#6/6 NOTRE DAME (6-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) at VALPARAISO (1-2, 0-0 Mid-Con)

WHEN: Tuesday, November 30, 2004, 7:05 p.m. CST.

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

RADIO: WVUR (95.1-FM, Valparaiso). Andy Viano and Andrew Hansen broadcasting. Also on the web at www.valpo.edu/athletics. The game will also be broadcast on WJOB (1230-AM, Hammond) with Brian Jennings and Julie Fallon calling the action.

TV: Tape Delay. Comcast Cablevision Local Access. Dick Harlan and Paul Curtis broadcasting. The game will air on Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is led by Keith Freeman, who is in his 17th season of coaching, and 11th with the Crusaders. He is 305-167 overall and 176-120 at Valpo. Notre Dame is led by Muffet McGraw, who is 478-190 in her 23rd season overall and 390-149 in her 18th season with the Fighting Irish.

SERIES RECORD: Notre Dame leads the all-time series with the Crusaders 17-0.

LAST MEETING: The Fighting Irish defeated Valpo 74-57 in Notre Dame, Ind. on November 21, 2003. Jenna Stangler and Mayella Kuikhoven led the Crusaders with 15 points each, while Jacqueline Batteast led Notre Dame with 15 points and ten rebounds.

After picking up their first victory of the season on Sunday afternoon against Saint Xavier, the Valparaiso Crusaders open their home campaign on Tuesday night against the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

FREEMAN TO MAKE PLEDGE IN FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: Head coach Keith Freeman is looking for fans to help pack the Athletics-Recreation Center to help lead the Crusaders to a win over Notre Dame and at the same time help the American Cancer Society win in the battle with cancer. Freeman is pledging to donate $1,000 to the American Cancer Society if 3,000 fans attend the Valpo-Notre Dame game.

STANGLER HOT FROM FIELD EARLY ON: Jenna Stangler has been on fire from the floor through the first three games of the season. The senior has connected on 54% of her attempts from the floor and enters play against Notre Dame averaging 21.3 points per game. She is ranks second in the Mid-Con in scoring after tying her career high with 26 points against Saint Xavier on Sunday.

BOONE DOES LITTLE THINGS: Katie Boone filled up the stat column in categories other than scoring on Sunday. The senior point guard dished out seven assists, grabbed six rebounds, and registered five steals in Valpo's victory.

CRUSADERS TAKE CARE OF BASKETBALL: Despite playing team's receiving votes in the top-25 rankings in two of the first three games, Valpo has taken care of the basketball on offense. The Crusaders are averaging just 13.3 turnover per game, while forcing 20.0 from opponents. Valpo leads the Mid-Con in both fewest turnovers per game and turnover margin.

FREE THROWS NOT FALLING EARLY: Valpo is shooting just 57.8% from the free throw line through three games this season. The Crusaders struggled Sunday, connecting on just 52.9%.

NOTRE DAME NOTES: Notre Dame enters the game ranked sixth in the nation after capturing the Sportsview.tv Preseason WNIT as part of a six-game winning streak to open the season. The Fighting Irish are playing their second straight road game after opening the year with five games at home. Notre Dame defeated Southern California 60-56 on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Jacqueline Batteast leads the Fighting Irish in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game. The senior has also grabbed 5.7 rebounds per game and dished out 4.7 assists per contest. Batteast has been selected as the preseason Player of the Year in the BIG EAST.

Megan Duffy has added 13.2 points per contest, while shooting 45.5% from three-point range. She leads the team with 5.2 assists per contest. Duffy has also made 96.9% of her free throws on the year.

Notre Dame was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST this season.