Valparaiso (3-5, 0-0 Horizon)
at South Dakota (6-2, 0-0 Summit)
Game #9 - Tuesday, December 9 - 7:00 p.m. CT
DakotaDome (10,000) - Vermillion, S.D.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso travels to Vermillion, South Dakota for the first time ever Tuesday. The Coyotes, who are reigning Summit League champions, are in the midst of a five-game homestand and look to remain perfect (3-0) at the DakotaDome. Meanwhile, the Brown and Gold enter Tuesday’s tilt attempting to snap a four-game losing streak. A win would represent the Crusaders’ first away from home since November 20th.
Last Time Out: Tulsa had five players finish in double figures Saturday at the ARC as the Golden Hurricane rolled to an 87-63 win over the Crusaders. Freshman Jasmyn Walker had her best game yet in a Valpo uniform. Her 16 points and nine rebounds paced the Brown and Gold. Haylee Thompson pitched in 14 points while Dani Franklin added 12. The Crusaders committed a season-low 12 turnovers, but Tulsa knocked down a school-record 15 three-pointers.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - Valpo Sports Radio Network (WVUR, 95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Renee Turpa (Color). Links for the audio, video, and live stats are available at ValpoAthletics.com. In addition, ValpoGameday.com is a one-stop shop for live video, stats and social media interaction, all on the same page.
Head Coach Tracey Dorow: Tracey Dorow (20-50) is in her third season at the helm of the Valparaiso women’s basketball program in 2014-15. She collected her 250th career victory on November 14th, 2014 after a 91-57 walloping 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: Valparaiso and South Dakota met for the first time in history last season at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Coyotes won an 81-70 contest on December 31st, 2013.
Storylines...
- South Dakota shot 32-of-55 (58.2%) from the field in last season’s meeting at Valpo.
- Opponents have made 12 or more three-pointers in three of the last four games versus Valpo.
- Vermillion is as far west as the Crusaders will travel this season.
- The Crusaders haven’t allowed fewer than 82 points in a game since Nov. 22nd.
- Both head coaches are in their third seasons.
@ValpoWBB...
- @ValpoWBB shot 77.6% from the free-throw line in 2013-14, the highest percentage ever in school history.
- @ValpoWBB was picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League in the 2014-15 Preseason Poll.
- Saturday was the first time @ValpoWBB won the turnover battle this season.
- @ValpoWBB’s opponents’ rebound total the last three games: 48, 48, 48.
- @ValpoWBB has finished with an odd-numbered point total in every game thus far.
- Only one team in Division I basketball averages fewer steals per game than @ValpoWBB’s 3.6: Saint Peter’s (3.2).
@SDCoyotesWBB...
- @SDCoyotesWBB finished 2013-14 with a 19-14 overall record, and a 7-7 mark in the Summit League
- @SDCoyoteWBB’s Raeshel Contreras (17.4 PPG) and Nicole Seekamp (15.3 PPG) lead South Dakota in scoring.
- @SDCoyotesWBB is 17-3 in its last 20 games at the DakotaDome.
- @SDCoyotesWBB’s Contreras has had three 20+ point games already this season and leads the Summit in 3-pointers/game (2.63).
- @SDCoyotesWBB is atop nine different statistical categories in the Summit including assist/turnover ratio (1.14), field goal percentage (43.9%), scoring offense (80.9), three-point field goal defense (27.1%), and fewest turnovers/game (13.6).
- @SDCoyotesWBB head coach Amy Williams is in her third season.
- Williams served as top assistant coach at Oklahoma State (2001-05) and Tulsa (2005-07).
Jessica Carr
- Distributed a career-high eight assists versus Tulsa on Saturday.
- Collected her 200th career assist at Akron on Nov. 25th.
- Recorded game highs in points (16) and assists (6) to lead Valpo to a 79-61 win versus Tennessee Tech..
Abby Dean
- Registered a career-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting vs. Butler on Nov. 14th.
- Led the Brown and Gold in free-throw shooting (85.2%) last year.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Scored 11 points in her Crusader debut vs. Butler on Nov. 14th.
- Has knocked down at least one triple in each of the first six tilts.
Anne Hamilton
- Was a perfect 2-for-2 from the field vs. Butler in her Crusader debut.
- Was also 2-for-2 from beyond the arc Wednesday at Miami (OH).
Lexi Miller
- Owns the team’s best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6).
- Finished a point shy of her career-high at NIU as she guided Valpo with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range.
Dani Franklin
- Valpo’s leading scorer (12.1 PPG) and rebounder (6.9 RPG).
- Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Nov. 24th after averaging 12.0 points and 8.7 rebounds in three tilts the prior week.
- Recorded her first career double-double (13 pts., 12 rebs) at NIU.
Sharon Karungi
- Tallied eight double-doubles in 2013-14.
- Posted a career-high 25 points at Cleveland State on 2/13/14.
Jasmyn Walker
- Scored 16 points and corralled nine rebounds last time out.
- Has started all eight games to open her Crusader career.
- Ripped down 14 rebounds to go with nine points at NIU last Thursday.
Haylee Thompson
- Has averaged 10 points and 4.7 rebounds over her last three games.
- Secured ten boards at Akron.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Canned multiple three-pointers in 13 games last season.
- Registered a career-high 21 points vs. Cleveland State on 1/27/14.
Roster Breakdown
- Valpo welcomes four new faces (all freshmen) to its team this season.
- Valparaiso boasts players from seven different states and two countries.
- The Crusaders possess five players 6’0’’ or taller.
