PREVIEW: Dallas Women's Basketball vs. Texas Lutheran (2/12) | Southwestern (2/13)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(Friday vs. Texas Lutheran University)
(Saturday vs. Southwestern University)
THE LEAD
This weekend marks the end of the home portion of the 2015-16 campaign for the University of Dallas women's basketball. The Lady Crusaders will hosts Texas Lutheran University on Friday at 8 p.m. and Southwestern University on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Dallas is 8-13 overall and 3-8 against the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). The Lady Crusaders have dropped the past four contests, and were 1-4 on the latest road trip. The most recent outing for UD was a 54-50 setback at Centenary College.
Dallas is slotted in sixth place in the SCAC, but need to get in the top five to qualify since Centenary (currently tied for 7th) is hosting. The Navy and White are one game behind fifth place Southwestern.
CRUSADER NOTES
- The Lady Crusaders are 6-3 at the Maher Center and last prevailed there in a dramatic 55-54 decision against Schreiner University.
- Junior Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) is leading the team in points (245) and rebounds (135) on the season. The forward ranks third in the SCAC for field goal percentage with a 47.9-clip through 11 league games.
- Sophomore Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.) is averaging 12.6 points-per-game (ppg) and has netted double figure performances in the last six contest.
- Other players in triple-digits for rebounds include sophomore Helen Onyenso (Oak Park, Ill.) with 124 and DeCoud with 104. DeCoud is second in the conference averaging 8.0 boards a contest.
- Junior Holly Tonry (Seattle, Wash.) is pacing the squad with 79 assists and 32 steals. The point guard is leading the SCAC in dimes with 79 and assists per game with a 3.8-clip.
- UD ranks second in the conference for scoring defense and three-point field goal percentage defense. Opponents are being limited to 59.7 ppg and a 25.0 percent in each respective category.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Texas Lutheran ranks second in the SCAC standings with an 8-3 record against the league. TLU is 12-10 overall and are coming off a 65-55 victory against Schreiner University. The Bulldogs are 4-3 on the opponent's floor and will complete the season on a three-game road trip that starting in Irving, Texas. The road mark for TLU against SCAC foes is 3-1, and that lone setback was a one-point overtime loss.
The Bulldogs are second in the conference for field goal percentage (38.5%) and first in three-point field goal defense (23.8%). Savannah Hight leads the Black and Gold with 12.4 ppg and Kristen Lye is closely behind averaging 12.0. Rounding the trio out for double-digit scoring averages is Taylor Dydalewicz with a 10.2-clip. Lye is the team-leader in boards with 169. Three players have surpassed 30 steals, and the team has 185 total. Leading the bunch with 34 swipes is Hight. Adelaide Wenzel and Lye are right behind at 32 and 30, respectively.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Southwestern University enters the weekend with a 7-15 record and 4-7 mark against the SCAC. The Pirates have dropped the last four games and are 2-8 on the opposition's home court. The most recent game was a 66-57 final at home versus Trinity University. SU will play at Austin College on Friday.
The Pirates are tops in the conference for rebounding margin with a +4.9 difference. Southwestern is averaging 42.3 rebounds a game, with is just behind TLU (42.8) for second. Audrey Garcia leads the team with 324 points and is averaging 14.7. Olivia Podaras is right behind with a 10.9-mark. A quartet of players have eclipsed triple-digits in rebounds led by Tori Carraway with 147. Also in the unit are: Madison Edwards (126), Podaras (114), and Garcia (110). Garcia has 42 steals.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Earlier this season, the Lady Crusaders fell at both Texas Lutheran (70-48) and Southwestern (82-62). Dallas moved to 2-7 against the Bulldogs and 6-34 against the Pirates in the all-time series for each respective program.
In the game at TLU, DeCoud poured her second highest scoring total on the year of 18 points. Stoia contributed 12 and junior Lindsey Gendron (Houston, Texas) added 10. The Bulldogs were led by Cierra Jordan with 12 points off the bench. Hight and Lye had 11 and 10, respectively.
At Georgetown, Texas, Gendron tied a career-high five made three-pointers and notched a season-high 17 points. DeCoud added 11. Garcia paced the Pirates with 22 for a game-high.
A year ago, the Lady Crusaders were defeated at home by Texas Lutheran in 89-76 fashion. Dydalewicz shot 90 percent (9-10) from the field and compiled 23 points. Stoia was the one returner in double-digits for Dallas with 10. The day prior at the time, UD knocked off the eventual SCAC Tournament Champions in a 63-60 victory. DeCoud shot 9-for-10 on the floor with 19 points, and Stoia chipped in 11. SU's Podaras had 11 points off the bench.
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS
On Friday, the Student Athletics Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Blue Crew will be teaming up for a coin drive that involves collecting change that will be donated to a charity of choice. All eight institutions in the SCAC are participating in this competition and the school to raise the most money will be choosing the charity that all proceeds are donated to.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas will play a non-conference game on February 16 at Arlington Baptist College, and conclude the regular season at Austin College on Feb. 20.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Dallas Twitter: UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports)
Women's Basketball Twitter: UDallasWBB (@dallaswbb)
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
Instagram: udallasathletics