Women's Basketball Weekly Release #15

Feb. 12, 2007

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Player of the Week

Jessie Miller, UIC
Freshman * Guard * Richfield, Minn.
Miller guided UIC to a 2-0 record at home with 19 points per game. She shot 57.1 percent from the field (12-for-21), 66.7 percent from three-point land (six-for-nine) and 72.7 percent from the free-throw line (eight-for-11). The guard averaged 5.5 rebounds per game, while totaling eight assists and four steals on the weekend.

Other Top Performances from the Week Ending Feb. 11

Lade Akande, Butler
Sophomore * Center * Robinson, Ill.
Akande paced the Bulldogs on offense in both road games last weekend, averaging 22 points per game while shooting a combined 55.9 percent from the field. She led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting in a win at Loyola while notching seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. She followed up that performance with a team-high 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting with six rebounds and two steals at UIC.

Natalie Berglin, UW-Green Bay
Senior * Guard * Green Bay, Wis.
Berglin was clutch down the stretch in UW-Green Bay's win over UW-Milwaukee, as she had nine points in the second half, with all coming in the final three minutes, as the Phoenix won its 16th straight contest. Berglin was 7-7 from the free throw line, including 6-6 in the final 1:14 and led the team with 15 points while posting a game-high nine assists.

Traci Edwards, UW-Milwaukee
Sophomore * Center * Menasha, Wis.
Edwards scored 31 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in UWM's only game last week against League-leading No. 24/25 UW-Green Bay. It was her school-record third 30-point game of the season and fifth-straight game scoring more than 20 points, tying another school mark. The double-double was her League-leading 10th of the season and sixth in League play.

Kandace Evans, Detroit
Junior * Guard * Southfield, Mich.
Evans was the leading scorer for the Titans with 15 points against Youngstown State on Thursday and nearly had her first career double-double with nine boards. She also contributed 13 points, including 11 in second half against Cleveland State on Saturday.

Heather Karner, Youngstown State
Junior * Guard * St. Louis, Mo.
Karner posted in double figures in both games last week, averaging 13.5 points per game and grabbed 3.0 rebounds per game. Karner scored 16 points in a loss to Oakland and 11 points in a 58-52 win over Detroit. For the week, she shot 38.1 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Karner nailed four 3-pointers against Oakland and three more against Detroit.

Kailey Klein, Cleveland State
Freshman * Guard * Cherry, Ill.
Klein scored a CSU freshman record 33 points to help the Vikings earn just their second win in 17 tries all-time at Calihan Hall. She also set or tied career-highs for field goals (10), three-pointers (four), rebounds (eight), assists (four), blocks (one) and minutes played (38), without committing a single turnover against the Titans.

Jenna Real, Loyola
Senior * Forward * Elgin, Ill.
Real had a pair of solid games this weekend, averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 70 percent from the floor. Real opened the week with a 21-point, nine-rebound performance against Butler before adding 13 points and five rebounds on Saturday afternoon against Wright State.

Brittney Whiteside, Wright State
Senior * Guard * Columbus, Ohio
Whiteside had 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists at UIC then poured in 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists at Loyola. With the point total at UIC, Whiteside is now second on the all-time Raider scoring list and 24th on the all-time Horizon League scoring list with 1,333 points.

Horizon League Notes

UW-Green Bay (19-3; 10-0 HL)
The Phoenix pushed its winning streak to 16 games with a 72-63 victory over in-state rival UW-Milwaukee on Saturday, tying the school's Division I record for consecutive wins.

The team shot 46.2 percent in the contest and four players scored in double figures. Senior Natalie Berglin led all scorers with 15 points to go along with her nine assists. Classmates Nicole Soulis (13) and Amanda Popp (10) along with junior Kayla Groh (10) topped the 10-point plateau. Soulis also had nine rebounds, four steals and four blocks in the contest.

In Horizon League play, the team is shooting a blistering 50.1 percent from the floor, including 41.0 percent from three-point land. At the charity stripe, the Phoenix has shot 88.4 percent over 10 League contests.

Individually, Soulis ranks first in blocked shots (1.55), places second in the loop in scoring (17.5) and free-throw percentage (.855), and is third in field-goal percentage (.563).

As a team, UWGB leads the Horizon League in scoring offense (76.7 ppg.), scoring defense (60.5 ppg.), scoring margin (+16.2), free-throw percentage (.810), field-goal percentage (.483), three-point field goal percentage (.389), assists (17.41 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.36).According to the latest statistics release by the NCAA (Feb. 12), the Phoenix top all Division I teams in free-throw shooting, while placing third in turnovers per game and seventh in field-goal percentage. UW-Green Bay is the only team in the nation that is in the top 10 in field goal, free throw and three-point shooting percentages.

The Phoenix has not lost since Nov. 29, posting 7-0 marks in both December and January. The team is one of 13 Division I teams to be undefeated in conference play. Only one team in League history has gone through the entire season undefeated (Notre Dame, 16-0 in 1989-90).UW-Green Bay heads to Ohio this week to play at Youngstown State on Thursday and Cleveland State on Saturday.

UIC (15-9; 9-3 HL)
The Flames pushed their season-best winning streak to eight games with a pair of victories at the UIC Pavilion, knocking off Wright State, 63-55, on Thursday and Butler, 76-70, on Saturday. With the victories and UWM's loss, UIC now stands in second place in the loop standings.

The backcourt tandem of freshman Jessie Miller and senior LaShonda Grant teamed up to provide the offensive punch for the Flames. Miller notched 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals against the Raiders, while Grant pitched in 11 points. The team out-rebounded WSU 42-34 and held an advantage in turnovers, 22-13.

Miller and Grant were back at it again on Saturday, combining to score 42 points. Miller, who scored a career-high 24 points, shot eight-of-11 from the floor and Grant pitched in 18 on five-of-eight shooting.

Over UIC's eight-game winning streak, Grant is averaging 17.9 points per game and is shooting 46.5 percent (46-of-99) from the field. Miller has also found her stride in the stretch, pouring in 11.3 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds.

On the season, the Flames lead all Horizon League teams in steals per game at 10.38 and place second in turnover margin (+4.21). Grant, the team's leading scorer, is fifth in the League in scoring (14.9), while fellow seniors Jacquay Holmes (11.0, 13th) and Krystal Hugelier (10.5, 14th) also rank in the top 15 on the loop chart. In League play, Grant has increased her scoring average to 16.8, ranking her fourth in the conference.

UIC plays a pair of Chicagoland foes this week as the Flames take on Chicago State in the team's final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday and then welcome Loyola to the Pavilion on Saturday.

UW-Milwaukee (11-12; 7-3 HL)
UWM played a solid game against first-place UW-Green Bay, but it was not enough as the Phoenix pulled away late for the 72-63 victory on Saturday.

Sophomore Traci Edwards posted her third 30-point outing of the season with a game-high 31 points. It was her 10th 20-point game of the year and fifth-straight, tying Maria Viall's school record. Edwards shot 11-of-20 from the field and eight-of-eight from the charity stripe, while also grabbing 16 rebounds in the contest.

As a team, the Panthers shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the floor and a mere 22.2 percent (four-of-18) from long distance. The team held a considerable edge on the boards, 46-21, but it was not enough to overcome UWGB's 46.2 percent (24-of-52) shooting.

On the statistical charts, Edwards tops the circuit in scoring (20.5) and rebounding (9.8), while placing second in field-goal percentage (.587) and blocked shots (1.50). As a team, Milwaukee leads the loop in rebounding margin (+2.6), while placing third in three-point field goals made (6.22 per contest), assists (16.17) and field-goal percentage (.431).

UW-Milwaukee travels to Ohio this week, taking on Cleveland State on Thursday and Youngstown State on Saturday.

Butler (10-13; 7-4 HL)
Butler split a pair of contests in Chicago last week as they downed Loyola, 71-67, on Thursday before dropping a 76-70 decision to UIC.

Freshman Susan Lester picked up her fourth double-double of the season in Thursday's contest with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Lade Akande added 25 points and seven rebounds in the victory. The Bulldogs shot 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the field and only committed 11 turnovers.

Akande led the attack again on Saturday, scoring 19 points on eight-of-15 shooting. Senior Jackie Closser (17 points), sophomore Candace Jones (16) and freshman Mel Thornton (10) also scored in double figures in the loss. The Bulldogs committed an uncharacteristic 21 miscues against UIC, which led to 28 points for the Flames.

On the statistical charts, Closser paces the loop in minutes played (37.13) and three-pointers made (2.57), while placing third in free-throw shooting (.835) and assists (3.96). She has made at least one triple in 51 straight contests, the longest current streak in the NCAA and nine shy of the all-time Division I record (Kim MacMillan, Long Island, 2000-02).

Butler has hit an average of 7.7 three-pointers per outing, good for 10th in the nation, while its 15.0 turnovers per contest rank 27th according the the Feb. 12 NCAA statistics release.

This week, the Bulldogs stay home at the friendly confines to take on Detroit on Saturday evening.

Youngstown State (7-15; 5-6 HL)
The Penguins went 1-1 last week as they fell, 81-57, to Oakland in their final non-League game then defeated Detroit, 58-52, on Thursday.

Oakland had the hot hand in Tuesday's contest, shooting 54 percent (34-of-63) for the game compared to 37.5 percent (18-of-48) by the Penguins. Sophomore Velissa Vaughn and junior Heather Karner led the offense with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

On Thursday, Youngstown State picked up its fifth League victory of the year, holding the Titans to just 30.9 percent (21-of-68) shooting. Sophomore Monique Godfrey led a trio of Penguins in double figures with 16 points. Junior Jessica Schloemp tallied 15 markers and eight rebounds, and Karner topped the 10-point plateau for the second-straight game with 11.

As a team, YSU has averaged 3.68 blocks per contest and has increased that to 3.91 in League action. Individually, Karner places 10th in the conference in scoring (11.7) and Godfrey places 12th (11.1), while sophomore Nikita LaFleur ranks third in blocked shots (1.35).

Youngstown State hosts UW-Green Bay (Thursday) and UW-Milwaukee (Saturday) this week.

Wright State (6-16; 4-7 HL)
Wright State went 1-1 in Chicago last week with a 63-55 loss to UIC on Thursday and a 66-60 victory over Loyola on Saturday.

The Raiders shot 40.0 percent (22-of-55) from the floor in Thursday's loss. Junior Whitney Lewis and senior Steph Comisar tied for team-high scoring honors with 13 points apiece. Senior Brittney Whiteside also had a solid game with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists. With her fourth point in the contest, Whiteside moved into second on the all-time Raider scoring list.

Whiteside was back at it on Saturday, pouring in 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the victory. Senior Tyanda Hammock (17) and junior Sierra Crayton (13) also notched double digits. WSU shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) and held the Ramblers to just 3-of-17 shooting from three-point territory.

WSU has done its work on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking third in the League in steals (8.95). Individually, junior Danielle Duncan is fourth (1.64) in steals, while freshman Kanisha Ward places sixth (1.57).

Whiteside is currently the only player in the League that places in the top ten in scoring (ninth with 13.7), rebounding (fifth with 5.9) and assists (sixth with 3.56). In her career, she has scored 1,333 points, which only trails Jodi Martin (2,055 from 1979-83) in WSU history.

The Raiders play their lone game of the week on Thursday as Detroit travels to Dayton.

Loyola (6-17; 4-8 HL)
The Ramblers were pinned with a pair of losses at home last week. Butler posted a 71-67 victory over Loyola on Thursday and Wright State won 66-60 on Saturday.

Despite shooting 49.1 percent (27-of-55) against the Bulldogs, Loyola was unable to overcome a combined 49 points from Lade Akande (25) and Susan Lester (24). The Ramblers were led by senior Jenna Real's 21 points and nine rebounds, while classmate Marquise Hanser and freshman Elyse VanBogaert had 10 points each. Hanser also grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of `06-07.

Real and Hanser led the offense again on Saturday with 13 points apiece. Freshman Maggie McCloskey had 10 second-half points and freshman Shannon Finnegan picked up nine points and eight boards. The team out-rebounded the Raiders, but shot a mere 17.6 percent (three-of-17) from three-point land.

This season, Real has connected on a League-best 61.7 percent of her shots from the floor for an average of 14.6 points per contest. According to the latest statistics release by the NCAA (Feb. 12), she holds the eighth-best shooting percentage in the country.

McCloskey also finds herself on the loop's statistical charts placing second in three-pointers made (2.52) and assists (4.30). She is the only freshman in the top five of either category.

On the season, Loyola owns the loop's second-best marks in free-throw average (.757) and field-goal percentage (.443).

The Ramblers have a slow week with their only game coming against intra-city rival UIC on Saturday.

Cleveland State (6-18; 3-8 HL)
Freshman Kailey Klein put the Vikings on her back in Saturday's 77-74 victory at Detroit. The win is only the team's second win at Detroit in 17 tries all-time. CSU's only other victory in Calihan Hall came at the end of the 2002-03 season.

Klein scored a Cleveland State freshman-record 33 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. She drilled four-of-seven three-pointers while also tallying eight rebounds and four assists. The Cherry, Ill., native did not commit a turnover in a career-high 38 minutes. Sophomore Dominique Butler and senior Brittany Korth also scored in double digits with 14 and 12 points.

As a team, the Vikings top the Horizon League in rebounds per game (38.5) with senior Nicole Thomas leading the attack at 7.0 per outing. Klein currently ranks second among freshmen in scoring (10.2), trailing only Loyola's Maggie McCloskey (10.3).

CSU hosts the Wisconsin schools this week with UW-Milwaukee coming to the Wolstein Center on Thursday and UW-Green Bay making the trip on Saturday.

Detroit (4-21; 1-11 HL)
Detroit went 0-2 last week as the Titans lost to Youngstown State, 58-52, on Thursday and Cleveland State, 77-74, on Saturday.

On Thursday, UDM was held to 30.9 percent (21-of-68) shooting and junior Kandace Evans (15) was the only Titan in double figures. Evans also grabbed nine rebounds and committed just one turnover in the loss.

The Titans came back with their second-highest scoring output of the season against Cleveland State, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings got 33 points from freshman Kailey Klein in the victory. Junior Joyce Massey led Detroit with 23 points and has now led the team in scoring in 17-of-25 games this season. Freshman Chanica Hall scored a career-best 15 points, while Evans had 13 and junior India Bruster added 10.

Massey ranks fourth in the conference in scoring (15.4) and is third in rebounding (6.8).

The current nine-game losing streak matches the longest since 2004-05 when they also lost nine in a row. The team last lost 10 or more games in 1987-88 season when they opened the year with 17 straight losses.

This week, Detroit heads to Wright State on Thursday and Butler on Saturday.

Valparaiso (14-10; Joins HL in 2007-08)
The Crusaders went 1-1 last week, picking up a victory over Oral Roberts (66-56) and dropping a 65-44 decision at Oakland.

Senior Betsy Rietema led the Crusaders with 16 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore Launa Hochstetler added 10 points off of the bench in Thursday's victory. Senior Tamra Braun grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, giving her exactly 800 for her career, becoming the first Crusader to reach the milestone in school history. The senior center also became just the seventh player in Mid-Con history to reach the mark.

Valparaiso shot just 25.4 percent and committed 23 turnovers as the Crusaders fell at Oakland on Saturday. Rietema led the way again for Valpo with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Braun added nine points and 14 boards.

Braun ranks first in the Mid-Continent Conference in field-goal percentage (.574), second in blocks (1.58) and third in rebounding (8.8). Rietema places third in scoring (13.6) and eighth in rebounding (6.6). As a team, Valpo leads all Mid-Con teams in three-point field-goal percentage (.388) and three-pointers made (6.75 per contest).

Valparaiso will close out the road portion of the 2006-2007 regular season on Monday evening as the Crusaders travel to Indianapolis, Ind. to battle IUPUI. The team begins a four-game homestand on Saturday as Western Illinois visits the Athletics-Recreation Center.