, video, and live stats are available at ValpoAthletics.com. In addition, follow @ValpoWBB on Twitter for in-game updates and a behind-the-scenes look at the Crusaders throughout the season.
Head Coach Tracey Dorow: Tracey Dorow (23-74) 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: Saturday is just the third contest between Louisville and Valparaiso. The Cardinals downed the Crusaders, 96-40, in the first meeting three seasons ago at the KFC Yum! Center before upending the Brown and Gold, 86-59, at the ARC last November.
Storylines
- For the second time in its first six games, Valpo faces a Preseason AP Top 10 team (Notre Dame, Nov. 23rd).
- The Crusaders are in search of their first road win while Louisville is going for its first home victory.
- With a capacity of 22,000, the KFC Yum! Center is the largest facility in which the Valpo women’s basketball team has played a game.
- L ouisville’s Dakota Weatherford was high school teammates with former Valpo point guard Jessica Carr.
- Ten of the combined 25 players eligible for Saturday’s game are freshmen.
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 502-592 all-time (as of Dec. 4th).
- @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 fell 110-54 to Notre Dame at the ARC on Nov. 23rd.
- @ValpoWBB has faced a current ACC team each year since 1999-2000.
- @ValpoWBB is 2-35 all-time versus ACC opponents.
- @ValpoWBB has defeated Wake Forest (Dec. 22, 2001) and Florida State (Nov. 29, 2008).
@uoflwbb
- @uoflwbb churned out a 27-7 record in 2014-15, and advanced to its third straight Sweet Sixteen.
- @uoflwbb possesses a string of five consecutive 20-win seasons.
- @uoflwbb occupied the No. 3 spot in the 2015-16 ACC Preseason Media Poll.
- @uoflwbb beat six AP Top 25 teams in 2014-15.
- @uoflwbb is 28-15 versus current members of the Horizon League.
- @uoflwbb does not have a Kentucky native on its roster, but does tout players from ten different states.
- @uoflwbb owns a 94-25 record versus nonconference opponents over the past nine-plus seasons.
- @uoflwbb averaged over 9,500 fans per home game last season, the third-highest figure in NCAA Division I women’s basketball..
- Opponents have committed 21.3 turnovers/game versus @uoflwbb.
- @uoflwbb has four players averaging 13 or more points per game.
- ESPNW ranked @uoflwbb’s Asia Durr as the No. 2 recruit in the nation for the class of 2015.
- Durr, who is averaging 13.0 PPG, returned to action Thursday after missing the previous three games.
- @uoflwbb’s Myisha Hines-Allen (13.4 PPG in 2015-16) had the 13th-highest field-goal percentage in country last season (55.8%).
- Hines-Allen registered a game-high 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting versus Valpo last November.
- Briahanna Jackson leads @uoflwbb in minutes (31.8 MPG), assist-to-turnover ratio (18:9), steals (17), blocks (3), and is 2nd in scoring (14.7 PPG).
- @uoflwbb’s Mariya Moore has posted double figures in points five times already, including three 20+ point affairs.
- Emmonnie Henderson (5.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG in 2014-15) is sitting out the 2015-16 basketball season to focus on qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team (shot put and discus).
@CoachJeffWalz
- @CoachJeffWalz is in his ninth season at Louisville
- @CoachJeffWalz enters Wednesday’s game with a 210-81 career at Louisville, and an 88-42 mark in conference play.
- @CoachJeffWalz is the winningest coach in Cardinals’ history.
- @CoachJeffWalz has guided Louisville to six Sweet Sixteen appearances.
- @CoachJeffWalz has inked five McDonald’s All-Americans the last two years.
- In 2009, @CoachJeffWalz became just the second coach in NCAA history to lead a team to the national title game after two seasons at the helm.
- The Cardinals have gone 105-20 at home with @CoachJeffWalz at the helm.
- @CoachJeffWalz served as an assistant coach at Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Western Kentucky prior to taking over at Louisville.
- @CoachJeffWalz received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky.
Meredith Hamlet
- Has scored in double figures in all but one game this season.
- Converted 16 of her last 17 free-throw attempts.
- 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).
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in assists (14) and steals (8).
- Led a second-half charge vs. Northern Colorado, scoring 12 of her team-high 15 points from the 3rd quarter on (4-5 second half 3FG).
- Was a five-year letterwinner at Park Center HS (Minn.).
- Has over 2,600 followers on Twitter (@xoxolouise21).
Abby Dean
- Aiming for her third straight game in double figures Saturday for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
- Eclipsed the 100-assist plateau at San Diego (Nov. 27).
- Owns a 42.0% career field-goal percentage in 85 career tilts.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Has not appeared in any of the first five games of the season.
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
- Racked up four assists and knocked down three treys at San Diego.
- Has logged more minutes than any Crusader on the roster (1,880).
- Finished in double figures eight times last season, including a career-high 21 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 21st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Nailed a pair of threes at San Diego (Nov. 27).
- 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
- Recorded six blocks in the first half versus Miami (Ohio) Wednesday night, the third-most ever in a game by a Crusader.
- Tallied season highs in points (7) and rebounds (6) vs. #3 Notre Dame on Nov. 23rd.
- 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
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Led Valpo in scoring Wednesday for the first time this season with 18 points. She did so 12 times last season.
- Shot 5-of-10 from the field on her way to an 11-point game at San Diego.
- 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
- Valpo’s leading scorer (11.2 PPG) and rebounder (9.0 RPG).
- Has rattled off back-to-back double-doubles (13 pts, 13 rebs vs. Northern Colorado; 11 pts, 11 rebs vs. Miami [Ohio]).
- Needs five rebounds Saturday to reach 300 in her 36th career game.
- 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 35 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
- Tallied 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.
