UIC (10-9, 1-7 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (8-11, 4-4 Horizon)
Game #20 - Saturday, January 30 - 1:30 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The first half of Horizon League play comes to a close Saturday afternoon at the ARC, and for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign, the Crusaders can find themselves north of the .500 mark. Ruvanna Campbell and the UIC Flames, recipients of a first-place vote in the Horizon League preseason poll, seek to deal Valpo just its second home loss in 52 days.
Last Time Out: Abby Dean’s offensive eruption continued Saturday while sophomore Jasmyn Walker turned in another monster game on both ends of the court in a 65-60 win over Youngstown State. Dean tied a career high with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting to notch her third straight tilt in double figures. Walker registered 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double in the last six games. The Crusaders limited the Penguins to five points over the game’s final six-and-a-half minutes.
Following the Crusaders: Audio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Parker Gatewood (PxP), Renee’ Turpa (Color), Jordan Morandini (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 (31-79) 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: Thanks to a 60-42 win over the Crusaders last January in Chicago, UIC now leads the all-time series 22-21. The Flames have been winners in 11 of the last 14 affairs after snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Brown and Gold in February of 2009. Both teams possess a 13-7 record at home, and none of the 43 contests have required overtime.
Storylines
- The Crusaders recorded a -86 rebounding margin through their first six games. Since then, they’ve hashed out a +87 surplus.
- Saturday’s game features the No. 1 and No. 2 rebounders in the HL in Ruvanna Campbell (13.1 RPG) and Jasmyn Walker (9.0 RPG).
- With a victory, Valpo can move to 5-4 in conference play for just the second time since moving to the Horizon League (2008-09).
- A win would also give the Brown and Gold back-to-back non-losing months for the first time since January and February of the 2008-09 season.
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 510-598 all-time (as of Jan. 29th).
- @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 reached the eight-win mark for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
- Last season, @ValpoWBB did not record its fifth win until February 5th. It did so on Dec. 30th this season.
- @ValpoWBB is averaging 5.6 steals/game this season, compared to 3.7/tilt in 2014-15.
@ValpoWBB in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 48-98 (as of Jan. 29th).
- @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’s win at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 30th gave it its first road win in a Horizon League opener since becoming a member.
@UIC_WBasketball
- @UIC_WBasketball enters Saturday’s affair with a 10-9 overall record, but a 1-7 mark in Horizon League play.
- @UIC_WBasketball received a first-place vote in the HL preseason poll as part of a 3rd-place prognostication.
- @UIC_WBasketball experienced a five-game winning streak and a seven-game losing skid during its first 18 contests.
- Five of @UIC_WBasketball’s seven losses in league play have been by single digits.
- Of the 462 field goals @UIC_WBasketball has made this season, just 68 of those have been three-pointers.
- One of the top rebounding teams in the Horizon League, @UIC_WBasketball averages a league-leading 16.3 offensive boards/game.
- Ruvanna Campbell leads @UIC_WBasketball with 17.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in addition to 27 blocks and 36 steals.
- Campbell’s rebounding numbers rank fifth in the nation.
- Only five players in the country have posted more double-doubles than Campbell (12).
- Campbell is logging 36.9 minutes per game, more than any other player in the Horizon League.
- Last season, Campbell set the Horizon League record for highest rebounding average in league play in a season (15.4 RPG).
- Campbell was voted the 2015-16 HL Preseason Player of the Year after garnering HL Defensive Player of the Year accolades, and a First Team All-Horizon League Team nod in 2014-15.
- Redshirt junior Kendyl Nunn is adding 12.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in her first season with @UIC_WBasketball.
@UICCoachMiller
- @UICCoachMiller is in her fifth season as head coach of the Flames.
- @UICCoachMiller owns a 314-292 career record, including a 79-66 mark at UIC.
- In her 21st season as a head coach, @UICCoachMiller’s teams have gone 169-129 in non-conference play, and 145-163 in conference.
- @UICCoachMiller led the Flames to a WBI Championship in 2013-14.
- @UICCoachMiller’s first head coaching job was at Western Illinois from 1992-1998.
- @UICCoachMiller guided the Leathernecks to an NCAA appearance in 1995, one year after earning Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year honors.
- Following her six seasons in Macomb, @UICCoachMiller was bench boss at UNLV from 1998-2008.
- The Runnin’ Rebels made six postseason appearances under @UICCoachMiller, including an NCAA Tournament berth in 2002.
- @UICCoachMiller went 175-125 in ten seasons at UNLV.
- @UICCoachMiller played collegiately at Old Dominion, where she helped lead the Lady Monarchs to a Final Four appearance in 1983.
Meredith Hamlet
- Shooting 48.3% (28-for-58) from three-point range at home.
- Has scored in double figures eleven times (10.6 PPG this season).
- Exploded for 29 points at NKU (Dec. 30) on 10-of-11 shooting, the third-highest single-game FG percentage in program history.
- Started all 19 games this season.
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow at Valparaiso.
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in assists (60) and steals (23).
- Disbursed multiple assists in 16 of her 19 games.
- 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).
- Has over 2,600 followers on Twitter (@xoxolouise21).
Abby Dean
- Matched a career high with 21 points (9-13 FG) in Valpo’s 65-60 win over Youngstown State last Saturday.
- Averaging 16.0 PPG over her last three games thanks to a 17-for-25 (68.0%) shooting performance during that span.
- Logged the most minutes (2,256) of any Crusader on the roster.
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Has not appeared in any of the first 19 games of the season.
Georgi Donchetz
- Corralled a career-high five rebounds vs. IU-Northwest on Dec. 12th.
Lexi Miller
- Owns the team’s best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).
- Has not missed from the foul line since Jan. 9th (8-for-8 since).
- Tied a career high in assists (8) at Wright State on Jan. 1st.
- Finished in double figures eight times last season, including a career-high 21 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 21st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Hit back-to-back treys vs. Youngstown State last time out.
- Led the Crusaders in scoring at Green Bay with 14 points (5-10 FG).
- Went off for a game-high 12 points versus Louisville on Dec. 5th.
- Set the NJCAA record for three-pointers in a single season (143) last year at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Amber Lindfors
- Finished one board shy of a double-double vs. CSU (10 pts, 9 rebs).
- Leads the Horizon League in blocks per game (2.0).
- Currently in 9th place in program history for blocks in a season (34).
- Swatted six shots on two different occasions this year.
- Amassed more blocks through ten games (22) than any Crusader in an entire season over the past eight years.
- At 6’4’’, she is the tallest Crusader since Stefanie Lang (2010-12).
Dani Franklin
- Boasts a 50.7% field goal percentage (34-for-67) in league play.
- Tallied 14 boards, six blocks, and five steals in her last three games.
- After shooting 50% or higher from the field just once in the first six games of the season, Franklin has done so in 12 of her last 13.
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Led Valpo in scoring against Miami (Ohio) for the first time this season with 18 points. She did so 12 times last season.
- 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.
- Shot a team-high 85.7% (42-49) from the foul line as a freshman.
Allison Schofield
- Scored five points at Green Bay (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG) on Jan. 14th.
- Made her collegiate debut in the season opener at Butler.
Jasmyn Walker
- Valpo’s leading scorer (12.3 PPG) and rebounder (9.0 RPG).
- Averaging 17 points and 14.3 boards in her last four games at the ARC.
- Led the Crusaders in rebounding on 13 separate occasions this year.
- Set a career high in field goals (9) against Oakland on Jan. 9th.
- Cradled a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Detroit on Jan. 7th.
- Possesses six double-doubles this season, and four in her last six games (N. Colorado, Miami, UDM, Oakland, CSU, YSU).
- Has started all 49 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
- Received two starting assignments.
- Posted for a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Crusaders’ 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Poured in 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) in 12 minutes off the bench at Butler.
