Milwaukee (13-10, 7-5 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (8-16, 4-9 Horizon)
Game #25 - Thursday, February 18 - 7 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The 2015-16 home slate winds down as the Crusaders close out with Milwaukee on Thursday before Senior Day on Saturday versus Green Bay. Valpo comes into Thursday’s contest seeking to snap a five-game skid. Meanwhile, the Panthers approach a challenging corridor of their schedule one-half game behind Detroit for third place in the Horizon League.
Last Time Out: In a game molded by runs, Detroit claimed an 85-65 win over Valpo last Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Jasmyn Walker, Dani Franklin, and Haylee Thompson all scored in double figures, but the Titans rode 11 three-pointers to their eighth victory in Horizon League play. Hannah Schaub speared a season-high eight rebounds and Amber Lindfors collected her 49th and 50th blocked shots of the season, the third-most in a single season in Crusader history.
Following the Crusaders: Audio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Jordan Morandini (Color), Jake Wulbert (Color). Video: ESPN3. 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 (31-84) 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: Milwaukee leads the all-time series, 19-9, in a matchup that began 23 years ago. The Panthers have been victorious in two straight and five of their last seven meetings with the Crusaders. Valpo, though, has won two straight at home versus Milwaukee in rather convincing fashion (both double-digit margins of victory).
Storylines
- Abby Dean, Lexi Miller, and Dani Franklin have combined to shoot 28-for-52 (.538) from three-point range in 20 career games versus Milwaukee.
- Thursday’s affair features the two most turnover-prone teams in the Horizon League. UWM has committed 412 turnovers (9th), just four fewer than Valpo’s 416 (10th).
- A victory would guarantee Valpo its first non-losing season at the ARC since 2012-13.
- Both teams boast two players with identical total points scored this season (Valpo’s Dani Franklin and Meredith Hamlet - 253; Milwaukee’s Sierra Ford-Washington and Jenny Lindner - 298).
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 510-603 all-time (as of Feb. 17th).
- @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 reached the eight-win mark for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
- Last season, @ValpoWBB did not record its fifth win until February 5th. It did so on Dec. 30th this season.
@ValpoWBB in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 48-103 (as of Feb. 17th).
- @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’s win at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 30th gave it its first road win in a Horizon League opener since becoming a member.
@MKE_WBB
- @MKE_WBB enters Thursday’s matchup with an 13-10 overall record, including a 7-5 mark in Horizon League play.
- @MKE_WBB is 3-1 in its last four league road games.
- @MKE_WBB has not recorded 13 wins in a season since the 2009-10 campaign. It has not finished above .500 since 2007-08.
- @MKE_WBB came into the 2015-16 season having experienced 14 consecutive losing months. They’ve recorded zero this year.
- @MKE_WBB welcomes nine newcomers on its roster this season.
- @MKE_WBB owns a +5.9 rebounding margin, the third-highest surplus in the league.
- @MKE_WBB’s best three-point shooting performance of the season (11-for-16, 68.8%) came vs. Valpo back on Jan. 16th.
- @MKE_WBB also coaxed a season-high 14 steals in that ballgame.
- @MKE_WBB has recorded a three-pointer in 412 consecutive games, a streak that stretches back to November of 2002.
- @MKE_WBB leads the league in free-throw shooting (73.2%).
- @MKE_WBB has hashed out a +78 scoring margin in the first halves of games, but are facing a -53 deficit in the third and fourth quarters.
- @MKE_WBB boasts four players averaging double figures (Sierra Ford-Washington, 13.0 PPG; Jenny Lindner, 13.0 PPG; Steph Kostowicz, 12.2 PPG; Alexis Lindstrom, 10.1 PPG).
- Kostowicz is also @MKE_WBB’s leading rebounder (8.6 RPG).
- 89 of Kostowicz’s 197 boards have come on the offensive end.
- Kostowicz has been a Crusader killer. In three tilts, she’s tallied two double-doubles, averaging 14.7 PPG (on 62.1% shooting) and 9.3 RPG to go with seven steals, six blocks, and six assists.
- Lindner is shooting 16-of-71 (22.5%) from behind the arc, but 94-for-181 (51.9%) inside it.
- In four career games vs. Valpo, Lindner has averaged 12.5 points/game on 19-for-43 (.442) field-goal shooting.
- @MKE_WBB’s Emma Roenneburg has nailed 14 of her 21 3-point tries.
@KyleRechlicz
- @KyleRechlicz is in her fourth season as head coach of the Panthers.
- @KyleRechlicz comes into Saturday’s game with a 40-72 overall record.
- @KyleRechlicz served as assistant coach at fellow Horizon League institution Cleveland State from 2003-2007.
- @KyleRechlicz accepted the associate head coaching position at Dayton in 2007.
- @KyleRechlicz returned to her alma mater, Wisconsin, in 2011 where she was an assistant coach under Bobbie Kelsey.
- During her playing days, @KyleRechlicz led the Badgers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2001, 2002).
- @KyleRechlicz still holds the program record for three-pointers in a game (7) at Wisconsin.
- @KyleRechlicz was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Meredith Hamlet
- Went off for 22 points at Oakland (Feb. 11) thanks to a season-high six three-pointers.
- Has scored 10 or more points twelve times (10.5 PPG this season).
- Exploded for 29 points at NKU (Dec. 30) on 10-of-11 shooting, the third-highest single-game FG percentage in program history.
- Started in all 23 contests this season.
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow at Valparaiso.
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in steals (25) and one off the club watermark in assists (73).
- Speared a season-high eight rebounds last time out vs. Detroit.
- Disbursed multiple assists in 21 of her 24 games.
- 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).
Abby Dean
- 7-for-14 from beyond the arc in eight career games against Milwaukee.
- Averaged 16.0 PPG from Jan. 16th-23rd thanks to a 17-for-25 (68.0%) shooting performance during that span.
- Logged the most minutes (2,406) of any Crusader on the roster.
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Has not appeared yet this season.
Georgi Donchetz
- Corralled a career-high five rebounds vs. IU-Northwest on Dec. 12th.
Lexi Miller
- Team leader in assists (74) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4).
- Racked up 30 assists in her last seven games.
- Corralled a season-high seven rebounds versus. UIC.
- Tied a career high in assists (8) at Wright State on Jan. 1st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Hit back-to-back treys at Oakland (Feb. 11) as part of a nine-point game.
- Led the Crusaders in scoring at Green Bay with 14 points (5-10 FG).
- Went off for a game-high 12 points versus Louisville on Dec. 5th.
- Set the NJCAA record for three-pointers in a single season (143) last year at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Amber Lindfors
- Has rejected at least two shots in nine consecutive contests, including five versus UIC and Wright State each.
- Leads the Horizon League in blocks per game (2.3).
- Currently in 3rd place in program history for blocks in a season (50).
- Swatted six shots on two different occasions this year.
- Accumulated more blocks through ten games (22) than any Crusader in an entire season over the past eight years.
- At 6’4’’, she is the tallest Crusader since Stefanie Lang (2010-12).
Dani Franklin
- Shooting 46.7% in 13 league games (10th-highest in Horizon League).
- 25-for-42 (59.5%) shooter in four career games vs. Milwaukee.
- Matched a career high in points (25) at Oakland on Feb. 11th.
- Has missed just two free throws all season (27-29, 93.1%).
- After shooting 50% or higher from the field just once in the first six games of the season, Franklin did so in 12 straight from Dec.7-Jan. 21.
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Has led the team in scoring on six different occasions this year. She did so 12 times last season.
- Reigning HL 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.
- Shot a team-high 85.7% (42-49) from the foul line as a freshman.
Allison Schofield
- Scored five points at Green Bay (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG) on Jan. 14th.
Jasmyn Walker
- Valpo’s leading scorer (11.9 PPG) and rebounder (8.8 RPG).
- Averaging just under a double-double in HL play (12.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG).
- Currently in a tie for 19th place in career rebounds at Valpo with 467.
- Led the Crusaders in rebounding 17 times this year.
- Cradled a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Detroit on Jan. 7th.
- Possesses seven double-doubles this season, and five in her last 11 games (N. Colorado, Miami, UDM, Oakland, CSU, YSU, WSU).
- Has started all 54 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
- Finished in double figures last time out vs. Detroit (10 pts on 4-6 FGs).
- Posted for a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Crusaders’ 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Poured in 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) in 12 minutes off the bench at Butler.
