SIU-Edwardsville (5-6, 0-0 Ohio Valley)
at Valparaiso (2-7, 0-0 Horizon)
Game #10 - Saturday, December 19 - 4:00 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: With the final week of non-league play approaching, the Valpo women’s basketball team prepares to take on SIU-Edwardsville Saturday afternoon. The 4:00 pm CT tilt is the back-end of an exciting basketball doubleheader at the Athletics-Recreation Center. A paid ticket to the men’s game versus Missouri State grants fans free admission to the women’s contest.
Last Time Out: Five Crusaders finished in double figures as Valpo sailed to a 79-57 win over IU-Northwest last Saturday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Freshman Meredith Hamlet raised the nylon on all five of her three-point attempts in the second half to log a season-high 19 points. Classmate Amber Lindfors notched her first career double-double with a 13-point, 10-rebound performance that included six blocks. The Brown and Gold shot 50% (33-66) from the field as they hashed out a 52-38 rebounding margin.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Renee’ Turpa (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 (25-75) 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: SIU-Edwardsville leads the all-time series, 2-1. Jessica Carr and Anne Hamilton combined for 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting (9-for-15 3-point FG) last December at the Vadalabene Center, but Tierny Austin scored 14 of her game-high 25 points in the second half to propel the Cougars to a 77-65 win over the Crusaders. The home team has won each of the three games in the matchup.
Storylines
- No team in Division I basketball gets to the free-throw line more frequently than SIU-Edwardsville (25.5 FTAs per game).
- Valpo’s opponents have shot 6-for-39 (15.3%) from beyond the arc in the second half of games this month.
- The Cougars erased their largest halftime deficit - 24 points - since moving to Division I last time out against Nebraska-Omaha.
- Both teams possess a negative rebounding margin: SIUE (-4.5), Valpo (-7.0).
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 504-594 all-time (as of Dec. 18th).
- @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 in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 44-94 (through end of 2014-15 season).
- @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 vs. @OVCSports
- @ValpoWBB is 13-10 all-time against current members of the @OVCSports.
- @ValpoWBB went 1-1 last season vs. @OVCSports teams, defeating Tennessee Tech, 79-61, at home, but falling on the road to SIUE, 77-65.
- @ValpoWBB’s 53-50 win over @OVCSports’ Eastern Illinois on Dec. 20th, 2011 marked Keith Freeman’s final non-league win as Valpo head coach.
@SIUECougarsWB
- @SIUECougarsWB enters Saturday’s game with a 5-6 record.
- @SIUECougarsWB handed Saint Louis its first - and only - loss of the season on Dec. 7th, a 71-64 result at the Vadalabene Center.
- @SIUECougarsWB made the transition from Division II to Division I in 2008.
- @SIUECougarsWB joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2011-12, and took the league by storm that year with a 12-4 conference record.
- @SIUECougarsWB’s first win as a member of the OVC came over Valpo (Nov. 12th, 2011).
- @SIUECougarsWB has collected a 41-23 record in OVC play since gaining membership.
- @SIUECougarsWB has scored more points from the line (194) than the perimeter (123).
- @SIUECougarsWB has been outscored 407-319 (-89) in the first half of games this season, but have rallied for a +36 margin after halftime.
- Shronda Butts leads @SIUECougarsWB in scoring (19.5 PPG), assists (3.5 APG), and minutes played (37.5 MPG).
- Butts tied a career high in points this past Sunday for @SIUECougarsWB, dropping in 30 in a 90-86 overtime win over Nebraska-Omaha.
- Butts is 4th in the nation in free-throw attempts (82), 5th in made free-throws (65), and 31st in points per game.
- While opponents have been whistled for 235 fouls (21.3/game) already this season, @SIUECougarsWB has committed 216 (19.6/game) itself.
- Butts’ 65 points from the charity stripe equal more than any Crusader on the season aside from Jasmyn Walker, Meredith Hamlet, or Dani Franklin.
- Butts (164) has taken 25.2% of @SIUECougarsWB’s shots this season (650).
- @SIUECougarsWB’s CoCo Moore also pitches in 11.1 points per game and leads the team in steals (25).
- @SIUECougarsWB’s Donshel Beck has quietly hashed out 9.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
@CoachBuscher
- @CoachBuscher is in her fourth season as head coach of the Cougars.
- @CoachBuscher possesses a 242-266 overall record, including a 51-52 mark at SIU-Edwardsville.
- The Cougars have advanced to the OVC Tournament every year since @CoachBuscher took over.
- @CoachBuscher served as bench boss at Bradley University for 12 years before coming to Edwardsville.
- @CoachBuscher is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach at Bradley.
- @CoachBuscher was inducted into the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
Meredith Hamlet
- Has scored in double figures six times this season (11.0 PPG).
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow.
- Broke McBain High School’s scoring record previously held by older sisters, Annemarie and Elizabeth (1,856).
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in assists (27) and steals (17).
- 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).
- Was a five-year letterwinner at Park Center HS (Minn.).
- Has over 2,600 followers on Twitter (@xoxolouise21).
Abby Dean
- Recorded a field goal in every game this season.
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
- Eclipsed the 100-assist plateau at San Diego (Nov. 27).
- Enters Saturday’s game four steals shy of matching her 2014-15 output.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Has not appeared in any of the first nine games of the season.
Georgi Donchetz
- Corralled a career-high five rebounds last time out vs. IU-Northwest.
- Spent much of her rookie campaign rehabbing from a knee injury.
Lexi Miller
- Scored 11 second-half points to help lead the Crusaders to a 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
- Racked up four assists and knocked down three treys at San Diego.
- Has logged multiple assists in six of her last seven games played.
- Finished in double figures eight times last season, including a career-high 21 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 21st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Went off for a game-high 12 points versus Louisville on Dec. 5th.
- Sank three treys at the KFC Yum! Center.
- Nailed a pair of threes at San Diego (Nov. 27).
- Set the NJCAA record for three-pointers in a single season (143) last year at Dakota College at Bottineau.
- Averaged 22.4 PPG for the 2014-15 Ladyjacks.
Amber Lindfors
- Leads the Horizon League in blocks per game (2.11).
- Swatted six shots on two different occasions this year.
- Secured a season-high nine rebounds Monday vs. Cardinal Stritch.
- Recorded six blocks in the first half versus Miami (Ohio), the third-most ever in a game by a Crusader.
- Tallied season highs in points (7) vs. #3 Notre Dame on Nov. 23rd.
- At 6’4’’, she is the tallest Crusader since Stefanie Lang (2010-12).
Dani Franklin
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Led Valpo in scoring last Wednesday for the first time this season with 18 points. She did so 12 times last season.
- Scored 11 points against Akron (12/9) and San Diego (11/27).
- Reigning Horizon League 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.
- Led the Brown and Gold in scoring on 11 separate occasions in 2014-15.
- Shot a team-high 85.7% (42-49) from the foul line as a freshman.
Allison Schofield
- Made her first appearance in a Crusader uniform in the season opener at Butler.
- Helped lead her AAU team, Indiana Blizzard, to a national championship.
Jasmyn Walker
- Valpo’s leading scorer (12.0 PPG) and rebounder (8.0 RPG).
- Has two double-doubles on the season (13 pts, 13 rebs vs. Northern Colorado; 11 pts, 11 rebs vs. Miami [Ohio]).
- Picked up right where she left off in the season debut, collecting eight rebounds and two blocks to go with 13 points.
- Has started all 39 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
- Erupted for a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Crusaders’ 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
- Tallied back-to-back double-doubles on Dec. 30th and Jan. 3rd last season.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Returned to the floor last Saturday for the first time since Nov. 28th.
- Reverted to 2013-14 form in the season opener at Butler, pouring in 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) in 12 minutes off the bench.
- Missed 23 games last season due to a back injury.
