March 11, 2008

Weekly Release: Big Sky Tournament

 

Big Sky Conference Tournament Quarterfinals

#5 Northern Colorado (14-15, 8-8 Big Sky) vs #4 Portland State (21-8, 11-5 Big Sky)

Thursday, March 13 • Missoula, Mont. • Dahlberg Arena • appoximately 7:35 p.m.

 

Tourney Bound

For the first time in school history, the Northern Colorado women's basketball team is headed to the Big Sky Conference Tournament - doing so in its first year of eligibility for post-season play at Division I. The Bears are the fifth-seed at the tournament hosted by Montana, and will face Portland State in the quarterfinals at approximately 7:35 p.m. Thursday evening (or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game).

 

All-Conference Award Winners

Junior forward Jamie Schroeder was named the 2007-08 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in a vote by the league's nine head coaches. She also earned honorable mention all-conference honors, while senior center Danielle Hagen was named to the Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. Last season, in the Bears first year as a member of the league, Heather Barbour and Whitley Cox were honorable mention picks.

 

Series History

The Bears are 2-3 all-time against Portland State and the two teams split the regular season meetings, with each team winning on its home court. Four of the five meetings have come when both teams were members of the Big Sky, while the first game occurred in 1989, a 79-70 victory for the Bears in Greeley. The two squads have never met on a neutral court.

 

Taking Care Of Business

Needing one win to secure a berth to the Big Sky Conference Tournament in the final two games, the Bears came out strong on Thursday, defeating Northern Arizona 85-67. After the Lumberjacks scored the first basket, the Bears never trailed again, leading by as many as 18 points. On Saturday against Sacramento State, the same held true, with the Hornets scoring the first point and the Bears never looking back, winning 75-48 and leading by as many as 37.

 

Breaking Out

After scoring over 70 points just once in an eight game stretch, the Bears broke out of their offensive slump, tallying their three highest outputs of the season in the last three games, scoring 76 against Montana State, 85 against Northern Arizona and 75 against Sacramento State.

 

Big Sky Player of the Week

For the second time this season, senior center Danielle Hagen shared Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors, this time sharing with Natalie Doma of Idaho State and Claire Faucher of Portland State. Hagen posted back-to-back double-doubles while averaging 17.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. She shot 57.1 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line. Against the Lumberjacks on Thursday, she scored 20 points, pulled down 19 rebounds and added three assists and one steal, while she had 15 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday. She also earned Player of the Week honors earlier this season after the Bears defeated Eastern Washington and Portland State. She is the only Bear to earn POW honors since joining the Big Sky.

 

Sharing The Rock

Northern Colorado has done a great job of sharing the ball lately. Against NAU on Thursday, the Bears notched a season-best 22 assists, then turned around Saturday and bettered that mark with 25 helpers. The Bears are now averaging 13.8 assists per game, compared to 13.1 for opponents.

 

Non-Traditional Double

Freshman guard Courtney Stoermer tallied a double-double the non-traditional way against Sacramento State, notching 10 points and a career-high 12 assists in the win over the Hornets. The 12 assists is a career high, surpassing her previous best of nine from the game before. For the weekend, Stoermer had 21 assists and just three turnovers in 70 minutes of play.

 

A Trio Shy

Freshman guard Kate Kevorken is now just three three-pointers shy of the Northern Colorado single season record of 72. She now has 69 triples to rank fourth on the list and each of her next three-pointers will tie her for one higher on the chart. Kevorken has also made multiple three-pointers in each of her last five games.

 

Double Trouble

Both senior center Danielle Hagen and junior forward Jamie Schroeder have scored in double figures in 20 of 29 games this season, while freshman guard Kate Kevorken has done so 17 times and freshman guard Courtney Stoermer 16.

 

Winning Ways

The 14 wins by Northern Colorado are the most since the 2003-04 season when the university began the reclassification process to Division I (16-11). Last season the Bears were just 5-24 and 2-14 in Big Sky play, while this season they are 14-15 and went 8-8 in league action.

 

Super Senior

Senior center Danielle Hagen has etched her name firmly in the Northern Colorado annals as one of the best players to wear the blue and gold. She has played and started in all 112 games during her career, breaking the school records for games started (106, Jill Fadenrecht, 1999-03) and consecutive games started (98, Fadenrecht) and tying the record for consecutive games played (Shelley Lindstrom, 1988-92). Hagen is also closing in on 1,000 career points (971), ranks third in career rebounds (785), is fifth in assists (265) and 10th in blocked shots (58).

 

Better As We Go

Northern Colorado has improved its free throw percentage during every month of the season. The Bears started the year shooting just .696 in November, then shot .738 in December, .778 in January and .810 in February. In March, the Bears are shooting .825 from the charity stripe bringing their season average to .762, which ranks second in the Big Sky Conference and 19th in the NCAA Division I statistics.

 

V Foundation Finalist

Senior center Danielle Hagen was named a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award. The annual award is given to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma.  In 2006, Hagen was diagnosed with a partially collapsed lung along with a blood clot in her lung and later was diagnosed with Factor V (five) Leiden, a genetic disorder that causes increased risk of excessive blood clotting.

 

Doubting Thomas'

In both the coaches and media preseason Big Sky Conference polls, Northern Colorado was picked to finish ninth in league play. The Bears earned the fifth seed at this week's tournament. At the beginning of the year, NC received 11 points in the coaches poll and 34 in the media poll. Montana, Idaho State and Montana State were picked to finish 1-2-3 in both polls, while Portland State was chosen sixth in both polls.

 

Getting The Early Lead

Northern Colorado has had a much easier time winning games this season when the conclude the first half of play with the lead. The Bears are 13-3 on the year when entering the locker room up on the scoreboard and just 1-12 when they trail after the first 20 minutes of play.

 

Freshmen Tandem

Northern Colorado has the best freshmen tandem in the Big Sky Conference in Courtney Stoermer and Kate Kevorken. The pair have combined for 608 points, 253 rebounds, 143 assists, 24 blocked shots and 53 steals.

 

Road Warriors

The Bears have won six games away from home this season, five on the road and one at a neutral site. It is the most wins on the road since the 2003-04 team won nine road games and posted an overall record of 16-11.

 

On Pace

If the season ended today, the 2007-08 team would shatter the school record for free throw percentage. The Bears are shooting .761 from the charity stripe this season to rank 19th in the nation and the school record is .719 from the 1989-90 squad.

 

Double, Double Toil and Trouble

In nine of the last 10 games, someone on the Bears roster has posted a double-double. Senior Danielle Hagen has five during the stretch, while junior Jamie Schroeder has four, freshman guard Courtney Stoermer has two (one being points-assists) and Kate Kevorken has one.

 

Bookworm

Senior center Danielle Hagen was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team. Hagen is currently pursuing her master's degree in sports administration after completing her bachelor's degree in finance last May. She graduated with a 3.9 grade point average and has a perfect 4.00 in graduate school. She is also one of four Big Sky players honored.

 

Back On Track

After not scoring in double figures at Sacramento State or Northern Arizona (she had eight in each), junior Jamie Schroeder is back to scoring double figures, as she has now scored over 10 points in 16 of the last 18 games and eight straight, including five where she topped 20 points. Schroeder was named the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year for her efforts in league play.

 

The Century Club

Senior center Danielle Hagen played and started in her 100th career game against Portland State and has now started in 112, starting in every game played during her career with the Bears (she sat out the 2006-07 season). Hagen broke the school record for consecutive games started breaking Jill Fadenrecht's (1999-03) total of 98 and the record for games started with 106, which was also held by Fadenrecht. The school record for most games played is 113 by Kara Ketterer (1996-00), while she has tied the record for consecutive games by Shelley Lindstrom (1988-92).

 

Bears Among National Leaders

Senior center Danielle Hagen ranks 32nd among Division I players in rebounds with 9.4 per game and is 60th in free throw percentage, shooting .821 from the charity stripe. Junior forward Jamie Schroeder is 50th in the same category, hitting at an .832 clip. Freshman guard Kate Kevorken also ranks 89th in three-point field goal percentage at .354 and is 53rd in three-pointers made per game, hitting 2.4 a game. The team ranks 18th in the same category with their 7.0 a contest and are 19th in free throw percentage, shooting .761 from the charity stripe.

 

Non-Conference Recap

The Bears posted a 6-7 non-conference record during 2007, including their first true road victory during Jaime White's tenure as head coach with the 69-46 win at San Jose State on Dec. 28. They also won a neutral site contest against Southeast Missouri State back on Nov. 24 at New Mexico State.

 

Going Streaking

Northern Colorado has now made at least one three-pointer in 206 consecutive games, dating all the way back to Jan. 20, 2001 at South Dakota State.

 

Closing In

Several Bears are closing in on career or season milestones. Senior center Danielle Hagen is now just 29 points shy of 1,000 for her career and 15 rebounds shy of 800. Hagen also needs five steals for 100 in her career. Freshman guard Kate Kevorken needs just three three-pointers to tie the school single-season record. Sophomore guard Chelsie Luhring is four points shy of 150 for the season, while freshman forward Lara Merritt needs two rebounds for 50. Junior Jamie Schroeder needs eight more points to score 400 this season and is 15 rebounds shy of 200, while freshman Courtney Stoermer needs 10 points for 300.

 

Leading The Way - Team Wise

In the Big Sky stats, Northern Colorado leads in rebounding defense (35.8), is second in field goal percentage defense (.384), three-point field goal percentage defense (.305), rebounding margin (+2.1) and three-pointers made (7.00), while they are third in scoring defense (63.7), free throw percentage (.762), rebounding offense (37.9) and defensive rebounds (27.21). The Bears ended the conference season ranked first in rebound defense (34.1) and three-pointers made (6.94), second in free throw percentage (.798), field goal percentage defense (.368), three-point field goal percentage (.368) and defensive rebounds (26.56).

 

Leading The Way - Individually

In the individual Big Sky Conference statistics, senior center Danielle Hagen ranks second in the league in rebounds (9.4), 10th in scoring (13.0), seventh in field goal (.467) and free throw percentage (.821) and seventh in minutes played (32.86). Freshman Kate Kevorken ranks second in three-pointers made (2.38) and 17th in scoring (11.0), while junior Jamie Schroeder ranks eighth in scoring (13.5), 12th in rebounding (6.4), sixth in field goal percentage (.471) and fifth in free throw percentage (.832). Freshman Courtney Stoermer ranks 20th in scoring (10.0), seventh in assists (3.93), eighth in steals (1.38), ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.15) and second in minutes played (35.76).

 

No One Likes To See That

Unfortunately, junior guard Whitley Cox suffered a season-ending injury to her left knee in the game against Air Force. Cox will hopefully be able to receive a medical hardship and have two full seasons of eligibility remaining. She was leading the team and ranked second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 20.1 points per game.

 

Now Eligible

The Northern Colorado women's basketball team is now eligible to compete in postseason play in 2007 after successfully making the transition to Division I. This year marks the first year the Bears are also eligible to win the Big Sky Conference Championship as well as compete in the Big Sky Tournament.

 

On The Horizon

Northern Colorado continues to inch closer to a large program milestone. The win against Sacramento State marked the 493rd win in program history and the team now needs seven for 500. The Bears are 493-483 all-time.

 

Bears Add Three

Head Coach Jaime White announced the signing of three student-athletes in Kaisha Brown, Courtney Kranz and Lauren Oosdyke.

Kaisha Brown, 5-10, G/F, Spirit Lake, Iowa (Spirit Lake HS)

Brown averaged 14.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a junior with four games over 20 or more points in a game. Was a second-team All-Northwest Iowa Girls Basketball selection last year.

Courtney Kranz, 6-3, C, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Visitation HS)

Kranz is a three-time letterwinner entering her senior season with the Blazers. She is also a two-time all-conference selection and was the only unanimous pick as a junior. She helped lead her team to the conference championship last year and also is a three-time letterwinner in volleyball, where her team was three-time conference champions. She plays club basketball for the NC Heat where they placed third at the AAU Nationals last season.

Lauren Oosdyke, 5-11, F, Coto de Caza, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)

Was a first-team All-Trinity League selection as a junior after being named a second-team all-conference selection in the Sierra League as a sophomore. She has also been named to several all-tournament teams throughout her career. Averages 10 points and eight rebounds per game to go along with a 58% field goal percentage from the field.

 

Scouting The Vikings

Portland State earned the four-seed for the Big Sky Conference Tournament after going 11-5 in conference play. The Vikings are also 21-8 overall and have won three of their last four games, including a 10-point victory over league winners Montana on Saturday.

 

Northern Colorado won the first meeting this season, 61-56 in Greeley while Portland State won 82-60 in Portland.

 

Kelsey Kahle leads the club with 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while sophomore guard Claire Faucher continues to lead the nation in assists with 8.86 per game and scores 13.1 per contest. Delaney Conway also averages double figures in scoring with 12.0. Faucher also leads the team with 2.3 steals a game and Courtney Cremer gets 0.7 blocks per game.

 

Portland State averages 75.1 points, 38.5 rebounds, 6.2 three-pointers, 17.3 assists, 16.2 turnovers, 9.4 steals and 2.5 blocked shots per game. They are shooting .439 from the field, .344 from the three-point line and .715 from the free throw line. Opponents are averaging 67.4 points, 37.6 rebounds, 4.4 three-pointers, 13.9 assists, 18.6 turnovers, 8.1 steals and 2.8 blocked shots per game and are connecting on .409 from the floor, .296 from beyond the arc and .736 from the charity stripe.