Valparaiso (0-28, 0-17 MVC)
Game #29 - February 28, 2026 - 1 p.m.
Illinois State (17-11, 11-6 MVC)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) - Valparaiso, Ind.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women's basketball team returns home to the ARC to open up a three-game homestand to close out the regular season Saturday afternoon as the Beacons take on Illinois State.

Previously: Valpo was within seven points of host UNI in the second half of Thursday's meeting in Cedar Falls, Iowa before the Panthers pulled away for a 92-54 victory. Fiona Connolly paced the Beacons with 20 points.

Following Valpo Basketball: Video: ESPN+
Radio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso)
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Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com

Head Coach Courtney Boyd (0-28 at Valpo, 1st season; 180-96 [.652] 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: Illinois State leads the all-time series over Valpo, 16-4, including wins in each of the last nine matchups. In this season's first meeting in Normal, the Redbirds earned a 93-74 victory despite a career game from Milana Nenadic, who set a program record for made field goals in a game as she went 16-of-25 from the field for 34 points - tied for fifth on Valpo's single-game scoring chart.

@ValpoWBB...
...at UNI
- Fiona Connolly and Allia von Schlegell combined for six early points to give Valpo a quick 5-1 lead.
- The Beacons were still tied with the Panthers at 8-8 with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter before UNI went on a 14-2 run to close the period — including an 8-0 spurt in the final 1:14 — as it led 22-10 10 minutes in.
- Valpo limited UNI to just 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting from the floor in the second quarter, but the Beacons scored just 11 points of their own on 2-of-9 shooting for the period.
- Valpo scored the first five points of the quarter to close to within seven, but that was as close as it would get in the period and the Panthers eventually led 33-21 at halftime.
- After the offensive struggles of the first half, the Beacons exploded for 25 points in the third quarter on 10-of-17 shooting, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range. But that coincided with a similar offensive surge for UNI, which scored 31 points in the quarter on the same shooting numbers while adding 7-of-8 from the foul line.
- Valpo got to within 39-32 on the second of two consecutive 3-pointers from von Schlegell with 7:41 to play in the quarter, and still trailed by just 10 with 5:41 remaining in the period before UNI scored seven points in a span of 55 seconds to extend its lead.
- The Panthers held a 64-46 lead at the end of the third quarter and were able to pull away in the final period.
- Connolly led all players with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 mark from the foul line, her fifth 20-point effort of the season.
- von Schlegell hit three 3-pointers as part of a 13-point night.
- Kayla Preston tied her career best with a team-high six rebounds.
- Valpo finished the night shooting 34% from the field, including 5-of-16 from 3-point range, while UNI hit at a 44.6% clip and was 13-of-25 from the 3-point line.
- The Beacons did enjoy a strong evening at the foul line, hitting 15-of-19 from the charity stripe.

...at Drake
- Drake was the team which started on the front foot, as the Bulldogs led 12-5 just 3:02 into the ballgame.
- But the Beacons exploded over the next few minutes offensively, scoring on eight consecutive offensive possessions and putting up 21 points. Five different players hit 3-pointers during the stretch, which saw Valpo go up by seven points with 2:15 to play in the period on a layup from Fiona Connolly.
- Another drive and finish by Connolly in the final 40 seconds closed the scoring in the opening frame, as Valpo held a 28-21 lead.
- An 11-1 run for the Beacons, capped by a 3-pointer by Milana Nenadic, pushed the Beacons' lead to 41-26 with three minutes to play in the half.
- Valpo carried a 46-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.
- Kayla Sullivan connected from deep 1:19 into the third quarter, restoring Valpo's largest lead at 15 points.
- Drake went on a 14-2 run over the next six-plus minutes to cut Valpo's lead to three points, where it remained at the end of the quarter, as the Beacons were in front 56-53.
- The Bulldogs scored on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth quarter to take their first lead since the first quarter with 8:18 to play, but Valpo responded with a 9-1 run — including five points from Allia von Schlegell — and when Kamryn Winch connected on a foul-line jumper with 5:22 to play, the Beacons led 65-58.
- That proved to be Valpo's last point for over four and a half minutes, as Drake scored 17 in a row to take the lead for good. Abbie Aalsma started the key run with back-to-back triples following Winch's basket.
- The 28-point first quarter was Valpo's highest scoring quarter of the season.
- The Beacons led at halftime for the third time this year and after three quarters for the first time.
- For the second time this season, four Beacons scored in double figures, led by a game-best 20 points from Connolly, including a 7-of-8 mark from the foul line. It was the senior's fourth 20+ point game of the season.
- Nenadic tallied 14 points and paced Valpo with seven rebounds.
- von Schlegell scored in double figures for the 16th time with a 12-point night, while Sullivan reached double digits for the fourth time with 11 points, including a season-high three 3-pointers.
- Mikayla Huffine was one off her season best with six assists.
- Valpo shot 36.4% from the field and was 10-for-33 from 3-point range — its second-highest total of triples this year. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were 43.3% from the floor, including 8-for-18 from the 3-point line.

...looking ahead
- Valpo concludes the regular season at the ARC next weekend with games against Belmont and Murray State.

...at the ARC
- Saturday's game is the 11th of 13 home games this season for the Beacons, as Valpo hosts three nonconference games and 10 MVC games.
- The Beacons are currently 0-10 at the ARC this year.
- Valpo posted a 9-6 record at the ARC last season, the program's first winning record at home since the 2019-20 season.

....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.

@RedbirdWBB
- Illinois State enters Saturday's game with a 17-11 overall record and sits in fourth place in the MVC standings at 11-6 in conference play.
- The Redbirds have won seven of their last nine, most recently overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat Southern Illinois, 78-60.
- Three ISU starters average in double figures in the scoring column, led by Doneelah Washington, who posts 17 points and nine rebounds per game.

Celebrating the Seniors
- Prior to Saturday's game, Valpo will honor the three members of its senior class.
- Mikayla Huffine is in her first season as a Beacon after playing one year at Iowa Western C.C. and two seasons at Quincy.
- Bella Swedlund is in her second year at Valpo after one season apiece at Kansas and Toledo.
- Fiona Connolly is in her second season at Valpo following two seasons at La Salle.

Big Quarters
- Valpo has had its two highest-scoring quarters of the season in the last two games.
- At Drake last Thursday, the Beacons scored 28 first-quarter points - 10-14 FG; 6-9 3PT; 2-2 FT.
- Then last time out at UNI, Valpo poured in 25 third-quarter points - 10-17 FG; 4-4 3PT; 1-1 FT.

A Quick 20
- Fiona Connolly scored a game-high 20 points Thursday at UNI - her fifth 20-point game of the season - despite playing just 19:09 due to foul trouble.
- It is the second time this year the Beacons have had a 20-point scorer play fewer than 20 minutes, as Milana Nenadic did so in 19:15 at Iowa State back in November.
- Before this season, Valpo had just three players accomplish the feat in the last 22 years.
- Connolly and Nenadic are the only two MVC players to accomplish the feat this season.

It's Been 84 Years (OK, not quite)
- Saturday's game snaps a stretch of four consecutive road games for Valpo.
- Valpo's last home game came back on Feb. 7, meaning the Beacons have gone 21 days between home games - it's actually the second time this year the program has had 21 days between home games, as it hosted Milwaukee Nov. 16 and then didn't play at home until hosting UIC Dec. 7.
- It is Valpo's longest stretch between home games within conference play since joining the MVC.

Allia's Big Day(s)
- Freshman Allia von Schlegell has been the Beacons' leading scorer in MVC play, but took it to another level in Valpo's last home game 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 one of just five D-I freshmen this year with a game with 29 or more points and no turnovers.

The Freshman Fills It Up
- von Schlegell has made a big impact in her rookie season.
- She has scored in double figures 17 times this year - 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 (11.6 points/game) and is first in 3-pointers made (60).
- She ranks 48th nationally in freshman scoring and is tied for seventh among freshmen nationally in 3-pointers made.
- von Schlegell scored in double figures six times in nonconference action, tied for seventh-most in program history by a freshman in nonconference games since Valpo joined the North Star Conference for the 1987-88 season.
- 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.

Freshman Scoring Leaders
- von Schlegell is one of just nine freshmen in program history to score at least 300 points as a rookie and has put herself in position to challenge Valpo's freshman scoring record.
- Sarrah Stricklett scored 377 points as a rookie in 1996-97, a mark which von Schlegell enters Thursday 65 points back of:
377 - Sarrah Stricklett, 1996-97
365 - Dani Franklin, 2014-15
351 - Debbie Bolen, 1989-90
331 - Tabitha Gerardot, 2010-11
329 - Meredith Hamlet, 2015-16
326 - Jeanette Gray, 1999-2000
325 - Allia von Schlegell, 2025-26
322 - Ali Saunders, 2022-23
302 - Jasmyn Walker, 2014-15
- Notably, every player on this list was an All-Freshman/Newcomer Team honoree in their respective season.

Connolly's Career Best Too
- von Schlegell wasn't the only Valpo player to set a career high in the home game 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.

Nenadic's Night
- It was truly a night to remember for Milana 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.

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 at the ARC 25-13 in the second quarter, while the other three quarters saw Valpo hold the 60-57 edge.
- Drake outscored Valpo at the ARC 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
- For the first time this season, Valpo has utilized the same starting lineup - Huffine, von Schlegell, Connolly, Sullivan and Nenadic - in five consecutive games.
- The Beacons have used 10 different starting lineups this year.
- 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).