PREVIEW: Women's Basketball at Webster (12/29) | Blackburn (12/30)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(Webster University 12/29)
(Blackburn College)
None available
SOCIAL MEDIA
Dallas Twitter: @UDallasSports
Women's Basketball Twitter: @dallaswbb
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
Instagram: udallassports
OPENING TIP
The University of Dallas women's basketball team (6-2) concludes the 2016 calendar year with a pair of road games on Thursday and Friday at Webster University and Blackburn College. Dallas will tip-off against Webster at 7 p.m. and then follow-up the next day at Blackburn with a 6 p.m. start.
The Crusaders enjoyed more than a week off for the Christmas holiday, and last played on December 16 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opener at Colorado College. A 51-46 setback ended a record-tying winning streak of six straight contests for UD. The program previously achieved the record twice in 2000 (Feb. 10 – Nov. 11; 2 seasons) and 2013 (Nov. 23 – Dec. 20).
Poor weather left UD in Colorado longer than anticipated, and the most recent scheduled contest in Irving on Dec. 18 was postponed for January 3 versus Hendrix College.
UD NOTES
-Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) remains the squad's leading scorer in points (124) and points-per-game (15.5). The forward ranks 8th in the SCAC for total points.
- Stoia is also second on UD in rebounds (69) and has recorded four double-doubles. She has scored double-digits in six games, and both times the feat was missed were by a single point.
- Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.) has also been a strong offensive force being the other player over 100 points with 111 overall. She is averaging 13.9 points and leads the team in field goals made (46).
- DeCoud's real strength has been on the boards where she ranks first in the SCAC and third in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) with 11.6 rebounds per contest. Overall that mark leads Dallas along with her 93 total. DeCoud has notched five double-doubles on the campaign.
- DeCoud also easily leads the conference in blocks having averaged a 2.3-clip and is three away from matching a personal best with 18 entering the week.
- Holly Tonry (Seattle, Wash.) leads the team in assists with 39. Her 5.6 average ranks atop the league.
- 2nd year head coach Greta Grothe returns to her native state, Missouri, on Thursday and also where she first worked as an assistant coach for four years at NCAA Division III Fontbonne University. Webster is located in St. Louis.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
(Webster University)
The Gorloks (7-2) are on the court for the first time since Dec. 17 where they suffered a 75-66 setback to Eureka College. The tip-off on Thursday is the second of a three-game home stand. The Gorlocks are 5-2 at the friendly confines so far, and will play three-of-four there counting the one with UD.
Pacing the offense is Kelsey Miller with 107 points. She is the lone Gorlock to surpass double-digits in points-per-game (ppg) with an 11.9-mark. Jaysea Morgan and Natalie Busscher are each averaging 9.1 through nine games. The leading rebounder is Aley Lucas with 46. Her sister Taylor Lucas follows closely behind with 40. A quartet of players have dished at least 20 assists to give the team a 183-122 edge. Morgan has swiped 31 steals and nine players have forced double figures in that column for a 182-91 advantage when compared to the opponents.
(Blackburn College)
The Beavers (0-8) are still seeking their first win of the season. Having fallen in the first eight contests, Blackburn will be back on the court for the first time since Dec. 12 in an 88-52 loss against North Park. The Beavers also were victimized by a postponement date on Dec. 17 at home with MacMurray.
Blackburn is averaging 48 points per contest and led by Aleisha Stiltner with 8.1 ppg. Maria Cline averages 6.5 while Candace Pollock and Abby Frerichs score 5.7 and 5.6 ppg, respectively. Stiltner averages 5.1 rebounds, but the team has spread the boards by outdoing the opposition 43.5-42.5 on the glass.
Dallas will face both teams for the first time in school history.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas begins 2017 with three straight at the friendly confines. A rescheduled non-conference tilt with Hendrix College is Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. After that, the Crusaders resume SCAC play with Southwestern University (Jan. 6) and Texas Lutheran University (Jan. 8).