Valparaiso (2-8, 0-0 Horizon)
vs. Western Michigan (3-7, 0-0 MAC)
Game #11 - Sunday, December 29 - 1:35 p.m.
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) -
Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The Crusaders are in the middle of a three-game homestand as they welcome Western Michigan to the ARC for a matinee. Last year’s tilt between the Brown and Gold and the Broncos went down to the wire with the 70-69 result going the way of Western Michigan. An Aurielle Anderson layup with two seconds remaining was the game-winner as the Broncos prevailed at University Arena in Kalamazoo. Last season, Valpo went on a three-game winning streak beginning right after Christmas.
Last Time Out: Valpo suffered its first loss in regulation in four games on Dec. 13th against Butler. The Brown and Gold shot just 30% from the floor in the first half against the Bulldogs. Abby Dean cut a deficit that was once 20, down to single digits with a second-half layup. However, Butler extended its comfortable lead shortly thereafter. Sharon Karungi led the Crusader scoring effort with 12, while Jessi Wiedemann and Liz Horton pitched in ten points each.
Following the Crusaders: Video (Horizon League only) - Brandon Vickrey (play-by-play) and Renee’ Turpa (color).
Links for the video, as well as live stats will be 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 (13-28) is in her second season at the helm of the Valparaiso women’s basketball program in 2013-14. 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 2002-2003.
Series Notes: Western Michigan leads the all-time series 7-3 versus Valpo. The two teams played last season for the first time in 16 years. The Broncos took last year’s matchup 70-69 in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan last won in the ARC in December of 1992 by a 104-91 score.
Storylines...
- Sunday is the 11th meeting between these two teams.
- Valpo and Western Michigan continued the series last season after a 16-year hiatus.
- Western Michigan enters Sunday’s tilt on their second three-game losing streak.
- This is only the third home game so far for the Crusaders.
- Both teams feature just one true senior on their rosters.
- Both Tracey Dorow and Shane Clipfell went 11-20 in their first rebuilding year at their respective schools.
Bronco Basketball
- Western Michigan has scored wins over Massachusetts, Detroit, and Chicago State this season.
- Though she has played in only five of Western Michigan’s ten games so far, Miracle Woods has accumulated the second most points of any Bronco (92).
- The 5-foot-11 forward boasts an average of 18.4 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per contest.
- Michelle O’Brien has been the leading rebounder in six of their ten games.
- O’Brien is averaging nearly a double-double per game (9.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG).
- Six of Western Michigan’s first ten opponents are also on Valpo’s schedule (Detroit, Tulsa, Chicago State, IUPUI, UIC, Oakland)..
- Six Broncos have attempted more than five free-throws on the season and four of them are shooting 76% or higher.
- Shane Clipfell is 14-27 in his second season as the head coach of Western Michigan.
- Clipfell spent nine years as head coach at Eastern Michigan where he went 160-103.
Elizabeth Hamlet
- Shot 3-for-5 from the field in Valpo’s 63-61 defeat of Toledo at the Toledo Invite..
Abby Dean
- Leads the Horizon League in free-throw percentage (92%), and has converted 24 of her last 25 attempts from the line.
- Has made at least two field goals in all but one game in 2013-14.
- Distributed multiple assists in each of the last four games.
- Has started every game for the Crusaders.
- Registered a career-high 17 points at Tennessee Tech on Nov. 24th, 2013.
- Scored first collegiate points at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium last November.
- Made collegiate debut on November 14th versus Purdue-Calumet.
- Tossed in 11 points versus Western Michigan in 19 minutes last December.
Lexi Miller
- Averaging over 36 minutes/game the last seven contests.
- Tallied 13 assists to five turnovers during the Toledo Invite.
- Scored a career-high 18 points vs. Tennessee Tech.
- Possesses best assists/turnover ratio of any Crusader (29:28).
- Leads team in steals with 18.
- Accumulated 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals (all career highs at the time) at Saint Louis on Nov. 10th, 2013.
- Made collegiate debut against the Indiana Hoosiers Nov, 9th, 2012.
- Made first start in Hinkle Fieldhouse versus the Butler Bulldogs.
- Scored 13 points in Valpo’s 88-62 victory over UIC on Feb. 16th, 2013.
Charae Richardson
- Scored a career-high 23 points versus Montana State.
- Dished out a season-high seven assists at Tennessee Tech.
- Second on the team in points/game (11.1) and total assists (25).
- Scored 15 points in the season opener at Saint Louis on Nov. 10th, 2013.
- Played in all 31 games for the Crusaders last season, including 28 starts.
- Carried an 84.1 free-throw percentage.
- Scored 18 points at UIC on Jan. 19th, 2013.
- Finished second on the team last season in three-pointers (24) and assists (95).
Liz Horton
- Shooting 16-of-26 from the field including 7-for-10 from behind the arc in December.
- Leads team in both field goal percentage (48.4%) and three-point field goal percentage (44%).
- Has scored exactly 11 points on four different occasions this season (Illinois, #6 Notre Dame, Montana State, Toledo).
- Currently on a streak of four games where she’s been in double digits.
- Appeared in 30 games for the Brown and Gold a season ago.
- Named Crusaders’ Most Improved Player in 2012-13.
- Scored 19 points, including 3-for-3 shooting from behind the arc, at Western Michigan on Dec. 19th.
Sharon Karungi
- Leading scorer (11.4) and rebounder (9.3) for the Crusaders.
- Tied for second in Horizon League with most double-doubles (5).
- Grabbed 14 rebounds in both games of the Toledo Invite en route to Most Valuable Player recognition.
- Scored the game-winning put-back with three seconds to play against Toledo.
- Registered 17 points and 14 boards versus FIU for her third double-double of the season.
- Tallied her second double-double at Tennessee Tech, scoring 11 points and collecting 10 rebounds.
- Recorded her first double-double at Illinois on Nov. 12th, throwing in 15 points and grabbing 12 boards.
- At 6’2’’, Karungi is tallest player on the Valpo roster.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Named to Toledo Invite All-Tournament Team after scoring 15 versus Chicago State and 14 against Toledo.
- Double-digit scorer in six of the last seven games for the Crusaders.
- Has made multiple three-pointers in five games in 2013-14.
- Notched a career-high 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting at Tennessee Tech.
- Leads team in blocks (6), three-pointers (14), and average minutes played (35.8).
- Snapped a season-starting 0-14 slump from behind the arc at #6 Notre Dame, nailing three treys in a nine-point game.
- Played all 40 minutes in the season opener at Saint Louis on Nov. 10th, 2013, and set career highs in blocks (4) and steals (3) while scoring six points.
- Appeared in all 31 games including four starts as a freshman for Coach Dorow.
- Made collegiate debut versus Indiana
- Scored 13 points off the bench versus Detroit on Mar. 9th, 2013.
Roster Breakdown
- Valpo welcomes six new players (two freshmen, four transfers) to its team this season.
- Haylee Thompson and Annemarie Hamlet will sit out this season per NCAA transfer eligibilty rules.
- The Brown and Gold boast players from six different states and two countries.
- Liz Horton is the only true senior on this year’s squad.
