Cleveland State (4-11, 1-4 Horizon)
at Valparaiso (6-11, 2-4 Horizon)
Game #18 - Thursday, January 21 - 7 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Crusader Basketball: Valpo pops the top on a five-game homestand Thursday evening versus Cleveland State. The Vikings, who received a first-place vote in the Horizon League preseason poll, snapped a six-game skid Saturday with a resilient 75-68 win over Youngstown State. Cleveland State is led by redshirt freshman Ashanti Abshaw, who is averaging a double-double in league play.
Last Time Out: Milwaukee turned a tide of triples into an 82-60 win over the Brown and Gold last Saturday at the Klotsche Center. Dani Franklin scored nine of her team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter, but the Crusaders were unable to overcome a deficit that peaked at 29 points. Abby Dean enjoyed one of her most efficient efforts from the field. The senior was perfect from beyond the arc (3-3) and the free-throw line (2-2) as part of an 11-point game. The Panthers’ 11-for-16 mark from the perimeter represented their third-best shooting performance from three-point range in program history.
Following the Crusaders: Audio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso) - Brandon Vickrey (PxP), Renee’ Turpa (Color), Jordan Morandini (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 (29-79) 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: The all-time series is knotted up at 14 victories per side. Valpo won ten of the first twelve tilts, but Cleveland State began to reverse the narrative in 2010. The Vikings have gone 10-2 versus the Brown and Gold since that season, and enter Thursday evening on a five-game winning streak over the Crusaders.
Storylines
- Thursday opens Valpo’s second five-game homestand of the 2015-16 season. The Crusaders went 4-1 during December’s five-game set.
- Amber Lindfors’ next rejection will move her into a tie for 9th place with Sarah Schmoyer and Tamra Braun for most blocks in a single season (31).
- The Brown and Gold’s last regulation win over the Vikings at the ARC came on January 21st, 1994.
- Cleveland State has logged 62 more FG attempts than its opponents over the course of this season. Valpo has tallied 120 fewer than its foes.
@ValpoWBB
- In its 44th season, @ValpoWBB is 508-598 all-time (as of Jan. 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.
- This season is the fastest head coach Tracey Dorow has gotten to five (prev. Jan. 5th of 2012-13) and six wins (prev. Jan. 3rd of 2008-09).
- Last season, @ValpoWBB did not record its fifth win until February 5th. It did so on Dec. 30th this season.
- @ValpoWBB is averaging 5.6 steals/game this season, compared to 3.7/tilt in 2014-15.
@ValpoWBB in the @HorizonLeague
- Since joining the Horizon League in 2007-08, @ValpoWBB is 46-98 (as of Jan. 20th).
- @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’s win at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 30th gave it its first road win in a Horizon League opener since becoming a member.
@ClevelandStWBB
- @ClevelandStWBB enters Thursday’s contest with a 4-11 overall record, including a 1-4 mark in Horizon League play.
- @ClevelandStWBB was picked to finish sixth in the HL Preseason Poll, but did receive a first-place vote in the survey.
- @ClevelandStWBB broke into the win column in Horizon League play with a 75-68 triumph last time out versus Youngstown State.
- @ClevelandStWBB shoots slightly better from the field on the road (35.8%) than at home (35.1%).
- Opponents are shooting 42.7% versus @ClevelandStWBB. Only Detroit surrenders a higher mark (43.0%).
- @ClevelandStWBB enjoys a combined +3 scoring margin in first halves, but are hampered by a -76 deficit after halftime.
- @ClevelandStWBB’s Ashanti Abshaw has been named Horizon League Freshman of the Week three times already.
- Abshaw is sixth in the league in scoring (15.7 PPG), and third in rebounding (8.8 RPG).
- Abshaw is averaging a double-double (15.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG) through her first five HL games.
- Led by junior guard Brooke Smith, @ClevelandStWBB records 10.2 steals/game, the second-highest rate in the Horizon League.
- Smith’s 3.4 steals/game ranks 6th in the country.
- Having done most of her damage from beyond the arc, Khayla Livingston is posting 12.5 points per game.
- Livingston is second in the league in three-point FG percentage (41.7%) and third in treys made per game (2.33).
- Livingston has knocked down at least one triple in every game this season.
- Junior Alexis Eckles averaged 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game versus the Crusaders in 2014-15.
@CoachP_CSU (Kate Peterson Abiad)
- @CoachP_CSU is in her 13th season as head coach of the Vikings.
- Thursday represents @CoachP_CSU’s 385th game at the helm of Cleveland State.
- @CoachP_CSU enters this contest with a 168-216 mark for her career, but is 140-129 since the beginning of the 2007-08 season.
- @CoachP_CSU has led the Vikings to a 21-win campaign (2010-11) in addition to four 19-win seasons (2014-15 the most recent).
- @CoachP_CSU guided CSU to NCAA berths in 2008 and 2010.
- Last season’s 19-13 year landed @CoachP_CSU and the Vikings their first WNIT bid.
- @CoachP_CSU arrived in Cleveland in April of 2003 after serving stints at Indiana, Eastern Illinois, and Wisconsin as an assistant coach.
- @CoachP_CSU was on the sidelines for the Badgers’ 1999-2000 WNIT Championship team.
- During her playing days, @CoachP_CSU was an honorable mention All-American at Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
- @CoachP_CSU, who set the Division III record for three-pointers made per game, was inducted into the UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fame in 1991.
Meredith Hamlet
- Exploded for 29 points at NKU (Dec. 30) on 10-of-11 shooting, the third-highest single-game FG percentage in program history.
- Has scored in double figures ten times this season (10.9 PPG).
- In search of her first field goal since Jan. 9th (Oakland).
- Has started all 17 games this season.
- Third Hamlet to play for head coach Tracey Dorow at Valparaiso.
Hannah Schaub
- Team leader in assists (57) and steals (22).
- Disbursed multiple assists in 14 of her 16 games.
- 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).
- Has over 2,600 followers on Twitter (@xoxolouise21).
Abby Dean
- Finished in double figures Saturday for the first time since Dec. 19th.
- Shooting 77.8% (28-for-36) from the free-throw line this season.
- Logged the most minutes (2,185) of any Crusader on the roster.
- Has shot over 80% from the charity stripe and started 27 games each of the last two seasons.
Annemarie Hamlet
- Has not appeared in any of the first 17 games of the season.
Georgi Donchetz
- Corralled a career-high five rebounds vs. IU-Northwest.
- Spent much of her rookie campaign rehabbing from a knee injury.
Lexi Miller
- Reached 200 career assists Saturday after passing out seven dimes at Milwaukee.
- Scored a season-high 11 points vs. Cardinal Stritch (Dec. 7th).
- Tied a career high in assists (8) at Wright State on Jan. 1st.
- Finished in double figures eight times last season, including a career-high 21 points at Milwaukee on Jan. 21st.
Imani Scott-Thompson
- Led the Crusaders in scoring at Green Bay with 14 points (5-10 FG).
- Went off for a game-high 12 points versus Louisville on Dec. 5th.
- 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.
Amber Lindfors
- Leads the Horizon League in blocks per game (2.0).
- Swatted six shots on two different occasions this year.
- One block shy of cracking Valpo’s top 10 for rejections in a season.
- Amassed more blocks through ten games (22) than any Crusader in an entire season over the past eight years.
- At 6’4’’, she is the tallest Crusader since Stefanie Lang (2010-12).
Dani Franklin
- Has carved out a 47.4% field goal percentage this season (9th in HL).
- After shooting 50% or higher from the field just once in the first six games of the season, Franklin has done so in eleven straight.
- Has missed just once from the free-throw line (16-for-17).
- Named to Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.
- Led Valpo in scoring against Miami (Ohio) for the first time this season with 18 points. She did so 12 times last season.
- 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.
- Shot a team-high 85.7% (42-49) from the foul line as a freshman.
Allison Schofield
- Scored five points at Green Bay (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG) on Jan. 14th.
- Made her first appearance in a Crusader uniform in the season opener at Butler.
Jasmyn Walker
- Valpo’s leading rebounder (8.5 RPG) and second-leading scorer (11.8 PPG).
- Cradled a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Detroit on Jan. 7th.
- Six caroms shy of reaching 400 for her career.
- Set a career high in field goals (8) at Wright State on New Year’s.
- Hasfour double-doubles this season (N. Colorado, Miami, Detroit, Oakland).
- Has started all 46 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
- Received two straight starting assignments.
- Posted for a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the Crusaders’ 63-62 win over Cardinal Stritch on Dec. 7th.
Jessi Wiedemann
- Career highs in points (21) and triples (4) came vs. Cleveland State.
- Poured in 14 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3FG) in 12 minutes off the bench at Butler.
