Valparaiso (0-25, 0-14 MVC)
Game #26 - February 15, 2026 - 2 p.m.
at Belmont (15-9, 11-2 MVC)
Curb Event Center (5,000) - Nashville, Tenn.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women's basketball team concludes its weekend road trip through the top two teams in the MVC standings on Sunday afternoon as the Beacons head to the Music City to face off with Belmont.

Previously: The Beacons were within striking distance of MVC-leading Murray State at halftime Friday evening in Murray, Ky. before the host Racers used a big third quarter to pull away for a 95-69 victory. Freshman Allia von Schlegell surpassed the 20-point mark for the second straight game, finishing with a team-high 22 points.

Following Valpo Basketball: Video: ESPN+
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com

Head Coach Courtney Boyd (0-25 at Valpo, 1st season; 180-93 [.659] overall, 9th season): Courtney Boyd was named the ninth head coach of the Valparaiso University women's basketball program on April 4, 2025. A national championship-winning head coach and player, an NAIA National Coach of the Year, and a two-time conference Coach of the Year, Boyd has won 20 or more games in seven of her first eight seasons as a head coach. She spent the last two seasons at the helm of the Quincy University program after six seasons as head coach at Clarke University, leading the latter program to the NAIA national title in 2022-23.

Series Notes: It's a brief series between the Beacons and the Bruins, as the two programs did not meet prior to Belmont joining the MVC. The Bruins have claimed victories in all five meetings, including a 67-53 win in Nashville and a 69-41 win at the ARC last season. 

@ValpoWBB...
...at Murray State
- Murray State held a pair of early five-point leads, but coming out of the first quarter media timeout, Valpo reeled off six in a row on an Allia von Schlegell basket and a pair of drives to the bucket by Fiona Connolly to go ahead 12-11 with 2:39 to play in the period.
- After the teams traded baskets, Murray State scored eight of the next ten to pull ahead by five points again. von Schlegell responded with a 3-pointer on Valpo's final possession of the first quarter to bring it within 21-19 at period's end.
- The Beacons limited the Racers to just four points over the first three-plus minutes of the second quarter, but on the offensive end, a von Schlegell triple accounted for the only points on Valpo's side of the board.
- Murray State went on an 11-2 run to pull out to a 36-24 lead with 2:10 to play in the half. Another 3-pointer by von Schlegell made it a single-digit game, and after the Racers scored with 30 seconds to play, Milana Nenadic converted a hook shot in the final seconds to make it a 38-29 game at halftime.
- von Schlegell connected again from deep less than a minute into the second half, shrinking the deficit to eight points at 40-32.
- Murray State scored on each of its next nine possessions, outscoring the Beacons 25-7 in that stretch, to lead 65-39.
- The Racers' advantage was 78-47 at the end of the third quarter, and while they led by as many as 38 points in the final period, Valpo battled back to cut the deficit to the final margin.
- von Schlegell led the Beacons with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. It was her 15th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 12th time she has dropped at least 15 points.
- Connolly scored in double figures for the 13th time this season, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
- Nenadic hit double digits for the ninth time with a 10-point evening and also paced Valpo on the glass with six rebounds.
- Valpo hit at a 43.5% clip from the field and was 7-of-24 from 3-point range, while the Racers shot 47.4% from the floor and were 11-of-29 from 3-point range.
- The Beacons were limited to three free throw attempts, going 2-of-3 from the stripe, while Murray State was 12-of-19.

...versus Southern Illinois
- After SIU scored the game's first four points, Valpo reeled off 10 in a row — four of which came from Fiona Connolly, with Allia von Schlegell and Milana Nenadic hitting a 3-point apiece as well — to take an early 10-4 lead.
- Valpo extended its edge to 15-6 on a Connolly 3-pointer with 4:03 to play in the opening period and held a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
- The Salukis scored the first 11 points of the second period over a span of 3:43 to take a 22-17 lead. The Beacons battled back to tie the game at 26-26 with 3:58 to play in the half before SIU scored 10 of the final 14 points of the half to lead 36-30 at intermission.
- Valpo had its highest-scoring quarter of the season as it dropped 24 points in the third quarter, but the Salukis scored 33 in the same 10-minute span.
- The Beacons fought back to tie the game at 39-39 on a pair of Connolly free throws with 7:46 to play in the period, but SIU went on a 15-2 run over the next four-plus minutes. The Salukis eventually led 69-54 with 10 minutes to play.
- SIU pushed its lead to its apex at 73-55 with 8:59 remaining before a 9-2 run from Valpo — featuring seven points from von Schlegell — forced a Saluki timeout with 7:25 to play and their lead down to 75-64.
- The deficit stayed at 11 as a singular free throw each way accounted for the only scoring over the next three-plus minutes until a driving layup from von Schlegell with 4:15 to play made it a single-digit game.
- The freshman converted a 3-point play with 2:58 to play and then sunk a 3-pointer with 2:28 remaining to make it a one-possession game, 76-73 — completing an 18-3 run over a span of 6:31.
- SIU made a pair of free throws on its next trip down the court to push its lead back to five points, and Valpo was unable to convert on any of its last five offensive possessions.
- von Schlegell and Connolly both established career highs in the scoring column with 29 and 22 points, respectively.
- von Schlegell's 29 points, which bested her previous best by 10 points, came on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-10 from 3-point range, and 6-of-7 from the foul line. The freshman established a career high for field goals made and matched her career best for 3-pointers made.
- Connolly edged past her previous career high of 21 points, accomplished twice this season, with her 22-point effort. The senior also handed out five assists to match her best effort in the Valpo uniform.
- Nenadic added 11 points and tied her career high with 12 rebounds to finish with the second double-double of her career — both of which have come within the last four games.
- Valpo shot 41.4% from the floor and was 7-of-24 from 3-point range, while SIU hit at a 42.9% clip from the field and was 5-of-12 from deep.
- The Beacons also hit 18-for-25 from the foul line — the 18 free throws made their second-highest total in MVC play.
- Valpo committed just 12 turnovers against the Salukis, tying their second-fewest in that department this season. Going along with 13 assists, it is the third time in the last seven games the Beacons have had a positive assist/turnover ratio.

...looking ahead
- Valpo's final two road games of the regular season are on tap with matchups at Drake and at UNI, but they will be played as part of two separate trips a week apart.

...on the road
- Sunday's game is the eighth of 10 road games in MVC play for the Beacons, who played six true road games as well in the nonconference slate.
- Valpo is currently 0-13 in true road games.
- Last season's squad posted a 3-11 mark in true road games.

....and @ValleyHoops
- Valpo is in its ninth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
- Valpo was picked outside the top-four of the MVC preseason poll, as the Valley released only the top four selections.
- The Valley finished last season ranked seventh in the NET, matching the conference's highest NET/RPI ranking in Valpo's time as an MVC member (2020-21).

...looking back at last year
- Valpo finished last season with a 13-19 overall record and went 9-11 in MVC play to finish in eighth place.
- Among the Beacons' 13 victories were a thrilling rally from a 20-point deficit for a home win over Drake which entered the game ranked 69th in NET, the program's highest-ranked win since a win over #54 UNI in 2021-22.
- Leah Earnest was tabbed a First Team All-MVC honoree as she concluded a decorated career that saw her finish first in program history in career rebounds and third in career scoring.
- The 2024-25 Beacons hit 245 3-pointers, third-most in a single season in program history, and tallied 314 steals, seventh on the program's single-season chart and the most since 2001-02.

@BelmontWBB
- Belmont enters Sunday's game in second place in the MVC standings at 11-2 in Valley play and owns a 15-9 overall record.
- The Bruins have won their last three in a row, most recently earning a 71-56 win over UIC Friday evening.
- Jailyn Banks leads Belmont, averaging 15.9 points/game, while Hilary Fuller (who returned to action Friday after missing the Bruins' previous two games) posts 14.3 points/game and Avery Strickland 11.9 points/game.

Allia's Big Day(s)
- Freshman Allia von Schlegell has been the Beacons' leading scorer in MVC play, but took it to another level last Saturday against Southern Illinois.
- von Schlegell's 29 points bested her previous career high of 19 points by 10, as she established a career high for field goals made and matched her career best for 3-pointers made.
- von Schlegell scored the most points by a Valpo freshman since Ali Saunders scored 32 against UAB Nov. 21, 2022. It also matched the most points by an MVC freshman this season.
- 15 of von Schlegell's points came in the fourth quarter alone as she outscored SIU in the final period. It is the most points in a single period by a Valpo player this season.
- Even more impressively, von Schlegell scored those 29 points while not committing a single turnover in 35 minutes of action. She is only the fifth D-I freshman this year with a game with 29 or more points and no turnovers.
- von Schlegell followed last time out at Murray State with another big effort, going for a team-high 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including four 3-pointers.

The Freshman Fills It Up
- von Schlegell has made a big impact in her rookie season.
- She has scored in double figures 15 times this year, including in 12 of Valpo's last 16 games. 
- 12 times, von Schlegell has dropped at least 15 points - the most 15+ point games by a Valpo freshman since Dani Franklin hit the 15-point mark 12 times in the 2014-15 season.
- von Schlegell currently ranks second among MVC freshmen in scoring (11.7 points/game) and is first in 3-pointers made (54).
- She ranks 46th nationally in freshman scoring and is eighth among freshmen nationally in 3-pointers made.

Doing Work on the Road
- von Schlegell has excelled in the scoring department on the road in MVC play.
- The freshman has scored 15 or more points in six of Valpo's seven MVC road games to date.
- von Schlegell has shot 51.2% (22-for-43) from 3-point range in road MVC games and is averaging 16.3 points/game in those contests.

Connolly's Career Best Too
- von Schlegell wasn't the only Valpo player to set a career high last Saturday against SIU.
- Senior Fiona Connolly edged past her previous career best of 21 points, accomplished twice earlier this season, with a 22-point effort against the Salukis.
- It is the first time two Valpo players scored 20+ points in the same game since Leah Earnest tallied 24 points and Layla Gold 21 versus Detroit Mercy Dec. 21, 2024.
- von Schlegell and Connolly combined for 51 points against the Salukis, the highest combined scoring output for two Valpo players since Tabitha Gerardot (32) and Gina Lange (24) combined for 56 in a win over Cleveland State Feb. 2, 2013.

Hitting From Inside the Arc
­- Valpo has enjoyed its two best performances of the season from 2-point range in its last two games.
- The Beacons hit 17-of-34 from inside the arc last Saturday against Southern Illinois.
- Last time out against Murray State, Valpo went 23-for-45 on 2-point shots.

Nenadic's Night
- It was truly a night to remember for Nenadic at Illinois State Jan. 15, coming off the bench to deliver 34 points on 16-of-25 shooting.
- The 16 field goals made broke the program record for baskets in a single game, as the previous mark was shared at 15 by Deb Lahti (Feb. 19, 1983 vs. Carthage) and Lyn Swanson (Feb. 8, 1986 at Carthage).
- Nenadic is tied for ninth among NCAA D-I players this season for field goals in a game.
- Nenadic's 25 field goal attempts are tied for eighth-most in a single game in Valpo history.
- The junior now shares fifth on Valpo's single-game scoring chart with Dani Franklin, who dropped 34 at Stetson Nov. 12, 2016. Those two are the only Valpo players to score at least 34 in a game since 1992. Nenadic's 34 points are the most by a player coming off the bench in program history.
- The 34 points is tied with Murray State's Halli Poock for the highest-scoring game by an MVC player this season.
- Nenadic's previous career best was 20 points earlier this year while facing All-American Audi Crooks at Iowa State.
- Nenadic is just the fourth MVC player in the last nine seasons with at least 16 baskets in a game, and joins a few pretty solid players in that department — Drake's Katie Dinnebier, Belmont's Destinee Wells and Murray State's Katelyn Young.
- Nenadic went on to score 18 points later that weekend against Drake and was named MVC Newcomer of the Week Jan. 19 for her efforts, becoming Valpo's first MVC weekly award winner in over four years.

Nonconference Scoring
- von Schlegell scored in double figures six times in nonconference action, among the best in program history in terms of double-digit scoring outputs by a freshman in nonconference games since Valpo joined the North Star Conference for the 1987-88 season:
Dani Franklin, 2014-15, 11
Meredith Hamlet, 2015-16, 8
Tabitha Gerardot, 2010-11, 8
Sarrah Stricklett, 1996-97, at least 7 (2 boxes unavailable)
Debbie Bolen, 1989-90, at least 7 (1 box unavailable)
Jeanette Gray, 1999-2000, 7
Allia von Schlegell, 2025-26, 6
Stephanie Greer, 1987-88, 6
Amy Cole, 1987-88, 6
Linda Batz, 1987-88, 6
Ali Saunders, 2022-23, 5
Jamie Gutowski, 2002-03, 5
- Notably, the six players ahead of von Schlegell on that list all went on to earn All-Freshman/Newcomer Team honors and closed their time at Valpo among the top-12 in program history in career scoring.

Skip the Second?
- Four times in MVC play, the second quarter has proven to be the Beacons' undoing.
- Most recently, the Beacons were outscored by SIU 25-13 in the second quarter, while the other three quarters saw Valpo hold the 60-57 edge.
- Drake outscored Valpo 19-7 in the second quarter, while the Beacons outscored the Bulldogs 49-47 in the other three periods.
- At Illinois State, a 31-12 second quarter for the Redbirds accounted for the entire final margin, as Valpo matched ISU 62-62 in the other three quarters.
- At Indiana State, the Sycamores' 24-13 advantage in the second quarter offset Valpo's 65-64 edge in the other three periods.

Shifting Starters
- Valpo has used ten different starting lineups this year, the most recent change coming against SIU, as Nenadic joined Huffine, von Schlegell, Connolly and Sullivan.
- That unit was a +10 (27-17) in 9:52 of playing time together against the Salukis.
- Ten different players have been a part of at least one starting five this year, with only one - Huffine - starting every game. All ten have started at least three games apiece.
- The Beacons have not used the same starting lineup in more than four consecutive games this season.

The Tall and the Short
- This year's Valpo roster features recent extremes on both ends of the height spectrum.
- Mor Shabtai and Mikayla Huffine both are listed at 5-4, making them the shortest Valpo players since 5-3 Rashida Ray (2007-11).
- On the flip side, Kamryn Winch and Milana Nenadic both check in at 6-3, making them the tallest Valpo players since 6-5 Nicole Johanson (2018-19).

International Flavor
- Valpo has a trio of international players on its 2025-26 roster: sophomore Mor Shabtai (Israel) and transfers Milana Nenadic (Ontario, Canada) and Kennedy Sproule (Manitoba, Canada).
- Prior to Shabtai's arrival last year, the Valpo program hadn't had an international player since Sharon Karungi (Uganda) roamed the paint from 2013-15.

Sister Act
- For the third straight season, the Beacons have a pair of sisters on their roster, as freshman Nuala Connolly joins senior sister Fiona on this year's squad.
- The last two years featured identical twins Nevaeh and Saniya Jackson.
- Before that, the last set of sisters to suit up together in the Brown and Gold were the trio of Hamlet sisters: Annemarie (2013-16) overlapped with both older sister Elizabeth (2013-14) and younger sister Meredith (2015-19).