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Bulldogs Take Two-Game Streak to UIC Wednesday
Feb. 8, 2005 Click here for a full PDF version of the game notes. THE TIP: Winners of two straight and now alone in fifth place in the league standings, Butler (10-11, 4-6 Horizon League) embarks on a three-game road trip, beginning Wednesday at UIC (11-11, 8-3). The first of two match-ups between the teams in 11 days, the tip is set for noon (CST). Celebrating "Women in Sports Day," a number of local schools are expected to be on hand for the mid-afternoon contest. The game can be heard live on www.butlersports.com. THE SERIES: Butler leads the all-time series against the Flames, 19-10, as the teams meet for the 30th time Wednesday. Butler is 8-5 in games played in Chicago between the two teams. The Bulldogs carry a two-game winning streak in the series into the contest after sweeping the season series last year. The teams first met Dec. 1, 1984. BULLDOGS LIVE ON THE WEB: Josh Rattray and Melinda Quasius are once again courtside this season, providing live audio of Butler basketball on www.butlersports.com. Links are available on the site's women's basketball page. A video stream is available for home games.
COACH Beth Couture: In her third season on the Butler sidelines and 16th season overall, coach Beth Couture brings a career record of 288-166 (.634) and 30-49 (.380) mark at Butler into tonight's contest. Couture spent her first 13 years as a head coach at Presbyterian College, a Division II school in Clinton, S.C., before arriving at Butler. She is 3-1 against UIC. THREE'S COMPANY: The Bulldogs top the Horizon League with an average of 7.0 three-pointers made per game. The team is on pace for 203 three-pointers this season, which would break the team record of 186 set during the 2001-02 season. In conference action, the Bulldogs lead the league in both three-point percentage (.376) and three-pointers made (7.1/gm.). UIC is a welcome site for the Bulldogs' outside shooters, as Butler racked up 23 treys in the two contests last season. In the 89-81 shootout Feb. 12 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler hit a school-record 14 bombs. Sophomore Jackie Closser averages 17.5 ppg against the Flames, knocking down 8-of-12 three-pointers. CLOSSER DIALS LONG DISTANCE: Sophomore Jackie Closser hit a career-high six three-pointers in Thursday's win over Detroit, tallying a game-high 18 points. Closser now leads the Horizon League with an average of 2.48 treys per game. The Alexandria, Ind., product is shooting an impressive .441 from three-point range, good for third in the conference. Closser's 52 three-pointers this season put her on pace to break the team's single-season record of 64, set by current senior Maria Marchesano in 2001-02. Closser's 52 bombs are fifth on Butler's single-season list. BRENDEN HAS BIG DAY: Cleveland State had no answer for sophomore Ashley Brenden Saturday, as the Bloomington, Minn., native went for a career-high 17 points in the Bulldogs' win. Brenden shot 6-of-9 from the field and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Brenden was enjoying life in the paint so much, she didn't even think about leaving. Saturday was the first game this season where Brenden didn't attempt a three-point shot. Senior Cortney Urquhart added 18 points, as the Bulldogs dominated inside, taking a 46-18 advantage in points in the paint. URQUHART HITS 1,000-POINT PLATEAU: Senior center Cortney Urquhart became just the 16th Butler women's basketball player to eclipse 1,000 career points, passing the milestone against Youngstown State Jan. 20. Already this season, Urquhart has cracked the program's Top Ten for career rebounding, currently eighth with 621 career caroms. Urquhart was recognized as a preseason second-team "All-Horizon League" selection this season. FILLING UP THE STATSHEET: Sophomore Ellen Hamilton has traded spots with Cortney Urquhart and Jackie Closser as the team's leading scorer all season, but has expanded her game outside the scoring column over the last few outings. Hamilton set career-highs in assists (seven) and rebounds (six) against Cleveland State Saturday. She is among the Horizon League leaders with a .868 percentage from the free throw line and is third on the team at 10.5 ppg. GRUSSING OUT WITH TORN ACL: Junior forward Gina Grussing will miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, suffered in practice last week. FIRST GO `ROUND: Butler and UIC square off for the first time Wednesday, the first of two meetings between the teams in 11 days. The Bulldogs haven't played either of the Chicago schools yet despite being finished with four league opponents. UIC, Loyola and Cleveland State will occupy six of the Bulldogs' final seven regular season games. MARCHESANO ON THE MARK: Senior Maria Marchesano continues her climb up Butler's career three-pointers list, now just two treys shy of second place. She entered the campaign with 87 bombs and in seventh place, but her sharpshooting has netted 39 treys and a quick rise up the rankings. Sophomores Jackie Closser and Ellen Hamilton have already cracked the top ten. Butler Career Three-Point Field Goals Made Marchesano leads the Horizon League in both three-point percentage (.478) and is fourth in makes (2.20/gm.) in league play. RIGHT BACK AT YOU: Cortney Urquhart and Ashley Brenden now stand fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Horizon League in blocked shots. Urquhart has 22 on the season, one ahead of Brenden. Most of the damage has come lately, as the duo has combined to block 18 shots in the last four games. With 60 career blocks, Urquhart has moved into eighth place on Butler's career list. GOOD HANDS PEOPLE: Butler committed a season-low 10 turnovers Saturday against Cleveland State. In addition to sophomore Jackie Closser's 16 points, the 5-5 guard had six assists against no turnovers in 34 minutes of play. In the team's last six home games, Closser has 36 assists to just seven turnovers. QUICK SHOTS: Butler is second in the Horizon League in the three most important defensive statistical categories: scoring defense (59.7), field goal percentage defense (.386) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.293)...sophomore Jackie Closser has played the entire game on seven occasions, including playing all 45 minutes of the team's two overtime contests...Butler had 10 players score and 10 players see double-digit minutes in Saturday's win...junior Stephanie Boeke has 12 rebounds in just 29 minutes over the last two games...Butler went 3-of-17 from the three-point line Saturday, the team's lowest output from behind the line in 14 games (dating back to the team's 3-of-18 shooting in the 55-54 loss to Eastern Illinois Dec. 11)...Butler went 21-of-28 from the free throw line Saturday, setting season-highs in both categories. A LOOK AT THE FLAMES: Arguably the league's biggest surprise this season, UIC enters Wednesday's game with a league record of 8-3 (11-11 overall) after being picked sixth in the league's preseason poll. Sophomore LaShonda Grant leads the Flames with 12.9 ppg after missing the first seven games of the season. Preseason "All-League" selection Chrissy Dizon adds 12.0 ppg, while sharpshooter Krystal Hugelier chips in 11.5 ppg behind 48 treys. UIC has won seven straight games and the team's .500 record is even more impressive after a 1-7 start to the season. Coach Lisa Ryckbosch is in her third season on the UIC sidelines. NUMBER TO WATCH: Three-pointers. Butler leads the Horizon League with 7.0 made three-pointers per game, while UIC is allowing 6.4 bombs to opponents during league play. In the two match-ups last season, Butler hit 23 three-pointers on 49-percent shooting from behind the arc. NEXT UP: Butler continues its three-game road swing Saturday, traveling to Youngstown State to finish the season series with the Penguins. The tip is set for 2 p.m. The Bulldogs' first match-up with Loyola follows on Thursday, Feb. 17. WORTHLESS STAT OF THE DAY: Butler is 4-2 when either Ashley Conner or Candace Bain sets a new career-high in points. Each posted a new personal-best with seven and five points, respectively, in Saturday's win over Cleveland State. |
