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Westerwinds head to Wichita State for non-conference matchup

December 25, 2007 on 9:00 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women’s basketball team returns to the road for a
game with Wichita State, Saturday, December 1 at 7 p.m. in Wichita,
Kan., at the Charles Koch Arena.

About Wichita State
The Shockers are currently 1-4 and have a chance to improve their record Thursday, November 29 when they host Nicholls State. Wichita State has lost its last four games since recording a victory November 12 over Texas Southern (57-40).

Kiki Stephens is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. She averages 9.6 points and six rebounds per game and has tallied five blocks this season. Daria Frazier is one of the Shockers key shooters, with her 48.6 (17-25) shooting percentage.

Against the Shockers
This will be the first meeting between the teams since December 18, 1993. Prior to the 1992-93 season, Western and Wichita State were members of the Gateway Conference and played a home/away series from 1983-84 to 1991-92. The Shockers own a 12-8 advantage in the series and have been victorious in the last four games.

Jumping Jordon
Sophomore Jordon O’Brien had a career weekend at the Holiday Inn Select Thanksgiving Classic. The Parsons, Kan., native tallied a career-high 15 points in Western’s 69-72 loss to Sam Houston State, November 24.

O’Brien recorded six of her 15 points in the final 15 seconds of the game when she hit two long three-point shots to get the Westerwinds within one point of the Bearkats.

She also landed two three-pointers in the last minute of Western’s 61-67 loss to Troy, November 23. The guard/forward shot 50 percent (9-18) from the floor and 77.8 percent (7-9) from beyond the arc in the two games.

O’Brien followed the Holiday Inn Select Thanksgiving Classic performance with a strong home outing against Northern Iowa (November 28). She was a perfect 2-for-2 from the field until there was 35 seconds remaining in the game. O’Brien finished the game with a 4-for-4 mark from the charity stripe.

O’Brien currently leads the team in three-point shots made (11), free throws made (9), and free throw percentage (.900 (9-10)).

Three Signed to 2008-09 Class
Head coach Leslie Crane announced the signing of three players for the 2008-09 roster during the early signing period. The Westerwinds added Macomb, Ill., native Lyndi Thorman, along with Katie Horsman, and Jantine Kraak.

Thorman is a standout on the Macomb High School girl’s basketball team. The 6’3” post player averages 19 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots, two assists, and two steals a game for the Bombers. She owns several single season records at Macomb including the top spot in the career blocked shots column (242) and recorded her 1,000th point during the 2006 season.

Thorman has been recognized by several organizations for her basketball skills. She was named an Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Girl’s Class “A” All-State Second Team member, and earned a spot on the Peoria Journal Star All-Area First Team. She has been recognized as a Macomb Journal All-Area First Team member three times and was named Macomb Journal’s Player of the Year her sophomore season.

Horsman heads to Macomb as a guard/forward from Shirley, Ark. She averaged 14.6 points, five rebounds, and three blocked shots per game her junior season while earning all-conference and all-region honors.

Horsman is also a member of the Greers Ferry West softball team that won the 2007 Arkansas State Championship. She is an excellent student as well, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The third player to sign for the 2008-09 season is Jantine Kraak (Yan-tina K-rock) from the Netherlands. She is a 6’4” post that played on the Under-20 National Team with 2007-08 freshman Anneloes Kodde.

Record Game for Newcomers
Junior-college transfers Katy Davenport and Rasheena Salter had career-setting games against UNI (November 28). Davenport tied career-bests with seven rebounds, one block, and two steals. She also set new career-highs for free throws (3) and three-point field goal percentage (1.00 (1-1)).

Salter recorded new career marks in the points (5), free throws (1), and field goal percentage (1.00 (2-2)) columns.

Lovingood Steps Up
In the last four games senior Stephanie Lovingood has tallied career-high rebounds twice. The Peoria, Ill., native tallied a career-best 13 boards at Northern Illinois. She then increased that mark by one, with 14 boards against Sam Houston State.

Lovingood also tied a career-high with four assists against the Bearkats and set a season-high .500 (4-8) field goal percentage against Troy.

On the Airwaves
This season all games can be heard live on WIUS 88.3 FM and on the internet at www.wiuathletics.com. Links to each broadcast are available on the women’s basketball “Schedule/Results” page. Click on the speaker to link to the broadcast. Play-by-play is provided by Ryan Thomas, while color commentary is added by Nick McCay.

Saturday’s game live stats are available through www.wiuathletics.com. A link to Wichita State’s live stats is provided on the women’s basketball “Schedule/Results” page. Click on the No. 1 to connect to the live stats.

New Teams; New Conference
On June 1, 2007 the Mid-Continent Conference officially changed its name to The Summit League. The conference name change also included the loss of Valparaiso University as a league member and the addition of IPFW, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State.

The addition of the new teams is set to increase the competitiveness among Summit League schools and in the Division I basketball ranks. Two of the new additions ended the 2006-07 season with RPI in the top 150 and above the top Mid-Con team (Oral Roberts-169). South Dakota State finished the year 25-6, with an RPI of 45, while North Dakota State had an RPI of 139 after finishing 14-11.

Up Next
Western returns home for a three-game home-stand December 5-16. The first game will be a non-conference battle with Drake, December 5 at 7 p.m. The streak also includes the first Summit League contest of the season when IUPUI heads to Waste Management Court at Western Hall, December 8 for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off.

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