Game Preview:
In what could be a potential first round match-up in the upcoming conference tournament, the Truman Bulldogs will be looking for their fifth straight and sixth out of their last seven games as the close out the regular season against the University of Central Missouri on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs (16-9; 10-9 MIAA) are locked into the sixth seed in next week's tournament after sweeping the season series with Lincoln (Mo.) on Wednesday night with a 82-53 victory.
The Jennies (19-6; 13-6 MIAA) are in a three-way battle with Fort Hays State and Emporia State for the third seed in the tournament. Central moved up to third on Wednesday night with a victory over Missouri Western 75-55 and Emporia State's loss at home to Washburn 53-52. The only tiebreaking scenario that does not have Truman facing Central in the 8:15 p.m. game next Thursday night will be a Bulldog victory on Saturday against the Jennies coupled with an Emporia State victory over Fort Hays later that evening.
If Truman and Hays both win or Central and Emporia both win, Central would be the three seed by virtue of their earlier season win over Washburn.
The Bulldogs had five players score in double figures led by freshman
Allie Norton's season high 17 points in Truman's 82-53 win over Lincoln. It was the Bulldogs largest margin of victory in conference play this season and the worst loss suffered by the upstart Blue Tigers.
Central outscored Missouri Western 29-6 in the first 12 minutes on Wednesday night to quickly put the Griffons away in their 75-55 win. Four players scored in double-figures with Renae Shippy leading with 13 points and Taylor Hanson, Saraethea Brown and Nicole Caddell each scoring a dozen apiece. The Jennies connected on 11 triples with four coming from Hanson.
In the first meeting, the Bulldogs started strong, leading by a dozen early but then made just 13 more field goals the rest of the game to fall 60-53 at home. Truman shot 30% from the field including a three-of-18 stretch from outside as Central chipped away at the lead and eventually overtaking the 'Dogs in the second half. Truman's
Becka McHenry and Central's Nicole Caddell led all scorers with 15 points apiece.
Truman Season Milestones:
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The 16 regular season wins is the most for the program since the team won 17 during the 1999-2000 season.
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The 10 MIAA wins ties last season's program record, with two fewer games this season. They will finish with the highest conference winning percentage since a .667 (12-6) during the 99-00 campaign.
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Truman's 37.2% three-point field goal percentage is the highest since the 1998-99 season (37.2%) and tied for third best in school history. Only the 39.0% in 1989-90 and the 37.7% in 1990-91.
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The current 28.3% opponent three-point field goal percentage is the lowest allowed by the Bulldogs since the arc came into play in 1987-88. The lowest to-date mark is 28.7% that came in the 1989-90 season, which was the only other time opposing teams ended the season shooting below 30% from the arc.
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The Bulldogs have held opponents to just 59.8 points per game which is the lowest allowed since a school-record 62.2 points per game in the 1981-82 season.
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The sixth place finish by the Bulldogs in conference play is the highest since they finished four in the 1999-2000 season.
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Allie Norton's current 39.3% shooting from beyond the arc would break the Truman freshman mark currently held by Angie Gum set in the 1987-88 season (26-of-67/38.8%). The 39.3% is currently tied for 10th single-season with Jennifer Fisher (2001-02). Norton is five made three-pointers away from entering the single-season top 10 and 12 away from the freshman record held by Wendi Sobaski (1998-99).
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Becka McHenry's 130 assists this season is currently sixth in the Truman single-season rankings, seven away from Angie Brown in 1983-84. She is 10 away from Susan Theroff's junior class record of 140 set in 1989-90.
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Breanna Daniels currently has an 88.1% free throw shooting percentage this season and would finish sixth in the single-season rankings with a minimum of 30 made (37-of-42).
About The Bulldogs:
Junior
Becka McHenry leads Truman in scoring and is 9th in the conference at 13.8 points per game. McHenry is averaging 14.3 in 19 conference games while shooting 43% from the floor with 5.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. Her 130 assists is currently sixth all-time in single-season games for the Bulldogs. Junior
Jennifer Conway is second in scoring at 11.5 points and 11.0 in conference games. Conway is shooting a team-high 45% from the field.
Senior
Breanna Daniels is third in scoring at 10.7 overall and in league games. Daniels is the team's top free throw shooter at 88% but has only been to the line 42 times.
Sophomore
Nicole Gloor has 32 steals and is second on the team with 49 offensive rebounds while averaging 9.5 points per game and freshman
Allie Norton has made a team-leading 55 three-pointers while scoring 9.1 points a night. Norton has hit a three in all but one game this season (Emporia State, December 17th).
The Bulldogs are averaging 70.9 points per game and 68.2 in conference games. They are shooting 40% from the field, 37% from beyond the arc and 71% from the foul line in conference action.
The Series:
Central has won 57 of the 65 games played in the series and 30 of the 33 games played in Warrensburg. Truman's last win came in the Multipurpose Building last season as they won in overtime 78-74 behind
Becka McHenry's 22 points.
Bulldog Trends:
In the last five conference games (4-1), Truman is holding opponents to just 18% from behind the line (11-of-60).
Becka McHenry has averaged 15.2 points per game with a pair of 24 point outings while
Nicole Gloor (12.7),
Breanna Daniels (12.0) and
Allie Norton (11.8) have given the Bulldogs a balanced attack.
In the 10 Truman conference wins this season, the average margin of victory has been 17.5 points, the closest win was a two-point victory at Washburn and the largest win was a 29 point home win against Lincoln. In those wins, Truman has a positive turnover margin (+3.6), shoot 45% overall and 40% from three while limiting opponents to just 23% (29-of-123) from beyond the arc.
In the nine conference losses, the average margin of defeat is just six points, with three one-point losses in the mix. The largest loss was by 21 at Emporia State while Truman dropped one-point games to Northwest, Missouri Western and Pittsburg State. Also in those defeats, Truman has been blocked 57 times (6.3/g) compared to 21 (3.4/g) times in the wins.
Senior Spotlight
Senior
Breanna Daniels has scored 1,202 points during her four year Bulldog career and will finish eighth all-time in Truman scoring. She has started 90 of 106 games played during her Bulldog career shooting nearly 40% from the field with 144 made three pointers. Her single-game high in points is 27 against Northwest Missouri on Feb. 17, 2010. She is averaging 11.3 points per game. Daniels had 68 double figure scoring nights with two double-doubles, both coming her senior season.
Daniels is fifth all-time in Truman history in made three-pointers (144), third in three-pointers attempted (413), eighth in free throw percentage (.798) and eighth in field goals (460), fifth in field goals attempted (1155) and fourth in games started (90).
Jenny Dorman has played in 75 games since transferring to Truman following her freshman season at Missouri S&T. Dorman has connected for 46 three-pointers and is shooting 40% from beyond the arc during her time in a Bulldog uniform. She scored a career-high 19 earlier this season against Central Methodist and has 265 points.
Notable National Rankings:
In the latest set of national rankings released on Feb. 19th Truman was 11th in three-point field goal percentage (36.5%) and seventh in turnovers per game at 13.4. They are also 23rd in assist/turnover ratio and 42nd in scoring margin (+10.3).
Individually,
Becka McHenry was 20th in assists per game at 5.1 and 8th in assist/turnover ratio.
Allie Norton is 37th in three-point field goal percentage (38.5%).
Notable Conference Rankings:
Truman is in the top five in 15 MIAA statistical categories. They are second in three-point defense at 28.3% and turnover margin at +3.4 per game. The Bulldogs are third in three-point offense at 37.2%, assist/turnover ratio (1.0), scoring margin (+11.0) and free throw percentage (72.1%).
Becka McHenry
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9th Scoring (13.9g)
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20th Rebounds (5.3/g)
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7th FG Pct. (44.8%)
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1st Assists (5.2/g)
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13th FT Pct. (65.4%)
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T-8th Steals (1.5/g)
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2nd A/T Ratio (2.1)
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15th Def. Rebounds (4.2/g)
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7th Minutes (31.7/g)
Jennifer Conway
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16th Scoring (11.5/g)
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17th Rebounds (6.2/g)
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11th Blocks (1.0/g)
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8th Off. Reb. (2.4/g)
Allie Norton
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10th Assists (2.8/g)
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7th 3pt Pct. (39.3%)
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3rd 3pt Made (2.2/g)
Breanna Daniels
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23rd Scoring (10.6/g)
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14th Rebounds (6.4/g)
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9th 3pt Pct. (37.8%)
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7th Def. Reb. (5.0/g)
Nicole Gloor
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9th FT Pct. (69.9%)
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10th Steals (1.5/g)
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14th Off. Reb. (2.2/g)
Quick Look Around The MIAA:
Washburn has secured the top seed in the MIAA tournament and will win the conference outright with a victory at home against Lincoln on Saturday. Pittsburg State is the number two seed and can only grab a share of the title if the Blue Tigers pull of the upset.
Seeds three, four and five are left to be sorted out between Central, Fort Hays and Emporia.
The final playoff spot is also up for grabs between Southwest Baptist, Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. Western and SBU face off against each other and if Western wins, they are in, if SBU wins and Northwest defeats last place Missouri Southern, the green Bearcats get the nod over a season sweep over the purple Bearcats.
Individually, Missouri Western's Jessica Koch leads the conference and is fourth in the nation in scoring at 22 points per game. She leads Central Missouri's Nicole Caddell by over seven points per game.
Bulldog Tip-Ins:
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Truman is averaging 70.9 points and shooting 41% from the field, 37% from the arc and 72% from the line. Last season the team averaged 62.7 points shooting 39% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc and 66% from the free throw line.
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The Bulldogs finished 10-4 in Pershing Arena this.
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Over the past two years, Truman is 9-11 on the road in conference play. From 2000-2010, the Bulldogs were just 15 and 75 (.200) in league road tilts.
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Truman has led at the half in 18 games this year and has won 14. They have trailed the other seven games and won two of them.
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The Bulldogs have won the battle of the boards in 15 games this season with the largest margin of 19 against Lincoln. They have had a double-digit advantage in rebounds in nine games.
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Three Bulldogs have topped 20 points 11 times this season. Becka McHenry has scored 24 points in three games and has six this season. Nicole Gloor also had 24 points in the win against Lincoln and has two games over 20 points. Conway has three over 20 this season.
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Truman has had six different players through 25 games lead them in scoring. McHenry has nine games while Conway (5), Gloor (5), Daniels (5), Jenny Dorman and Allie Norton have led in one game.
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Five Bulldogs have each recorded double-doubles through 24 games. Jennifer Conway has three while Breanna Daniels has two, Allie Norton, Nicole Gloor and Becka McHenry have one apiece. Three Bulldogs recorded double-doubles last season with five coming from Jennifer Conway and one apiece from Amy Galey and Megan Sharpe.
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Becka McHenry recorded the first triple-double for the Bulldogs since December 1, 1998 when she scored 14 and had 10 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the 12th triple-double recorded in Division II this season and first in the MIAA since Missouri Western's Tiffany Davis recorded on in 2006 against Washburn (18p, 14,r, 11a).
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will play the third seed in the MIAA postseason tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City on Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. It is the second straight trip by the Bulldogs to the tournament and first time they have made consecutive trips to the postseason tournament since it was moved to Kansas City in 2003.
Player Notes:
#5 Allison Wiese – Has appeared in 16 games, nine in the MIAA…scored a season-high eight points against McKendree…has made five of her 13 three-point attempts.
#10 Kaitlin Stump – Has missed the past 24 games with an injury…only action of the season was in the opener against Lindenwood-Belleville where she played eight minutes and had one assist.
#12 Allie Norton – Started all 25 games and leads the team with 55 three-pointers and a 39% three-point shooting percentage…has scored in double-figures 12 times this season with a season-high 17 points against Lincoln on Feb. 22…is second on the team with assists with 71 and dished out 10 for a double-double against Central Methodist…has made a three-pointer in 24 games this season.
#13 Jenny Dorman – Has come off the bench in all 25 games this season…scored in double figures twice with a season-high 19 points against Central Methodist…averaging about 13 minutes per game and is shooting about 35% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc.
#15 Jennifer Conway – Started 23 games and is second in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and scoring at 11.5 points per game…has been in double-figures 15 times this season with a high of 23 points against Pittsburg State…shooting 45% from the floor and has three double-doubles.
#21 Megan Sharpe – Joined the team on Dec. 3
rd after earning all-America honors for the third straight year on the volleyball court…has played in 18 games, making seven starts…had the game-winning basket against #15 Washburn as time expired while also playing a season-high 25 minutes…matched her career high with 12 points against Lincoln.
#22 Becka McHenry – Team leader in minutes played at 32.0 per game while also first in scoring 13.8 and first in assists with 130…has scored over 20 points on six occasions with a high of 24 against Lincoln, Southwest Baptist and Fort Hays State…been in double-figures 18 times and had a triple-double with 14, points, 10, rebounds and 10 assists against Pittsburg State on Jan. 25.
#24 Sarah Gaeddert – Had played in 21 games this year and averaging around eight minutes a game…scored a season-high four points against five teams, most recently against Northwest Missouri and added three assists with six rebounds in a win over Rockhurst.
#25 Bianca Szafarowicz – Has started six and come off the bench in 16 games…shooting 46% from the field and is third on the team with 34 offensive rebounds…scored a season-high 11 points in a win over William Penn and pulled down nine rebounds with six offensive in a win against Lindenwood-Belleville.
#32 Nicole Gloor – Has started 11 games and came off the bench in 11 others…one of the team's top defensive player…has scored in double-figures 12 times this season with a high of 24 against Lincoln…second on the team lead in steals with 32…averaging about 22 minutes per game.
#41 Rachel Remick – Played in all 25 games made three starts…scored in 17…season-high is eight points against Emporia State on Dec. 17th…posted a season-high nine rebounds against Lindenwood-Belleville.
#42 Breanna Daniels – Has started 22 games and came off the bench in the other three…averaging 28.3 minutes in each…has been in double-figures 17 times with a season-high 18 points coming against Washburn.…has two double-doubles on the season with against Lindenwood-Belleville and Northwest Missouri…went over the 1,000 career point total with 13 against Pittsburg State on Dec. 3…a third team all-MIAA member and Academic all-district selection last season.
