NAVY (2-2, 0-0 Patriot) at VALPARAISO (2-2, 0-0 Mid-Con)

WHEN: Sunday, December 1, 2002, 2:05 p.m. CST.

WHERE: Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000), Valparaiso, Ind.

RADIO: WVUR (95.1-FM), Valparaiso. Tim Harwood will provide the play-by-play, with Ed Schillinger providing the color commentary.

TV: AT&T Cable. (Tape Delay). TR Harlan and Paul Curtis broadcasting.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is led by Keith Freeman, who is in his 15th season of coaching, and 9th with the Crusaders. He is 268-142 overall and 139-95 with Valpo. Navy is led by Joe Sanchez, who is 434-276 in his 25th season overall and 127-102 in his 9th season with the Midshipmen.

SERIES RECORD: Valpo leads the overall series 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Valpo defeated Navy 71-64 last season in Annapolis, Md. Kathryn Knoester led the Crusaders with 16 points while Amber Schober added 15. Courtney Davidson led Navy with 22 points.

The Valparaiso Crusaders look for back-to-back victories as the Brown and Gold hosts Navy at the ARC. The Crusaders are coming off of a 91-48 victory over Concordia (Wis.) on Saturday afternoon and are in the midst of a three-game homestand.

TWO CRUSADERS EARN MID-CON PRESEASON HONORS: A pair of Crusaders were named to the Mid-Continent Conference Preseason Teams. Senior Jeanette Gray averaged 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last year to help earn her a spot on the Preseason First Team. Sophomore Katie Boone, last year's Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year, was named to the Preseason Second Team after averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 assists per contest last season. She led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio.

GRAY ON THE CHARTS: Valparaiso senior Jeanette Gray is among the Crusaders top-ten all-time in several categories. Her 1,153 points rank seventh all-time, while her 558 rebounds rank her ninth. Gray also ranks sixth with 465 field goals and has moved into sixth with 157 career steals.

GRAY NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Jeanette Gray was named to the Spartan Chevrolet Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game over the weekend. The senior also registered five steals. Gray tallied 20 points in the consolation game victory over Fresno State.

KNOCKING DOWN FREE THROWS: Valparaiso has made 76.3% of its free throws on the season thus far after shooting just 65.6% for the season last year. Lauren Bechtold has been a perfect 11-for-11 to begin her collegiate career for the Brown and Gold.

FOR THREE: Entering the Navy game, Valpo has made at least one three-pointer in 93 consecutive contests. The last time the Crusaders failed to knock down a trey was Nov. 23, 1999 against Purdue. Valpo has hit at least one in 121 of its last 122 games.

NAVY NOTES:
Navy enters today's game 2-2 after falling 77-72 at Eastern Illinois on Friday evening. The Midshipmen led by one at halftime, but the hosts shot 54.2% from the floor in the second half for the victory.

Lisa Steinmetz led Navy with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, while Courtney Davidson added 13 points and Maile Shimoda and Bryanna Herring each added 11.

The Mids opened their season with an eight point loss to Providence, but rebounded for back-to-back victories over Yale and Towson.

Davidson leads the team averaging 19.8 points per game, while Steinmetz is tallying 11.8 per contest.

Today's game is the second of three straight road contests for Navy, as the Midshipmen will travel to UMBC on Wednesday night.

DOWN THE ROAD: The Crusaders will conclude their three-game homestand on on Wednesday evening in a 7:05 p.m. game against nationally-ranked Notre Dame here at the ARC. The Brown and Gold will then travel to Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 7 for the Hoosier State Classic. Valpo will battle Ball State at 1 p.m. CST on the campus of Butler University. Valpo will return to the ARC on Dec. 13 to host DePaul in a 7:05 p.m. tip-off.