Valparaiso (9-8, 2-4 MVC)
at Southern Illinois (10-8, 5-2 MVC)

Game No. 18 – Sunday, Jan. 21 – 11:30 a.m. CT
SIU Arena (9,000) – Carbondale, Ill.                                                  

Next Up in Crusader Basketball: The Valparaiso University women’s basketball team will look to end the road swing on a high note on Sunday afternoon at Southern Illinois. The game features an early tip time of 11:30 a.m. as the front end of a women’s-men’s doubleheader in Carbondale. The Salukis are seeking a perfect home weekend after topping Loyola 62-46 on Friday night.

Last Time Out: Dani Franklin led Valpo in scoring (14) and rebounding (seven) in an 83-60 loss at Missouri State on Friday night. Grace Hales (12) and Nicole Konieczny (11) joined Franklin in double figures. The third quarter doomed the Crusaders as Missouri State went on a 24-0 run and outscored Valpo 30-10 in the period. Valpo outscored Missouri State in two different quarters – the second (23-17) and the fourth (17-16).

Following the Crusaders: Sunday’s game and every game for the remainder of the season will air on The Valley on ESPN3. Connor Onion will have play-by-play duties, with Kelly Burke providing color commentary. In addition, the hometown radio call of Sunday’s game can be heard on 95.1 FM Valparaiso with Ben Ariano (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (color commentary). Links to live video, audio and stats are available on ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Tracey Dorow: Tracey Dorow was named head coach of the Valparaiso women's basketball program in April of 2012. The 2017-18 season is her sixth in charge of Valpo's program. Dorow has led the Crusaders to a Horizon League tournament victory in four of her first five seasons at the helm. During the 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, Valpo boasted three all-freshman team members, a Freshman of the Year, a Sixth Player of the Year, an all-league second-team honoree and an all-defensive team member. The Crusaders have enjoyed a significant uptick in all-league recognition under Dorow's watch, as they had three total league honors in the five seasons before that three-year span. Dorow arrived at Valpo after spending 14 seasons as the head coach at Ferris State University, guiding the Bulldogs to four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division championships, and four 20-win seasons.

Series Notes: This will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Starting Five: The Crusaders have utilized a starting five of Nicole Konieczny, Meredith Hamlet, Caitlin Morrison, Dani Franklin and Bryce Blood for four straight games. Blood has started the first 16 games of her Crusader career. Franklin has made 47 consecutive starts since the start of her junior campaign after primarily coming off the bench each of her first two seasons. Hamlet has started 76 of the 77 games she’s played in a Valpo uniform. Hamlet, Franklin and Blood have all started every game this season.

Keeping Control: One bright spot of Friday’s loss at Missouri State was that Valpo committed just two turnovers in the first half. This marked the first time since Nov. 28 that the Crusaders managed to commit two turnovers or fewer in a half. The Crusaders made just one turnover in the second half of the Nov. 28 game at Bowling Green. Valpo did not have fewer than four turnovers in any half last season.

Konieczny Stays Hot: After reaching double figures just once in her first 13 games, Valpo freshman Nicole Konieczny has found her scoring rhythm. She has scored double figures in each of the last three games, including a career-high 18 on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley. After nine straight games with no more than seven field goal attempts, Konieczny has attempted nine shots or more in each of her last three games. She has distributed consistently throughout the season, posting multiple assists in 15 straight games and three or more in each of her last five. She is tied with two others for the league lead in assists per game with 4.1.

Hales Hits Double Figures Again: Sophomore Grace Hales has reached double figures in each of the last two games, scoring a career-high 15 points on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola before turning in 12 on Jan. 19 at Missouri State. This marks the first time she’s scored double figures in consecutive games since opening the season with three straight in double figures. After that opening three-game stretch, she scored in double figures just twice over the next 12 games.

Season Checkpoint: Valpo owns a winning record through 17 games for the first time since 2008-09, when the team also held a 9-8 mark at this point in the year. Valpo is already just one win away from matching its win total from last season. The team’s next road victory will give the team its highest road win total since 2011-12.

1,500 Point Club: Dani Franklin reached her most noteworthy milestone yet last weekend against Loyola. The senior forward scored 14 points in that contest, adding to her ever-growing Valpo legacy by usurping Sarrah Stricklett (1,498) for second on the program’s all-time scoring list. In the process, she hit the 1,500 career point milestone, joining only Valpo legend Debbie Bolen in that elite club. Franklin is the Missouri Valley Conference’s active career leading scorer and one of three active players in the conference with over 1,000 career points, joining Missouri State’s Liza Fruendt and Southern Illinois’ Kylie Giebelhausen.  

Five in Double Figures: Perhaps the most impressive aspect of last week’s 76-60 win over Loyola was that five Crusaders finished in double figures for the first time this season. In fact, you have to go all the way back to March 10, 2016, a memorable 94-91 overtime win over Detroit Mercy in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament, for the last time a Crusader team had five players finish in double figures in a single game. The last time it occurred in a regulation game was Dec. 21, 2015, an 88-22 win over IU Kokomo. The last time it happened in a regulation game against a Division I opponent was Feb. 25, 2015, a 77-70 loss to Cleveland State. None of the five who scored in double figures that game against the Vikings are still with the program.

Comeback Crusaders: Valpo’s win over Loyola last Friday came after the Ramblers led 33-32 at halftime. This marked the first time all season the Crusaders prevailed after chasing at a game’s midway mark, as they previously possessed an 0-6 record in those situations. Before the Loyola game, Valpo’s last win when trailing at halftime was on Feb. 18 of last season, a 57-55 victory over Detroit Mercy that saw the Titans hold a 26-22 halftime edge at the ARC.

Odds & Ends: After three straight games with four made 3s or fewer, the Crusaders have made five 3s or more in each of their last four games… Valpo has had 10 or more offensive rebounds in six straight games, the first time this year the team has done so… The Crusaders averaged just 14.0 turnovers per game during the nonconference season, Valpo’s best nonconference turnover per game average since 2004-05… The Crusaders finished the nonconference slate at 7-4, their highest nonconference win total since 2006.

Valpo in The Valley: Valparaiso University is competing in its first season as a member institution in the Missouri Valley Conference after a 10-year run in the Horizon League. The Valley is celebrating 25 years of women’s athletics in the conference over the course of the 2017-18 academic and athletic year. Valpo head coach Tracey Dorow played at Illinois State during the first season of women’s athletics in The Valley and is back for Year 25 and her first season as a head coach in the conference.

Dani Franklin Record Book Watch

• Dani Franklin enters this game with 1,516 career points, which ranks second in Valpo history. She has climbed over Sarrah Stricklett (1996-2000) to claim second in program history in career scoring and become the second member of Valpo’s 1,500 career point club. She joins the legendary Debbie Bolen (1989-1993), who is Valpo’s all-time scoring leader with 2,008 career points.
• Franklin holds a career scoring average of 14.2 points per game, which ranks second in program history. The program record is 18.4 points per game, set by Debbie Bolen (1989-93).
• Franklin ranks third in Valpo history with 561 career made field goals. She is 43 makes away from passing Jeanette Gray for second in program history.
• Franklin has amassed 164 3-pointers in her illustrious career, a total that ranks sixth in program history. She needs eight more to leap into fourth.
• Franklin owns a career 3-point field goal percentage of .383, which currently sits third all-time.
• Franklin has 595 career rebounds, which is tied for 11^th in program history with Ashley Varner. The number needed to crack the Top 10 is Carie Wickham’s 642.
• Franklin’s career free-throw percentage of .871 is on pace for the program record, which currently is .838, set by Launa Hochstetler (2005-2009).

Inside the Salukis

• Coming off a 62-46 win over Loyola on Friday night. Held the Ramblers to six points in the first quarter and seven in the fourth. Abby Brockmeyer finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while Mackenzie Silvey (16) and Nicole Martin (11) were also in double figures. Silvey went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
• Head coach Cindy Stein, who is in her fifth year with the Salukis, earned her 350^th career win on Friday night against Loyola.
• Four Salukis average in double figures - Kylie Giebelhausen (11.4), Nicole Martin (10.8), Abby Brockmeyer (11.0) and Mackenzie Silvey (10.3).
• Giebelhausen was one of five players on the MVC Preseason All-Conference Team. Southern Illinois was picked fourth in the preseason poll.
• Third in the league in turnover margin at +0.61 and second in offense rebounds with 227, 12.6 per game.

A Look Back at 2016-17

• Valpo had the biggest jump from the first half of league play to the second of any Horizon League squad. In first matchups against Horizon League opponents, Valpo went 0-9 before going 4-5 in second meetings. The plus-four win turnaround was the best in the Horizon League. No other team was better than plus-two.
• The Crusaders have now captured league tournament wins in five of the last six seasons.
• Valpo went 4-4 over its final eight games of the regular season, its best eight-game finish to a season of the Tracey Dorow era.
• Dani Franklin was named to the all-league second-team, becoming the first Valpo player to make the Horizon League first or second team since Tabitha Gerardot in 2012-13.
• The Crusaders had an all-league representative and an all-defensive team member in the same season for the first time since joining the Horizon League.
• Franklin finished the season with 559 points, which ranks second in program history for points in a single year. Debbie Bolen’s 1991-92 season (638) is the program record.
• Franklin finished the season at 18.0 points per game, ranking fifth in program history for single-season scoring average. She also shot 85.8 percent at the free-throw line, the second-best single-season free throw percentage in program history.
• Hannah Schaub completed the season with 134 assists, ranking seventh in program history for assists in a single season.
• The Crusaders had twice as many wins in February (four) than they had in December and January combined (two).

Inside the 2017-18 Roster

• Valpo has nine players on the roster listed at 6-foot or taller. This is the most players listed at 6-foot or taller on the roster in program history. Previously, the most was eight in 1990-91 and 1995-96.
• Valpo has had five freshmen on the roster each of the last two seasons. Prior to 2016-17, the Crusaders hadn’t featured five true freshmen since 2010-11. This year’s team has 10 freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores, the most since the 2003-04 season.
• In addition to five true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen and three sophomores, the Crusaders feature three juniors and two seniors.
• This year’s version of the Crusaders includes four Indiana natives. This marks the most Hoosiers on the team since the 2013-2014 season.
• Three others are from Illinois, three from Ohio, two from Minnesota, one from Michigan, one from Iowa and one from Wisconsin. Seven states are represented on the Valpo roster.
• Freshman Ella Ellenson (Rice Lake, Wis.) is the first Valpo player from Wisconsin since Sarah Ott (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) in 2007-08.

Meredith Hamlet

• In double figures for the second straight game with 10 points on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola.
• Reached double figures for the first time since Dec. 15 on Jan. 7 against Bradley by scoring 16 points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter. Had four straight double-figures performances from Dec. 3-15, then five straight games out of double figures from Dec. 18 to Jan. 5.
• Named the Enterprise Bank MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 20 after matching a career high in scoring against IU Northwest. Became the first Valpo student-athlete in any sport to win the weekly honor, given to someone who excels both academically and athletically.
• Fouled out for the first time in her Valpo career on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne.
• Handed out a career-high six assists on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois.
• Reached 29 points in a game for the third straight season on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest, setting a season high and matching her career watermark.
• Only player on Valpo’s roster who has scored more than 25 points in a single game in each of the last three seasons.
• Since the start of the 2015-16 season, there have been 11 occasions where a Valpo player has hit 5 or more 3-pointers in a game. Hamlet has accounted for seven of those occasions, while Dani Franklin and Hannah Schaub have a pair of five 3-pointer games apiece.
• Has six career games scoring 20 points or more, and the first five came away from the ARC. Had her first home game with 20+ points on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Had five made 3s on Dec. 8 at Purdue, all in the first half. Scored 19 points in the game, all coming before halftime. Became the first Crusader with a 19-point half this season and the first Valpo player to hit five 3s in one half since she did so at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 3, 2016.
• Poured in 25 points on Dec. 3 at Longwood, making a career-high nine free throws.
• Posted a team-high 14 points, the 25^th double-figure scoring game of her Valpo career, on Nov. 21 at Miami (Ohio). Followed by scoring 14 more in Valpo’s win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 25.
• Started in Valpo’s season opener for the third consecutive year.
• Reached the 500-point plateau for her collegiate career as only a sophomore on Jan. 14, 2016 at Youngstown State.
• Posted her first career double-double on Jan. 14, 2016 at Youngstown State, matching a career high with 29 points while shattering personal bests in rebounds (10) and made field goals (12). That game marked the 23^rd time in program history a player has made 12 field goals or more in a single game.
• Dished out a career-best seven assists on Jan. 22, 2017 at Wright State.
• Began her collegiate career with a streak of 52 consecutive starts without missing a game, which was snapped on Feb. 2, 2017 against Youngstown State.
• Exploded for 29 points at Northern Kentucky on Dec. 30, 2015. Went 10-of-11 shooting, the third-highest single-game field goal percentage in program history.
• Made a game-winning layup at the buzzer to beat Chicago State on Nov. 16, 2016.
• Made 69 3-pointers as a freshman, tying for the fifth most in a single season in school history. In addition, she set the record for the most 3-pointers by a freshman.
• Was Valpo’s leading returning scorer in 2016-17 after scoring 10.6 points per game in 2015-16. During her sophomore campaign, averaged 9.0 ppg.
• Named to Horizon League all-freshman team in 2015-16.
• Reached double figures in scoring 16 times as a freshman and nine times during her sophomore season.
• Third Hamlet to play under Dorow as sisters Elizabeth (2013-14) and Annemarie (2014-15 & 2015-16) both concluded their careers with the Crusaders.

Dani Franklin

• Currently The Valley’s leading scorer at 16.5 points per game.
• Scoring 21.2 points per game in wins and 11.1 points per game in losses. She’s shooting 31.3 percent in games Valpo loses and 45.4 percent in wins.
• Has scored in double figures 13 times and led the team in scoring on 10 occasions this season. Has been in double figures in five straight and nine of her last 10.
• Usurped Sarrah Stricklett (1,498) for second in program history in career scoring with her 14 points on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola. She also became the second player in program history to reach 1,500 career points, joining the legendary Debbie Bolen (2,008) as the only players in program history to reach 1,500 points.
• Moved into third place on Valpo’s all-time scoring list with her team-high 18 points on Dec. 31 at UNI, a game that took place in her home state of Iowa.
• Did not attempt a 3 in the Dec. 31 game at UNI, the first time Franklin has played in a game and not tried a 3 since March 10, 2016, a Horizon League Tournament game against Detroit her sophomore season.
• Had her second straight 10 field goal performance and a season-high 28 points on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois, a game that also saw her pull down a team-high eight rebounds and reach career highs in assists (five) and steals (five).
• Had a season-high 10 made field goals on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest, scoring 23 points.
• Has now reached the following milestones – 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds and 500 career made field goals. She’s joined in that elite group by Debbie Bolen, Jeanette Gray and Sarrah Stricklett as the only players in Valpo history to achieve all three of those feats.
• Had her first double-double of the season and the 10^th of her career on Dec. 10 against Chicago State, pulling down a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with 24 points.
• After being held to four points at Liberty on Dec. 2 and six through three quarters on Dec. 3 at Longwood, had an 11-point fourth quarter to help the Crusaders fend off the Lancers.
• Started her senior season with a game-high 26 points against IU Kokomo. She knocked down nine field goals in the win, including four 3s.
• Moved into fourth in program history in career scoring with her 23-point output on Nov. 25 against Grand Canyon. This marked the 17^th time in Franklin’s Crusader career that she scored 20 points or more.
• As a junior, led the team in scoring (18.0 ppg), rebounding (7.8 ppg), 3-point percentage (.430), free-throw percentage (.858) and steals (35).
• Became the first Valpo player in the last 23 years to score 500 points in a single season in 2016-17. Finished the season with 559 total points, the second most in program history.
• Scored the 1,000^th point of her Valpo career on Jan. 17, 2017 at Green Bay, becoming the 14^th player in program history to join the 1,000-point club.
• Enters her senior season with 1,236 career points, which already ranks sixth in program history.
• Her 2016-17 free-throw percentage was the second-best single-season free throw percentage in program history.
• Had as many double-doubles in a five-game stretch from Jan. 12-20, 2017 as she did in the first 73 games of her collegiate career.
• Got to the free-throw line more as a junior than she did in her first two collegiate seasons combined. Went 10-for-10 at the free-throw line on Jan. 28 at UIC, becoming the 10^th player in program history to go perfect at the foul stripe with at least 10 attempts in a game.
• Set a career high and notched Valpo’s best individual scoring performance since 1992 and fifth-best in program history with 34 points at Stetson on Nov. 12, 2016.
• Only two players in program history had reached the 34-point mark before Franklin. Debbie Bolen did so three times, while Stephanie Greer owns the all-time single-game scoring record with 39 in 1990.
• Scored 33 points on Dec. 3, 2016 against Eastern Illinois, finishing one shy of a career high. She became just the third player in program history who has scored 33 points or more in at least two games. Matched a career best with 12 made field goals.
• 2014-15 Horizon League Freshman of the Year, 2014-15 Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year, 2016-17 All-Horizon League Second Team, team’s Sixth Player of the Year in 2014-15 and 2015-16, team’s MVP and co- Most Improved Player in 2016-17.
• Shot 43.3 percent from 3-point range as a freshman in 2014-2015, the fourth best single-season mark in program history. Now owns two of the Top 5 single-season 3-point field goal percentage marks.
• As a junior, increased her scoring average from the previous year by nearly eight points, boosted her 3-point percentage by nearly 12 percent and over doubled her number of total rebounds and made free throws from the previous season.
• Made 199 field goals as a junior, tied for third in program history.
• Finished in double-figure scoring in 28 of the team’s 31 games last season, leading the squad in scoring on 23 occasions.

Caitlin Morrison

• Had her fifth multiple-block game of the season on Jan. 7, swatting a pair of shots in the game against Bradley.
• Did not play on Dec. 29 at Drake or Dec. 31 at UNI due to an injury. Returned to the court and to the starting lineup on Jan. 5 vs. Illinois State.
• Ranks second in The Valley in blocks per game at 1.7, behind only Illinois State’s Hannah Green (2.0).
• Has at least one block in five straight games.
• Knocked down a pair of 3s on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois, her first game this season with multiple makes from beyond the arc.
• Swatted a career-high five shots on Nov. 25 against Grand Canyon, including a block of a 3-point try that would have tied the game with less than 10 seconds left. Previously hadn’t had more than two blocks in any game in her career.
• Squeezed a career-high 10 rebounds on Nov. 21 at Miami, five of which came in the first quarter.
• Established career watermarks in assists (four) and steals (three) in Valpo’s season opener against IU Kokomo.
• Reached double figures for the first time in her Valpo career with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting against Grace College on Dec. 10, 2016.
• Matched her season high in rebounds and established her season high in scoring in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament, posting 11 points and eight boards to help the Crusaders to a victory over Youngstown State.
• Named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2016-17.
• Father Scott Morrison is a former Valparaiso men’s basketball player.

Nicole Konieczny

• Coming off her third straight game in double figures and the fifth double-figure scoring output of her career.
• Had her fourth career double-figure scoring output on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola, scoring 12 points as one of five Crusaders in double figures against the Ramblers. That was her second straight game in double figures, the first time in her young collegiate career she’s had double figures in back-to-back contests. Also pulled down a career-high five rebounds against the Ramblers.
• Set new career highs in points (18), made field goals (6) and made 3-pointers (3) on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley.
• Has dished out multiple assists in 13 straight games and four or more in each of her last three.
• Reached double figures for the second time in her Crusader career on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne, scoring 12 points.
• Ranks second in The Valley in assists at 4.2 per game, behind only Evansville’s Kerri Gasper (4.4).
• Was two assists shy of a double-double on Nov. 28 at Bowling Green, finishing with personal bests in both points (13) and assists (eight).
• Became the first Crusader to have eight or more assists and score double figures in the same game since Jessica Carr posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists on Jan. 21, 2015 in a 90-79 loss at Milwaukee.
• Made her first career start on Nov. 25 against Grand Canyon and dished out seven assists while scoring eight points to lift Valpo to an 80-75 win.
• Handed out six assists in the first road game of her career on Nov. 21 at Miami.
• Had six points in her collegiate debut on Nov. 16 against IU Kokomo.
• Named a 2016-17 Indiana All-Star, earning a place on the 13-player roster.
• Led South Bend St. Joseph to the 2016-17 Indiana Class 3A state title, averaging 14.4 points per game and 3.1 assists per game during her senior season.
• Helped the Indians finish her senior campaign with a 26-2 record.
• Started her prep career at LaPorte, approximately 20 miles from Valpo, before transferring to South Bend St. Joseph before her junior season.

Bryce Blood

• Had her second double-double of the season on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola with 12 points and 10 boards. That marked the team’s third double-double of the year. It was her fourth career double-figure scoring output, first since Dec. 15 (vs. IU Northwest) and second against a Division-I opponent.
• Made all four field-goal attempts while finishing as one of four Crusaders in double figures (10 points) on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Matched a season high with five made field goals – an efficient 5-of-6 shooting – on Dec. 3 at Longwood on her way to 11 points, one of three Crusaders in double figures.
• Contributed nine points including 5-of-5 at the free-throw line on Nov. 28 at Bowling Green, a game played close to her hometown of Toledo.
• Chipped in nine points and five rebounds in a win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 25.
• Became the first Crusader since 2008 with a double-double in a season opener by scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 boards in her collegiate debut on Nov. 16 against IU Kokomo.
• Won over 20 regional and national titles over a five-year span while playing for the SMAC Ballers AAU program.
• Finished fourth on her school’s all-time scoring list with 931 points, while finishing as the program’s all-time leader in both rebounds (767) and blocks (181).

Grace Hales

• Second in The Valley in 3-point field goal percentage at 50 percent.
• Has reached double figures in each of last two games, most recently scoring 12 points on Friday at Missouri State.
• Had a banner-day on Jan. 12 vs. Loyola, leading the team in scoring for the second time this season with a career-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Reached double figures for the sixth time this year and the first since Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois after five straight games out of double figures.
• Made her first start of the season and the second of her career on Dec. 29 at Drake.
• Returned to double figures with 13 points on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois, her fifth double-figure game this season. After starting the season with four double-figure performances in her first five games, she had been held out of double figures in four straight.
• Hit seven straight 3-point attempts on Dec. 2 at Liberty and Dec. 3 at Longwood, going 4-for-4 against the Flames before knocking down her first three triples against the Lancers. Scored a career-high 14 points at Liberty, the only Crusader in double figures in that game.
• Only Crusader who scored double figures in each of Valpo’s first three games. That marked the first time in the sophomore’s Valpo career that she has reached double figures in scoring in three straight.
• Drained a career-high four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points on Nov. 21 at Miami (Ohio).
• Made a career-high five field goals while scoring 12 points – one shy of a career best – in the season-opening win over IU Kokomo. Hales reached double figures for the sixth time in her career.
• Knocked down three 3s in her Crusader debut, becoming the first player to do so since Annemarie Hamlet in 2014. Hales became the first freshman to pour in three 3s in a season opener in the last decade.
• Had a streak of 21 straight made free throws that spanned three different months during her freshman year. Finished the season second on the team in free-throw percentage at 81.4.
• Scored nine points at Stetson on Nov. 12, 2016, marking the third straight year a Valpo freshman has scored nine points or more on opening night.
• Opened conference play in style with a career-high 13 points on Dec. 29, 2016 at Detroit Mercy, her second consecutive game in double figures.
• Led her team in scoring for the first time in her Valpo career on Feb. 16, 2017 against Oakland. Was the only Crusader in double figures, posting 11 points in the defeat. Scored seven of the team’s 13 second-quarter points.
• Father Ross played football and basketball at Indiana University.

Maya Meredith

• Set a career-high with five rebounds on Dec. 31 at UNI while reaching double figures in scoring for the fourth time this season with 10 points and matching career highs for made field goals (4) and made 3-pointers (2).
• Scored in double figures for the third time this season after not doing so at all a year ago by posting 11 points on Dec. 18 at Eastern Illinois.
• Shattered a program-record that had stood since 1992 in her first career start by dishing out 16 assists on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest. She became the 10^th player in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach 16 assists, a mark that ranks tied for sixth in the conference’s prestigious history. She also became the second player in the nation with a 16+ assist game this season.
• Had 10 of her career-high 12 points in the fourth quarter of a 71-60 win over Chicago State on Dec. 10.
• Made a pair of impressive blocks on Dec. 8 at Purdue.
• Knocked down a pair of 3s in a game for the first time in her Crusader career and finished with 11 points on Nov. 28 at Bowling Green.
• Played 13 minutes in Valpo’s season opener against IU Kokomo, scoring four points.
• Notched her first-career made basket against a Division-I opponent on Jan. 14, 2017 at Youngstown State. Did so in style, finishing an important layup despite being fouled.
• Scored seven points on Feb. 16, 2017 against Oakland, a season high. Shattered her previous best of four. Also dished out a career-high four assists in 26 minutes, the most playing time she received in a game during her freshman season.

Allison Schofield

• One of three Crusaders who did not play due to illness on Dec. 29 at Drake. Also sat out the Dec. 31 game at UNI due to illness.
• Made a key steal that led to a fast-break 3-pointer by Dani Franklin in a five-point win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 25.
• Knocked down the only shot she attempted at Miami on Nov. 21.
• Set what was at the time a career high with eight points including two made 3s on Dec. 4, 2016 against Notre Dame.
• Notched a career-high 15 points and led the team in scoring in the final game of the 2016-17 season, a Horizon League Tournament matchup with Green Bay. She went 4-for-4 from 3-point range in that contest.

Addison Stoller

• Had a strong second quarter on Jan. 19 at Missouri State, scoring six points off the bench in that quarter alone on 2-of-2 shooting and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line.
• Did not play on Jan. 5 vs. Illinois State, Jan. 7 vs. Bradley due to illness or Jan. 12 vs. Loyola due to illness.
• Pulled down a season-high four rebounds on Dec. 31 at UNI.
• Poured in a season-high eight points on Dec. 29 at Drake, making four field goals in a single game for the first time in her collegiate career.
• Played in her first game in over a calendar year on Dec. 2 at Liberty, scoring her first basket of the season by converting a layup despite being fouled.
• Played in the first five games of the 2016-17 season before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 25 vs. Liberty.
• Had her best performance of the year in her return to her hometown area on Nov. 19 at Illinois State, turning in nine points and seven rebounds.
• Received the team’s Hardest Worker Award.

Marlee Profitt

• Had three made field goals on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley, equaling her most against a Division-I team this season.
• Led the team in rebounds for the first time in her collegiate career on Dec. 29 with six, which marked a career high.
• Reached double figures for the first time in her Valpo career on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest, racking up 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
• Set then career highs in points (nine) and rebounds (six) on Nov. 21 at Miami (Ohio), knocking down all three of her attempts from the floor while going 3-of-4 at the line.
• Scored the first field goal of her collegiate career in Valpo’s season opener against IU Kokomo, a memorable coast-to-coast layup. Also hauled in a career-high five rebounds in that contest.
• Played in two games during her first season on campus before missing the bulk of the season due to an injury.
• Rattled off 17.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.5 blocks in her final prep campaign with the Highland (Ohio) Hornets.

Ella Ellenson

• Squeezed a career-high seven rebounds on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley, leading the team for the first time in her collegiate career. Played 18 minutes in that game, eclipsing her previous season high of 13.
• Reached double figures for the first time in her collegiate career on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne, scoring 10 points.
• Knocked down her first career 3-pointer on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Contributed six points and six rebounds in the first game of her collegiate career, the season opener against IU Kokomo.
• Was a four-year starter and two-year captain at Rice Lake High School, where she was named to the WBCA All-State Game and Border Battle All-Star Game.
• Brother Wally played basketball in the NBL of Canada in 2016-17 and made the all-rookie team.
• Brother Ellwood is finishing up student teaching at Valley City State University, N.D., where he was the captain of the basketball team and a track athlete.
• Brother Henry is a Detroit Pistons forward and former Marquette standout.

Taylor Richards

• Did not play due to illness on Dec. 29 at Drake, but returned to action on Dec. 31 at UNI.
• Made her first career basket and finished the game 3-of-3 shooting for seven points on Dec. 15 against IU Northwest.
• Scored the first point of her collegiate career on Dec. 2 at Liberty with a made free throw.
• Made her collegiate debut on Nov. 16 against IU Kokomo, playing eight minutes.
• Averaged 14 points, 4.5 assists, 3 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game during her senior year at Chippewa.
• Helped her team compile a 104-13 record during her four years of high school basketball, including a 55-1 mark in league play.
• Helped her team win league titles in all four seasons.

Georgi Donchetz

• Made two field goals on Jan. 7 vs. Bradley, a season high as she was playing in just her fifth game of the year after missing the first 10 games with a knee injury.
• Made her first start of the season on Dec. 31 at UNI.
• Scored her first points of the season on Dec. 29 at Drake, accumulating four points against the Bulldogs.
• Made her season debut on Dec. 21 against Fort Wayne and led the team in rebounds with four.
• Played in the exhibition game against St. Francis (Ill.), but then suffered an injury that cost her the first 10 games of the season.
• Had a breakout junior season in 2016-17, playing in 28 games and making eight starts for the Crusaders. Finished the season with over 50 assists after having four total assists in her first two collegiate seasons.
• Garnered the team’s Fountain Award in both 2015-16 and 2016-17. That honor is given annually to the player who most raises the team’s energy level.
• Shared the team’s Most Improved Player with Dani Franklin in 2016-17.
• Had a career-high seven assists in the 2016-17 season opener on Nov. 12, 2016 at Stetson.
• Reached double-figure scoring for the first time in her collegiate career with 10 at Notre Dame on Dec. 4, 2016, her first of four double-figure games.
• Made the first start of her collegiate career on Dec. 19, 2016 against Bradley and scored seven points in 20 minutes.
• Led the team in rebounding for the first time in her Valpo career with a career-high eight on Dec. 29, 2016 at Detroit Mercy. Also surpassed the 100-point mark for her career in that game.
• After making four 3-pointers in her first 18 games of the season, knocked down five triples in a three-game span from Jan. 22 to Feb. 2.
• Enjoyed the most productive game of her Valpo career with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting on Feb. 2, 2017 against Youngstown State. Also grabbed four rebounds and handed out four assists. Had a career-high three 3-pointers in the victory.

Hannah Schaub

• Will miss the remainder of the season with an injury.
• Started in Valpo’s season opener for the third consecutive year.
• Led the team in assists in 18 games during her sophomore season. Her 134 assists in 2016-17 ranked seventh in program history and were the most by any Crusader in the last 17 years.
• Entered her junior season already 17^th in program history in career assists with 235. Needs four assists to pass Jeanette Gray (1999-2003) for 16^th on the career list and 12 to surpass her former teammate Lexi Miller (2012-2016) for 15^th.
• Finished the 2016-17 season ranked eighth in the Horizon League in assists/turnover ratio (1.5) and 11^th in assists per game (3.3).
• Scored a season-high 12 points on Jan. 31, 2017 at UIC, her only time in double figures during her sophomore season. Matched a career-high by knocking down five shots in that game.
• Went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc on Nov. 28, 2015 against Northern Colorado, tying for the 10^th best 3-point field goal percentage in a single game in program history. Also knocked down five triples against Detroit in the Horizon League quarterfinals later that season.

Nicole Johanson

• Has not seen game action this season.
• Helped Herscher High School finish with a 25-2 record in her senior season.
• Played for Example Sports AAU under the direction of coach Barry Bradford, the father of Valpo men’s basketball player Micah Bradford.
• Named MVP of an Example Sports AAU alumni game against college players who had gone through the program.
• Participated in her conference’s all-star game as a senior in high school.