Valparaiso (4-9, 0-0 Horizon)
at Cleveland State (8-5, 0-0 Horizon)
Game #14 - Thursday, January 8 - 4:00 p.m. CT
Wolstein Center (8,500) - Cleveland, Ohio
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso aims to duplicate its regular season start when Horizon League play opens Thursday evening in Cleveland. The Crusaders raced out to a 3-1 record through their first four games of November, but enter conference action at 4-9 overall. Thursday’s meeting represents the third of five trips to the state of Ohio for Valpo in 2014-15.
Last Time Out: Haylee Thompson constructed her second double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) in as many games, but Stetson assembled a 17-2 second half run en route to a 73-62 win over the Crusaders at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. The Hatters were powered by Indiana native Jama Sharp, who reached 1,000 career points as part of her 17-point day. Freshman Jasmyn Walker fueled the Crusaders with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - Valpo Sports Radio Network (WVUR, 95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Parker Gatewood (Color). Video - ESPN3.com. Links for the audio, video, and live stats are 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 (21-54) is in her third season at the helm of the Valparaiso women’s basketball program in 2014-15. She collected her 250th career victory on November 14th, 2014 after a 91-57 walloping 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: Valparaiso owns a 14-12 advantage all-time over Cleveland State in a series that began in January of 1989. The Vikings have won three consecutive contests over the Brown and Gold. Despite CSU’s 82-74 victory over the Crusaders last season at the Wolstein Center, Valpo is 9-4 all-time versus the Vikings away from the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Storylines...
- The Vikings are 43.3% field-goal shooters. Their opponents have shot 43.2% from the field.
- Ten of Cleveland State’s 13 games have been decided by ten points or fewer. All of Valpo’s 13 tilts have been 11-point-or-greater affairs.
- The Crusaders have dropped six consecutive Horizon League road openers. They’ve been held to 55 points or fewer in five of those.
@ValpoWBB...
- @ValpoWBB closed out the 2013-14 slate with a 6-25 overall record, 3-13 in the Horizon League.
- @ValpoWBB was picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League in the 2014-15 Preseason Poll.
- @ValpoWBB is 11th in the nation in defensive rebounds/game (31).
- Three @ValpoWBB players (Thompson, Hamlet, Carr) recorded double-doubles in last Tuesday’s win over Purdue-Calumet.
- @ValpoWBB is the only Horizon League team with a negative turnover margin (-0.6).
@ClevelandStWBB...
- @ClevelandStWBB finished 2013-14 with a 14-16 overall record, and a 9-7 mark in the Horizon League.
- Since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, @ClevelandStWBB is 25-11 at the Wolstein Center.
- Through 13 games, @ClevelandStWBB has scored two more points than its opponents (951-949).
- @ClevelandStWBB is led by Cori Coleman (16.3 PPG, 28 steals), Imani Gordon (15.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG), and Kiersten Green (12.2 PPG).
- Gordon was voted a preseason All-League First Team member, while Coleman garnered Second Team honors.
- Green’s 42.9% mark from three-point range is 35th in the country.
- @ClevelandStWBB’s Kate Peterson Abiad is in her 12th season as head coach of the Vikings.
- Peterson Abiad is the longest-tenured head women’s basketball coach in the Horizon League.
- As a player, Peterson Abiad was an honorable mention All-American at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Jessica Carr
- Notched her first career double-double vs Purdue-Calumet (Dec. 30).
- Tallied career highs in points (22), rebounds (8), and field goals made (8) at SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 20th.
- Recorded game highs in points (16) and assists (6) to lead Valpo to a 79-61 win versus Tennessee Tech on Nov. 22nd.
Abby Dean
- Finished in double figures (14) for the first time in eight games last Tuesday versus Purdue-Calumet.
- Registered a career-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting vs. Butler on Nov. 14th.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Got her first double-double as a Crusader vs. Purdue-Calumet (Dec. 30).
- Scored 11 points in her Valpo debut vs. Butler (Nov. 14).
Georgi Donchetz
- Made her collegiate debut at South Dakota (Dec. 9) and knocked down her first - and only - three-point attempt.
Anne Hamilton
- Has averaged 11.3 PPG in her last three games and has been perfect from the free-throw line during that span.
- Nailed four treys as part of a 16-point first half at SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 20th.
Lexi Miller
- Owns the team’s best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2).
- Finished a point shy of her career-high at NIU (Nov. 20) as she guided Valpo with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range.
Dani Franklin
- Valpo’s top scorer (13.3 PPG) and field goal shooter (48.9%).
- Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week twice (11/24, 12/15).
- Had her first career double-double (13 pts., 12 rebs) at NIU.
Sharon Karungi
- Listed as questionable (injury).
Jasmyn Walker
- Valpo’s leading rebounder (6.6 RPG) and shot blocker (9).
- Named Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Monday.
- Has started all 13 games to open her Crusader career.
Haylee Thompson
- Has clinched a double-double in back-to-back games for Valpo.
- Set season highs in points (15) and rebounds (11) vs. Purdue-Calumet.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Out indefinitely (injury).
Roster Breakdown
- Valpo welcomes four new faces (all freshmen) to its team this season.
- Valparaiso boasts players from seven different states and two countries.
- The Crusaders possess five players 6’0’’ or taller.
