Valparaiso (0-7, 0-0 Horizon)
vs. Chicago State (1-6, 0-0 WAC)
Game #8 - Friday, December 6 - 3:30 p.m.
at Toledo (3-3, 0-0 MAC)
Game #9 - Saturday, December 7 - 3:30 p.m.
Savage Arena (7,300) - Toledo, Ohio
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The Crusaders embark on their final road trip of the calendar year as they head to Toledo, Ohio for the Toledo Invite. Valpo will play Chicago State Friday afternoon before turning around to face Toledo on Saturday. Saturday’s contest will end a nine-game stretch that features eight tilts away from the ARC. The Brown and Gold will close out 2013 with matchups versus Butler, Western Michigan, and South Dakota at home.
Last Time Out: Valpo led by 10 points with 7:30 to play in last Sunday’s game versus Montana State, but a desperation buzzer-beater by the Bobcats’ Jackie Elliott tied the game at 75. Montana State scored 21 points in the overtime session to hand the Crusaders a 95-86 defeat. Charae Richardson scored a career-high 23 points and Lexi Miller contributed 16 of her own in addition to a career-best eight rebounds. Miller was named to the All-Tournament Team. Jessi Wiedemann (12) and Liz Horton (11) also finished in double-digits.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Joey Basil (play-by-play) and Renee Turpa (color).
Links for the audio, 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 (11-27) 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: Valpo leads the all-time series versus Chicago State 34-6. Two of the Cougars’ six wins in the series have come in the last two meetings, however. Saturday’s game will be the first ever between the Crusaders and Rockets on the court.
Storylines...
- Friday will be the 41st meeting between Valpo and Chicago State.
- The Crusaders have played Chicago State more than any other team (conference or non-conference) in school history.
- Conversely, Toledo and Valparaiso have never played before.
- Bryce Drew’s sister, Dana, was a two-time MAC Player of the Year at Toledo.
- Toledo has already lost as many home games this season (2) as it did in all of 2012-13.
@ChiStateCougars
- @ChiStateCougars’ only win this season came in the season opener versus Indiana Institute of Technology.
- All but one of @ChiStateCougars’ games have been decided by 14 points or more.
- Opponents have shot just 24.1% from beyond the arc versus @ChiStateCougars.
- @ChiStateCougars are averaging 12.1 steals per game.
- Paris Williams is @ChiStateCougars leading scorer at 14.6 PPG.
- Williams also leads the team in steals (25) and turnovers (31).
- Jasmine Sanders is the only player in double digits in assists (26).
- Angela Jackson is in her 11th season as head coach.
- Jackson is the program’s all-time win leader with 121 victories.
@ToledoWBB
- @ToledoWBB went 29-4 (.879) last season.
- @ToledoWBB were WNIT Champions in 2011.
- Inma Zanoguera is shooting 53% from the field and 85.7% from the free-throw line as she is averaging 15.7 points/game.
- As of 12/1/13, guard Andola Dortch’s 4.5 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked 4th in the nation (27:6).
- As a team, @ToledoWBB is 26th and 28th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) and turnovers per game (13.2), respectively.
- @ToledoWBB has nine players averaging at least 17.3 minutes/game.
- Valpo men’s head basketball coach Bryce Drew’s sister, Dana Drew-Shaw, holds numerous @ToledoWBB records.
- Drew-Shaw is 4th in career points scored for @ToledoWBB with 1,919 and 2nd in career assists with 659.
- Drew-Shaw is one of only two @ToledoWBB players ever to be voted MAC Player of the Year (1991-92, 1993-94) more than once.
- In 2001, Drew-Shaw was inducted into the Toledo Hall of Fame.
- Tricia Cullop is in her sixth season as head coach of @ToledoWBB.
- @ToledoWBB entered 2013-14 with a 125-44 record on Cullop’s watch.
Abby Dean
- Is the Crusaders’ leading free-throw shooter, having made 18 of her last 19 attempts.
- Has made at least two field goals in all but one game in 2013-14.
- Swiped a steal in five of her last six games.
- Boasts a 90.0% FT percentage, which is 3rd in the Horizon League.
- 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
- Has made 14 of her last 15 free-throw attempts.
- Scored a career-high 18 points vs. Tennessee Tech.
- Possesses best assists/turnover ratio of any Crusader (14:18).
- Leads team in steals with 13.
- 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 this past Sunday versus Montana State.
- Dished out a season-high seven assists at Tennessee Tech.
- Leads team in field goal percentage (47.2%).
- 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
- Leads team in three-point field goal percentage (29.4%).
- Has scored 11 points on three different occasions this season (Illinois, #6 Notre Dame, Montana State).
- Averaging 8.3 points in 17 minutes/game.
- 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
- 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.
- Leads team in rebounds (57).
- At 6’2’’, Karungi is tallest player on the Valpo roster.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Has made multiple three-pointers in four 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 (9), and average minutes played (35.7).
- 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.
