Wright State (13-4, 2-1 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (4-12, 0-3 Horizon)
Game #17 - Saturday, January 17 - 1:35 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) -Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso wraps up its three-game homestand Saturday afternoon at 1:35 pm. Despite the loss of Preseason Player of the Year Kim Demmings, Wright State enters Saturday’s tilt winners of five of its last six contests and owners of a 13-4 record. Player of the Year candidate Tay’ler Mingo (22.7 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.7 SPG) will lead the charge for the Raiders while Jasmyn Walker seeks to continue her excellence in Horizon League play (15.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG).
Last Time Out: The iron was unkind to the Brown and Gold Thursday night vs. Oakland. Valpo made just one of its 15 attempts from three-point range in a 71-54 loss to the Golden Grizzlies. Jasmyn Walker finished a free-throw shy of her second double-double in three games while Haylee Thompson steered Valpo with 14 points and seven rebounds. Nola Anderson (17 pts, 12 rebs.) and Leah Somerfield (13 pts, 5-7 FG) helped Oakland to its first ever 2-0 start in HL play.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - Valpo Sports Radio Network (WVUR, 95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Parker Gatewood (PxP), Brandon Vickrey (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 (21-57) 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: The all-times series that began in 1990 is deadlocked at 12-12. Wright State has won four in a row over the Brown and Gold, but the Crusaders are 9-4 all-time at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Raiders’ last loss at the ARC came on March 1st, 2012, a 70-60 defeat to Valpo.
Storylines...
- The Raiders have scored 99 more points at the free-throw line (270) than the Crusaders (171) this season.
- Wright State possesses a +183 scoring margin in the second half. Valpo owns a -113 scoring margin in the closing period.
- The Crusaders are 0-9 this season when trailing at halftime. Their last second-half come-from-behind victory came on 3/9/13 (vs. Detroit).
@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.
- Jasmyn Walker is averaging 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over the last five contests.
- Jessica Carr hasn’t attempted a three-pointer the last two games.
@WSURaiders...
- @WSURaiders finished 2013-14 with a 26-9 overall record, and a 12-4 mark in the Horizon League.
- @WSURaiders defeated Milwaukee, Youngstown State, and Green Bay last spring to win the Horizon League Tournament.
- @WSURaiders’ Kim Demmings was chosen as the Horizon League’s 2014 Preseason Player of the Year.
- Demmings suffered an injury one minute and 28 seconds into this year’s regular season opener and hasn’t played since.
- @WSURaiders’ Tay’ler Mingo has more than filled the void left by Demmings’ injury, as she is averaging 22.7 PPG and 5.0 APG.
- Mingo is 3rd in the nation in steals/game (3.71). Her season total of 63 is more than the Crusaders have recorded as a team (59).
- Only one player in the nation averages more offensive boards per game than @WSURaiders’ Tayler Stanton (5). As a team, the Raiders are 6th in the country in offensive rebounding.
- @WSURaiders’ Mike Bradbury is in his 5th season as head coach.
- @WSURaiders assistant coach Keith Freeman was the head coach at Valparaiso from 1994-2012.
Jessica Carr
- Has dished out five or more assists six times in the last seven games.
- Notched her first career double-double vs Purdue-Calumet (Dec. 30).
- 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
- Has made at least one free-throw in each of the last seven games.
- 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 (33) than turnovers (28).
- Has recorded an assist in every game she’s played in this season.
- 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 (12.0 PPG) and the HL’s best 3-point shooter (44.2%).
- 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 Jan. 8th at CSU after missing six games.
Jasmyn Walker
- Leads team in rebounds (6.9 RPG), blocks (9), and steals (11).
- Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Jan. 5th.
- Has started all 16 games to open her Crusader career.
Haylee Thompson
- Has scored in double figures four of the last five 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.
