WBB Notes: Truman Returns To "Home Sweet Home"

Truman Women's Basketball Game Notes
Thursday, February 12 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) ~ 5:30 p.m. Kirksville, Mo.
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GLVC Stats	GLVC Standings	NCAA Stats
Saturday, February 14 vs. Indianapolis ~ 1:00 p.m. Kirksville, Mo.
Game Notes (PDF)		Live Stats (Fan)
Live Audio	Live Video	Live Stats (Media)

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Bulldog Women's Basketball team returns to Pershing Arena to host Saint Joseph's (Ind.) and Indianapolis for a pair of key Great Lakes Valley Conference games this week.

About The Bulldogs (12-9, 6-7 GLVC):
The final two games against GLVC East Division teams will be key in determining playoff positioning for the Bulldogs. Truman is in a five-way tie for eighth in the conference with Saint Joseph's, Indianapolis, Bellarmine and William Jewell at 6-7 in the conference. With a win or loss by either Rockhurst or Missouri S&T, Truman will clinch a spot in the GLVC Tournament. After that, the range goes from a possible first round bye to a home or road first round game.

The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back on the home court after suffering a 61-58 loss to Bellarmine last Thursday and a 65-53 loss to Southern Indiana. It was their third loss on the four-game road trip.

Michalina Tomczak averaged 13.5 points and 6.3 rebounds with 13 blocked shots during the trip while shooting 60% from the field (23-of-38). She has averaged three blocks a game over the past six and has moved into a tie for 10^th on Truman single-season block list with 31 (Angie Gum – 1991). For the season, Tomczak is in the top 25 in GLVC scoring at 10.6 per game, seventh in boards at 6.9 per night, 15^th in field goal percentage (.492) and third in blocks at 1.48 per game.

Allie Norton continues to lead the team in scoring and is sixth in the conference at 15.5 points per game. Her 2.95 three-pointers per game is second-best in the league and she is six made three-pointers away from tying the career school record held by Wendi Sobaski at 269. Norton averaged 16 points during the road trip and converted on 14-of-28 (50%) three-pointers.

Courtney Strait is the third player in double-figures this season at 13.8 points per game. Strait is 13^th in GLVC scoring and third in the conference in free throw percentage at 90.1%.

As a team, Truman averages 66.7 points for and 67.5 points against while shooting 40.2%, 33.7% from three and 75.1% from the free throw line. In conference only games, the Bulldogs are averaging 63.5 points for, 66.6 points against and shoot 38.4% overall, 28.8% from three and 74.3% from the line.

Truman vs. Saint Joseph's (Thursday 5:30 p.m. – Kirksville, Mo.)
Series History: This will be the fourth meeting between the Pumas and the Bulldogs on the hard court. Truman has won the last two including last season's 89-79 overtime win in Rensselaer, Ind. The last time Saint Joseph's played a game in Pershing Arena was part of a Thanksgiving Weekend tournament in 2000 in which three Bulldogs tallied double-doubles. Jessy Fletcher (15/14), Annie Westhoff (16/11) and Jennifer Fisher (25/10). Fisher was 9-of-11 from the field that game and made all five three-pointers. Truman had 55 rebounds with 21 on the offensive end in the 99-66 victory. SJC's win came in 1995, 82-75.

Saint Joseph's Last Time Out: The Pumas have won seven of their last 10 games including last week's home sweep over Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis. In one of the lowest scoring games of the season, Kalea Parks scored 12 points in a 44-37 victory over the Saints last Thursday. Saint Joseph held the Tritons to 53 points and got a basket by Lauren Davis with 14 seconds left to pull out a 54-53 win. Parks again scored a dozen points in the win.

About the Pumas: Saint Joseph's has already doubled their conference win total from last season with six…they are fourth in the GLVC in scoring defense, allowing 62.3 points per game and have held their last three opponents under 60 points…the Pumas are third in turnover margin (+2.96) and second in blocked shots (3.83/game)…in conference only games, SJC is second in steals per game (9.15)…Kalea Parks is fourth in the conference in overall scoring at 17.1 points per game and second in blocks at 2.09 per night…Parks scored a season-high 32 points in a loss to Kentucky Wesleyan…SJC is 3-8 on the road and have lost six straight conference road games dating back to last season…Steve Harold is in his second season at the helm after finishing 6-20 last year, 3-15 in the GLVC.

Truman vs. Indianapolis (Saturday 1:00 p.m. – Kirksville, Mo.)
Series History: The Greyhounds have won five of the seven meetings with the Bulldogs including the last two that were separated by 20 years. UINDY won last year on their home court 87-74. Truman's last win in the series came on December 2, 1993 when they swept consecutive meetings with the Greyhounds. The first game was playing in Kirksville on November 27, 1993 with the Bulldogs winning 89-78 while the next game was a few days later, December 3, 1993 played in Indianapolis at the IUPUI Classic with the Bulldogs winning 67-63.

Indianapolis Last Time Out: The 'Hounds have dropped their last four games, including the last two at home to Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis. Against the Tritons, Princess German scored 25 of UINDY's 58 points in a 71-58 loss while against the Saints, German scored 28 but Maryville's Shelby Miller tallied 25 in the 89-75 Saints win.

About The Greyhounds: Princess German is second in the GLVC in scoring at 18.1 points per game and Kelly Walter is fifth at 15.7 points per night…In conference only games, German is averaging a league-best 21.5 points per game, two points better than reigning MVP Mariyah Brawner-Henley of Lewis…UINDY is last in the conference in rebounding margin (-4.2), assists per game (10.9) and offensive rebounds (7.1/g)…team averages 63.5 points per game but allows 68.5 points…are 2-7 in games played on the road this year…was nationally ranked last season and finished 23-9, 13-5 in the GLVC last season…Constantin Popa is in his fourth season as head coach of the Greyhounds.

Bulldog Notebook:
Norton Dialing Up 3:
Senior Allie Norton enters the week six made three-pointers from the Truman all-time record of 269 held by Wendi Sobaski. Norton is second in career active NCAA Division II players in triples and eighth among all NCAA women's basketball players. Her 42.5% three-point percentage is third among active Division II players.

More Norton:
Norton is eighth on the Bulldog career scoring list with 1,258 points, sixth in career assists with 318 and second in starts made with 106.

Tomczak Block Party:
Junior Michalina Tomczak entered the season with 21 blocks, over the past six games she has 18 and now sits tied for 10^th in Truman's single season block category with 31 with Angie Gum's 1991 total. She is four back of eight place shared by Sarah Sommer (2005) and Georgia Mueller (2006).
Her career 52 blocks is one back of seventh place on Truman's list held by Dawn Lubbert (1986-88) and six behind Amy Pillard's total of 58 set from 1994-96.

Strait Free Throws:
Junior Courtney Strait is currently the career-leader in Truman free throw percentage at 90.1%. She is shooting 90.1% from the line this season which 12th in Division II and third in the GLVC. Allie Norton is 45^th nationally and seventh in the GLVC this season with an 85.9% percentage and is second in career free throw shooting behind Strait at 86.4%. Megan Kahn's 83.0% was/is the Truman free throw mark.

Double-Figure Games:
Allie Norton has 68 career double-digit scoring nights with 11 20+ point games. She set a new career-high of 29 points against Culver-Stockton earlier this season. Norton has scored in double-digits in 17 of the last 18 games entering the weekend and all but two this season.

Courtney Strait has 37 games in which she scored 10 or more points and nine games of 20 or more, including four this season. Her career-high is 28 against Mount Mercy (Iowa) on December 21, 2012.

Michalina Tomczak has 18 double-figure scoring games with a career-high of 25 against Cameron (Okla.) earlier this season. Tomczak has all four of the Bulldogs' double-doubles with the most recent coming against Bellarmine when she went for 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Kasey Gassensmith has six, Ashley Hartwig has four and McKenzie Russell three of Bulldogs with more than one double-digit scoring games.

Tale of Two Teams:
In games won this season, Truman has averaged 75 points and outscored their opponents by 13. They shoot 45% from the field, average 7.2 triples while shooting 36% from long range and get to the foul line where they make 17.3 free throws per game. In wins, they average 12.3 assists and turn the ball over 13.4 times per game.

In games lost this season, Truman averages 55.4 points and allows 74.7 points per game. They shoot 33% from the field, 29% from three and make just 11.6 free throws per game.

Saturday Postgame Notes:

The Bulldogs had a season-high 11 steals and have had 21 in the last two games. Before last week, their previous single-game high this season was nine in the opener against Hannibal-LaGrange.
The seven three-pointers made were the most in five games by the Bulldogs; unfortunately, the 25 attempts were also the most in five games and eighth time this season that the Bulldogs shot below 30% from beyond the arc.
Allie Norton scored in double-figures for the fifth straight game and had a season-high seven rebounds. It was her 106^th career start moving her all alone into second place on the career start list.
It was the fifth time this season that Truman was held to under 20 made field goals and second time in the last four games. It was also the fourth time this year that Truman lost the rebound total by more than 10 (-11).
Southern Indiana takes the lead in the all-time series at 3-2 and evens in conference games played at one apiece.

GLVC Tournament Taking Shape:
The GLVC Postseason Tournament is comprised of 12 teams with the top four teams (the number one team in each division and the next two with the best conference record) receiving an automatic bye to the St. Charles Family Arena.

Seeds five through 12 will play first round games on Sunday, March 1 on campus sites.

Enter the week, Lewis and Drury would be the top two seeds by leading their divisions with UW-Parkside (11-2), Southern Indiana (10-3) and Quincy (8-5) getting the first round byes. Maryville (7-6), Missouri-St. Louis (7-6), Truman (6-7), William Jewell (6-7), Indianapolis (6-7), Saint Joseph's (6-7) and Bellarmine (6-7) round out the top 12 with breathing room in front of 13^th place Rockhurst (2-11) and Missouri S&T (2-11).

Tip-Ins:

The Bulldogs have used the same starting lineup for all 21 games played this season. Allie Norton, Courtney Strait, Michalina Tomczak have been joined by redshirt freshman Ashley Hartwig and true freshman Rachel Steinhoff.
Tomczak is averaging 11.0 points 7.2 rebounds per game in conference play while Hartwig is fourth in 8.1 points and third in boards at 3.8 in conference only games.
Redshirt freshman McKenzie Russell is the only other player that has appeared in all 21 games played. Russell averages 3.8 points with 17 three-pointers out of her 28 made field goals.
Tomczak is averaging 10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in conference play while Hartwig is fourth in 8.7 points and third in boards at 4.3 in conference only games.
Off the court, Truman had three players, Michalina Tomczak, Nicole Gloor (Student-Assistant Coach) and Tawny Tucci, earn Academic All-GLVC.

Up Next: The Bulldogs will finish up the regular season with three games against teams they will play twice this season. Truman will be on the road Thursday night at Maryville looking to avenge a 72-64 home loss to the Saints and at home on Saturday for Senior Day looking to avenge a 70-56 road loss to Missouri-St. Louis.

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Players Mentioned

#32 Nicole Gloor: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#30 Kasey Gassensmith: G; 6' 0"; Junior

#12 Allie Norton: G; 5' 6"; Senior

#23 Courtney Strait: G; 5' 10"; Junior

#44 Michalina Tomczak: C; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

#10 Tawny Tucci: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#03 McKenzie Russell: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

#42 Ashley Hartwig: F; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#32 Rachel Steinhoff: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#32 Nicole Gloor
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#30 Kasey Gassensmith
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

#12 Allie Norton
: 5' 6"; Senior
: G

#23 Courtney Strait
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G

#44 Michalina Tomczak
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: C

#10 Tawny Tucci
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#03 McKenzie Russell
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#42 Ashley Hartwig
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

#32 Rachel Steinhoff
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G