MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Milwaukee closes a four-game road trip on Saturday afternoon, heading to Indiana to take on Purdue Fort Wayne. The Panthers are looking for their eighth straight victory over the Mastodons, dating back to the 2015-16 season. Tipoff from Gates Sports Center is set for 1:00 pm CT and can be viewed on ESPN+. Live stats and live audio will also be available with Matt Menzl on the call. All links are available on MKEPanthers.com.
SCOUTING THE MASTODONS
Purdue Fort Wayne earned a split on the opening weekend of Horizon League play but has dropped four straight games since and sit at 2-5 in league play.
The Mastodons most recently fell to Green Bay 60-32 on Thursday night.
Amellia Bromenschenkel leads second-year head coach Maria Marchesano’s squad with 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Shayla Sellers has also been solid, recording 8.1 points and 4.1 boards per game.
Defensively, Purdue Fort Wayne ranks second in the league with 3.59 blocks per game and is tied for first with 10.0 steals per contest.
The Mastodons are ninth in the Horizon League with a -6.1 scoring margin, averaging just 58.1 points per game.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Emma Wittmershaus knocked down two free throws with just 1.9 seconds remaining as Milwaukee held off Purdue Fort Wayne 53-51 on February 26. The Mastodons had a furious comeback and outscored MKE 20-9 in the final period, but the Panthers hung on for the win.
SERIES HISTORY
Milwaukee has picked up seven straight wins over Purdue Fort Wayne dating back to the 2015-16 season. Overall, the Panthers own an 8-2 advantage. Both Mastodon wins over MKE were in Fort Wayne.
WHATS ON TAP?
Milwaukee returns home for a weekend series beginning with Robert Morris on Friday, January 20 in the annual School Day game. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:00 am from the Klotsche Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Cleveland State caught fire after halftime and outscored Milwaukee 52-24 in the second half to hand the Panthers an 81-50 setback on Thursday night at the Wolstein Center.
SECOND HALF STRUGGLES
The Milwaukee defense has been strong this year, but recently, the Panthers have been running out of steam in the second half.
Over the last three games, MKE is giving up an average of 47.3 points in the second half. Opponents are shooting 53.2 percent from the floor and 59.4 percent (19-for-32) from three-point range over the final 20 minutes.
WELCOME BACK, ANNA
After missing two games, Anna Lutz return on Thursday and made a major impact with a team-high 10 points and seven rebounds. The redshirt freshman finished 4-for-6 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Lutz finished with a plus/minus of plus-five, the only Panther positive that played at least 10 minutes against Cleveland State.
FINDING THE RANGE
Milwaukee was held without a three-pointer in the first half of Thursday’s game but found success in the second half.
The Panthers knocked down five of seven three-pointers after the break against Cleveland State.
MKE has hit at least five three-pointers in five straight games.
Over the last five games, Kamy Peppler is 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from long range and has hit at least two triples in four contests.
PEPPLER PULLS IN HONOR
In the two games last weekend, Kamy Peppler averaged 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep.
That line earned her Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors for the first time this season.
Peppler came alive in the fourth quarter against NKU for 14 points and finished with 16 and seven rebounds. In Saturday’s win over Wright State, Peppler went off for a career-high 17 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the floor and 7-for-8 performance from the line. She added four assists in the win. Peppler has now reached double figures in three of the last four games and is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor in Horizon League action.
STARTING TO HEAT UP
Preseason First Team All-League honoree Megan Walstad has been held down for much of the season but is starting to heat up.
Over the last four games, Walstad is averaging 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 62 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
The senior pulled in a season-high 12 rebounds against Northern Kentucky and followed with a season-high 18 points to go with nine boards in the win over Wright State.
OFFENSIVE BOARDS TURNING INTO POINTS
The Panthers have recorded double-digit offensive rebounds in three straight contests and have made the most of their chances.
In those three games, Milwaukee has totaled 33 second-chance points.
STRONG ON THE GLASS
The Panthers owned the rebounding battle at Wright State 39-19 to record their best margin of the season at plus-20. It marks the highest rebounding margin since MKE was plus-22 on the glass in a 58-35 win over UIC on February 19, 2021.
Milwaukee has always prided itself on rebounding and the Panthers have dominated the boards in league play.
In seven games, the Panthers own the top rebounding Margin of 7.6 boards per game.
MAGIC NUMBER
In college basketball, there is no perfect recipe for a win but for Milwaukee, field goal percentage has been a pretty good baseline.
In the last seven seasons, Milwaukee is 88-25 (.779) when hitting at least 40 percent from the field. Bump that field goal percentage to 43 percent and the Panthers are 68-12 (.850).
When shooting under 40 percent since 2016-17, Milwaukee is just 25-63 (.294).
The Panthers have been held under 40 percent in eight games this year, going 1-8 in those contests.
COMING ALIVE IN LEAGUE PLAY
Kendall Nead added two more double-digit scoring performances to her ledger and has scored at least 12 points in five of the last six games.
In seven Horizon League contests, Nead is averaging a team-high 13.3 points to go with 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. In league play, Nead is shooting 39.3 percent (11-for-28) from long range.
After hitting just two three-pointers in the first 10 games this season, the sophomore has connected for at least two triples in four of the last five contests.
DEFENSE LEADING THE WAY
The Panthers’ defense continues to be a factor this season as Milwaukee ranks in the top five of the Horizon League in points allowed and field goal percentage defense.
MKE is allowing just 57.4 points per game through six league contests and holding the opposition to 36.3 percent shooting overall and 28.6 percent from long range.
In the two wins over Detroit Mercy and Oakland in late December, the Panthers allowed just 39.0 points per game on 22.5 percent shooting. The two teams were just 8-for-42 (19.0 percent) from long range.
Neither the Titans nor Golden Grizzlies reached 50 points, the first time MKE has held opponents to under 50 in back-to-back games since November 18-20 of last season. In those games, MKE opened league play 2-0 while holding Wright State to 47 points and Northern Kentucky to 49.
RECORD-SETTING WIN
Defense was the story in a win over Detroit Mercy on December 29, setting multiple program bests.
The Panthers held the Titans to 29 points, the lowest for an opponent in NCAA Division I history surpassing Valparaiso’s 31 from February 25, 2012.
Detroit also converted just 17.5 percent of its field goals, the lowest field goal percentage for an opponent since MKE held Youngstown State to 19.4 percent on March 6, 2010.
The seven made field goals for Detroit were also an opponent program-low for the Panthers, four fewer than the previous mark.
PRESEASON HONORS FOR WALSTAD
Megan Walstad was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team following another impressive campaign in 2021-22. Walstad dominated down low, earning her second straight First Team All-League award last season. She led the team and was among the league’s leaders in points per game (14.4), rebounds per game (9.1), field goal percentage (48.8), free throw percentage (88.9), and blocks per game (1.5). Walstad was also named to the All-Defensive Team for the second straight year.
Walstad joined a group of just three others in program history to earn All-League First Team honors on more than one occasion in the Panthers’ Division I era and is just the second in MKE history to earn All-Defensive Team distinction multiple times.
Additionally, Walstad was one of 25 players to be named to the 2022 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year preseason Watch List.
MISS BASKETBALL IN THE HOUSE
Freshman Kamy Peppler was crowned 2022 Miss Basketball for Wisconsin but it’s not the first time Milwaukee has had a student-athlete with that title arrive on campus.
In fact, Megan Walstad earned that title in her home state of Minnesota after leading Eastview High School to a perfect 32-0 record as a senior.
Prior to that, just one other player in program history donned the title of Miss Basketball. Meredith Onson (2005-08) was a consensus Wisconsin Player of the year in 2002-03. Onson originally attended Boston University but transfered to Milwaukee for the 2004-05 season.
WBB-FCS: Milwaukee Panthers (6-9) at Purdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons (5-12)
MBB-FBS: Toledo Rockets (10-6) at Northern Illinois Huskies (5-11)
DEKALB, Ill. – Coming off a victory over Central Michigan in its conference home opener on Tuesday, the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 14, when the Huskies host Toledo in the second game of a Huskie basketball doubleheader at the NIU Convocation Center. Tipoff between the Huskies and Rockets is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and tickets are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (7225).
Saturday’s contest will also be available on ESPN3, 94-9 WDKB and The Varsity Network app. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m., when the NIU women’s basketball team hosts Ohio.
David Coit (Columbus, N.J.) scored a game-high 23 points in Tuesday’s 73-54 victory over Central Michigan. Over the last five games, Coit is averaging 17.6 points per game shooting 50 percent (31-of-62) from the field, 38.7 percent (12-of-31) from three and 93.3 percent (14-of-15) from the free-throw line.
Coit is currently ranked 17th in the MAC in scoring at 14.4 points per game, fifth in steals with 1.6 per contest and sixth in three-point field goals, making 2.5 trifectas per game.
Zarique Nutter (Newark, N.J.) netted a career-best 22 against the Chippewas and is averaging 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during league play.
The Huskies shot 49 percent (25-of-51) from the field in the victory over Central Michigan, while holding the Chippewas to just 36.7 percent (18-of-49), including 26.9 percent (7-of-26) in the second half.
The Rockets come to DeKalb with a 10-6 overall record, including a 1-2 mark in league play. Toledo is coming off a 75-63 setback at Kent State on Tuesday (Jan. 10). Toledo leads the MAC in scoring as they average 84.6 points per game, eighth-best nationally, as well as field goal percentage at 48.5 percent, which also ranks 25th nationally.
Following Saturday’s contest, the Huskies will head back on the road for the next two as they travel to Miami on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 21.
Cardinals reach agreements with seven players
Tommy Edman, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Hicks, Dakota Hudson, Andrew Knizner, Jordan Montgomery, & Tyler O’Neill Agree to 2023 Contracts to Avoid Salary Arbitration
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have reached agreements on one-year contracts for the upcoming 2023 season with pitchers Jack Flaherty, Jordan Hicks, Dakota Hudson, and Jordan Montgomery; infielder Tommy Edman; catcher Andrew Knizner; and outfielder Tyler O’Neill, avoiding salary arbitration. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
The team will exchange salary arbitration figures with pitchers Génesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley following today’s deadline.
Pirates agree to terms with four players on one-year contracts
The Pittsburgh Pirates today signed right-handed pitchers JT Brubaker, Mitch Keller, Duane Underwood Jr., and Robert Stephenson to one-year contracts for the 2023 season, thus avoiding arbitration.
A’s agree to terms with remaining arbitration eligible players
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn, infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp and outfielder Ramón Laureano on one-year contracts for the 2023 season, the club announced today. The A’s have now signed or agreed to terms with all arbitration-eligible players on the 40-man roster.
Blackburn completed his sixth consecutive season with the A’s in 2022 and was 7-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 21 starts after combining for a 6-11 record and a 5.74 ERA in 30 games, including 27 starts, over his first five seasons. He had career highs in every category and his ERA and .752 opponents OPS were his lowest since posting marks of 3.22 and .686 in 10 starts as a rookie in 2017. The 29-year-old right-hander was named to his first American League All-Star team as he got off to a strong start, going 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA, .616 opponents OPS and three home runs allowed over his first 13 starts through June 16. His season ended early when he was placed on the injured list Aug. 10 with an inflamed right middle finger.
Kemp got off to a slow start last year as he was hitting .203 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI in 85 games at the All-Star Break. He then batted .278 with 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 32 RBI in 62 games after the break and combined for a .235 average and .641 OPS in 147 games overall. The 31-year-old left-handed hitter had career highs in runs (61), hits (117), doubles (24), RBI (46), hit by pitches (8), stolen bases (11), extra base hits (33), games and at bats (497). Kemp led the A’s in games started at second base (67) and in left field (61) and also made two starts at designated hitter.
Laureano batted a career-low .211 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 94 games in a season shortened by two stints on the injured list and one on the suspended list. He was hit by a pitch a career-high tying 12 times, which tied for eighth in the American League, and tied for the team lead with 11 stolen bases. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter started a team-leading 58 games in right field and also made 29 starts in center field and five at designated hitter. Laureano had five outfield assists and now has 33 since making his Major League debut on Aug. 3, 2018, which is third most in the majors over that span.
Twins announce 2023 Spring Training Invites
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that 25 players on minor league contracts have been invited to major league spring training in 2023.
Joining the Twins in Fort Myers, Florida will be nine pitchers: left-handers Danny Coulombe and Evan Sisk; right-handers José De León, Randy Dobnak, Blayne Enlow, Cody Laweryson, Patrick Murphy, Austin Schulfer and Brock Stewart; six catchers: David Bañuelos, Jair Camargo, Chance Sisco, Grayson Greiner, Chris Williams and Tony Wolters; seven infielders: Andrew Bechtold, Michael Helman, Austin Martin, Brooks Lee, Aaron Sabato, Elliot Soto and Tyler White; and three outfielders: Willi Castro, Mark Contreras and Ryan LaMarre.
Of the 25 players invited to camp, 13 have major league service time: Willi Castro (Detroit), Mark Contreras (Minnesota), Danny Coulombe (Los Angeles-NL, Minnesota and Oakland), José De León (Cincinnati, Los Angeles-NL and Tampa Bay), Randy Dobnak (Minnesota), Grayson Greiner (Arizona and Detroit), Ryan LaMarre (Boston, Chicago-AL, Cincinnati, Minnesota, New York-AL and Oakland), Patrick Murphy (Toronto and Washington), Chance Sisco (Baltimore and New York-NL), Elliot Soto (Los Angeles-AL and Minnesota), Brock Stewart (Los Angeles-NL and Toronto), Tyler White (Houston and Los Angeles-NL), and Tony Wolters (Chicago-NL, Colorado and Los Angeles-NL).
Twins pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Wednesday, February 15, while position players are scheduled to report on Sunday, February 19. The first full-squad workout is scheduled to take place on Monday, February 20.
WBB-FBS: Utah State Aggies (3-12) at Nevada Wolfpack (5-10)
RENO, Nev. – Nevada women’s basketball returns home on Saturday to face Utah State at 1 p.m. on Saturday in its annual Pride Day game.
Larry Burnett will have the call on 94.1 FM and 1450 AM, with a 20 minute pregame show prior to tipoff. Fans can also listen live online through the Varsity Network. The game will be available to watch on the Mountain West Network and live stats can be accessed through Sidearm.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance starting at $10. Tickets are available for purchase in-person starting at just $12.
Lexie Givens, Alyssa Jimenez, Megan Ormiston and Victoria Davis have contributed heavily in multiple categories recently for the Pack. Givens produced back-to-back double-doubles for points and rebounds in the 2022 Nugget Classic on Nov. 25 and 27, earning All-Tournament team honors in the process. She was the first Nevada player since Terae Briggs in 2018 to post a double-double in back-to-back games.
Davis and Jimenez came up with double digit numbers in points and rebounds against Idaho on Dec. 3, becoming the first Nevada duo to collect a double-double in the same game since 2019. Ormiston picked up her first collegiate double-double (26 points, 11 rebounds) on Dec. 11 against Santa Clara, posting career-highs in both categories. Jimenez most recently added her second career double-double on Dec. 29 against San Jose State (14 points, 10 rebounds).
This year’s Nevada women’s basketball team ranks 87th in the nation and fifth in the Mountain West in steals per game with a 9.3 mark. Jimenez became the seventh player since 2013 to record 100 career steals. She is the fastest player since 2013 to reach that mark.
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
Utah State is looking to break a seven-game losing streak on Saturday. The Aggies won a closely contested battle the last time they played Nevada, defeating the Pack 82-80 in double overtime in Logan, Utah, last season.
Maria Carvalho leads Utah State, averaging 10.8 points per game while grabbing 4.9 rebounds per game. Mayson Kimball also adds production, scoring 9.1 rebounds per game while grabbing 4.3 rebounds per game.
MBB-D3: Bridgewater Eagles (8-6) at Hampden-Sydney Tigers (11-4)
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. — Hampden-Sydney College welcomes Bridgewater College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball action on Saturday afternoon, January 14, at 2 p.m. in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. H-SC has won nine of its last 10 games, and is 11-4 overall, 6-1 in the ODAC, while BC has won six of its last seven games and is 8-6 overall, 3-2 in the ODAC. It’s free admission for all regular season home contests and the game can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin’ Country 92.9 FM, and will also be available worldwide on the Internet at wvhl.net or via the TuneIn Radio App, while available to watch as well on the Tiger Sports Network live video stream at hscathletics.com, pregame airing at 1:30 p.m.
Hampden-Sydney (11-4, 6-1 ODAC) vs. Bridgewater (8-6, 3-2 ODAC)
Location: Fleet Gym | Hampden-Sydney, VA
Date: Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023
Time: 2 p.m.
Radio/Tiger Sports Network: Frank Shanaberger, Richard LeSueur
Head Coach Caleb Kimbrough
H-SC is led by the fourth-year head coach who took over the program on April 4, 2019. The former head coach at Huntingdon (AL) College from 2016-19, Kimbrough is the 19th head coach in the 113-year history of the storied Hampden-Sydney program. He is no stranger to the ODAC, having played four years at Guilford (NC) College and coached six years with the Quakers, and one year at Washington and Lee University. Caleb is 41-32 overall at the College, including 23-20 in ODAC games.
Scouting Hampden-Sydney
The Tigers, getting votes (32) in this week’s D3hoops.com Top 25, have won two-straight and nine of 10, including their most recent game vs. conference member Ferrum, 94-74, on Jan. 11 in Fleet Gym. H-SC has three players averaging in double-figure scoring among its five starters that are each scoring at least 8.4 points per game. The Tigers are led by junior forward Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) with his 12.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, followed by senior guard Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) (12.4 points, 4.6 rebounds), junior guard and team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) (10.2 points, 3.7 assists, 28 3FGs), junior guard DJ Wright (Greensboro, GA) (9.7 points, 24 3FGs) and junior guard/forward Josiah Hardy (Ashburn) (8.4 points, 6.0 rebounds). H-SC is shooting 47% (440-946) from the field, including 37% (132-354) on three-point field goals, and 73% (165-226) at the free throw line. The Tigers average 78.5 points, and allows 66.7 points, for a +11.7 scoring margin.
Scouting Bridgewater
The Eagles are coached by fourth-year head coach Steve Enright. BC has won three-straight and six of seven, including its most recent game vs. Randolph, 73-71, on Jan. 11. The Eagles are led by sophomore guard Shod Smith-last year’s ODAC Rookie of the Year-averaging 13.2 points, 5.2 assists and 2.6 steals, followed by sophomore forward Landon Hawes (12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 22 3FGs) and junior forward Alec Topper (11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds). BC shoots 42% (338-814) from the field, including 31% (103-331) on three-pointers, and 67% (183-274) at the line; scoring 68.7 points, and yielding 69.7 points, for a -1.0 scoring margin.
ODAC Series History
H-SC and BC are playing for the 84th time as ODAC opponents since the 1976-77 season, and the Tigers lead the conference series at 51-32. The two programs split a pair of games last season, each winning on the other’s home floor … H-SC by a score of 70-50 on Jan. 15, 2022 in Bridgewater and the Eagles by a score of 75-65 on February 14, 2022 in Fleet Gym.
Chasing 1,000 Career Points
Ryan Clements is seeking to become the first Tiger to surpass the magical 1,000 career point plateau since 2016 (Mike Murray, 1,178). He entered this season with 767 career points in 58 career games, needing to average approximately nine points per game. Clements’ career scoring average through three seasons is 13.2, and he is currently averaging 12.4 points through 15 games and now totals 953 career points. Ryan has scored in double figures in 12 of 15 games this season, and would become the 44th 1,000-point scorer at H-SC.
Tigers Take Down No. 1
Davidson Hubbard scored a game-high and career-high 26 points, adding a game-high nine rebounds, to lead H-SC to an 85-70 non-conference upset win on the road at nationally-ranked No. 1 Christopher Newport on Dec. 13 in Newport News. Ryan Clements added 15 points for the visiting Tigers, who trailed 38-37 at halftime, before outscoring top-ranked CNU 48-32 in the second half. Adam Brazil and Josiah Hardy each had 10 points for the visitors. The host Captains fell for the first time this season and had their 22-game home winning streak stopped.
H-SC Impressive At Music City Classic
The Tigers won two games at the Music City Classic on Dec. 19-20 at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee, defeating Transylvania (KY) 82-54 on Dec. 19, before taking an 83-64 victory past Berry (GA) on Dec. 20. H-SC was led by Adam Brazil (14.5 points, 3.0 assists, 7 3FGs), Ryan Clements (13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals) and Davidson Hubbard (10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds). The Tigers took control of each contest early, leading 38-17 at halftime vs. TU, and 41-23 at halftime vs. BC. Fellow ODAC member Roanoke participated in the event, as well, defeating Transylvania 75-67 and Berry 82-76 in overtime.
Up Next
H-SC will play two games on the road next week, beginning with an ODAC contest at Randolph College on Wednesday night, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Lynchburg, followed by a non-conference game at Salisbury (MD) University on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. in Salisbury, Maryland.
WBB-D2: Seattle Pacific Falcons (10-4) at Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (11-4)
SEATTLE – Things came down to crunch time for the Seattle Pacific Falcons last week.
And crunch time is just going to keep on coming.
After a big game-ending run to secure a victory at Western Oregon and a 13-point come-from-behind effort to pull one out at Saint Martin’s, SPU is back on the road this week, visiting Montana State Billings on Saturday for a crucial Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball game.
The Falcons and Yellowjackets tip off at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time in Alterowitz Gymnasium.
At WOU, the host Wolves roared all the way back from a 23-point first-quarter deficit to go up by one midway through the fourth before Seattle Pacific finished on a 14-4 run for a 70-61 decision. At Saint Martin’s, the Falcons were down 43-30 early in the fourth, then outscored the Saints by a 22-7 count the rest of the way to prevail, 52-50.
Saturday’s contest in Billings will match the top two defensive teams in the conference. SPU (10-4, 5-1 GNAC) allows just 56.6 points per game. MSUB (11-4, 4-2) is right behind at just 57.0 allowed.
FOLLOW IT LIVE
This week’s game and all remaining GNAC games will have free live Webcasts on YouTube, and also will have live stats available. The appropriate links can be found at the top of this story.
HOW MUCH CLOSER CAN THEY BE?
Not only are Seattle Pacific (second place) and Montana State Billings (third) right next to each other in the standings, they also are close in some of the season statistical categories among GNAC schools.
Points allowed – 1, SPU 56.6; 2, MSUB 57.0.
Opponents with 50 or fewer points – SPU 5, MSUB 5.
Field goal percentage – 5, SPU .404; 6, MSUB .403.
3-point FG percentage – 5, MSUB .324; 6, SPU .319.
Rebounds allowed – 2, SPU 30.7; 3, MSUB 32.2.
Steals – 6, MSUB 8.4; 8, SPU 7.8.
Individual free throw shooting – 5, Natalie Hoff (SPU) .857; 6, Cariann Kunkel (MSUB) .851.
SO WHAT’S THE STORY THIS WEEK?
— SPU’s current four-game winning streak is its longest of the season.
— The last time the Falcons won five in a row was Feb. 17-March 2, 2018 – the last three games of the regular season and the first two rounds of the GNAC Tournament.
— Seattle Pacific is 7-3 overall out of town: 6-1 in true road games and 1-2 on neutral courts.
— During decisive fourth-quarter runs at Western Oregon and at Saint Martin’s last week, the Falcons had a combined 36-11 scoring advantage: 14-4 against the Wolves and 22-7 against the Saints.
— While SPU and Montana State Billings rank 1-2 among GNAC schools for fewest points allowed, they are way up on the national list, as well: 28th for the Falcons, 32nd for the Yellowjackets, among 294 NCAA Division II programs.
— The Falcons also rank high in blocked shots, at No. 38 with an average of 3.8 per game (53 total, led by Natalie Hoff’s 16).
— Chiara De Virgilio and Schuyler Berry both pushed past scoring milestones last Thursday at Western Oregon. De Virgilio logged her 900th point and comes into this week with 902. Berry put her 200th point into the book, and now has 213.
— While De Virgilio is closing in on 1,000 points, Ashley Alter has a very reasonable chance of getting there, too. She has 860, with 12 regular-season games (plus any potential postseason games) left to tally the remaining 140.
— In the battle of the boards, Seattle Pacific is now 12-1-1. The tie came last Saturday at Saint Martin’s, 38-38. The only team that managed to pull down more than SPU was Regis on Nov. 25 in Denver, 37-36.
— The SPU-Billings series usually goes back and forth, but the Yellowjackets took both contests last season: 81-55 in Montana, and 56-53 in Seattle.
— In Alterowitz Gymnasium, the Falcons were within five points at halftime, 34-29. But MSUB went on a 29-14 tear during the third quarter, part of a 47-26 second-half scoring advantage.
— Ashley Alter is No. 6 in the GNAC scoring race at 15.7 points per game. She also is No. 11 in rebounding at 6.6 and No. 6 in steals at 1.9.
— Hunter Beirne is No. 6 in assists at 3.4 per game.
— Coach Mike Simonson is 2-4 all time against MSUB, including 1-2 on the road.
SCOUTING THE MONTANA STATE BILLINGS YELLOWJACKETS: 13-4, 4-2 GNAC (3rd)
All-time series: SPU leads, 30-25. Current series streak: MSUB won 3. Last time: MSUB 56, SPU 53 (Feb. 19, 2022 at Seattle). Last SPU series win: SPU 69, MSUB 63 (Jan. 23, 2020 at Billings). Yellowjackets on the Web.
Yellowjackets in a nutshell: After a string of three straight losses – including a two-pointer and a one-pointer – Billings got back on track last week with road victories at Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon, the WOU victory coming thanks to a rally from seven points down inside the final five minutes; Cariann Kunkel, a senior 5-foot-10 forward, and Dyauni Boyce, a sophomore 5-11 forward, both average in double-digit scoring for the Yellowjackets, Kunkel at 11.4 points per game and Boyce at 11.0. Boyce also is the team’s leader on the boards at 6.8 per contest. Senior 6-3 forward Taryn Shelley, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last year at (15.4 points / 8.4 rebounds per game) and hit 50 percent from the field, returned to action coming out of the holiday break after missing the first two months of the season. In four games with limited minutes so far, she already has a pair of double-digit outings and is averaging 9.5 points on .486 shooting.
HALFTIME REPORT
Last Saturday’s game at Saint Martin’s brought the Falcons to just beyond the midpoint of their 26-game regular-season schedule..
Here’s how they compare statistically after 14 games this season vs. 14 games last season.
STAT 2021-22 2022-23
Record 7-7 10-4
Scoring offense 60.4 62.8
Scoring defense 58.9 56.6
Rebounds 39.0 40.3
Assists 14.4 13.6
Steals 7.2 7.8
Blocked shots 3.3 3.8
FG shooting .403 .404
3-point shooting .304 .319
FT shooting .674 .646
SIMO SAYS …
(On Montana State Billings)
“I think Billings’ signature is they are really sound fundamentally on offense and defense. Against a team like that, we have to match that on our end of the floor, because they will not beat themselves, and we have to make sure we don’t beat ourselves, either.”
(On the significance of the game)
“This is getting fun. Our conference is so competitive. We’ve had some hard-fought games already and Saturday is gong to be another one. We’re getting to the midpoint of the conference schedule and that’s when the cream rises to the top. This will be important for both of us, because we and Billings have the same schedule. This will be important going forward.”
POLLING PLACE
Seattle Pacific has climbed a notch to No. 9 in the D2SIDA West Region top 10 that was announced on Tuesday. The Falcons made the rankings last week for the first time this season.
The poll is compiled by a group of sports information directors for the three West Region conferences: GNAC, California Collegiate Athletic Association, and Pacific West.
Western Washington is a unanimous No. 1, with undefeated Cal State Dominguez Hills at No. 2. Other GNAC schools in the top 10 are No. 5 Montana State Billings and No. 6 Central Washington.
AROUND THE WEST
Western Washington had road games against two of the GNAC’s toughest teams last week and won both, 82-70 at Central Washington and 86-70 at Northwest Nazarene. The Vikings (11-1, 5-0 GNAC) are all alone at the top of the standings, half a game ahead of Seattle Pacific (10-4, 5-1 GNAC) as they get ready to host Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon this week. Western has won 11 in a row.
Cal State Dominguez Hills just keeps winning in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Toros, who are the only remaining undefeated team in the West Region, are 14-0, with an 8-0 conference record. That’s one game ahead of Cal State San Marcos (10-2, 7-1 CCAA), which was hit with its first CCAA loss last Saturday, 68-65 at third-place Cal Poly Pomona (9-3, 6-2 CCAA). That ended an eight-game Cougars win streak.
It’s still tight atop the Pacific West Conference. Concordia Irvine (11-4, 8-1 Pac West) has won six in a row and is half a game ahead of Azusa Pacific (12-3, 7-1 Pac West). Hawaii Pacific is just 7-6 overall, but is 5-1 in conference play, sitting in third place. Dominican (9-7, 7-2 Pac West) is on a six-game roll and visits HPU on Wednesday as part of a three-game Hawaii road trip.
AROUND THE GNAC
Click on this link for a look at this week’s GNAC notebook. Click on this link to see how GNAC teams and players stack up nationally in NCAA Division II.
UP NEXT
Seattle Pacific wraps up the first half of the GNAC schedule next week when it welcomes Western Washington and Simon Fraser to Brougham Pavilion. The Vikings, currently ranked No. 6 nationally, are in on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The Red Leafs come to town on Saturday with a 4:15 p.m. tip-off.
GNAC STANDINGS
GNAC Overall
Western Washington 5-0 11-1
Seattle Pacific 5-1 10-4
Montana State Billings 4-2 13-4
Simon Fraser 3-2 5-4
Central Washington 3-3 11-4
Northwest Nazarene 3-3 7-7
Alaska Anchorage 2-3 10-4
Western Oregon 1-4 7-6
Alaska Fairbanks 1-4 4-8
Saint Martin’s 0-5 4-9
NHL Preview: Edmonton Oilers (22-18-3) at San Jose Sharks (13-22-8)
EDMONTON OILERS NOTES:
DMONTON OILERS AT SAN JOSE SHARKS
8:30 p.m. MT at SAP Center
BROADCAST INFO: 630 CHED Radio, Sportsnet
22-18-3 – 47 PTS RECORD 13-22-8 – 34 PTS
Div. – 5th Conference – 8th RANK Div. – 7th Conference – 13th
1st –31.0% (49/158) POWER PLAY 20th – 20.7% (25/121)
25th – 73.3% (115/157) PENALTY KILL 2nd – 84.8% (106/125)
ALL-TIME RECORDS vs. SAN JOSE GP RECORD HOME (66) AWAY (65) GF GA
OILERS ALL-TIME vs. SAN JOSE 131 58-53-12-8 32-24-7-3 26-29-5-5 391 400
OILERS vs. SAN JOSE – 2022-23 0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0 0
QUICK FACTS
• Friday’s game will mark Edmonton’s first of four games against the Sharks this season and the first of two games in San Jose. The next time these teams will meet is March 20th in Edmonton.
• The last time these teams met was on April 28th, 2022 in Edmonton, with the Oilers winning 5-4 in overtime.
• Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 30 career points against the Sharks and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has played in a team high 35 career games against San Jose.
LAST 10 GAMES vs. SAN JOSE
Record: 5-5-0
GF: 32 GA: 36
2021-22 4/28/22 @ EDM 5-4 W (OT)
2021-22 4/5/22 @ SJS 2-1 W (OT)
2021-22 3/24/22 @ EDM 5-2 W
2021-22 2/14/22 @ SJS 3-0 W
2019-20 2/6/20 @ EDM 6-3 L
2019-20 11/19/19 @ SJS 5-2 W
2019-20 11/12/19 @ SJS 3-6 L
2018-19 4/4/19 @ EDM 2-3 L
2018-19 2/9/19 @ EDM 2-5 L
2018-19 1/8/19 @ SJS 2-7 L
SAN JOSE SHARKS NOTES:
LAST GAME
Game 43 – 1/11 – SJS 3 at LAK 4…Alexander Bararbanov (0g, 1a) extended his career-best point streak to six games with an assist
on San Jose’s final goal of the contest and Erik Karlsson (0g, 1a) became the ninth defenseman in NHL history to record a doubledigit road assist streak (10 games), but the San Jose Sharks fell 4-3 at Los Angeles. James Reimer made 21 saves in the opening
frame, the most in a period for the Sharks this season, and Timo Meier netted his team-best 24th goal of the season, a power play
strike. Nick Bonino (1g, 0a) and Tomas Hertl (1g, 0a) also found the back of the net in the tilt.
SJ Goals: Bonino (5), Meier (24 pp), Hertl (14)
SF: 30
SA: 37
SJ PP: 1/2
SJ PK: 2/2
W: Copley
L: Reimer
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
1/6 Claimed F Mikey Eyssimont off waivers; placed D Radim Simek on IR
1/5 Recalled D Nick Cicek from the San Jose Barracuda
1/4 Assigned D Nick Cicek to the San Jose Barracuda
1/1 Recalled D Nick Cicek from the San Jose Barracuda
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – EDMONTON OILERS
Paced by the NHL’s two leading scorers in Connor McDavid (79 points) and Leon Draisaitl (63 points), the Edmonton Oilers enter San Jose on the heels of a Wednesday win over Anaheim looking to close out their California swing on a high note. The game is the front end of a Friday-Saturday back-to-back, with the latter contest coming Saturday at Vegas. The Oilers rank fourth in the NHL at 3.56 goals per game and are tops in the league on the power play, clicking at 31.0-percent. They are eighth in the NHL with a .625 road points percentage and have scored 3.65 goals per road contest.
STORYLINES
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE…With an assist provided by Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Oskar Lindblom’s second period goal at DAL on Dec. 31, San Jose became the first NHL team to have their defensemen reach 100 points on the season. San Jose blueliners then added five points (1g, 4a) on Jan. 1, with four of the six in the game finding the score sheet, and another three helpers on Jan. 6 at Anaheim. Most recently, Sharks defensemen combined for three points against Boston on Jan. 7 with Mario Ferraro scoring a goal and Matt Benning and Vlasic adding assists, a goal from Jaycob Megna and a helper from Erik Karlsson on Tuesday and another Karlsson helper on Wednesday. The Sharks lead the league in assists (94) and points (114) from defensemen this season. Last campaign, the Sharks finished 23rd and 25th in the League with 151 points and 117 assists, respectively, from defensemen. Below is a breakdown of San Jose’s defensive scoring this season.
