Women's Basketball Weekly Release #17

Feb. 26, 2007

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Player of the Week

Chenara Wilson, Cleveland State
Senior * Center * Cleveland, Ohio
Playing her final home game, Wilson equaled her career-highs with 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead CSU past Youngstown State on Saturday. The Cleveland native scored 14 of her points in the second half to move the Vikings into a tie for sixth place heading into the final week of the regular season. She was six-for-12 from the floor and six-for-eight from the line while posting her second career double-double.

Other Top Performances from the Week Ending Feb. 25

LaShonda Grant, UIC
Senior * Guard * Chicago, Ill.
Grant guided UIC to its second another milestone this season with 23 points versus Detroit on Saturday afternoon as the Flames tied the school record for most wins in a season (18), while also notching their 11th-straight victory. Grant shot 50 percent from the field (six-for-12), while draining 10-of-14 from the line. The senior added three assists and three rebounds in the 77-74 win.

Ellen Hamilton, Butler
Senior * Guard * Greenfield, Ind.
Hamilton scored all of her 30 points from beyond the arc last week. She tallied 15 points on five-of-eight shooting from three-point in helping the Bulldogs past host UW-Milwaukee and into sole possession of third place in the Horizon League on Thursday. Two days later, she drained five more treys for 15 points at No. 24 UW-Green Bay, going five-of-nine from distance.

Joyce Massey, Detroit
Junior * Guard * Detroit, Mich.
Massey averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in Detroit's two games last week. She scored a game-high 15 off the bench on Saturday vs. UIC as the Titans almost pulled off an upset against the second-place Flames. Massey shot 10-for-23 (.435) from the field as was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line last week for the Titans.

Brittney Whiteside, Wright State
Senior * Guard * Columbus, Ohio
Whiteside notched nine points, three assists and three rebounds at UW-Green Bay on Thursday before leading the Raiders to their first win at UW-Milwaukee since 1996 with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Maggie McCloskey, Loyola
Freshman * Guard * Riverside, Ill.
McCloskey put together another efficient game, tying for team-high honors with 15 points as Loyola swept the season series from Detroit for the first time since 1988-89 season with a 73-61 win at Calihan Hall. The freshman knocked down a pair from three-point range and hit five-of-six from the foul line as the Ramblers built a 19-point lead early in the second half and held on for the win.

Amanda Popp, UW-Green Bay
Senior * Guard * Brillion, Wis.
Popp led the Phoenix offensively in two home wins that secured UW-Green Bay's ninth straight Horizon League regular season title. She averaged 14.0 points per game, shooting 12-of-19 (.632) from the field on the week. Against Butler Saturday, Popp had 18 points and seven rebounds, firing eight-of-13 from the field in the win, which was UW-Green Bay's 20th straight victory.

Velissa Vaughn, Youngstown State
Sophomore * Guard * Clariton, Pa.
Vaughn scored a career-high 27 points in YSU's 68-57 loss to Cleveland State. Vaughn connected on four three-pointers and nine-of-12 from the free throw line. Vaughn's previous career best was 17 points against Buffalo on Nov. 21 and Oakland on Feb. 6.

Horizon League Notes

UW-Green Bay (23-3; 14-0 HL)
The Phoenix continued its winning streak last week with victories over Wright State (73-42) and Butler (84-70). UW-Green Bay owns the nation's third-longest winning streak at 20 games, setting a new team record for consecutive victories.

A well-balanced attack contributed to UW-Green Bay's 31-point victory over Wright State on Thursday evening. All ten players who entered the contest had at least one field goal. Junior Kayla Groh and sophomore Kati Harty paced the offense with 12 points apiece, while senior Amanda Popp added 10. As a team, the Phoenix shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from the floor and 40.0 percent (10-of-25) from long distance. The team also forced the Raiders into 31 turnovers thanks in large part to a season-best 17 team steals.

On Saturday, UWGB shot a torrid 53.2 percent (33-of-62) clip from the field en route to the team's 300th victory at the Phoenix Sports Center. Senior Nicole Soulis led the team with 19 points to go along with four blocks, while Popp chipped in 18 and classmate Natalie Berglin had 16. The Phoenix held a 37-30 edge on the glass as Groh picked up a game-high 11 rebounds.

If UW-Green Bay can keep its pace of 81.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line it boasts this year, the team's effort could go down as one of the best seasons in NCAA history. The all-time team record for free-throw percentage is held by St. Joseph's, with their 81.5 mark in 2001.

Individually, Soulis ranks second in the loop in scoring (17.4) and blocked shots (1.54), while placing third in free-throw percentage (.838) and field-goal percentage (.566). Berglin also paces the circuit in assists (4.81) and assist to turnover ratio (2.98).

As a team, UWGB leads the Horizon League in scoring offense (76.5 ppg.), scoring defense (60.5 ppg.), scoring margin (+16.0), free-throw percentage (.815), field-goal percentage (.482), three-point field goal percentage (.381), assists (17.04 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.37).

According to the latest statistics release by the NCAA (Feb. 23), the Phoenix top all Division I teams in free-throw shooting, while placing third in turnovers per game and sixth 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.

UW-Green Bay is one of only nine NCAA Division I teams that are currently undefeated in their respective conferences. In the Horizon League, only one team has gone undefeated since the association's inception as the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1986-87, as Notre Dame was 16-0 in 1989-90.

UW-Green Bay travels to Chicago this week, facing Loyola on Thursday and second-place UIC on Saturday.

UIC (18-9; 11-3 HL)
Another week, another milestone for UIC as the team tied the school record for the most wins in a season (18), while picking up its 11th-straight victory over Detroit (77-74) on Saturday.

Senior LaShonda Grant scored 23 points on six-of-12 shooting to lead the Flames' attack on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Jessie Miller had another solid contest with 18 points and senior Jacquay Holmes pitched in 15 to round out the double-figure scorers. The team out-rebounded the Titans 45-36 and committed just 10 turnovers in the contest.Over UIC's 11-game winning streak, Grant is averaging 18.6 points per game and is shooting 43.9 percent from the field. Miller has also found her stride in the stretch, pouring in 11.7 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds.

On the season, the Flames lead all Horizon League teams in steals per game at 10.52 and place second in turnover margin (+4.22). Grant, the team's leading scorer, is third in the League in scoring (15.6), while fellow seniors Jacquay Holmes (11.2, 12th) and Krystal Hugelier (10.4, 15th) also rank in the top 15 on the loop chart. In League play, Grant has increased her scoring average to 17.9, tying her for second in the conference.

UIC finishes out the regular season at home this week with UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay coming to the UIC Pavilion.

Butler (12-14; 9-5 HL)
Last week, Butler took hold of third place in the League standings with a 74-59 victory at UW-Milwaukee on Thursday, but ran out of steam against first-place UW-Green Bay and was pinned with a 84-70 loss on Saturday.

It was all about the three-pointer in Milwaukee as the team hit a League-high 15 triples in the victory. Senior Ellen Hamilton led the way with five treys for 15 points, while freshman Susan Lester knocked down four from downtown en route to 18 points. The 15 three-pointers were not only a program-best, but also tied the NCAA Division I's top mark this season.

The Bulldogs drained 11 more threes in Saturday's contest and were within two points at halftime, but the Phoenix shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) in the second frame on the way to the win. Hamilton had the touch again with five treys for 15 points for the second-straight outing. Sophomore Lade Akande and senior Jackie Closser also tallied in double figures with 17 and 13 points, respectively.

On the statistical charts, Closser paces the loop in minutes played (36.88) and three-pointers made (2.54), while placing second in free-throw shooting (.848), fourth in assists (3.92) and ninth in scoring (13.9). Closser has also made at least one three-pointer in her last 54 games, the longest active streak in the NCAA and six shy of the Division I record of 60.

Butler has hit an average of 7.9 three-pointers per outing, good for fourth in the nation, while its 15.0 turnovers per contest rank 27th according the Feb. 23 NCAA statistics release.

This week, the Bulldogs stay at home as Youngstown State and Cleveland State make the trip to Indianapolis.

UW-Milwaukee (12-15; 8-6 HL)
UWM went 0-2 last week, dropping League games to Butler (74-59) and Wright State (65-51). It was the second time this season the team lost consecutive League games after not having done so since 1998-99.

The Panthers were unable to stop Butler's three-pointer barrage on Thursday as the Bulldogs knocked down 15-of-27 (.556) from behind the arc. Sophomores Traci Edwards (19) and Jody Crumble (13) were the only players in double figures for UW-Milwaukee, shooting a combined 13-of-27 from the field. Outside of Edwards and Crumble, the team shot just 10-of-35 (.286).

Saturday wasn't any better for UWM as Wright State shot 49.1 percent (27-of-55) and held the Panthers to 35.2 percent (19-of-54) shooting. Edwards was the only player to score in double digits with 11 points to go along with eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

On the statistical charts, Edwards tops the circuit in scoring (20.0), rebounding (9.5) and blocked shots (1.62), while placing second in field-goal percentage (.580). As a team, Milwaukee leads the loop in rebounding margin (+2.0), while placing third in three-point field goals made (6.19 per contest), assists (15.67) and field-goal percentage (.424).

Edwards surpassed the 1,000-point milestone on Thursday versus Butler. She did so in her 56th game, the fastest in school history and tied for the fastest in League history. Edwards is also on pace to become the first Panther ever and the first League player since 2002-03 (Tiffany Webb, Wright State - 24.1) to average 20 points per game for an entire season.

UW-Milwaukee travels to Chicago this week, playing at UIC on Thursday and Loyola on Saturday.

Wright State (8-17; 6-8 HL)
The Raiders went 1-1 in Wisconsin last week with a 73-42 loss to UW-Green Bay on Thursday and a 65-51 win over UW-Milwaukee on Saturday.

WSU shot 42.5 percent (17-of-40) from the floor, but committed 31 turnovers and allowed the Phoenix to shoot 49.1 percent for the game. Senior Brittney Whiteside scored nine points to lead the team.

On Saturday, Wright State picked up a victory at UW-Milwaukee for the first time since Feb. 10, 1996. Whiteside led the offense again with 19 points, while fellow senior Steph Comisar and junior Whitney Lewis also scored in double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Raiders shot 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the floor and held the Panthers to a 35.2 percent (19-of-54) clip.

WSU has done its work on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking third in the League in steals (9.12). Individually, freshman Kanisha Ward places fourth (1.63) and junior Danielle Duncan is fifth (1.60).

Whiteside is currently the only player in the League that places in the top ten in scoring (eighth with 14.0), rebounding (sixth with 5.5) and assists (sixth with 3.33). In her career, she has scored 1,381 points, which only trails Jodi Martin (2,055 from 1979-83) in WSU history.

The Raiders host Cleveland State and Youngstown State this week to close out the regular season.

Youngstown State (7-18; 5-9 HL)
The Penguins dropped their only game last week, 68-57, at Cleveland State on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Velissa Vaughn scored a career-high 27 points to lead YSU in Saturday's affair. She drained four-of-seven from three-point land, while connecting on nine-of-12 from the charity stripe. The team shot 31.5 percent (17-of-54) for the game and just 26.7 percent (eight-of-30) after halftime. Junior Lauren Branson handed out seven helpers, moving into 10th place on YSU's all-time list with 311 career assists.

As a team, YSU has averaged 3.52 blocks per contest, good for second in the League. Individually, sophomore Monique Godfrey and junior Heather Karner are tied for 10th (11.4) on the loop's scoring chart, while sophomore Nikita LaFleur ranks third in blocked shots (1.26).

The Penguins hit the road this week with a contest at Butler on Thursday and Wright State on Saturday.

Cleveland State (8-19; 5-9 HL)
Cleveland State picked up its third victory in its last four games with a 68-57 win over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon.

The Vikings limited YSU to 31.5 percent (17-of-54) shooting from the field and 26.7 percent (eight-of-30) in the second half. Senior Chenara Wilson posted her second double-double of her career with a career-high tying 18 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Brittany Korth added 14 points and junior Robyn Hoying poured 10 points to round out the double-figure scorers.

The Vikings held a 42-40 edge on the boards against Youngstown State - the 12th time in 14 League games that CSU has out-rebounded its opponent. Last year, the Vikings accomplished that feat just six times in conference play.

Cleveland State has shown vast improvement this season over the past two years. The Vikings' eight overall wins match their total from the past two years combined, while the five League victories are one more than the 2004-05 and 2005-06 squads put together.

As a team, the Vikings top the Horizon League in rebounds per game (39.0) with senior Nicole Thomas leading the charge at 7.1 per outing, good for second in the circuit. Klein currently ranks second among freshmen in scoring (10.2), trailing only Loyola's Maggie McCloskey (10.6).

CSU closes the regular season on the road as the team squares off against Wright State on Thursday, followed by a Saturday tilt with Butler.

Loyola (7-18; 5-9 HL)
The Ramblers swept the season series from Detroit for the first time since 1988-89 with a 73-61 victory on Thursday.

Freshmen Maggie McCloskey and Shannon Finnegan led the offense with 15 apiece, while senior Jenna Real had 12, classmate Marquise Hanser had 11 and freshman Elyse VanBogaert poured in 10. It was the first time this season the team has had five players in double digits. Loyola also held its largest rebounding advantage of the season at +10 (37-27). As a team, the Ramblers shot 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the field, their second-best shooting percentage of the year.

This season, Real has connected on a League-best 61.8 percent of her shots from the floor for an average of 14.3 points per contest. According to the latest statistics release by the NCAA (Feb. 23), she holds the third-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 third in assists (4.16). 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 (.759) and field-goal percentage (.446).

The Ramblers host the Wisconsin schools this week as UW-Green Bay visits the Gentile Center on Thursday and UW-Milwaukee comes in on Saturday.

Detroit (4-25; 1-15 HL)
The Titans' losing streak was pushed to 13 games as UDM lost to Loyola (73-61) on Thursday and UIC (77-74) on Saturday.

With Saturday's loss, the team has been set back 25 times, the most losses ever by a Detroit women's basketball team, eclipsing the record set in 1988 when the Titans finished that season at 4-24. The Titans have endured three-straight losing campaigns since finishing 15-14 in 2004.

On Thursday, Detroit was unable to stop the Rambler offensive attack as they shot 54.3 percent from the floor. Despite holding a 24-18 edge in the turnover category, the team shot a mere 38.7 percent from the field in the loss. Four players scored in double digits with junior India Bruster's 12 points leading the way.

The Titans stayed with UIC for 40 minutes, but were unable to get over the hump. Lauren Yurgens, Detroit's lone senior, made her 2007 debut on Saturday, celebrating Senior Day with her teammates. She started Saturday's game against UIC and played the first two minutes of the contest, blocking one shot during her stint, before retiring to the sidelines. Junior Joyce Massey scored 18 points off the bench to pace the team. UDM tied a season-low with 13 turnovers, while dishing out 15 assists.

Massey, who has scored in double figures in four of the team's last five games, ranks fifth in the conference in scoring (15.2) and is third in rebounding (6.7).

The current 13-game losing streak is the longest since the team lost the first 17 games of the 1987-88 season.

Detroit is idle this week and will play again on Monday, Mar. 5 in the eight versus nine game of the Horizon League Championship.

Valparaiso (18-10; Joins HL in 2007-08)
The Crusaders picked up two more victories last week, downing non-conference Chicago State, 57-46, on Monday before dropping UMKC, 66-46, on Saturday.

Valparaiso jumped out to a 20-4 lead midway through the first half and never trailed the entire contest on Monday evening. Freshman Whitney Farris led the Crusaders with a career-high 14 points on six-of-nine shooting from the floor, including two-of-three from beyond the arc. Senior Betsy Rietema added 10 points and nine boards, moving her into sixth place on Valpo's all-time scoring list with 1,219 career points, while fellow senior Tamra Braun added nine points and eight assists.

VU's defense held UMKC to 0-of-17 shooting from three-point range in Saturday's victory. Rietema and sophomore Agnieszka Kulaga led the Crusaders with 12 points while Braun added 10 points. Rietema moved into fifth place on Valpo's career scoring list with 1,231 career points. Braun added a game high nine rebounds while Rietema grabbed eight boards for the Brown and Gold.

Braun ranks first in the Mid-Continent Conference in field-goal percentage (.579), second in blocks (1.50) and third in rebounding (8.6). As a team, Valpo leads all Mid-Con teams in three-point field-goal percentage (.371) and three-pointers made (6.54 per contest).

Valparaiso wraps up the 2006-07 regular season with Southern Utah coming to the Athletics-Recreation Center on Monday evening. The team will then begin play at the Mid-Con Championship on Saturday.