Youngstown State (18-7, 7-5 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (6-18, 2-9 Horizon)
Game #25 - Saturday, February 21 - 1:35 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso opens its final homestand of the 2014-15 campaign when Youngstown State visits the Athletics-Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. The Penguins, who opened the season 10-0, are led by seniors Heidi Schlegel (16.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG) and Latisha Walker (10.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG).
Last Time Out: A 12-minute field goal drought by the Brown and Gold allowed Green Bay to run away with an 87-45 victory Thursday night at the Kress Events Center. Freshman Jasmyn Walker posted her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Lexi Miller pitched in 12 points, but the Phoenix used a 23-0 run to sprint out to a 45-15 halftime lead. Tesha Buck led the way for Green Bay with 16 points as the home team had five players finish in double figures.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - Valpo Sports Radio Network (WVUR, 95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Renee’ Turpa (Color), Tommy Mantice (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 (23-63) 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: Youngstown State leads the all-time series 21-14. The Penguins have taken seven of the last eight meetings after breaking up a stretch where the Crusaders won four of five from 2008-2010. This is the latest in a season that a conference series has ever started.
Storylines
- With 197, Youngstown State needs just three treys for its fifth consecutive season with at least 200 three-pointers made.
- At 2-9 in Horizon League play, Valparaiso can move to within a game of eighth-place Milwaukee (4-8) with four to go.
- The Penguins are 29-14 in their last 43 games.
@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 in search of its first win in an afternoon contest this season (all six wins have come after 5:00 pm local time).
@YSUWomensHoops
- @YSUWomensHoops enter Saturday afternoon’s game with an 18-7 record, and a 7-5 mark in Horizon League play.
- @YSUWomensHoops is shooting a league-high 35.9% from beyond the arc.
- At 77.3%, @YSUWomensHoops is the best free-throw shooting team in the Horizon League.
- @YSUWomensHoops’ Heidi Schlegel (17.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG) is making a strong case for the HL Player of the Year award.
- 448 of Schlegel’s 1,530 career points (29.3%) have come from the charity stripe. For her career, Schlegel is a 78.9% free-throw shooter.
- Freshman Nikki Arbanas has quickly established herself as one of the best shooters in the HL (44.9% FG, 43.6% 3FG, 85.4% FT).
- After opening the 2013-14 HL schedule 6-0, @YSUWomensHoops went 10-0 overall in its first ten contests in 2014-15.
- John Barnes is in his second season as head coach of @YSUWomensHoops.
- Barnes has held coaching positions at Michigan Tech (2003-10), Wisconsin (2010-11), Michigan (2011-12), and Green Bay (2012-13).
Jessica Carr
- Distributed a career-high 11 assists at Milwaukee (Jan. 21) en route to her second double-double in seven games.
- Tallied career bests 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
- Averaging 10.2 PPG in home games, 5.5 PPG away from the ARC.
- Last finished in double figures (14 points) versus Green Bay (Jan 29).
- Registered a career-high 21 points (9-11 FG) vs. Butler (Nov. 14).
Annemarie Hamlet
- Had her first double-double against Purdue-Calumet (Dec. 30).
- Scored 11 points in her Valpo debut vs. Butler (Nov. 14).
Georgi Donchetz
- Scored nine points off the bench last time out versus Green Bay.
- Made her collegiate debut at South Dakota (Dec. 9) and knocked down her first - and only - three-point attempt.
Anne Hamilton
- Accrued 11 points, five boards, four assists, and three steals in just 19 minutes of action at Detroit (Feb. 5th).
- Scored 34 points in a three-game span from Dec. 20th to Jan. 3rd.
Lexi Miller
- Has made a FG and doled out at least one assist in every game this season.
- Guided Valpo with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range at Northern Illinois (Nov. 20).
Dani Franklin
- Averaging 18.3 points in her last three games.
- Valpo’s top scorer (13.2 PPG) and best field goal shooter (48.6%).
- Tied for the lead in Horizon League Freshman of the Week awards with three (11/24, 12/15, 2/9).
Sharon Karungi
- Posted her first double-double since 3/1/14 at Wright State (Feb. 7), tallying 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- Returned to form at UIC (Jan. 27) where she scored eight points and squeezed ten boards.
Jasmyn Walker
- Has tallied two straight double-doubles and sports five overall.
- Paced Valpo in rebounding on 11 different occasions in 2014-15.
- Leads team in rebounds (7.5 RPG) and blocks (11).
- Tied for the lead in Horizon League Freshman of the Week awards with three (1/5, 1/19, 2/16).
Haylee Thompson
- Owner of two double-doubles this season (Purdue-Calumet, Stetson).
- Set season highs in points (15) and rebounds (11) vs. Purdue-Calumet.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Out indefinitely (injury).
