IU-Kokomo (4-7, 0-1 KIAC)
at Valparaiso (3-7, 0-0 Horizon)
Game #11 - Monday, December 21 - 7:00 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: A five-game homestand comes to a close for the Valpo women’s basketball team Monday night when IU-Kokomo visits the Athletics-Recreation Center for a 7:00 pm tipoff. In just their second year of existence, the Cougars are coached by former Crusader Whitney Farris. The Kokomo native appeared in 109 games for the Brown and Gold from 2006-2010.
Last Time Out: One of Valpo’s best defensive efforts of the calendar year resulted in a 69-56 win over visiting SIU-Edwardsville Saturday afternoon at the ARC. Abby Dean, Dani Franklin, and Meredith Hamlet all scored in double figures while freshman Amber Lindfors seized ten rebounds. The Crusaders held SIUE to 36 points over the game’s final 30 minutes while enjoying a 51-30 rebounding margin, their deepest surplus since outboarding Purdue Calumet by 27 back on Dec. 30th, 2014.
Following the Crusaders: Audio - WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Renee’ Turpa (Color), David Horak (Color). Video - ESPN3. Links for the audio, video, and live stats are available at ValpoAthletics.com. In addition, follow @ValpoWBB on Twitter for in-game updates and a behind-the-scenes look at the Crusaders throughout the season.
Head Coach Tracey Dorow: Tracey Dorow (26-75) is in her fourth season at the helm of the Valparaiso women’s basketball program in 2015-16. She collected her 250th career victory on November 14th, 2014 after a 91-57 defeat 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: Monday represents the inaugural meeting between the two teams on the hardwood. For Valpo, this is the last of three contests versus non-Division I schools (Cardinal Stritch, IU-Northwest). The Crusader men hosted IU-Kokomo on Nov. 18th at the ARC. The Brown and Gold emerged with a 78-40 victory over the Cougars behind 20 points from Jubril Adekoya.
Storylines
- After playing for the Brown and Gold for four seasons, Whitney Farris makes her return to the ARC as head coach of IU-Kokomo.
- A victory would give the Crusaders a three-game winning streak, matching the team’s longest under head coach Tracey Dorow.
- Valpo’s opponents have shot 6-for-49 (12.2%) from beyond the arc in the second half of games this month.
- Monday night is Valpo’s third consecutive game against a team whose nickname is the Cougars.
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 505-594 all-time (as of Dec. 20th).
- @ValpoWBB has made two NCAA Tournament appearances (2002-03, 2003-04) and earned one WNIT berth (2001-02).
- @ValpoWBB closed out the 2014-15 season slate with a 6-24 overall record, 2-14 in the Horizon League.
- @ValpoWBB was picked to finish 10th in the Horizon League in the 2015-16 Preseason Poll.
- @ValpoWBB’s Dani Franklin was a Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection.
- @ValpoWBB returns its three leading scorers (Franklin, Jasmyn Walker, Lexi Miller) in addition to its two top rebounders (Walker, Franklin).
- @ValpoWBB brings back 1,469 points, 767 rebounds, and 4,304 minutes played from the 2014-15 squad.
@ValpoWBB in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 44-94 (through end of 2014-15 season).
- @ValpoWBB has had one First Team All-League selection (Launa Hochstetler, 2008-09) and two Second Team All-League players (Agnieszka Kulaga, 2007-08; Tabitha Gerardot, 2012-13).
- @ValpoWBB also boasts four representatives on the All-Newcomer Team (Lauren Kenney, 2008-09; Gerardot, 2010-11; Dani Franklin, 2014-15; Jasmyn Walker, 2014-15), an All-Defensive Team member (Laura Richards, 2011-12), one Freshman of the Year (Franklin, 2014-15), and one Sixth Player of the Year (Franklin, 2014-15).
@ValpoWBB at the ARC
- @ValpoWBB is 3-3 at the Athletics-Recreation Center so far this season.
- @ValpoWBB last finished above .500 at the ARC during the 2012-2013 season.
- @ValpoWBB’s best season at the ARC was 2001-2002 when they finished 14-2. The Crusaders’ second home loss was to Houston in the WNIT Quarterfinals.
- 15 Top 25 teams have visited the ARC to face @ValpoWBB.
@ValpoWBB vs. @KIACSports
- Monday represents just the second time @ValpoWBB has faced a @KIACSports team.
- @ValpoWBB downed Indiana-Southeast, 72-52, back on Jan. 3rd, 1987.
@IUKWBB
- @IUKWBB enters Monday’s game with a 4-7 record.
- @IUKWBB’s inaugural season was 2014-15.
- @IUKWBB tallied an 8-21 record, picking up wins over Wilberforce, Andrews, University of Cincinnati-Clermont, Midway, and Alice Lloyd.
- @IUKWBB’s entire roster is composed of Indiana natives.
- @IUKWBB is shooting just 62.8% (98-for-156) from the free-throw line.
- @IUKWBB fell 104-33 to Horizon League newcomer Northern Kentucky last week in Highland Heights.
- @IUKWBB is shooting 26.4% (56-for-212) from three-point range this season.
- @IUKWBB is forcing opponents to commit 20.3 turnovers per contest.
- @IUKWBB is led in scoring by Deja Felder (12.8 PPG) and Dejianna Butler (12.6 PPG).
- @IUKWBB’s Felder has finished in double figures six times in her last seven games.
- Felder owns 44 of @IUKWBB’s 137 assists (team leader).
- @IUKWBB’s Butler has rattled off three games of 20 points or more.
- In addition averaging over 12 points per game, Butler is securing 9.7 rebounds/game. .
- @IUKWBB’s Lela Crawford (10.2 PPG) has sank multiple treys in each of her last four tilts.
@WhitFarris
- @WhitFarris is in her second season as head coach of the Cougars.
- @WhitFarris is 12-28 both all-time and for her career at IU-Kokomo.
- Prior to taking over the women’s program, @WhitFarris served as assistant coach on the men’s team.
- @WhitFarris was a Mid-Continent Conference All-Academic selection as a freshman at Valpo.
- @WhitFarris was a part of the 2008-2009 Valparaiso team that defeated Purdue and Florida State.
- @WhitFarris was a prep star at Kokomo High School where she led the Wildkats to an Indiana Class 4A state championship in 2002-2003.
- @WhitFarris received her master’s degree in business administration from IU-Kokomo in 2014.
Meredith Hamlet
- Has scored in double figures seven times this season (10.9 PPG).
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow.
- Broke McBain High School’s scoring record previously held by older sisters, Annemarie and Elizabeth (1,856).
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in assists (34) and steals (17).
- Led a second-half charge vs. Northern Colorado, scoring 12 of her team-high 15 points from the 3rd quarter on (4-5 second half 3FG).
- Was a five-year letterwinner at Park Center HS (Minn.).
- Has over 2,600 followers on Twitter (@xoxolouise21).
Abby Dean
- Squeezed a career-high eight rebounds last time out versus SIUE.
- Recorded a field goal in every game this season.
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
- Eclipsed the 100-assist plateau at San Diego (Nov. 27).
Annemarie Hamlet
- Has not appeared in any of the first ten games of the season.
Georgi Donchetz
- Corralled a career-high five rebounds last time out vs. IU-Northwest.
- Spent much of her rookie campaign rehabbing from a knee injury.
Lexi Miller
- Scored 11 second-half points to help lead the Crusaders to a 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
- Racked up four assists and knocked down three treys at San Diego.
- Has logged multiple assists in seven of her last eight games played.
- Finished in double figures eight times last season, including a career-high 21 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 21st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Went off for a game-high 12 points versus Louisville on Dec. 5th.
- Sank three treys at the KFC Yum! Center.
- Nailed a pair of threes at San Diego (Nov. 27).
- Set the NJCAA record for three-pointers in a single season (143) last year at Dakota College at Bottineau.
- Averaged 22.4 PPG for the 2014-15 Ladyjacks.
Amber Lindfors
- Leads the Horizon League in blocks per game (2.2).
- Swatted six shots on two different occasions this year.
- Has amassed more blocks through ten games (22) than any Crusader in an entire season over the past eight years.
- Recorded six blocks in the first half versus Miami (Ohio), the third-most ever in a game by a Crusader.
- At 6’4’’, she is the tallest Crusader since Stefanie Lang (2010-12).
Dani Franklin
- Has scored in double figures in three straight tilts.
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Led Valpo in scoring last Wednesday for the first time this season with 18 points. She did so 12 times last season.
- Scored 11 points against Akron (12/9) and San Diego (11/27).
- Reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year.
- Valpo’s top scorer (13.0 PPG) and field-goal shooter (47.3%) last season.
- Finished in double figures 21 times last season including five tilts of 20 points or more.
- Led the Brown and Gold in scoring on 11 separate occasions in 2014-15.
- Shot a team-high 85.7% (42-49) from the foul line as a freshman.
Allison Schofield
- Made her first appearance in a Crusader uniform in the season opener at Butler.
- Helped lead her AAU team, Indiana Blizzard, to a national championship.
Jasmyn Walker
- Valpo’s leading scorer (11.6 PPG) and rebounder (7.9 RPG).
- Has two double-doubles on the season (13 pts, 13 rebs vs. Northern Colorado; 11 pts, 11 rebs vs. Miami [Ohio]).
- Picked up right where she left off in the season debut, collecting eight rebounds and two blocks to go with 13 points.
- Has started all 39 games since arriving to Valparaiso.
- Recorded most rebounds ever by a freshman (250) and the sixth-most ever in a single season in program history.
- Amassed nine double-doubles in Horizon League play in 2014-15.
- Elected to 2014-15 Horizon League All-Freshmen Team.
- Named HL Freshman of the Week three times last season.
- Collected team watermark in rebounds in 14 contests.
Haylee Thompson
- Erupted for a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Crusaders’ 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
- Tallied back-to-back double-doubles on Dec. 30th and Jan. 3rd last season.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Returned to the floor last Saturday for the first time since Nov. 28th.
- Reverted to 2013-14 form in the season opener at Butler, pouring in 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) in 12 minutes off the bench.
