Upcoming in Gray Wolves Basketball: Lourdes returns to the hardwood after more than a week off as it takes to the road with a matchup at NCAA Division III-foe Olivet on Thursday evening. The Gray Wolves will then tip off Wolverine Hoosier-Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon traveling to Livonia, Mich. to visit Madonna.
Head Coach John Kenger: First-year head coach
John Kenger will guide the Gray Wolf bench this season. Kenger owns a 2-2 (.500) record with the Gray Wolves. Overall as a women's collegiate head coach, Kenger has a 41-56 (.423) record in four seasons. He is the fourth head coach in Lourdes program's history.
Series Notes: Lourdes owns a 1-0 record all-time against Olivet after defeating the Comets 76-69 on the road during the 2016-17 campaign. Madonna holds a 12-2 margin in the all-time series between the Gray Wolves and Crusaders. Lourdes won the most recent meeting between the two schools, picking up a 72-56 victory over Madonna in 2018.
Wrapping Up Last Week: Lourdes returns to action after more than a week. The Gray Wolves fell to Goshen and Ohio Christian on the road by a combined six points, before tipping of their home schedule with a convincing 101-47 victory over Wright State-Lake on Nov. 6.
Scouting Olivet: The Comets enter the matchup with Lourdes sporting a 1-1 record. Through its first two games, Shawnee Dame leads Olivet scoring 14.0 points per contest while Beth Check is second on the team, and is the only other Comet averaging double figures, at 12.0 points per contest. Shae Daniels leads the team with 7.5 rebound per contest, while Chick and Fayth Talbert are tied for second on the team, grabbing 6.5 rebounds per game. Tammy Lee currently paces the Comet offense with nine assists.
Scouting Madonna: The Crusaders enter the week still searching for their first victory this season. Madonna will entertain 21st-ranked Lawrence Tech before hosting Lourdes this weekend. Sheldon Bachenek leads the offense, scoring 12.3 points per contest while teammate Hannah Reinhold is second on the team tallying 11.0 points per game. Reinhold has sunk a team-high six three pointers for Madonna through four games. Cierra von Zittwitz currently leads the team with 5.0 rebounds per matchup.
Taking On NCAA Division III Opponents: The Gray Wolves have met four Division III-foes during their first seven seasons as a program. Lourdes has compiled a 1-3 record against such opponents with its lone victory coming over Olivet in 2016.
Scoring At Will: The Gray Wolves doubled up Wright State-Lake on Nov. 6, scoring the program's second highest point total. Lourdes won the contest 101-47, its highest point total in a game since it scored a record 107 points in a 107-77 victory over UNOH on Feb. 14, 2018. The scoring differential between Lourdes and Wright State-Lake (54 points) was the largest in the programs history.
A Balanced Offensive Attack: Through four games this season,
Sydney Miller,
Jami Hardy and
Sara Semler are tied for the team lead, averaging 10.0 points per contest. In total, five athletes average more 7.8 or more points per contest.
WHAC Openers: The Gray Wolves will open WHAC action this weekend when they meet Madonna on the road. Lourdes is 2-5 all-time in conference openers. Lourdes will meet Madonna for the first time to open its conference schedule.
Leading The WHAC: Christiana Jefferson, the teams leader in assists last season, currently leads all WHAC athletes, dishing out 5.25 assists per contest. Jefferson handed out a season-best seven assists in Lourdes victory over Wright State-Lake.
A Spark Off The Bench: In the Gray Wolves victory over Wright State-Lake,
Riley Raburn scored a career-high 12 points off of the bench and added six rebounds while
LaTyrah Beasley netted 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to tally her sixth career double-double and her first this season.
Taking Advantage From The Free Throw Line: The Gray Wolves have connected on 40 of their 50 (.800) free throw attempts this season compared to its opponents' .623 free throw percentage. Six Gray Wolves are still perfect from the charity stripe this season.
This and That: Lourdes is 55-155 all-time after tipping off the program's eighth season ... The Gray Wolves are 4-1 all-time in overtime contests ... Lourdes is 28-120 all-time in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and owns a 24-84 record all-time on the road ... Lourdes is 1-36 all-time against NAIA Division II top-25 foes, dropping all four games against ranked foes last season.
