Northern Kentucky (13-8, 5-5 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (8-13, 4-6 Horizon)
Game #22 - Saturday, February 6 - 1:30 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The Crusaders wrap up a five-game homestand Saturday afternoon with their annual Pink Game. Nearly two dozen breast cancer survivors will be honored prior to the 1:30 pm tip. For the Northern Kentucky Norse, it’ll represent their inaugural visit to the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Last Time Out: Jasmyn Walker collected her seventh double-double of the season Thursday night versus Wright State, but the Raiders rode an early lead into a 65-54 win over the Brown and Gold. Freshman Amber Lindfors rejected five shots to move into sixth place in program history for blocks in a season. WSU’s Kim Demmings tallied a game-high 17 points while Antania Hayes added 11.
Following the Crusaders: ESPN3 Only: Parker Gatewood (PxP), Renee’ Turpa (Color), Tommy Mantice (Color). Links for the 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 (31-81) 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: Valpo won the first-ever meeting between the two teams in thrilling fashion at the BB&T Arena in Highland Heights on Dec. 30th. Meredith Hamlet was 10-for-11 from the field for 29 points as the Crusaders held on 61-60 in a crazy finish. NKU trailed 61-58 in the final seconds before Kasey Uetrecht tossed in a layup with four seconds to go to cut it to a one-point game. The Norse regained possession in the offensive end with 1.4 seconds remaining, but Rebecca Lyttle misfired on an open look underneath the basket to give the Brown and Gold their first win of the season in Horizon League play.
Storylines
- Northern Kentucky enters Saturday’s affair as the league’s best three-point shooting team (37.1%). Valpo has limited opponents to 25.7% shooting from beyond the arc at home.
- Valpo is going for its first regular-season series sweep of a Horizon League team since 2011-12 (Butler).
- Tracey Dorow and Northern Kentucky head coach Dawn Plitzuweit faced each other for five seasons while at the helm of the Ferris State and Grand Valley State programs, respectively.
- Sophomore Jasmyn Walker needs just eight more boards to join Valpo’s Top 20 for career rebounds. She currently owns 442, and is more than halfway to breaking the all-time record of 870 set by Tamra Braun.
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 510-600 all-time (as of Feb. 5th).
- @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 in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 48-100 (as of Feb. 5th).
- @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.
@NKUNorseWBB
- @NKUNorseWBB owns a 13-8 record, and a 5-5 mark in HL play.
- @NKUNorseWBB can cap off a 4-0 road trip with a win Saturday.
- @NKUNorseWBB has fared considerably better on the road (4-2) than at home (1-3) in conference.
- @NKUNorseWBB boasts the highest free-throw percentage (78.6%) and 3-point FG percentage (37.1%) in the Horizon League.
- @NKUNorseWBB had its worst three-point shooting performance of the season (2-for-14, 14.3%) against Valpo on Dec. 30th.
- @NKUNorseWBB is led in scoring by senior Christine Roush, who is averaging 15.5 PPG, the sixth-highest total in the league.
- Roush has finished in double figures 18 times in 21 tilts this season, and her 89.5% free-throw percentage is tied for the HL lead.
- Christine’s sister, Courtney, is the owner of the second-highest field-goal percentage in the league (59.0%).
- Kasey Uetrecht leads @NKUNorseWBB in total rebounds (116) and steals (30) while pitching in 11.7 points per game.
- @NKUNorseWBB’s Rianna Gayheart and Valpo’s Hannah Schaub both have racked up 65 assists in 21 games.
- Rebecca Lyttle led @NKUNorseWBB in its previous meeting against Valpo with 22 points and seven boards.
- Lyttle, who is one for her last 14 from the field, has not finished in double figures since the Dec. 30th game against the Crusaders.
- 50 of Lyttle’s 115 rebounds (43.5%) have come on the offensive end.
- @NKUNorseWBB’s Molly Glick scored a season-high 15 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) Thursday night at UIC.
- After transferring from YSU in 2013, Shar’Rae Davis is averaging 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17 minutes for @NKUNorseWBB.
@CoachDawnP
- @CoachDawnP is in her fourth season as head coach of the Norse.
- @CoachDawnP enters Wednesday’s contest with a 182-87 career record, and a 65-48 mark with Northern Kentucky.
- @CoachDawnP has led NKU to three consecutive postseason appearances (all WBI).
- @CoachDawnP spent five seasons as associate head coach at Michigan.
- @CoachDawnP also served as head coach at D-II Grand Valley State for five years.
- @CoachDawnP enjoyed a 117-39 (.750) reign while guiding the Lakers.
- The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan named @CoachDawnP as its Coach of the Year in 2006.
- @CoachDawnP played collegiately for the Michigan Tech Huskies.
- The Huskies amassed a 99-22 record with @CoachDawnP as a four-year starter.
- @CoachDawnP was twice named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year (1994, 1995).
- Furthermore, @CoachDawnP was NCAA’s Michigan Woman of the Year in 1995.
Meredith Hamlet
- Exploded for 29 points at NKU (Dec. 30) on 10-of-11 shooting, the third-highest single-game FG percentage in program history.
- Shooting 43.7% (31-for-71) from three-point range at home.
- Has scored in double figures eleven times (10.3 PPG this season).
- Started in all 21 contests this season.
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow at Valparaiso.
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in steals (24) and tied for watermark in assists (65).
- Disbursed multiple assists in 18 of her 21 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
- Snagged two steals in eight different contests this season.
- Averaged 16.0 PPG from Jan. 16th-23rd thanks to a 17-for-25 (68.0%) shooting performance during that span.
- Logged the most minutes (2,320) 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 21 games of the season.
Georgi Donchetz
- Corralled a career-high five rebounds vs. IU-Northwest on Dec. 12th.
Lexi Miller
- Owns the team’s highest assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4).
- Received her first start of the season last time out vs. Wright State.
- Corralled a season-high seven rebounds last Saturday vs. UIC.
- Tied a career high in assists (8) at Wright State on Jan. 1st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Hit back-to-back treys vs. Youngstown State on Jan. 23rd.
- 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
- Has rejected 16 shots in her last five games, including five in each of her last two contests.
- Leads the Horizon League in blocks per game (2.3).
- Currently in 6th place in program history for blocks in a season (44).
- Swatted six shots on two different occasions this year.
- Accumulated 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
- Shooting 48.8% (42-for-86) through ten Horizon League contests.
- Squeezed a season-most eight rebounds at NKU on Dec. 30th.
- After shooting 50% or higher from the field just once in the first six games of the season, Franklin did so in 12 straight from Dec.7-Jan. 21.
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Has led the team in scoring on five different occasions this year. 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 (9.1 RPG).
- Averaging a double-double in HL play (13.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG).
- Eight boards shy of cracking Valpo’s Top 20 for career rebounds.
- Led the Crusaders in rebounding on 15 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 seven double-doubles this season, and five in her last eight games (N. Colorado, Miami, UDM, Oakland, CSU, YSU, WSU).
- Has started all 51 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
- Has logged an even-numbered total of points in 12 straight games.
- 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.
