Oakland (7-7, 1-0 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (4-11, 0-2 Horizon)
Game #16 - Thursday, January 15 - 7:05 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) -Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso continues one of its longest home stretches of the season Thursday when Oakland visits the ARC for a 7:05 pm tipoff. The Golden Grizzlies made quick work of the visiting Milwaukee Panthers in their league opener last Saturday. Meanwhile, the Brown and Gold are in pursuit of their first Horizon League victory of the 2014-15 season.
Last Time Out: UIC’s sweltering defense limited Valpo to its lowest point total since Nov. 18th in an 86-56 affair at the ARC on Saturday afternoon. Flame forward Ruvanna Campbell stole the show with a 30-point, 19-rebound game. Jasmyn Walker led the scoring attack for the Crusaders for the third consecutive game as the freshman poured in 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Redshirt sophomore Annemarie Hamlet added 10 points of her own.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - Valpo Sports Radio Network (WVUR, 95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Tommy Mantice (Color). Video - ESPN3.com. 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 (21-56) 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: Oakland holds a 14-10 advantage all-time over the Brown and Gold in a series that started just before the turn of the century. The Crusaders and Golden Grizzlies split last season’s regular season series. Valpo’s 84-70 win over Oakland last February snapped a streak of four straight Grizzly triumphs.
Storylines...
- Valpo leads the Horizon League in 3-point FG percentage (37.5%). Oakland has the league’s stingiest 3-point FG defense (26.4%).
- Valparaiso and Oakland are both in the nation’s top 20 in defensive rebounds per game (Valpo, 30.4; Oakland, 30.2).
- The Crusaders are 0-9 this season when being outrebounded. Their last win when tallying fewer boards than their opponent was March 1st, 2012 (70-60 win over Wright State).
@ValpoWBB...
- @ValpoWBB closed out the 2013-14 slate with a 6-25 overall record, 3-13 in the Horizon League.
- @ValpoWBB was picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League in the 2014-15 Preseason Poll.
- @ValpoWBB’s 37.5% mark from three-point range is 15th in the nation.
- Jessica Carr’s 4.2 assists/game ranks exactly 100th in the country.
- @ValpoWBB has shot 71.4% or better from the free-throw line in seven straight games.
@GoldenGrizzlies...
- @GoldenGrizzlies finished 2013-14 with a 13-17 overall record, and a 10-6 mark in the Horizon League.
- @GoldenGrizzlies routed Milwaukee 89-56 in its HL opener Saturday afternoon at the O’Rena.
- @GoldenGrizzlies Olivia Nash is averaging 15.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
- Nash has six double-doubles this season (T-43rd most nationally).
- @GoldenGrizzlies’ Peyton Apsey (2.2) and Elena Popkey (1.8) are #1 and #4 in the HL in assist/turnover ratio, respectively.
- Through 14 games (2800 minutes), opponents have accumulated two more rebounds (625) than @GoldenGrizzlies (623).
- @GoldenGrizzlies enter Thursday’s game as 62.8% free-throw shooters.
- @GoldenGrizzlies Jeff Tungate is in his 2nd season as head coach.
- Tungate served as associate head coach of the Oakland men’s team for six years before taking over the women’s program in July of 2013.
Jessica Carr
- Notched her first career double-double vs Purdue-Calumet (Dec. 30).
- 44 of her 63 assists have come at home.
- Tallied career highs in points (22), rebounds (8), and field goals made (8) at SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 20th.
- Recorded game highs in points (16) and assists (6) to lead Valpo to a 79-61 win versus Tennessee Tech on Nov. 22nd.
Abby Dean
- Shooting 50.8% (27-for-53) from the field at home.
- Finished in double figures (14) for the first time in eight games last Tuesday versus Purdue-Calumet.
- Registered a career-high 21 points (9-11 FG) vs. Butler (Nov. 14).
Annemarie Hamlet
- Got her first double-double as a Crusader vs. Purdue-Calumet (Dec. 30).
- Scored 11 points in her Valpo debut vs. Butler (Nov. 14).
Georgi Donchetz
- Made her collegiate debut at South Dakota (Dec. 9) and knocked down her first - and only - three-point attempt.
Anne Hamilton
- Scored 34 points in a three-game span from Dec. 20th to Jan. 3rd.
- Nailed four treys as part of a 16-point first half at SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 20th.
Lexi Miller
- One of two Crusaders that has more assists (32) than turnovers (25).
- Finished a point shy of her career-high at NIU (Nov. 20) as she guided Valpo with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range.
Dani Franklin
- Valpo’s top scorer (12.5 PPG) and field goal shooter (48.4%).
- Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week twice (11/24, 12/15).
- Had her first career double-double (13 pts., 12 rebs) at NIU.
Sharon Karungi
- Returned to action last Thursday at CSU after missing six games.
Jasmyn Walker
- Leads team in rebounding (6.7 RPG), blocks (9), and steals (11).
- Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Jan. 5th.
- Has started all 15 games to open her Crusader career.
Haylee Thompson
- Has scored in double figures three of the last four games.
- Set season highs in points (15) and rebounds (11) vs. Purdue-Calumet.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Out indefinitely (injury).
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.
