Horizon League Women's Basketball Release #10
Jan. 7, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Valparaiso junior guard Agnieszka Kulaga was tabbed Horizon League women's basketball Player of the Week following a career-high 29-point performance, which helped the Crusaders defeat Butler 77-69 at home on Saturday. Kulaga receives the weekly honor for the second time this season.
Horizon League Player of the Week
Agnieszka Kulaga, Junior
Jr. * G * Tarnow, Poland
Junior Agnieszka Kulaga collected her second Player of the Week honor of the season after she helped the Crusaders to a 77-69 win over Butler, which came into the game having won its last eight games. In her only game of the week, the Poland native scored a career-high 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Kulaga connected on eight of her first 11 shots from the field and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, including 4-of-4 in the final minute. In the final two minutes of games this season, Kulaga has connected on 21-of-22 shots from the free throw line. The 5-foot, 6-inch guard also added a team-best six rebounds and six steals.
Other Top Performances for the Week Ending January 6
Tara Miller, Butler
Fr. * F * Ramsey, Ind.
In her only game of the week, Miller totaled a season-high 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field in Saturday's 77-69 setback at Valparaiso. In addition, Miller pulled down three rebounds, dished out four assists, had three steals and was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Dominique Butler, Cleveland State
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Butler helped lead CSU to a pair of wins to open League play. The junior opened the week by registering 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals in a 75-58 win over Loyola on Thursday. Butler concluded the week by scoring 14 points in Saturday's 66-58 win at home against UIC. Butler also totaled five steals and four rebounds against the Flames.
Kayla Groh, Green Bay
Sr. * G * Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Groh guided the Phoenix to a 79-58 win over Detroit on Thursday and a 67-52 triumph against Wright State on Saturday. During the 2-0 week, Groh averaged 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Green Bay guard also posted a career-best 24 point output against the Titans.
Keisha Collins, Loyola
So. * G * Chicago, Ill.
In two games this past week, Collins averaged 13.0 points, 3.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Rambler guard opened the week with a 14-point, six-assist effort in LU's 75-58 loss to Cleveland State on Thursday. She then followed that performance with 12 points, six boards and seven assists during Loyola's 70-58 setback to Youngstown State on Saturday.
Traci Edwards, Milwaukee
Jr. * C * Menasha, Wis.
Edwards averaged 20.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game as she helped the Panthers to a 2-1 record this past week. In addition, the Wisconsin native recorded her 35th and 36th career double-doubles at home against LaSalle (17 points, 10 rebounds) on Monday and on the road versus Detroit (28 points 12 rebounds) on Saturday, which tied the school record.
Briana Hinkle, UIC
So. * G * Bexley, Ohio
Hinkle averaged 16.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in a 0-2 week. The guard opened the week with 14 points in a 73-62 loss at Youngstown State on Thursday. She then concluded the week by netting 19 points in a 66-58 loss at Cleveland State on Saturday.
LaShawna Thomas, Wright State
Fr. * G * Boston, Mass.
Thomas helped the Raiders to a 1-1 mark this past week as she averaged 14.0 points per game. The WSU freshman went 9-of-15 from the field and scored 18 points in a 57-56 win over Milwaukee at home on Thursday. Thomas then finished the week by scoring 10 points in a 67-52 loss at home to Green Bay on Saturday.
Tiara Scott, Youngstown State
Jr. * F * Denver, Colo.
Scott opened the week by scoring 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field to lead the Penguins to a 73-62 win over UIC on Thursday. Against Loyola on Saturday, Scott led the Penguins with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and hauled down seven rebounds. For the week, Scott averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field. Her efforts helped YSU open League play at 2-0 for the first time since 2001-02.
News From Around the League
Butler
The Bulldogs (10-2 overall, 0-1 Horizon League) had their eight-game winning streak snapped following a 77-69 loss at Valparaiso on Saturday.
Butler continues to be one of the strongest defensive teams in the Horizon League, ranking second by allowing just 59.8 points per contest. In fact, only four of the Bulldogs' 12 opponents have scored over 60 points this season.
Junior guard Tara Miller continues to be the best passer in the Horizon League this season, boasting a League-leading 3.89 assists-to-turnovers ratio.
After averaging just 58.6 points per game through the first five games of the year, the Bulldogs have turned up the offense in the last seven by averaging 74 points per contest, an improvement of over 15 points. Meanwhile, Butler has allowed its opponents only 5.2 more points per game on average (56.8 to 62.0). The Bulldogs are second in the League with a 7.8 point scoring edge on the year.
Butler heads to Chicago this weekend for games against Loyola on Thursday (8:00 p.m.) and UIC on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
Cleveland State
The Vikings (8-5 overall, 2-0 Horizon League) opened League play with a pair wins at home. CSU began the week with a 75-58 win over Loyola on Thursday and finished the week with a 66-58 triumph against UIC on Saturday.
CSU has won five straight games, which is tied for the sixth longest win streak in school-history. It is also CSU's first five game win streak since the 1983-84 season.
At 8-5 through 13 games, the Vikings have already tied their win total from a season ago.
CSU is 2-0 in League play for the first time since the 2001-02 season when the Vikings defeated Butler and Youngstown State. The Vikings have never been 3-0 in the Horizon League.
CSU's win over UIC on Saturday snapped a six-game losing streak to the Flames. The Vikings 8-5 start is the best since the 1999-2000 squad opened with the same record after 13 games. The last team to start better than 8-5 was the 1983-84 squad, which opened 10-3.
CSU placed four players in double figures in Thursday's win over Loyola. Senior guard Brittany Korth led the way with 15 points, while junior guard Dominique Butler (14), sophomore forward Stephanie Crosley (11) and sophomore guard Kailey Klein (10) also reached double figures.
CSU travels to Wisconsin this week as it will face off against Green Bay on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. The Vikings will conclude their road swing against Milwaukee at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Detroit
The Titans (2-10 overall, 0-2 Horizon League) opened up Horizon League play this past weekend and came up short in both home contests. UDM fell by 79-58 against Green Bay on Thursday and then dropped a 70-63 decision to visiting Milwaukee on Saturday.
Junior guard Sandi Brown averaged a team-best 11.5 point and 6.0 rebounds per game for the week. Brown led the Titans with 11 points on Thursday against Green Bay after she shot 50 percent from the field and grabbed a game-high seven boards.
Senior guard Keashawn Bond dished out a career-high five assists on Thursday as she made her first appearance in the starting lineup this season.
Brown and sophomore forward Heather Hatter tied a team-high with 12 points on Saturday. Hatter's 12 points was also a career-high for Hatter. Junior guard Zemora Davis also scored in double figures as she came off the bench to score 11.
The Titans take a break from League action on Wednesday as they host IPFW for the second meeting of the season at 7 p.m. In the two teams first meeting this season, UDM downed IPFW 62-52 on Dec. 21. The Titans will then wrap-up its longest home stretch since the 2001-02 season as they host Wright State at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Green Bay
For the 20th straight season Green Bay (10-3 overall, 2-0 Horizon League) started its League season with a win, as the Phoenix defeated Detroit 79-58 on Thursday. Green Bay then improved to 2-0 in League action on Saturday as it downed Wright State on Saturday. Both wins over Detroit and Wright State came on the road.
With its two wins this past week, Green Bay has won 25 straight regular-season League games. Green Bay shot a season-best 56.8 percent from the field against Detroit.
The Phoenix are shooting 78.9 percent from the free throw line in seven road games this year, and for the second time this season Green Bay went 9-for-9 at the line with its perfect effort at Wright State.
Senior guard Kayla Groh notched a career-best 24 points against the Titans to give her a career scoring average of 16.8 points per game in games at Calihan Hall. Groh missed just one shot in 14 attempts - a three pointer in the second half - on her way to her career effort.
Green Bay opens its home portion of the League schedule on Thursday as it welcomes Cleveland State (8:00 p.m.). They Phoenix concludes the week as it hosts Youngstown State on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
Loyola
The Ramblers (2-11 overall, 0-2 Horizon League) dropped a pair of road games this past week to open League play.
LU began the week by falling 75-58 to Cleveland State on Thursday and then suffered a 70-58 setback to Youngstown State on Saturday. Sophomore guard Maggie McCloskey continued her hot shooting from beyond the arc as knocked down six treys in LU's two games. The Riverside, Ill., native entered play on Saturday tied for third in the country in three-pointers made per game and has already risen to seventh on the school's career list.
Sophomore center Shannon Finnegan made her first appearances of the 2007-08 season over the weekend, playing a combined 19 minutes off the bench. Finnegan missed the first 11 games of the season while recovering from a hand injury.
Loyola opens the home portion of its League schedule on Thursday as it will meet Butler (8:00 p.m.). The Ramblers will then finish the week with a 3:00 p.m. matchup against Valparaiso on Saturday.
Milwaukee
The Panthers (6-7 overall, 1-1 Horizon League) went 2-1 this past week and split a pair of League contests.
UWM began the week by defeating LaSalle in its last game of 2007. On Thursday the Panthers opened League play with a 57-56 setback at Wright State. UWM responded with a 70-63 win at Detroit on Saturday.
Milwaukee is now 4-3 on the road. The team was 6-11 away from the Klotsche Center last season.
Since stumbling out of the gate by starting the season 1-3, the Panthers have won five of their last nine games including three of their last four.
In their last four outings, UWM has averaged nearly 70 points per game (69.7) and has held its opponents to 59.0 points per game.
Junior center Traci Edwards tied a school record with her 36th career double-double in just her 74th career game.
Milwaukee returns to action at home on Thursday as it welcomes Youngstown State (8:00 p.m.). The Panthers finish the week on Saturday as they meet Cleveland State (2:00 p.m.)
UIC
The Flames (4-9 overall, 0-2 Horizon League) dropped a pair League games on the road this past week losing to Youngstown State (73-62) on Thursday and Cleveland State (66-58) on Saturday.
Sophomore center Cassie Johnson averaged 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 43.8 percent from the field in her first two Horizon League games last weekend. Johnson led the Flames with 12 total rebounds and five blocks.
Junior guard Meghan Hutchens averaged 8.5 points and owned a team-best .500 field goal percentage and nine assists in two games.
The Flames, who sport a 4-0 record at the UIC Pavilion open the home portion of their League schedule on Thursday as they welcome Valparaiso (8:00 p.m.). UIC concludes the week as it plays host to Butler (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
Valparaiso
The Crusaders (6-6 overall, 1-0 Horizon League) defeated Butler at home 77-69 on Saturday in their first League game as a member of the Horizon League.
Valpo has won five straight Conference openers, including the final four in the Mid-Continent Conference.
The Crusaders were 25-of-27 from the line (92.6 percent) against Butler, the seventh-best shooting night from the stripe in school history (minimum 10 attempts)
With the victory, Valpo has now won 11 straight at the ARC, the 10th longest home court streak in the country
Junior forward Aimee Litka had 10 points, and has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games this year.
As a team, Valpo is shooting 89.4 percent from the line in the final 2 minutes of games
Junior forward Sarah Ott (14 points) and sophomore guard Whitney Farris (11 points) both tied season highs against Butler
After losing its first five games to begin the season, Valpo has now won six of its last seven contests.
Valpo travels to Chicago this week for a pair of League games. The Crusaders will meet UIC at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday before concluding against Loyola on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
Wright State
The Raiders (4-9 overall, 1-1 Horizon League) split a pair of League games this past week as they defeated Milwaukee at home on Thursday 57-56, but fell on Saturday at home to Green Bay 67-52.
Against Milwaukee freshman guard LaShawna Thomas led all scorers with 18 points for the Raiders, 12 of which came in the second half, while freshman guard Shey Peddy had 12. The win marked the third straight year that WSU has defeated Milwaukee after the Panthers won 14 straight in the series from 2000-06.
On Saturday, Wright State was tied with Green Bay with 13 minutes to play, but the Phoenix out scored the Raiders 19-2 over an eight-minute span and went on to a 67-52 win. Senior forward Whitney Lewis led all scorers with 16 points, 12 coming in the first half, while Peddy had 15, nine in the second half, and Thomas 10.
Wright State will be looking for its first road triumph of the season Saturday as the Raiders take on Detroit (1:00 p.m.) in their only action this week.
Youngstown State
The Penguins (7-6 overall, 2-0 Horizon League) won a pair of home League games this past week as they downed UIC on Thursday (73-62) and Loyola (70-58) on Saturday.
YSU captured their first two League games since joining the Horizon League in 2001-02 and in the process matched their win total from 2006-07.
Senior forward Jessica Schloemp's 18 rebounds against UIC is a season-high. She also reached double figures in rebounds four times (Buffalo - 14, Toledo - 11, Central Michigan - 10, UIC - 18). Schloemp also extended her consecutive-games played streak to 86.
YSU is 2-0 when at least four players score in double figures.
YSU has scored at least 70 points in its last three games (74 against Akron, 73 against UIC and 70 against Loyola), which marks the first time since 2004-05 that the Penguins have reached the 70-point mark in three straight games.
Senior guard Lauren Branson ranks sixth on the YSU career assists list with 389. She needs just 11 more to become the sixth player in school history to tally 400 in a career.
The Penguins travel to Wisconsin this week as they will face off against Milwaukee (8:00 p.m.) on Thursday and Green Bay (1:00 p.m.) on Saturday.
