INDIANAPOLIS--The women's basketball season is here. Over the next three days, nine games are scheduled with eight of the nine League teams competing. The lone school not in action-Milwaukee-opens their season Nov. 14 vs. Wisconsin.
Friday, Nov. 8
7:00PM Wright State at Southern Illinois
7:00PM Detroit at Canisius
7:00PM Cleveland State at Butler
8:00PM St. Xavier at UIC
8:00PM Northern Illinois at Green Bay
Saturday, Nov. 9
2:05PM VCU at Youngstown State
8:00PM Oakland at Indiana
Sunday, Nov. 10
2:00PM Valparaiso at Saint Louis
6:00PM UIC at Northwestern
All game times Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Wright State at Southern Illinois STATS
Wright State travels to Carbondale, Ill. to face Southern Illinois on Nov. 8. Tip-off is set for 7:00PM.
A glance at last season:
Wright State 12-18 (6-10 Horizon League). Southern Illinois 5-26 (1-17 Missouri Valley Conference).
Scouting the opponent:
Southern Illinois is led by first-year head coach Cindy Stein. Stein’s squad is picked to finish at the bottom of the MVC preseason poll. The Salukis beat Maryville 67-60 and lost to Lindenwood 70-55 in their two exhibition contests. The Salukis sport four seniors and eight juniors and return all 10 letter winners and five starters from last season. Cartaesha Macklin led the team in scoring last season at 15.0 points per game. The team also returns Dyana Pierre, who led the team in rebounding at 8.9 rebounds per game.
About Wright State:
Wright State played in one exhibition game, topping Indiana Wesleyan 81-55 on Oct. 30. The Raiders were voted second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll after receiving one first place vote and 189 points overall. The Raiders return their top-five scorers from last season led by two-time Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Kim Demmings. Demmings led the Horizon League in scoring last season at 19.6 points per game. She is also the top returning assist player in the League, averaging 4.5 per game last season. Despite her guard status, she also ranked among League leaders last year in rebounding, pulling down 6.1 per game. The Raiders also welcome back junior guard Courtney Boyd, who connected on 85 3-pointers in the 2011-12 season and averaged 9.8 points per game that season, but was injured in the opening minute of Wright State’s preseason opener last year and missed the entire 2012-13 season.
What’s next?
Wright State hosts Miami (Ohio) in its home opener on Nov. 12 at 7:00PM.
Detroit at Canisius STATS
Detroit travels to the Kossler Athletic Center on Nov. 8 to take on Canisius. Tip-off is schedule for 7:00PM.
A glance at last season:
Detroit 21-13 (9-7 Horizon League). Canisius 12-19 (8-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference).
Scouting the opponent:
Canisius was picked to finish sixth in the 11 team MAAC. The Golden Griffins graduated three players, including top scorer Ashley Durham. The team is expected to be led by senior Jamie Ruttle who was second on the team in points (8.8), minutes (23.9) and rebounds (4.7) per game last season.
About Detroit:
Detroit received one first-place vote and finished with 99 points to edge out Cleveland State (97) for sixth place in the Horizon League preseason poll. The Titans return two starters in senior guard Senee Shearer (11.6 points per game and made 53 trays in 20 games last season) and sophomore guard Rosanna Reynolds (7.8 points and 4.0 assists per game while posting a 1.73 assist-turnover ratio) who was a member of the all-newcomer team last season. Gone from last season is Shareta Brown, who led the Titans in scoring (21.0) and rebounds per game (9.3). Detroit was 16-1 at home last season, a recipe that led the Titans to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Championship. After receiving a first-round bye, Detroit beat Belmont, College of Charleston, Penn and McNeese State, all in the comforts of Calihan Hall.
What’s next?
Detroit’s home opener is on Nov. 11 at 5:00PM against Lawrence Tech. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Titan men hosting U-M Dearborn in the nightcap at 7:00PM.
Cleveland State at Butler STATS
Cleveland State travels to former Horizon League foe Butler on Nov. 8. Tip-off is slated for 7:00PM.
A glance at last season:
Cleveland State 13-17 (5-11 Horizon League). Butler 17-14 (8-5 Atlantic 10).
Scouting the opponent:
Butler is in their first-year in the BIG EAST and is picked to finish seventh in the ten-team conference. The Bulldogs opened the preseason slate with a win over DePauw, 63-41. Head coach Beth Couture and the Bulldogs are coming of a WNIT appearence. The sqaud will rely on the efforts of senior guard/forward Daress McClung, an Atlantic 10 second team selection who recorded 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds an outing last season.
About Cleveland State:
Cleveland State opened its season with an exhibition win against Ursuline 87-59. Cleveland State will look to replace a first team all-league performer as the Vikings lost Shalonda Winton to graduation. Winton led the League in scoring last year (22.0 points per game) and ranked second in rebounding (10.8). She was also the Defensive Player of the Year after being the only player in the League to rank in the top-five in both blocks and steals. However, the Vikings return three of their top five scorers from last season, led by Cori Coleman. The junior guard averaged 12.5 points per game last season and ranked as one of the top shooters in the League last year, connecting on 43% of her field goal attempts. Coleman made 54 3-pointers and shot 37% from 3-point range. Fellow junior guard Kiersten Green is also back for the Vikings. Green averaged 10.2 points per game and her 62 steals last season ranked fifth in the League.
What’s next?
The Vikings square off at home against Lake Erie on Nov. 14 at 7:00PM.
Saint Xavier at UIC HLN STATS
UIC opens its season at home vs. Saint Xavier. Game time is set for 8:00PM.
A glance at last season:
UIC 9-21 (5-11 Horizon League). Saint Xavier 25-7 (17-5 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletics Conference).
Scouting the opponent:
Saint Xavier is an NAIA school and participates in the CCAC. The Cougars are coming off a season that saw them make the Second Round of the NAIA Division II National Championship. Saint Xavier is ranked No. 9 in the NAIA Women's Division II Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll. On Oct. 29, Saint Xaxier played DePaul in an exhibition and lost 101-59. Morgan Stuut posted a double-double (24 points 10 rebounds) in the contest. The junior was a State Farm®/WBCA NAIA All-American First Team selection a year ago after averaging 17.8 points, 11.3 rebounds per game.
About UIC:
UIC received three first place votes and 146 points overall to finish fourth in the Horizon League preseason poll. UIC returns six of their top-seven scorers from last season, including their top two scorers from last year in Rachel Story and Katie Hannemann. Hannemann was a second team all-league selection last year, while Story was an all-newcomer selection. Story led UIC in scoring last year with a 15.6 point per game average. Hannemann was second on the team with an average of 13.6 points per game and led the team in rebounding at 6.9 per game.
What’s next?
UIC travels to Northwestern on Nov. 10. Tip-off is set for 6:00PM.
Northern Illinois at Green Bay HLN STATS
For the first time in 26 seasons, Green Bay opens its regular-season campaign at home. The game is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 8:00PM.
A glance at last season:
Green Bay 29-3 (16-0 Horizon League). Northern Illinois 7-23 (2-14 MAC).
Scouting the opponent:
Northern Illinois won its lone exhibition contest 76-72 over Lewis. The Huskies are coached by Green Bay graduate Kathi Bennett. The Stevens Point, Wis. native is the daughter of legendary basketball coach Dick Bennett and the sister of current Virginia coach and Green Bay Phoenix Hall of Famer Tony Bennett. The Huskies return their leading scorer in Amanda Corral. The junior led the team in both scoring (12.7) and rebounds (5.0) per game last season. Northern Illinois went 1-2 last season in their three games against 2012-13 Horizon League members (Loyola, UIC, Valparaiso).
About Green Bay:
Green Bay played two exhibition games, beating Northern Michigan 65-53 and St. Cloud State 74-63. Green Bay is the Horizon League preseason favorite despite graduating four starters from last year’s team. The Phoenix have won or shared the Horizon League regular season title for 15 consecutive seasons. Megan Lukan, the lone returning starter for Green Bay, averaged 7.1 points per game last season and led the team in assists with 4.4 per game. Breannah Ranger was Green Bay’s top scorer off the bench last season and its top-returning scorer this year. The senior forward averaged 7.3 points per game last year and 5.1 rebounds per game.
What’s next?
Green Bay has nearly one week off before traveling to Allegany, NY to take on St. Bonaventure on Nov. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00PM.
VCU at Youngstown State HLN STATS
The John Barnes era begins Nov. 9 at 2:05PM at the Beeghly Center. The first-year Penguin head coach was the associate head coach at Green Bay last season.
A glance at last season:
Youngstown State 23-10 (11-5 Horizon League). VCU 11-19 (4-10 Atlantic 10).
Scouting the opponent:
VCU was selected seventh among the 12 school A10 preseason poll. Robyn Parks, who averaged 18.7 points per game last season, was a preseason first team selection. Of the 15 players on VCU’s roster, seven are true freshmen. One of those is freshman guard Camille Calhoun, an ESPN Top 100 recruit from Bowie, Md.
About Youngstown State:
Youngstown State was third in the Horizon League preseason poll. The Penguins return nine of their top-10 scorers from last season’s 23-10 team that advanced to the second round of the WNIT, but graduated last year’s Horizon League Player of the Year Brandi Brown. Barnes will rely on preseason second-team selections Shar’Rae Davis and Heidi Schlegel to lead the Penguins. Davis was on the All-Newcomer team last year after averaging 9.6 points per game and was among League leaders in assists (4.3) and turnover-margin (1.52) last year. Schlegel was limited to 22 games last season, but finished the year second on the team in scoring (9.8) and third on team in rebounding (4.5).
What’s next?
The Penguins start the season with eight of their first nine games at home. The Penguins are in action next on Nov. 13 vs. Buffalo. Tip-off is set for 7:05PM.
Oakland at Indiana STATS
The second game on Saturday’s slate pits Oakland at Indiana at Assembly Hall. Jeff Tungate begins his first season as head coach of the women's team, after spending the past six seasons as the associate head coach for the Golden Grizzlies men's team.
A glance at last season:
Oakland 9-20 (3-13 Summit League). Indiana 11-19 (2-14 Big Ten).
Scouting the opponent:
Indiana's roster consists of eight players who have yet to play a single minute at the collegiate level and nine players suiting up for the first time in a Hoosier uniform. However, the Hoosiers’ recruiting class was ranked as high as 27th in the country by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and third in the Big Ten by Blue Star Basketball. Indiana lost 64 percent of its scoring from a year ago with losing its top three scorers. In its lone exhibition contest, Indiana defeated Georgetown College, 79-55. Of the 79 points scored, 62 of those points came from first year players within the program. Eleven Hoosiers found the scoring column and six players had five or more rebounds. Kaila Hulls posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three steals.
About Oakland:
Oakland is coming off a win in its only preseason game as they defeated Windsor 60-46. Oakland, preparing for its first season in the Horizon League, was picked eighth in the preseason poll with 73 points. The newcomers return their top-three scorers from last season, led by Olivia Nash who led Oakland in scoring (11.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.0) last season as she was named Summit League Freshman of the Year and all-league second team by CollegeSportsMadness.com. Also back for Oakland is sophomore guard Elena Popkey and senior guard Victoria Lipscomb. Popkey was second on Oakland in points and rebounding averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds and was named to the Summit League’s All-Newcomer team. Lipscomb led Oakland with 92 assists and 64 steals last year. Her 64 steals are the most of any returning player in the Horizon League.
What’s next?
The Golden Grizzlies open a three-game home stand on Nov. 12, starting with a 7:00PM date against UCF.
Valparaiso at Saint Louis STATS
The first of two games on Sunday features Valparaiso at Saint Louis. The Billikens, members of the Atlantic 10, open their season at home vs. Missouri on Nov. 8 before hosting Valparaiso on Nov. 10 at 1:00PM
A glance at last season:
Valparaiso 11-20 (5-11 Horizon League). Saint Louis 12-19 (5-9 Atlantic 10).
Scouting the opponent:
Saint Louis started their season with a 59-52 exhibition win against Missouri-St. Louis. Saint Louis returns five players from last year’s squad, one of those – redshirt sophomore guard Jamesia Price – missed all of last season due to injury. Price averaged 2.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 2011-12. The Bills’ lone returning starter is redshirt junior guard Desirae Ball, Saint Louis’ top returning scorer at 9.0 points per game. Ball also averaged 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
About Valparaiso:
Valparaiso opened its season with an exhibition win over Saint Joseph, 89-62. Valparaiso rounded out the Horizon League preseason poll in ninth place. The Crusaders lost their top three-scorers from last season. Senior guard Charae Richardson averaged 7.8 points per game last season and led League in free throw shooting, hitting 84 percent from the line. Also back for the Crusaders is sophomore guard Jessi Wiedemann, who was one of the top freshmen in the League last season. In addition, Valparaiso welcomes fifth-year senior transfer Elizabeth Hamlet, who played at Oakland last year. She played in all 29 games including 25 starts for the Golden Grizzlies last year. She averaged 6.4 points per games and led the team with a 42.6% field goal percentage and was second in free-throw percentage at 78.5%.
What’s next?
Valparaiso opens the season with three on the road. Their next game is Nov. 12 at Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00PM.
UIC at Northwestern STATS
UIC is the only Horizon League school to play two games on opening weekend. After opening with Saint Xavier at home on Friday, the Flames travel to Northwestern on Nov. 10 in the final Horizon League game of the weekend. Game time is set for 6:00PM.
A glance at last season:
UIC 9-21 (5-11 Horizon League). Northwestern 13-17 (5-11 Big Ten).
Scouting the opponent:
Northwestern defeated Lewis 98-57 in its lone exhibition game. The Wildcats were led by a trio of freshman. Freshman guard Christen Inman scored a team-high 21 points on 9-of-13 from the field. Fellow freshman Nia Coffey was second in scoring for Wildcats adding 14 points while freshman Ashley Deary started at point guard and had with five points, four rebounds, six assists and no turnovers. Gone from last season is leading scorer Kendall Hackney, who averaged 13.8 points per game. The Wildcats return Maggie Lyon, who averaged 12.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
About UIC:
UIC received three first place votes and 146 points overall to finish fourth in the Horizon League preseason poll. UIC returns six of their top-seven scorers from last season, including their top two scorers from last year in Rachel Story and Katie Hannemann. Hannemann was a second team all-league selection last year, while Story was an all-newcomer selection. Story led UIC in scoring last year with a 15.6 point per game average. Hannemann was second on the team with an average of 13.6 points per game and led the team in rebounding at 6.9 per game.
What’s next?
UIC hosts Idaho State at 7:00PM on Nov. 15.
