Bradley vs. Truman State Game Notes (Nov. 1, 2006)

Bradley vs. Truman State Game Notes (Nov. 1, 2006)

Bradley University Women's Basketball 10/31/2006 6:00:00 AM

Today's Matchup

Both teams will be playing their first exhibition games of the year when NCAA Division II foe Truman State visits Robertson Memorial Field House Wednesday.

Truman State returns four starters and seven of 10 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 12-16 overall. The Bulldogs bring back the top five scorers and six of their top seven in scoring from last season. Sophomore Georgia Mueller, younger sister of former Bradley standout Genny Mueller, led Truman State in scoring last season as a freshman, averaging 12.1 points per game. She was also one of the Bulldogs top rebounders averaging 6.1 boards per game. Wyoming, Ill., native Natalie Shupbach led Truman State in rebounding at 7.3 rebounds per game and also averaged 10.5 points per game. Shupbach is the sister-in-law of former Bradley cross country and track and field standout Mary Ellen Hill-Shupbach. Junior Candace McGee also averaged in double figures for the Bulldogs, averaging 11.1 points per game last year.

While Bradley returns six of 12 letterwinners, including three starters from last year's team, the Braves bring back each of the top five scorers from 2005-06 and six of the top seven. Junior guard Devyn Flanagan led the team in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 11.2 points per game. Senior center Amy Peters was also in double figures in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game, while shooting 42 percent from three-point range. Senior point guard Jen Brown has started 83 of 84 games in her career and ranks fifth in career assists at Bradley, needing just 13 assists to move into third place in program history.

Series History

Bradley and Truman State are meeting for the first time.

The Coaches

Paula Buscher (Missouri State, ?86) is in her seventh year at Bradley and has a record of 72-95 (.431) at BU. Buscher led teams to improved records in each of her first five seasons as a collegiate head coach and six of her nine seasons overall. Buscher owns a 115-133 (.464) career record and is in her 10th year as a collegiate head coach. A longtime assistant coach at Nebraska-Omaha, Buscher coached Minnesota St.-Mankato during the 1997-98 season and returned to UNO as head coach for the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons, before coming to The Hilltop.

John Sloop (Maryville ?91) is in his seventh season as head coach at Truman State and his 12th overall at the Kirksville, Mo., school. He owns a 63-99 (.389) record as head coach of the Bulldogs. Sloop was an assistant with the men's basketball team at Truman State before taking over the women's program in 2000-01.

Braves Picked 10th In Preseason Valley Poll

Bradley was picked to finish 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference according to a vote of Valley coaches, sports information directors and media. The Braves, which finished in a tie for ninth with Creighton last season, return the top five scorers and six of the top seven scorers from last years squad. Bradley received 66 points in the poll and was 18 points behind ninth-place Creighton. Drake garnered 28 of 40 first-place votes to finish first in voting.

MVC Preseason Poll

Rank Team (First-Place Votes).................. Points

1. Drake (28)............................................. 373

2. Wichita State (10)................................... 345

3. Northern Iowa........................................ 274

4. Evansville............................................ 242

5. Illinois State........................................... 237

6. Indiana State (2)..................................... 227

7. Missouri State........................................ 176

Southern Illinois...................................... 176

9. Creighton................................................ 84

10. Bradley................................................. 66

Red-White Recap

The frontcourt and upperclassmen shined during Bradley's annual Red-White scrimmage Friday. Senior center Ashley Chelleen and Hampton University transfer Monica Rogers teamed up to lead the Red team to a 39-35 victory over the White squad. Chelleen had 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, while Rogers nearly posted a double-double in just 16 minutes of play, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds. The guard tandem of Rachel Merriman and Felicia Nekmouche combined for nine points, seven assists, three steals and just three turnovers.

Seniors Erika Nelson (11 points) and Amy Peters (10 points) were both in double figures for the White squad. Jasmin Wright added eight points, hitting a pair of three-pointers.

Up Next

Bradley will play its second and last exhibition game Sunday afternoon, when the Braves welcome Quincy University to Robertson Memorial Field House. Bradley and Quincy will be playing an exhibition game against each other for the second consecutive year after the Braves posted a 71-50 victory last year against the Hawks. Amy Peters led all players with a game-high 11 points off the bench for the Braves as she was one of five BU players to score eight or more points in last year's meeting. Jen Brown added nine points and a game-high six assists.

Bradley-Truman State Connections

A pair of Truman State players have strong Bradley connections. Georgia Mueller, the Bulldogs top scorer last year as a freshman, is the younger sister of former Bradley standout Genny Mueller. Genny ranks as the Braves career leader in three-point field goals and ranks ninth in school history in scoring. Wyoming, Ill., native and Truman State senior Natalie Shupbach is the sister-in-law of former cross country and track and field star Mary Ellen Hill-Shupbach.

Live Audio

For the first time audio for all of Bradley's home and away games will be available on the Bradley Athletics website at www.bubraves.com

In previous seasons only home and select road contests were available on the Braves website, but audio for all 29 regular-season games will be available free of charge via the internet.

New Faces

Bradley welcomed seven new players for the 2006-07 season, which includes four junior college transfers, a Division I transfer and two freshmen. Chasity Cotton (Little Rock, Ark./J.A. Fair Magnet H.S./Arkansas-Ft. Smith) is the first player in program history from the state of Arkansas. Local product Rachel Merriman (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S./Illinois Central College) will help in the backcourt, along with fellow junior college transfer Felicia Nekmouche (Uppsala, Sweden/Katedral H.S./Kankakee C.C.), who is the fourth foreign-born player in program history. Jasmin Wright (Beale Air Force Base, Calif./Wheatland H.S./Yuba College) is the sister of former Bradley men's basketball player Lawrence Wright. The Braves also added two freshmen in Renee Frericks (Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake H.S.), a 5-10 guard and Jenny Van Kirk (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) a 6-1 forward. Rounding out the newcomers is Monica Rogers (Forsyth, Ill./St. Teresa H.S./Hampton), a 6-1 forward who transferred from Hampton. Rogers will sit out the 2006-07 season due to NCAA rules regarding Division I transfers.

Chelleen Nears Top 30 In Scoring

Senior center Ashley Chelleen is closing in on 30th place on Bradley's career scoring list, needing eight points to pass Sheila Jenkins for 30th all-time in scoring. Chelleen enters the season as Bradley's active career scoring leader with 631 career points and is just 69 points from reaching the 700-point plateau and 25th place in program history. Fellow seniors Jen Brown and Amy Peters will likely join Chelleen in the top 30, having scored 565 and 567 points, respectively.

Bradley's Career Scoring Leaders

Rank Name (Years).......................... Total Points

1. Karen Anderson (1979-83).................... 1,679

2. Shelli Braud (1984-88).......................... 1,605

3. Connie Griffith (1977-81)....................... 1,583

4. Judy Burns (1981-84).......................... 1,544

5. Sara Bailey (1999-03).......................... 1,541

6. Karin Nicholls (1986-90)....................... 1,461

7. Heather Best (1995-99)......................... 1,447

8. Carrie Coffman (1991-95)...................... 1,313

9. Genny Mueller (2001-05)...................... 1,269

10. Eileen Yerkes (1988-92)....................... 1,120

11. Val Wancket (1987-91)......................... 1,048

12. Dena Williams (2001-05)....................... 1,030

13. Carol Baresch (1986-89)....................... 1,018

14. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)..................... 980

15. Jenn Jolley (1997-01)............................. 920

16. Roxanne Grabow (1979-83).................... 836

17. Maureen Hogan (1978-82)....................... 831

Michelle Nason (1993-95)........................ 831

19. Erika Grogg (1990-94)............................. 816

20. Kathy Stokes (1977-81)........................... 802

21. Karen Richardson (1979-81).................... 798

22. Audrey DeClue (1984-88)........................ 784

23. Tammy Van Oppen (1995-97).................. 763

24. Heidi Nelson (1987-91)............................ 705

25. Liza Reed (1991-95)............................... 699

26. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 666

27. Carolyn Hagerty (1993-95)...................... 653

28. Va'Nicia Waterman (2001-05)................... 645

29. Dana Anderson (1994-98)........................ 641

30. Sheila Jenkins (1989-91)......................... 638

31. Ashley Chelleen (2002-present)............ 631

Steady Force In The Lineup

Over the past three seasons one thing has almost always been certain about the Braves starting lineup. Senior point guard Jen Brown has started 83 of the 84 games since the start of the 2003-04 season, missing one start during her sophomore year (2004-05). She currently ranks sixth in school history in starts and needs 26 starts to break Dawn Cartwright's school mark of 108 starts. Erika Nelson is the only other player on the roster to start more than 30 games, owning 54 starts.

Bradley's Career Starts Leaders Since 1984-85

Rank Name (Years)................................... Starts

1. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 108

2. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 107

3. Karin Nicholls (1986-90).......................... 105

4. Shelli Braud (1984-88).............................. 98

5. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)....................... 86

6. Jen Brown (2003-present)...................... 83

Brown Into Fifth On Assist List

Senior guard Jen Brown enters her final season fifth on Bradley's career assist list with 348 and needs just 13 assists to pass Andrea McAllister for third all-time. The fourth player in program history to have 100 or more assists in back-to-back seasons, she joined Kathy Stokes and Judy Burns as the only players in school history to lead the team in assists in three different seasons and has a chance to be the only individual to accomplish that feat all four years. She will likely end her career third in school history, needing 182 assists to pass Judy Burns for second.

Bradley's Career Assists Leaders

Rank Name (Years)......................... Total Assists

1. Kathy Stokes (1977-81)........................... 543

2. Judy Burns (1981-84)............................. 529

3. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)..................... 360

4. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 353

5. Jen Brown (2003-present)..................... 348

6. Val Wancket (1987-91)............................ 338

7. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 330

On The Mark

? Senior center Ashley Chelleen has a chance to become Bradley's career leader in field goal percentage. Chelleen has connected on 53.5 percent (242-for-452) of her field goal attempts during her career. The Braves active career scoring leader with 631 points, she currently ranks as the Braves career leader in field goal percentage, holding a slim edge on Kim Harris (1984-86), who ranks second all-time at 53.1 percent (245-of-461). Fellow senior Amy Peters ranks 11th in school history in field goal percentage at 47.1 percent.

BU Career Field Goal Percentage

FG% Name (Years)................................ FG-FGA

.535 Ashley Chelleen (2002-present)...... 242-452

.531 Kim Harris (1984-86)......................... 245-461

.523 Tami Van Galder (1991-95)................ 218-417

.512 Audrey DeClue (1984-88).................. 301-587

.506 Connie Griffith (1977-81).................. 636-1257

.495 Krisha Green (1993-97)..................... 240-425

.490 Carrie Coffman (1991-95)................. 552-1127

.481 Sheila Jenkins (1989-91)................... 273-567

.477 Karen Richardson (1979-81).............. 335-702

.473 Kathy Stokes (1977-81)..................... 337-712

.471 Amy Peters (2003-present).............. 220-467

Brown Leads Valley In Assist-To-

Turnover Ratio Again

? For the third consecutive season senior Jen Brown led the Missouri Valley Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging 2.14 assists to every turnover. She was even better in conference play, posting a league-best 2.27 assist-to-turnover radio against Valley opponents. Brown has improved her assist-to-turnover ratio each of her three seasons after posting a 1.92 ratio as a sophomore and 1.78 assist to every turnover as a freshman.

MVC Assist/Turnover Ratio (2005-06)

Rank Name (Team).................................... Ratio

1. *Jen Brown (Bradley).......................... 2.14

2. Melanie Boeglin (Indiana State)................ 2.07

3. *Erin Pauk (Southern Illinois)................... 1.74

4. *Kristi Cirone (Illinois State)..................... 1.58

5. *Jessie Biggs (Northern Iowa)................. 1.48

6. *Ally Thrall (Creighton)............................ 1.3

* - Indicates returners for 2006-07.

Chelleen Breaks Onto Blocks List

Senior Ashley Chelleen tied for the team lead with 16 blocked shots last season to crack into Bradley's career top 10 in blocks. Currently ninth all-time in Braves history, she needs three blocked shots to move into sole possession of seventh place, passing Lynn Pastucha and Sara Bailey.

Bradley's Career Blocked Shots Leaders

Rank Name (Years)......................... Total Blocks

1. Dena Williams (2001-05).......................... 197

2. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 153

3. Krisha Green (1993-97)........................... 106

4. Eileen Yerkes (1988-92).......................... 105

5. Tami Van Galder (1991-95)....................... 86

6. Karin Nicholls (1986-90)............................ 86

T7. Sara Bailey (1999-03)............................... 51

T7. Lynn Pastucha (1999-00).......................... 51

9. Ashley Chelleen (2002-present).............. 48

10. Courtney Spillers (1993-98)....................... 47

Brown Bombing From Long Range

? Senior Jen Brown is also looking to break into Bradley's career top 10 for made three-pointers, needing eight treys to move into a tie for 10th place with former teammate Va'Nicia Waterman. Brown has averaged 25.3 three-pointers per season and could become just the eighth player to make 100 three-pointers in a career. Junior Devyn Flanagan is second on the team with 44 career made three-pointers after connecting on 34 shots from beyond the arc last year.

BU Career Three-Pointers Made

Rank Name (Years).............................. 3-Pt. FGs

1. Genny Mueller (2001-05)......................... 182

2. Michelle Nason (1993-95)........................ 158

3. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 154

4. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)..................... 148

5. Erika Grogg (1990-94)............................. 112

6. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 110

7. Dana Anderson (1994-98)........................ 104

8. Sara Bailey (1999-03)............................... 99

9. Jennifer Jolley (1997-01)........................... 85

10. Va'Nicia Waterman (2001-05)..................... 84