Women's Basketball Weekly Release #12

Jan. 22, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Player of the Week

Traci Edwards, UW-Milwaukee
Sophomore * Center * Menasha, Wis.
Edwards led UWM to a pair of wins last week, averaging 27.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, while adding three assists and two steals in both contests. Against Cleveland State Saturday, she scored a school-record 42 points and tied another school record with six blocked shots. She also set school records for field goals made (17) and attempted (33) and pulled down 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Edwards tallied 12 points and nine boards against Youngstown State Thursday.

Other Top Performances from the Week Ending Jan. 21

India Bruster, Detroit
Junior * Center * Cleveland, Ohio
Bruster recorded her first career double-double on Saturday with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Wright State. She also chipped in six points and six boards in 15 minutes of action against Butler on Thursday. On the week, Bruster shot seven-of-11 from the field.

Jackie Closser, Butler
Senior * Guard * Alexandria, Ind.
Closser led the Bulldogs on offense last week, netting a game-high 17 points at Detroit (Thursday) before scoring 19 at IPFW (Saturday). She tied her career-best mark from the free-throw line against the Titans, sinking 12-of-12 in leading the Bulldogs to their fourth Horizon League win. She added 19 points on seven-of-16 shooting from the field against the Mastodons just two days later.

Monique Godfrey, Youngstown State
Sophomore * Guard * East Cleveland, Ohio
Godfrey averaged 10 points per game last week in YSU's two losses to the Horizon League's top two teams. Against League leader UWGB, Godfrey posted a team-best 13 points.

Jacquay Holmes, UIC
Senior * Guard * Chicago, Ill.
Holmes guided UIC to its third straight Horizon League road victory (74-57) over Loyola on Saturday with a team-high 21 points. Holmes shot 57.1 percent from the field (eight-for-14) and hit five-of-six from the free throw line. The forward was two rebounds shy of notching her second career double-double with eight boards. Holmes also led the squad with five assists and added two steals in the win.

Kailey Klein, Cleveland State
Freshman * Guard * Cherry, Ill.
Klein averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in CSU's two games last week. On Saturday at UW-Milwaukee she scored a team-high 22 points on eight-of-14 shooting with three steals. She leads the Vikings with three 20-point games on the year.

Maggie McCloskey, Loyola
Freshman * Guard * Riverside, Ill.
McCloskey put together a pair of stellar performances last week as the Ramblers split a pair of games. She opened the week strong on offense, burying six three-pointers en route to a game-high 22-point performance in a win at Chicago State, and closed the week with one of Loyola's best defensive performances of the year, snatching a career-best seven steals to go with nine points and seven assists in Saturday's loss to UIC.

Erin Templin, UW-Green Bay
Sophomore * Forward * Richland Center, Wis.
Templin came off the bench twice last week in aiding the Phoenix in posting a pair of convincing wins. Against Cleveland State, Templin tallied a career-high 12 points on four-of-seven shooting while adding four rebounds in 24 minutes. Then, against Youngstown State, Templin just missed her new career high with 11 points, including a career-best three-of-four effort from three-point range. She also had three assists in the victory over the Penguins.

Brittney Whiteside, Wright State
Senior * Guard * Columbus, Ohio
Whiteside notched a team-high 16 points in the Raiders' 67-51 victory over Detroit on Saturday. She also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists.

Horizon League Notes

UW-Green Bay (15-3; 6-0 HL)
The Phoenix extended its winning streak to 12 games with decisive victories over Cleveland State (82-39) and Youngstown State (83-49) last week.

A balanced attack led UWGB in the first game of the week as 10 players saw between 15-27 minutes of playing time. Four players notched double figures with sophomores Erin Templin and Rachel Porath and senior Nicole Soulis tying for team-high honors at 12 points apiece. The team shot 59.3 percent (32-of-54) in the game and a perfect eight-of-eight from the free-throw line.

Soulis came back on Saturday and poured in 22 points on eight-of-nine shooting in just 21 minutes on the hardwood. As a team, UW-Green Bay had the hot hand against, shooting 68.0 percent (17-of-25) in the first half and 54.7 percent (29-of-53) for the game.

In Horizon League play, the team is shooting a blistering 52.8 percent from the floor, including 43.1 percent from three-point land. At the charity stripe, the Phoenix has shot 89.0 percent over six League contests.

Soulis' 34 points last week gave her 1,701 for her career and moves her one point away from Carol Madsen (Xavier, 1991-94) for fifth place on the loop's all-time charts. For the year, Soulis places second in the loop in scoring (18.3), blocked shots (1.39) and field-goal percentage (.581), while ranking first in free-throw percentage (.870) and seventh in rebounding (5.5).

As a team, UWGB leads the Horizon League in scoring offense (76.7 ppg.), scoring defense (60.87 ppg.), scoring margin (+16.0), free-throw percentage (.800), field-goal percentage (.487), three-point field goal percentage (.391), assists (16.89 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29).

According to the latest statistics release by the NCAA (Jan. 21), the Phoenix rank second in the country in free-throw shooting and third in turnovers per game, while placing seventh in field-goal percentage.

After playing 12 of its first 18 games at home, UW-Green Bay begins a road-heavy slate as the team will have seven of its final 10 games away from the Phoenix Sports Center. This week, the team travels to Butler on Thursday and Wright State on Saturday.

UW-Milwaukee (9-10; 5-1 HL)
UWM picked up a pair of conference wins last week as the team downed Youngstown State 60-44 on Thursday before picking up a 75-68 win over Cleveland State on Saturday.

Player of the Week Traci Edwards had a career game against CSU that rewrote several Panther records. The sophomore center set the standard for field-goals made (17), field-goals attempted (33) and points scored (42) in the contest. She also tied a record with six blocked shots to go along with 14 rebounds. The 42-point outburst ties Edwards with Renee Taylor (Miami [Fla.]) for the second-highest amount in Division I this season. Oklahoma's Courtney Paris holds the top honor as she poured in 43 points against New Mexico on Dec. 30.

Thursday's contest was a little more well-rounded by the Panthers as three players figured in double digits. Sophomore Katie Fournier and Edwards both chipped in 12 points to lead the UWM offense. The team committed a season-high 26 turnovers but overcame the total by shooting 45.1 percent from the floor while holding YSU to 22.6 percent shooting.

On the statistical charts, Edwards tops the circuit in scoring (19.2), rebounding (9.5) and blocked shots, while placing third in field-goal percentage (.578). Edwards' work on the boards has helped Milwaukee to the loop's top rebounding margin (+1.8).

UW-Milwaukee takes to the road this week with contests at Wright State on Thursday and Butler on Saturday afternoon.

Butler (7-11; 4-2 HL)
The Bulldogs improved to 4-2 in League play with a 59-51 victory over Detroit on Thursday, then dropped a non-conference game to IPFW, 85-78, on Saturday afternoon.

Four Butler starters found double digits in the contest, while senior Jackie Closser topping the squad with 17 markers. Closser tied a personal-best by hitting 12-of-12 free throws. The team was out-shot 38.5 percent to 30.0 percent, but made up for it by forcing UDM into 29 turnovers.

On Saturday, BU had trouble keeping pace with IPFW as the Mastadons converted on 44.6 percent of their shot attempts. Freshman Susan Lester had her second double-double of the year with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Closser had another strong game with 19 points and buried a three pointer for the 46th straight outing.

After being out-scored by 9.5 points in 12 non-conference game, the Bulldogs hold a 6.0 point edge in six games against Horizon League foes.

On the season, Closser paces the loop in minutes played (36.89) and is tied for the top mark in free-throw shooting (.870). She also ties for second in three-pointers made (2.17) and ranks third in assists (3.94).

This week, Butler travels to Chicago, Ill., to face UIC on Thursday evening and Loyola on Saturday afternoon.

UIC (10-9; 4-3 HL)
UIC topped crosstown rival Loyola 74-57 in the team's only game last week. With the victory, the Flames pushed their record back over the .500 mark at 10-9 on the season.

Senior Jacquay Holmes led the team in scoring with a 21-point effort, while classmate LaShonda Grant and freshman Jessie Miller chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively. The Flames out-rebounded Loyola 48-37 and sophomore Nikki Grobbecker paced the team with a game-high 10 rebounds.

UIC has been solid defensively this season, posting the conference's top marks in steals (10.84) and the second-highest total in turnover margin (+4.42). Grant (2.00) places second and fellow senior Krystal Hugelier (1.89) ranks third on the individual steals-per-game chart. In seven League games, the team has increased its turnover margin to +6.71 and has forced an average of 22.6 turnovers in those contests.

It's another one-game week for the Flames as they take on Detroit at home on Thursday evening.

Wright State (5-12; 3-3 HL)
The Raiders evened their conference record with a 67-51 victory at Detroit on Saturday last week.

The 16-point win over UDM was Wright State's largest margin of victory this season. All of the team's previous four wins had come by seven points or less.

Senior Brittney Whiteside led the attack with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Classmate Steph Comisar poured in 15 points, while senior Tyanda Hammock and junior Whitney Lewis notched 10 points apiece. WSU tied a season-high by forcing 30 turnovers and grabbing 16 steals. The team also held its second-best rebounding margin of the season, grabbing 44 boards compared to 35 for Detroit.

WSU has done its work on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking second in the League in scoring defense (65.1) and third in steals (9.18). Individually, junior Danielle Duncan is tied for fifth in the conference in steals (1.82), while freshman Kanisha Ward is eight (1.63).

Wright State welcomes the Wisconsin schools this week as UW-Milwaukee heads to Dayton, Ohio, on Thursday and UW-Green Bay visits on Saturday.

Cleveland State (5-15; 2-5 HL)
The Vikings traveled to Wisconsin last week and were pinned with a pair of losses. UW-Green Bay overwhelmed CSU, 82-39, on Thursday before UW-Milwaukee slipped past the team, 75-68, on Saturday afternoon.

The Phoenix came out of the gates firing on all cylinders and Cleveland State was unable to match the intensity, falling behind 44-15 after 20 minutes of play. While the team's play improved in the second period, it was not enough as UWGB connected on 60.0 percent of its second-half shots. Freshman Jessica Roque led the offense with 13 points in the game.

Sophomore Traci Edwards proved too much in CSU's second game of the week. She went for 42 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in the contest, shooting 17-of-33 from the floor. Cleveland State converted on 44.1 percent (26-of-59) of their field-goal attempts, only the second time the team has shot over 40 percent in League play.

With six treys against last, the Vikings extended their NCAA record for consecutive games with a three-point field goal to 406. The last time that Cleveland State failed to drain at least one three-pointer in a game was a 78-55 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 17, 1992.

After dressing only nine players on Saturday, the team will welcome a slow week with its only game coming against Youngstown State on Saturday.

Youngstown State (4-13; 2-5 HL)
YSU returned from Wisconsin 0-2 for the week after UW-Milwaukee (60-44) and UW-Green Bay (83-49) posted victories over the Penguins.

The offense had a slow night against UWM on Thursday as the team shot just 22.6 percent from the floor. No player reached double-figures in the contest and the team only had eight assists in the contest.

On Saturday against the Phoenix, the Penguins fell behind early as they were outshot 68.0 percent to 37.0 percent in the first half. Sophomore Monique Godfrey put up the team's only double-figure scoring effort of the week with 13 points in the game, while classmate Nikita LaFleur swatted three shots and grabbed nine rebounds. The sophomore center now stands in fourth place in the loop in blocks per game (1.12).

The solid defense is becoming a staple of YSU in conference play this season. The team places third in scoring defense (65.8) and field-goal percentage defense (.411), while pacing the loop in blocked shots (3.59).

Youngstown State plays a single game this week as Cleveland State visits the Beeghly Center on Saturday afternoon.

Loyola (4-14; 2-5 HL)
The Ramblers dropped a 74-57 decision to Chicagoland rival UIC at home on Saturday after posting a 79-73 victory over Chicago State last week.

In the team's final non-conference matchup of the season, Loyola overcame a seven point halftime deficit by shooting 59.1 percent in the second half. Freshman Maggie McCloskey showed her three-point prowess in the game, connecting on six of her eight three-point attempts for a team-high 22 points. Senior Jenna Real kept her stellar senior season going with 17 points in the game.

Against UIC, the team was out-shot 44.4 percent to 36.5 percent and was out-rebounded 48-37. Senior Marquise Hanser topped the 20-point plateau for the fifth time this season and Real notched double digits for the seventh straight game.

This season Real has connected on a League-best 63.1 percent of her shots for an average of 13.9 points per contest. According to the latest statistics release by the NCAA (Jan. 21), she holds the fifth-highest shooting percentage in the country.

McCloskey also finds herself atop the loop's statistics charts with 2.50 three-pointers made per game, while placing second in assists per outing at 4.28.

On the season, Loyola owns the loop's second-best marks in free-throw average (.757) and field-goal percentage (.442).

The Ramblers play just once this week with Detroit coming to the Gentile Center on Saturday afternoon.

Detroit (4-15; 1-5 HL)
UDM dropped a pair of games on the home last week, falling 59-51 to Butler on Thursday and 67-51 to Wright State on Saturday. With the pair of losses, the Titans tied their worst start to Horizon League play at 1-5.

Junior Joyce Massey posted team honors with 145 points against BU. The team out-rebounded the Bulldogs, but turned the ball over 29 times in the loss.

Saturday's contest was marred by Detroit's season-high 30 turnovers. Junior India Bruster recorded her first double-double of her Titan career with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the setback.

Massey has now led the team in scoring in 13-of-19 games this season. She ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (15.2) and is third in rebounding (7.2).

This week Detroit makes the trip to Chicago, facing UIC on Thursday and Loyola on Saturday.

Valparaiso (10-8; Joins HL in 2007-08)
The Crusaders dropped a home contest against Oakland, 63-57, on Monday of last week, but then bounced back with a 57-51 road victory over Western Illinois on Saturday.

Monday's loss to Oakland was Valpo's first against Mid-Continent Conference competition. The team fell behind early after shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor, including zero-for-seven from long range in the first stanza. Seniors Tamra Braun and Carrie Myers each notched double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

VU found its offensive touch in the second game of the week, shooting 55.3 percent from the field in the contest. Senior Betsy Rietema led the charge with 14 points and seven rebounds. Braun went for double digits again at 13 points and sophomore Sarah Ott tallied 10 points in the victory.

Braun ranks first in the Mid-Cone in field-goal percentage (.605), second in blocks (1.67) and third in rebounding (7.8). Rietema places fourth in scoring (13.5) and eighth in rebounding (6.4). As a team, Valpo leads all Mid-Con teams in three-point field-goal percentage (.385) and three-pointers made (6.50 per contest).

Valpo heads to IPFW (Wednesday) and Southern Utah (Saturday) in the team's two games this week.