Oilers Open GLIAC Play on the Road
The University of Findlay women's basketball team will open up GLIAC play this week when they battle Lake Superior State University and Northwood University on the road. The Oilers and Lakers will play at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday before Findlay and Northwood battles at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Sights and Sounds
All Oilers basketball games can be heard on 88.3 FM "WLFC" or on the internet via their web site.
You can listen to the broadcast by clicking on the following link:
The University of Findlay will also broadcast all of their home basketball games on the internet. You can watch the games live by clicking on the following link:
UF athletics will also offer live stats for all home games. A link to this process can be retrieved by clicking on the live stats window located on the left side of the Oilers athletic website.
Series Information
The Oilers trail by a 14-8 margin in the all-time series against the Lakers dating back to the 1985-86 campaign when Lake Superior State smacked Findlay by a score of 88-61.
The Oilers claimed a 71-51 win over the Lakers last season behind 17 points, four rebounds and three steals from Kayla Brown.
Tai Dotson also reached double figures with 11 points to go along with five rebounds in the win.
The Oilers hold a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series against Northwood dating back to the 1997-98 campaign when Findlay came away with a 73-51 victory.
The Oilers earned a 78-66 win over the Timberwolves last year in Croy Gymnasium as Brown torched Northwood to the tune of 25 points.
Dotson had 12 points and seven boards while Ashley Andrews contributed eight points, five assists and four steals.
Lacey Kessler added six points, five rebounds and four steals in the win.
Findlay
The Oilers blasted the University of Northwestern Ohio by a score of 87-54 on Saturday, Nov. 30 in Croy Gymnasium in their last game.
The Oilers, who improved to 2-0 with the victory, hit 15-of-42 (35.7%) three point attempts and forced 34 turnovers in the game. Their 42 triple tries also set a new school record.
Findlay came away with 18 steals in the game and also handed out 23 assists. They shot 44.1 percent (30-of-68) from the floor and held a 52-21 edge in points off the bench as well.
Lacey Kessler led the team with 18 points, making every shot she took. The Mt. Blanchard, Ohio native made all five of her attempts from the field, hit one three pointer and drained all seven of her shots from the charity stripe in the victory.
Karli Bonar came off the bench to score 12 points, hitting 4-of-10 shot attempts from long range, while Karli Beasley and Nikki Gunning contributed 11 points apiece.
Kristin Klausing had five steals and five assists while Kelsey Lewis stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, four rebounds and three blocks.
The Racers were led by Rebecca Puckett, who scored ten points.
Findlay Links
For information on the Oilers men's basketball team, please click on the links below:
Lake Superior State
The Lakers are 0-4 on the year and are coming off of a 56-47 loss against McKendree on Nov. 23.
The Lakers are led by Kandace Crittendon, who is averaging 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Laura Vanes is also off to a good start with averages of 9.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.
Lake Superior State Links
Northwood
The Timberwolves are 2-2 on the year and are coming off of a 74-63 loss at Quincy on Nov. 23.
Lauren Robak leads the team with a 17.8 points per game average while Gabrielle Rivette (13.5), Sarah Susan (12.8), Jordyn Nurenberg (12.5) and Aleigha Wylie (10.0) average in double figures on a nightly basis.
Northwood Links
Grand Theft
The Oilers are averaging 19.5 steals per game this season, the best mark in the GLIAC and the third highest total in the nation. They also lead the league by forcing their opponent into 32.5 turnovers per contest.
Individually, senior guard Ashley Andrews leads the conference and ranks sixth in the nation with a 4.5 steals per game average while junior guard Kristin Klausing ranks second in the GLIAC and ninth nationally with 4.0 steals per contest.
Junior forward Lacey Kessler is also ranked among the league leaders and currently resides in fourth place with a 3.0 steals per game average.
Fantastic Frosh
Freshman guard Karli Bonar is off to a terrific start for the Oilers and is ranked eighth in the GLIAC with a 16.0 points per game average.
Bonar, who set Ohio state records for most three pointers made in a season (110) and most made triples in a career (350) during her time at Shadyside High School, has made 8-of-17 (47.1%) three point tries so far for Findlay.
Her 4.0 made three pointers per game is the second best mark in the GLIAC during the early part of the season. The total also ranks fifth nationally.
Efficient Scoring
Junior forward Lacey Kessler is making the most of her playing time this season and is averaging 14.5 points per game in only 15.5 minutes per contest.
Kessler is leading the GLIAC with an 80.0 percent shooting clip and is also averaging 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
Her 6.0 made free throws per game is also the second best mark in the league.
Passing the Rock
The Oilers are ranked second in the conference in assists per game with 18.5 per contest. Junior guard Kristin Klausing leads the squad and is averaging 4.5 assists per game, the fourth best mark in the GLIAC.
Putting up Points
Findlay is averaging 81.0 points per game on the year, the fourth best total in the GLIAC.
Raining 3's
The Oilers are shooting 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from behind the three point line this season, the fourth best shooting clip in the GLIAC.
In the Oilers 87-54 win over Northwestern Ohio on Nov. 30, the Oilers canned a season-high 15 three pointers and attempted a school record 42 triple tries.
Putting the Ball in the Hole
Junior guard Ciara Geiger has proven she has the ability to fill up the basket. Geiger is in her first season with the Oilers after transferring from Urbana University, where she scored 995 points in her first two collegiate seasons. The Ft. Wayne, Ind. native has now racked up 1,003 career points in her collegiate career.
Reaching the 90-Point Plateau
The Oilers have scored 90 or more points 64 times since the 1978-79 season and sport a 63-1 (.984) record in those games. Their only loss came at the hands of Wilmington, who defeated the Oilers by a score of 110-98 in 1985.
GLIAC Tournament
The Oilers have appeared in the GLIAC Tournament five times in their history. They sport a 3-5 record in tournament play.
Winning GLIAC South Division Titles
The Oilers have won two out the last four GLIAC South Division titles (2009-10, 2010-11) and as a program, have captured championships in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2010 and 2011.
Preseason GLIAC Poll
The Oilers were picked to finish second in the South Division of the GLIAC this season according to the annual preseason poll, which was released on Nov. 7.
The Oilers received a total of 177 votes and ten first place votes in the poll. They fell one vote shy of the top spot in the division, which is held by Ashland University with 178 votes. The Eagles also received 13 first place votes and are the defending NCAA Division II National Champions.
Findlay finished the 2012-13 campaign with a 24-6 record. They were ranked 20th in the nation in the final poll and reached the NCAA Division II National Tournament for only the second time in school history.
Preseason All-GLIAC
Junior guard Ciara Geiger, a transfer from Urbana University, and sophomore forward Margaret Wuebker each were honored on the preseason all-conference squads. Geiger was voted first team all-conference while Wuebker earned a spot on the second team.
Geiger earned all-region honors last year for the Blue Knights after averaging 18.4 points per game. The Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year racked up a total of 995 points during her two years with Urbana and will be counted on to provide offensive firepower for the Oilers this season.
Wuebker made 26 starts for the Oilers last season as a true freshman, averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Helpful Links
For more information on the GLIAC, please click on the following link:
For more information on NCAA Division II men's basketball, please click on the following links: