Valparaiso (13-17, 5-13 MVC)
vs. Drake (23-7, 18-0)

Game No. 31 – Friday, March 9 – noon CT
                                                    TaxSlayer Center (9,200) – Moline, Ill.                                                      

Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The Valparaiso University women’s basketball team will once again put its season on the line on Friday afternoon at the TaxSlayer Center. In order to extend the season and the careers of Valpo’s seniors, the Crusaders need to pull off an upset of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion Drake Bulldogs in Friday’s Hoops in the Heartland quarterfinal. 

Last Time Out: The Crusaders turned in a full team effort and led from start to finish, downing Loyola 63-46 on Thursday. Dani Franklin poured in a game-high 24 points, while Meredith Hamlet contributed 12 and Caitlin Morrison grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Maya Meredith led the way in assists with five. The Crusaders were able to shut down Loyola leading scorer Abby O’Connor for the second consecutive meeting, holding her to 1-of-13 shooting.

Following the Crusaders: Friday’s game and every contest in the conference tournament will be available on The Valley on ESPN3. The game against the Bulldogs will feature the broadcast team of Scott Warman (play-by-play) and Laura Leonard (color commentary). The hometown radio call can be heard on 95.1 FM Valparaiso and via the TuneIn Radio App with Ben Ariano (play-by-play) and Renee’ Turpa (color commentary) describing the action. Links to live video, audio and stats can be found on ValpoAthletics.com.                       

Acting Head Coach Justin Rees: With head coach Tracey Dorow on a medical leave, assistant coach Justin Rees has been elevated to acting head coach for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. He guided Valpo to the win over Loyola in the opening round on Thursday night. Rees is in his fourth season on Valpo’s staff and his 19^th in women’s college basketball. He previously filled in for Dorow for six games during the 2016-17 season as she underwent neck surgery. During his career, the veteran coach has instructed and developed three All-Americans and 33 all-conference award winners. He specializes in instructing forwards, and has helped 14 post players earn individual accolades. Rees has also served as Valpo’s recruiting coordinator throughout his time on staff.

March 3 – Drake 85, Valpo 53: The Crusaders dropped the regular season finale last week as these two teams matched up on Senior Day at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Valpo actually won two of the four quarters against the Bulldogs, outscoring them 19-16 in the second and 15-14 in the fourth. However, Drake led 35-13 after one and put the game out of reach by outscoring Valpo 20-6 in the third. The Crusaders were led in scoring and rebounding by senior Dani Franklin, who enjoyed a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards in the final home game of her collegiate career. Franklin matched a career high and established a season best with three blocks.

Dec. 29 – Drake 86, Valpo 50: Playing without one starter due to injury and three other players due to illness, Valpo fell in the conference opener for both teams. Dani Franklin led the Crusaders in scoring for the seventh time in 12 games by turning in nine points, while Marlee Profitt paced the squad in rebounds for the first time in her career by matching a personal best with six. Addison Stoller chipped in a season-high eight points off the bench for the Crusaders, who were held to 30.2 percent shooting, at the time a season low.

Series Notes: Drake owns a 4-0 record in the all-time series with two of the games coming this season. One of the games prior to this year was a noteworthy clash as the Crusaders initially prevailed 80-79 on Nov. 24, 1995, but the game was later ruled a forfeit in Drake’s favor due to Valpo’s use of an ineligible player.

WWW: Valpo picked up its third W over Loyola this season on Thursday night. This marks the first time Valpo has notched three wins against the same team in a single season since beating IUPUI three times in 2003-2004. The Crusaders edged the Jaguars 53-52 in the opening round of the 2004 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament. That third win over IUPUI marked the first step toward an eventual Mid-Con crown and trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Crusaders in Tournament Play: After Thursday’s win, the Crusaders have won at least one game in their league tournament in six of the last seven years. The first six years of that span occurred when Valpo played in the Horizon League, with this marking the first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for the Crusaders. With the win on Thursday, Valpo women’s basketball became the first Valpo team in any sport to win a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game. The Valpo women have won their first-round tournament matchup by exactly 17 points each of the last two seasons.

Defense Wins Tournament Games: Valpo flexed its muscles defensively on Thursday, limiting the Ramblers to 46 points, the lowest point total by a Valpo opponent all season. The last time Valpo held its opponent under 46 was Feb. 11 of last season, a 41-32 win over Northern Kentucky. The last time the Crusaders did so in a conference tournament game was March 5, 2012, a 47-39 win over Milwaukee.

What’s at Stake on Friday: If the Crusaders capture a second conference tournament win, they’ll accomplish something they did not achieve in 10 years in the Horizon League in their first season in The Valley. The last time Valpo won multiple conference tournament games in the same season was in the Mid-Continent Conference in 2003-04, also the last time Valpo reached the NCAA Tournament.

All-Conference Accolades: Senior forward Dani Franklin was named to the All-MVC First Team on Wednesday, becoming the first Crusader to garner first-team all-conference accolades since Launa Hochstetler in 2008-2009. The honor added to a long list of conference awards that Franklin has racked up over the course of her career that also includes all-Horizon League second team as a junior, Horizon League Freshman of the Year, Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year as a freshman and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team this season.

Recapturing the Magic: Taking the court at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline, the Valpo women are attempting to recreate some of the magic that occurred in that arena for the Valpo men’s basketball team in the late 1990s. The men’s Mid-Continent Conference Tournament was held in this arena for four years, including 1998, when Valpo beat Youngstown State 67-48 in Moline in the Mid-Con Championship. The next game was the famous Bryce Drew shot to upset Ole Miss as the Valpo men eventually reached the Sweet 16. That wasn’t the only year Valpo had success in this building, as the Crusader men went a combined 11-0 over four years, winning all four Mid-Con Tournaments held in Moline and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons. The Valpo women’s basketball team has also played in this arena before as it served as the site of the 1998 and 1999 Mid-Continent Conference women’s tournaments. Including Thursday’s win, the Valpo women own a 4-2 record in the building, most recently falling to Oral Roberts in the 1999 Mid-Con title game. At the time, the TaxSlayer Center was known as The MARK of the Quad Cities. It became the iWireless Center in 2007 and then became the TaxSlayer Center this past fall.

Rewriting the Record Book: As Dani Franklin participates in her final conference tournament in a Valpo uniform this weekend, it’s fitting to recognize how many places her name will appear in the Crusader program record book when her prolific four-year career is said and done. Franklin will finish in the Top 10 in program history in at least 11 different categories – games played, total points, points per game, field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws made, 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goals attempted, rebounds, free-throw percentage and 3-point percentage. She has a strong chance to reach the Top 10 in two others – free throws attempted and rebounds per game. Here’s a look at where Franklin ranks in program history in various statistical categories entering Friday.

Category                     Value               Rank                Next Player to Pass (Value)

Games Played             120                  T-3^rd                 Jeanette Gray (122)

Points                          1,713               2^nd                    Debbie Bolen (2,008)

Field Goals Made       636                  2^nd                    Debbie Bolen (718)

FG Attempted            1,471               2^nd                    Debbie Bolen (1,590)

FT Made                     259                  6^th                    Paige Freeman (272)

3-Point FG Made        182                  4^th                    Carrie Myers (215)

3-Point FG Attempted            496                 4^th                    Carrie Myers (538)

Rebounds                    709                  5^h                     Tabitha Gerardot (723)

Rebounds Per Game   5.9                   T-8^th                 ---

FT Percentage             .869                 1^st                    Current record – Launa Hochstetler, .838

3-Point FG%               .367                 6^th                    Katie Boone (.373)

It doesn’t end there for Franklin, who also has a chance to finish in the Top 10 in several single-season categories for the 2017-18 campaign. Note that Franklin needs five points on Friday for her 2017-18 season to jump into fifth in program history for points in a single season. Her junior year already ranks second at 559.

Category                     Value               Rank                Next Player(s) to Pass (Value)

Points                          477                  6^th                    Tabitha Gerardot, 2012-13 (581)

Points Per Game         15.6                 T-9^th                 Sarrah Stricklett, 1997-98 (15.8)

Field Goals Made       174                  6^th                    Tabitha Gerardot, 2012-13 (182)

FG Attempted            454                  3^rd                    Michelle Russell, 1993-94 (466)

FT%                            .866                 2^nd                    Agnieszka Kulaga, 2008-09 (.886)

Hamlet Enters Top 20: Junior Meredith Hamlet has made her way onto the program’s all-time scoring list. She currently ranks 18^th with 949 career points.She needs to get to 971 to tie Agnieszka Kulaga for 17^th. In addition, Hamlet has made 153 career 3-pointers, a mark that ranks seventh in program history. Sarah Lenschow and Aimee Litka are tied for fourth at 171.

Valpo’s Iron Player: Dani Franklin hasn’t missed a game since Feb. 21, 2015, a loss to Youngstown State at the ARC her freshman season. The next contest started a streak of consecutive games played that will reach 98 on Friday against Drake. She’s missed only two games in her collegiate career, both during her freshman season due to injury. Franklin is the only player in the Missouri Valley Conference who ranks in the top five in the league in both scoring and rebounding. She became the first player in Valpo history with both 1,500 career points and 700 rebounds when she pulled down her 700^th board last week against Drake.

Champions in Classroom: Two Valpo players received recognition for their work in the classroom and on the court on Tuesday as the MVC announced its Scholar-Athlete teams. Dani Franklin was a member of the Scholar-Athlete First Team, while Meredith Hamlet received Scholar-Athlete honorable mention. Those two lead the way on a team that is filled with players who excel in the classroom. The following majors are represented on Valpo’s roster: engineering, healthcare leadership, public relations, education, business marketing, exercise physiology, biomechanical engineering, biology, pre-law, physician assistant program and finance. The Crusaders feature 11 players with GPAs better than 3.0. Franklin became the first member of a conference’s all-academic team from Valpo women’s basketball since Tabitha Gerardot earned Horizon League All-Academic Team honors in both 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

We Are Young: Although Valpo’s top two scorers are senior Dani Franklin and junior Meredith Hamlet, this is still largely a youthful Crusader squad. Eight of Valpo’s top 10 scorers are freshmen or sophomores and nine of the team’s top 10 scorers are expected to be back next season. Nicole Konieczny and Bryce Blood are fourth and fifth on the team in scoring, respectively. Freshmen contributing right away has been a theme for the Crusaders, who have two freshmen in their top five in scoring for the fourth straight season.

Single-Season Record Book Watch, 2018 Edition: In addition to Dani Franklin’s aforementioned milestones, there are several team categories that could gain a new member in the program record book this season.

• As a team, the Crusaders hold a free-throw percentage of .757. This year’s team is in position to finish second in program history for free-throw percentage behind 2013-2014 at .776. Currently second is 2007-2008 at .753.
• Valpo has cracked the program’s Top 10 for blocked shots in a season. The Crusaders have blocked 102 shots, which is now tied with the 2001-2002 season for seventh in program history. The 1990-91 campaign sits in sixth at 103.

Reaching New Heights

• The Crusaders have secured the program’s highest win total since 2008-09, when they finished at 16-14.
• The Crusaders equaled their highest conference win total since 2009-10.
• Valpo swept Loyola and Evansville this season, marking the first time they’ve swept a conference foe since Butler in 2011-2012.
• Valpo has its most road wins in a single season since the 2011-2012 campaign.

Crusaders Can Score: Valpo has taken a significant offensive leap this season as compared to recent years. Entering Friday’s game, the Crusaders are averaging 66.0 points per game, over four points per game better than a year ago. If Valpo can keep its scoring average above 64.9, this will mark the team’s highest scoring output since 2009. Here’s a year-by-year look at how this year’s scoring average compares to recent seasons.

Year                Ppg

2017-18           66.0

2016-17           61.9

2015-16           63.5

2014-15           64.0

2013-14           64.9

2012-13           62.1

2011-12           52.5

2010-11           58.4

2009-10           58.5

2008-09           63.7

2007-08           66.3

2006-07           61.5

2005-06           61.7

2004-05           60.8

2003-04           63.0

2002-03           63.8

2001-02           66.2

2000-01           64.1

1999-2000       68.7

Inside the Bulldogs

• Have won 40 straight MVC regular season games, the longest conference winning streak in the history of The Valley.
• Last Valley regular season loss was Feb. 19, 2016 at UNI.
• Had a first-round bye in the tournament, so haven’t played since the regular season finale at Valpo.
• Becca Hittner leads Drake in scoring at 15.7 points per game, while Sara Rhine is averaging 15.6 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per contest. Samme Bachrodt (10.5) and Maddy Dean (10.1) are also scoring in double figures.
• Have won 20 or more games each of the last four seasons.
• Just won back-to-back MVC regular season titles for the first time since 1996-97 and 1997-98.

A Look Back at 2016-17

• Valpo had the biggest jump from the first half of league play to the second of any Horizon League squad. In first matchups against Horizon League opponents, Valpo went 0-9 before going 4-5 in second meetings. The plus-four win turnaround was the best in the Horizon League. No other team was better than plus-two.
• The Crusaders have now captured league tournament wins in five of the last six seasons.
• Valpo went 4-4 over its final eight games of the regular season, its best eight-game finish to a season of the Tracey Dorow era.
• Dani Franklin was named to the all-league second-team, becoming the first Valpo player to make the Horizon League first or second team since Tabitha Gerardot in 2012-13.
• The Crusaders had an all-league representative and an all-defensive team member in the same season for the first time since joining the Horizon League.
• Franklin finished the season with 559 points, which ranks second in program history for points in a single year. Debbie Bolen’s 1991-92 season (638) is the program record.
• Franklin finished the season at 18.0 points per game, ranking fifth in program history for single-season scoring average. She also shot 85.8 percent at the free-throw line, the second-best single-season free throw percentage in program history.
• Hannah Schaub completed the season with 134 assists, ranking seventh in program history for assists in a single season.
• The Crusaders had twice as many wins in February (four) than they had in December and January combined (two).

Inside the 2017-18 Roster

• Valpo has nine players on the roster listed at 6-foot or taller. This is the most players listed at 6-foot or taller on the roster in program history. Previously, the most was eight in 1990-91 and 1995-96.
• Valpo has had five freshmen on the roster each of the last two seasons. Prior to 2016-17, the Crusaders hadn’t featured five true freshmen since 2010-11. This year’s team has 10 freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores, the most since the 2003-04 season.
• In addition to five true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen and three sophomores, the Crusaders feature three juniors and two seniors.
• This year’s version of the Crusaders includes four Indiana natives. This marks the most Hoosiers on the team since the 2013-2014 season.
• Three others are from Illinois, three from Ohio, two from Minnesota, one from Michigan, one from Iowa and one from Wisconsin. Seven states are represented on the Valpo roster.
• Freshman Ella Ellenson (Rice Lake, Wis.) is the first Valpo player from Wisconsin since Sarah Ott (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) in 2007-08.

Meredith Hamlet

• Was one of two Crusaders in double figures in the first round of the MVC Tournament on March 8 vs. Loyola, turned in 12 points in an effort that featured three made 3s.
• Named 2018 MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention.
• Led Valpo in scoring for the seventh time in the last nine games with 13 points on Feb. 23 at Indiana State.
• After being held scoreless for the first three quarters, became the first Valpo player to score 19 points in a single quarter in the fourth on Feb. 11 at Loyola, lifting the Crusaders to a come-from-behind victory.
• Led Valpo in scoring for the third time in four games on Feb. 4 at Illinois State, turning in 17 points off the bench.
• Was the lone Crusader in double figures on Feb. 2 at Bradley, finishing with 13 points.
• Made her way into double figures for the fourth consecutive game with a team-high 18 on Jan. 26 against Evansville.
• In double figures for the third straight game with a team-high 19 points on Jan. 21 vs. Southern Illinois. That marked the first time Hamlet led the team in scoring since Dec. 15 and the fifth time this season she’s done so.
• Reached double figures for the first time since Dec. 15 on Jan. 7 against Bradley by scoring 16 points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter. Had four straight double-figure performances from Dec. 3-15, then five straight games out of double figures from Dec. 18 to Jan. 5.
• Named the Enterprise Bank MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 20 after matching a career high in scoring against IU Northwest. Became the first Valpo student-athlete in any sport to win the weekly honor, given to someone who excels both academically and athletically.
• Fouled out for the first time in her Valpo career on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne.
• Handed out a career-high six assists on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois.
• Reached 29 points in a game for the third straight season on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest, setting a season high and matching her career watermark.
• Only player on Valpo’s roster who has scored more than 25 points in a single game in each of the last three seasons.
• Since the start of the 2015-16 season, there have been 11 occasions where a Valpo player has hit 5 or more 3-pointers in a game. Hamlet has accounted for seven of those occasions, while Dani Franklin and Hannah Schaub have a pair of five 3-pointer games apiece.
• Has six career games scoring 20 points or more, and the first five came away from the ARC. Had her first home game with 20+ points on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Had five made 3s on Dec. 8 at Purdue, all in the first half. Scored 19 points in the game, all coming before halftime. Became the first Crusader with a 19-point half this season and the first Valpo player to hit five 3s in one half since she did so at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 3, 2016.
• Poured in 25 points on Dec. 3 at Longwood, making a career-high nine free throws.
• Posted a team-high 14 points, the 25^th double-figure scoring game of her Valpo career, on Nov. 21 at Miami (Ohio). Followed by scoring 14 more in Valpo’s win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 25.
• Started in Valpo’s season opener for the third consecutive year.
• Reached the 500-point plateau for her collegiate career as only a sophomore on Jan. 14, 2016 at Youngstown State.
• Posted her first career double-double on Jan. 14, 2016 at Youngstown State, matching a career high with 29 points while shattering personal bests in rebounds (10) and made field goals (12). That game marked the 23^rd time in program history a player has made 12 field goals or more in a single game.
• Dished out a career-best seven assists on Jan. 22, 2017 at Wright State.
• Began her collegiate career with a streak of 52 consecutive starts without missing a game, which was snapped on Feb. 2, 2017 against Youngstown State.
• Exploded for 29 points at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 30, 2015. Went 10-of-11 shooting, the third-highest single-game field goal percentage in program history.
• Made a game-winning layup at the buzzer to beat Chicago State on Nov. 16, 2016.
• Made 69 3-pointers as a freshman, tying for the fifth most in a single season in school history. In addition, she set the record for the most 3-pointers by a freshman.
• Was Valpo’s leading returning scorer in 2016-17 after scoring 10.6 points per game in 2015-16. During her sophomore campaign, averaged 9.0 ppg.
• Named to Horizon League all-freshman team in 2015-16.
• Reached double figures in scoring 16 times as a freshman and nine times during her sophomore season.
• Third Hamlet to play under Dorow as sisters Elizabeth (2013-14) and Annemarie (2014-15 & 2015-16) both concluded their careers with the Crusaders.

Dani Franklin

• Knocked down 10 field goals in 17 attempts to rack up 24 points in the first game of the 2018 MVC Tournament vs. Loyola on March 8.
• Named to the 2017-18 All-MVC First Team and Scholar-Athlete First Team following the regular season.
• Had her fifth double-double of the season on Senior Day, racking up 15 points and pulling down 10 boards in the season finale on March 3. Also reached the 700-rebound mark in that game, becoming the first player in program history with both 1,500 career points and 700 career rebounds. Added a season-high three blocks in that game, matching a career best.
• Was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Feb. 22.
• Had her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds on Feb. 18 vs. Missouri State.
• Posted a season-high 31 points in a double overtime loss to Southern Illinois on Feb. 16. Matched her career high with 12 made field goals in that game. It marked the third time in her career Franklin has scored more than 30 points in a contest.
• Has scored in double figures 17 times and led the team in scoring on 11 occasions this season.
• Had her third double-double of the year and second in a three-game stretch on Feb. 4 at Illinois State, pulling down 13 rebounds to go along with 15 points.
• Had her second double-double of the season and the 11^th of her career on Jan. 28 with 16 points and 16 rebounds vs. Indiana State. The 16 boards marked a season high and equaled her career best that was reached on two prior occasions.
• Usurped Sarrah Stricklett (1,498) for second in program history in career scoring with her 14 points on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola. She also became the second player in program history to reach 1,500 career points, joining the legendary Debbie Bolen (2,008) as the only players in program history to reach 1,500 points.
• Moved into third place on Valpo’s all-time scoring list with her team-high 18 points on Dec. 31 at UNI, a game that took place in her home state of Iowa.
• Did not attempt a 3 in the Dec. 31 game at UNI, the first time Franklin has played in a game and not tried a 3 since March 10, 2016, a Horizon League Tournament game against Detroit her sophomore season.
• Had her second straight 10 field goal performance and a season-high 28 points on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois, a game that also saw her pull down a team-high eight rebounds and reach career highs in assists (five) and steals (five).
• Had a season-high 10 made field goals on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest, scoring 23 points.
• Has now reached the following milestones – 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds and 500 career made field goals. She’s joined in that elite group by Debbie Bolen, Jeanette Gray and Sarrah Stricklett as the only players in Valpo history to achieve all three of those feats.
• Had her first double-double of the season and the 10^th of her career on Dec. 10 against Chicago State, pulling down a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with 24 points.
• After being held to four points at Liberty on Dec. 2 and six through three quarters on Dec. 3 at Longwood, had an 11-point fourth quarter to help the Crusaders fend off the Lancers.
• Started her senior season with a game-high 26 points against IU Kokomo. She knocked down nine field goals in the win, including four 3s.
• Moved into fourth in program history in career scoring with her 23-point output on Nov. 25 against Grand Canyon. This marked the 17^th time in Franklin’s Crusader career that she scored 20 points or more.
• As a junior, led the team in scoring (18.0 ppg), rebounding (7.8 ppg), 3-point percentage (.430), free-throw percentage (.858) and steals (35).
• Became the first Valpo player in the last 23 years to score 500 points in a single season in 2016-17. Finished the season with 559 total points, the second most in program history.
• Scored the 1,000^th point of her Valpo career on Jan. 17, 2017 at Green Bay, becoming the 14^th player in program history to join the 1,000-point club.
• Enters her senior season with 1,236 career points, which already ranks sixth in program history.
• Her 2016-17 free-throw percentage was the second-best single-season free throw percentage in program history.
• Had as many double-doubles in a five-game stretch from Jan. 12-20, 2017 as she did in the first 73 games of her collegiate career.
• Got to the free-throw line more as a junior than she did in her first two collegiate seasons combined. Went 10-for-10 at the free-throw line on Jan. 28 at UIC, becoming the 10^th player in program history to go perfect at the foul stripe with at least 10 attempts in a game.
• Set a career high and notched Valpo’s best individual scoring performance since 1992 and fifth-best in program history with 34 points at Stetson on Nov. 12, 2016.
• Only two players in program history had reached the 34-point mark before Franklin. Debbie Bolen did so three times, while Stephanie Greer owns the all-time single-game scoring record with 39 in 1990.
• Scored 33 points on Dec. 3, 2016 against Eastern Illinois, finishing one shy of a career high. She became just the third player in program history who has scored 33 points or more in at least two games. Matched a career best with 12 made field goals.
• 2014-15 Horizon League Freshman of the Year, 2014-15 Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year, 2016-17 All-Horizon League Second Team, team’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2014-15 and 2015-16, team’s MVP and co- Most Improved Player in 2016-17.
• Shot 43.3 percent from 3-point range as a freshman in 2014-2015, the fourth best single-season mark in program history. Now owns two of the Top 5 single-season 3-point field goal percentage marks.
• As a junior, increased her scoring average from the previous year by nearly eight points, boosted her 3-point percentage by nearly 12 percent and over doubled her number of total rebounds and made free throws from the previous season.
• Made 199 field goals as a junior, tied for third in program history.
• Finished in double-figure scoring in 28 of the team’s 31 games last season, leading the squad in scoring on 23 occasions.

Caitlin Morrison

• Led the team in rebounds with eight in the first round of the MVC Tournament on March 8 vs. Loyola.
• Equaled a career high with four steals on Feb. 2 at Bradley.
• Had a career-high four steals and knocked down a career-best five field goals while scoring a season-high 10 points on Jan. 26 vs. Evansville.
• Had her fifth multiple-block game of the season on Jan. 7, swatting a pair of shots in the game against Bradley.
• Did not play on Dec. 29 at Drake or Dec. 31 at UNI due to an injury. Returned to the court and to the starting lineup on Jan. 5 vs. Illinois State.
• Knocked down a pair of 3s on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois, her first game this season with multiple makes from beyond the arc.
• Swatted a career-high five shots on Nov. 25 against Grand Canyon, including a block of a 3-point try that would have tied the game with less than 10 seconds left. Previously hadn’t had more than two blocks in any game in her career.
• Squeezed a career-high 10 rebounds on Nov. 21 at Miami, five of which came in the first quarter.
• Established career watermarks in assists (four) and steals (three) in Valpo’s season opener against IU Kokomo.
• Reached double figures for the first time in her Valpo career with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting against Grace College on Dec. 10, 2016.
• Matched her season high in rebounds and established her season high in scoring in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament, posting 11 points and eight boards to help the Crusaders to a victory over Youngstown State.
• Named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17.
• Father Scott Morrison is a former Valparaiso men’s basketball player.

Nicole Konieczny

• Had a stretch of three straight games in double figures that ended with her fifth career double-figure output on Jan. 19 at Missouri State.
• Had her fourth career double-figure scoring output on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola, scoring 12 points as one of five Crusaders in double figures against the Ramblers. That was her second straight game in double figures, the first time in her young collegiate career she’s had double figures in back-to-back contests. Also pulled down a career-high five rebounds against the Ramblers.
• Set new career highs in points (18), made field goals (6) and made 3-pointers (3) on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley.
• Reached double figures for the second time in her Crusader career on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne, scoring 12 points.
• Ranks second in The Valley in assists at 4.2 per game, behind only Evansville’s Kerri Gasper (4.4).
• Was two assists shy of a double-double on Nov. 28 at Bowling Green, finishing with personal bests in both points (13) and assists (eight).
• Became the first Crusader to have eight or more assists and score double figures in the same game since Jessica Carr posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists on Jan. 21, 2015 in a 90-79 loss at Milwaukee.
• Made her first career start on Nov. 25 against Grand Canyon and dished out seven assists while scoring eight points to lift Valpo to an 80-75 win.
• Handed out six assists in the first road game of her career on Nov. 21 at Miami.
• Had six points in her collegiate debut on Nov. 16 against IU Kokomo.
• Named a 2016-17 Indiana All-Star, earning a place on the 13-player roster.
• Led South Bend St. Joseph to the 2016-17 Indiana Class 3A state title, averaging 14.4 points per game and 3.1 assists per game during her senior season.
• Helped the Indians finish her senior campaign with a 26-2 record.
• Started her prep career at LaPorte, approximately 20 miles from Valpo, before transferring to South Bend St. Joseph before her junior season.

Bryce Blood

• Led the team in scoring for the first time this season and became the first Crusader other than Dani Franklin to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding this season on March 1 against UNI, posting 11 points and eight rebounds.
• Had her second double-double of the season on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola with 12 points and 10 boards. That marked the team’s third double-double of the year. It was her fourth career double-figure scoring output, first since Dec. 15 (vs. IU Northwest) and second against a Division-I opponent.
• Made all four field-goal attempts while finishing as one of four Crusaders in double figures (10 points) on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Matched a season high with five made field goals – an efficient 5-of-6 shooting – on Dec. 3 at Longwood on her way to 11 points, one of three Crusaders in double figures.
• Contributed nine points including 5-of-5 at the free-throw line on Nov. 28 at Bowling Green, a game played close to her hometown of Toledo.
• Chipped in nine points and five rebounds in a win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 25.
• Became the first Crusader since 2008 with a double-double in a season opener by scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 boards in her collegiate debut on Nov. 16 against IU Kokomo.
• Won over 20 regional and national titles over a five-year span while playing for the SMAC Ballers AAU program.
• Finished fourth on her school’s all-time scoring list with 931 points, while finishing as the program’s all-time leader in both rebounds (767) and blocks (181).

Grace Hales

• Pulled down a career-high nine rebounds and finished one board shy of a double-double on Feb. 11 at Loyola.
• Enjoyed her fourth straight double-figure game with 10 points on Jan. 26 vs. Evansville.
• Matched a career-high by burying four triples on Jan. 21 at Southern Illinois, finishing the game with 16 points.
• Had a banner-day on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola, leading the team in scoring for the second time this season with a career-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Reached double figures for the sixth time this year and the first since Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois after five straight games out of double figures.
• Made her first start of the season and the second of her career on Dec. 29 at Drake.
• Returned to double figures with 13 points on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois, her fifth double-figure game this season. After starting the season with four double-figure performances in her first five games, she had been held out of double figures in four straight.
• Hit seven straight 3-point attempts on Dec. 2 at Liberty and Dec. 3 at Longwood, going 4-for-4 against the Flames before knocking down her first three triples against the Lancers. Scored a career-high 14 points at Liberty, the only Crusader in double figures in that game.
• Only Crusader who scored double figures in each of Valpo’s first three games. That marked the first time in the sophomore’s Valpo career that she has reached double figures in scoring in three straight.
• Drained a career-high four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points on Nov. 21 at Miami (Ohio).
• Made a career-high five field goals while scoring 12 points – one shy of a career best – in the season-opening win over IU Kokomo. Hales reached double figures for the sixth time in her career.
• Knocked down three 3s in her Crusader debut, becoming the first player to do so since Annemarie Hamlet in 2014. Hales became the first freshman to pour in three 3s in a season opener in the last decade.
• Had a streak of 21 straight made free throws that spanned three different months during her freshman year. Finished the season second on the team in free-throw percentage at 81.4.
• Scored nine points at Stetson on Nov. 12, 2016, marking the third straight year a Valpo freshman has scored nine points or more on opening night.
• Opened conference play in style with a career-high 13 points on Dec. 29, 2016 at Detroit Mercy, her second consecutive game in double figures.
• Led her team in scoring for the first time in her Valpo career on Feb. 16, 2017 against Oakland. Was the only Crusader in double figures, posting 11 points in the defeat. Scored seven of the team’s 13 second-quarter points.
• Father Ross played football and basketball at Indiana University.

Maya Meredith

• Led the team with five assists in the first round of the MVC Tournament on March 8 vs. Loyola.
• Hit a buzzer-beater from nearly half court to send the Feb. 16 game against Southern Illinois to overtime. That shot was No. 9 on the next morning’s SportsCenter Top 10.
• Had a career night in that Feb. 16 game against the Salukis, scoring a career-high 14 points while also setting career watermarks for field goals made (5) and steals (3).
• Had nine points on Feb. 2 at Bradley before fouling out for the first time in her career.
• Matched a career high with two blocks on Jan. 26 vs. Evansville.
• Set a career-high with five rebounds on Dec. 31 at UNI while reaching double figures in scoring for the fourth time this season with 10 points and matching career highs for made field goals (4) and made 3-pointers (2).
• Scored in double figures for the third time this season after not doing so at all a year ago by posting 11 points on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois.
• Shattered a program-record that had stood since 1992 in her first career start by dishing out 16 assists on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest. She became the 10^th player in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach 16 assists, a mark that ranks tied for sixth in the conference’s prestigious history. She also became the second player in the nation with a 16+ assist game this season.
• Had 10 of her career-high 12 points in the fourth quarter of a 71-60 win over Chicago State on Dec. 10.
• Made a pair of impressive blocks on Dec. 8 at Purdue.
• Knocked down a pair of 3s in a game for the first time in her Crusader career and finished with 11 points on Nov. 28 at Bowling Green.
• Played 13 minutes in Valpo’s season opener against IU Kokomo, scoring four points.
• Notched her first-career made basket against a Division-I opponent on Jan. 14, 2017 at Youngstown State. Did so in style, finishing an important layup despite being fouled.
• Scored seven points on Feb. 16, 2017 against Oakland, a season high. Shattered her previous best of four. Also dished out a career-high four assists in 26 minutes, the most playing time she received in a game during her freshman season.

Allison Schofield

• Scored a season-high four points on Jan. 28 vs. Indiana State.
• One of three Crusaders who did not play due to illness on Dec. 29 at Drake. Also sat out the Dec. 31 game at UNI due to illness.
• Made a key steal that led to a fast-break 3-pointer by Dani Franklin in a five-point win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 25.
• Knocked down the only shot she attempted at Miami on Nov. 21.
• Set what was at the time a career high with eight points including two made 3s on Dec. 4, 2016 against Notre Dame.
• Notched a career-high 15 points and led the team in scoring in the final game of the 2016-17 season, a Horizon League Tournament matchup with Green Bay. She went 4-for-4 from 3-point range in that contest.

Addison Stoller

• Made her first career start on Feb. 4 at Illinois State.
• Had a strong second quarter on Jan. 19 at Missouri State, scoring six points off the bench in that quarter alone on 2-of-2 shooting and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line.
• Did not play on Jan. 5 vs. Illinois State, Jan. 7 vs. Bradley due to illness or Jan. 12 vs. Loyola due to illness.
• Pulled down a season-high four rebounds on Dec. 31 at UNI.
• Poured in a season-high eight points on Dec. 29 at Drake, making four field goals in a single game for the first time in her collegiate career.
• Played in her first game in over a calendar year on Dec. 2 at Liberty, scoring her first basket of the season by converting a layup despite being fouled.
• Played in the first five games of the 2016-17 season before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 25 vs. Liberty.
• Had her best performance of the year in her return to her hometown area on Nov. 19 at Illinois State, turning in nine points and seven rebounds.
• Received the team’s Hardest Worker Award.

Marlee Profitt

• Made her first career start on Feb. 4 at Illinois State.
• Scored 10 points, her highest career total against a Division-I team, while also gobbling up eight rebounds on Jan. 26 vs. Evansville.
• Shattered her previous rebounding career high before halftime and had nine boards (eight in the first half) to lead the team on Jan. 21 at Southern Illinois.
• Had three made field goals on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley, equaling her most against a Division-I team this season.
• Led the team in rebounds for the first time in her collegiate career on Dec. 29 with six, which marked a career high.
• Reached double figures for the first time in her Valpo career on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest, racking up 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
• Set then career highs in points (nine) and rebounds (six) on Nov. 21 at Miami (Ohio), knocking down all three of her attempts from the floor while going 3-of-4 at the line.
• Scored the first field goal of her collegiate career in Valpo’s season opener against IU Kokomo, a memorable coast-to-coast layup. Also hauled in a career-high five rebounds in that contest.
• Played in two games during her first season on campus before missing the bulk of the season due to an injury.
• Rattled off 17.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.5 blocks in her final prep campaign with the Highland (Ohio) Hornets.

Ella Ellenson

• Had a career-high nine rebounds to lead the team in that area on Feb. 25 at Evansville.
• Matched a career high with seven rebounds on Feb. 23 at Indiana State.
• Had 10 points in just 11 minutes off the bench on Feb. 18 vs. Missouri State.
• Scored a career-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting on Jan. 26 vs. Evansville.
• Squeezed a career-high seven rebounds on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley, leading the team for the first time in her collegiate career. Played 18 minutes in that game, eclipsing her previous season high of 13.
• Reached double figures for the first time in her collegiate career on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne, scoring 10 points.
• Knocked down her first career 3-pointer on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Contributed six points and six rebounds in the first game of her collegiate career, the season opener against IU Kokomo.
• Was a four-year starter and two-year captain at Rice Lake High School, where she was named to the WBCA All-State Game and Border Battle All-Star Game.
• Brother Wally played basketball in the NBL of Canada in 2016-17 and made the all-rookie team.
• Brother Ellwood is finishing up student teaching at Valley City State University, N.D., where he was the captain of the basketball team and a track athlete.
• Brother Henry is a Detroit Pistons forward and former Marquette standout.

Taylor Richards

• Had the first multiple-rebound game of her career on Jan. 28 vs. Indiana State.
• Made her first career basket and finished the game 3-of-3 shooting for seven points on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Scored the first point of her collegiate career on Dec. 2 at Liberty with a made free throw.
• Made her collegiate debut on Nov. 16 against IU Kokomo, playing eight minutes.
• Averaged 14 points, 4.5 assists, 3 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game during her senior year at Chippewa.
• Helped her team compile a 104-13 record during her four years of high school basketball, including a 55-1 mark in league play.
• Helped her team win league titles in all four seasons.

Georgi Donchetz

• Had season highs in points (8) and rebounds (5) on Jan. 26 vs. Evansville. Made the basket that put Valpo over the 100-point mark against a Division I team for the first time since 1997.
• Made two field goals on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley, a season high as she was playing in just her fifth game of the year after missing the first 10 games with a knee injury.
• Made her first start of the season on Dec. 31 at UNI.
• Scored her first points of the season on Dec. 29 at Drake, accumulating four points against the Bulldogs.
• Made her season debut on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne and led the team in rebounds with four.
• Played in the exhibition game against St. Francis (Ill.), but then suffered an injury that cost her the first 10 games of the season.
• Had a breakout junior season in 2016-17, playing in 28 games and making eight starts for the Crusaders. Finished the season with over 50 assists after having four total assists in her first two collegiate seasons.
• Garnered the team’s Fountain Award in both 2015-16 and 2016-17. That honor is given annually to the player who most raises the team’s energy level.
• Shared the team’s Most Improved Player with Dani Franklin in 2016-17.
• Had a career-high seven assists in the 2016-17 season opener on Nov. 12, 2016 at Stetson.
• Reached double-figure scoring for the first time in her collegiate career with 10 at Notre Dame on Dec. 4, 2016, her first of four double-figure games.
• Made the first start of her collegiate career on Dec. 19, 2016 against Bradley and scored seven points in 20 minutes.
• Led the team in rebounding for the first time in her Valpo career with a career-high eight on Dec. 29, 2016 at Detroit Mercy. Also surpassed the 100-point mark for her career in that game.
• After making four 3-pointers in her first 18 games of the season, knocked down five triples in a three-game span from Jan. 22 to Feb. 2.
• Enjoyed the most productive game of her Valpo career with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting on Feb. 2, 2017 against Youngstown State. Also grabbed four rebounds and handed out four assists. Had a career-high three 3-pointers in the victory.

Hannah Schaub

• Will miss the remainder of the season with an injury.
• Started in Valpo’s season opener for the third consecutive year.
• Led the team in assists in 18 games during her sophomore season. Her 134 assists in 2016-17 ranked seventh in program history and were the most by any Crusader in the last 17 years.
• Entered her junior season already 17^th in program history in career assists with 235. Needs four assists to pass Jeanette Gray (1999-2003) for 16^th on the career list and 12 to surpass her former teammate Lexi Miller (2012-2016) for 15^th.
• Finished the 2016-17 season ranked eighth in the Horizon League in assists/turnover ratio (1.5) and 11^th in assists per game (3.3).
• Scored a season-high 12 points on Jan. 31, 2017 at UIC, her only time in double figures during her sophomore season. Matched a career-high by knocking down five shots in that game.
• Went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc on Nov. 28, 2015 against Northern Colorado, tying for the 10^th best 3-point field goal percentage in a single game in program history. Also knocked down five triples against Detroit in the Horizon League quarterfinals later that season.

Nicole Johanson

• Has not seen game action this season.
• Helped Herscher High School finish with a 25-2 record in her senior season.
• Played for Example Sports AAU under the direction of coach Barry Bradford, the father of Valpo men’s basketball player Micah Bradford.
• Named MVP of an Example Sports AAU alumni game against college players who had gone through the program.
• Participated in her conference’s all-star game as a senior in high school.