Oilers to Host Bulldogs/Lakers this Weekend
The University of Findlay women's basketball team will host Ferris State University and Grand Valley State University this weekend in GLIAC play. The Oilers will play the Bulldogs on Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m. and then host the Lakers on Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. in Croy Gymnasium.
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. The Oilers will also provide live stats for their games as well. The video link is below:
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Live stats will also be available for all contests. A link to retrieve the live stats can be found on the schedule page of the website.
Series Information
The Oilers and Bulldogs are currently trail 11-9 in the all-time series against Ferris State dating back to the 1997-98 campaign when Findlay won by a score of 66-59.
Ferris State came away with a 74-62 win over Findlay last season in Big Rapids, Mich. behind 28 points from Dena Droste. The Oilers shot only 32.4 percent (22-of-68) from the floor in the game and were led by Ciara Geiger and Lacey Kessler, who each scored 12 points.
The Oilers trail in the all-time series against Grand Valley State by a 13-6 margin dating back to the 1997-98 campaign when the Lakers came out on top by a score of 68-52.
Grand Valley State defeated Findlay by a score of 77-68 last year in Allendale, Mich. behind 22 points from Kat LaPrairie. Karli Beasley led the Oilers with 13 points while Kaleigh Kenny registered ten points to go along with four rebounds.
Findlay forced the Lakers into 21 turnovers, but the Lakers were deadly from behind the three point line as they hit 10-of-17 (47.8%) attempts.
Findlay
The Oilers improved to 5-3 on the season with a 72-66 win against the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Dec. 20 in Croy Gymnasium.
The Oilers made only four field goal attempts and shot a mere 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from the field in the opening half, but trailed the Tritons by only three points at 25-22 when the first half buzzer sounded. Findlay stayed in the game during the opening period by converting 13-of-16 (81.2%) shot attempts from the free throw line.
In the second half the Tritons got out to a 38-31 lead with just over 13 minutes to play before the Oilers went on a 14-2 run to take a 45-40 lead with 8:07 remaining. The run was fueled by Nikki Gunning, who scored 13 straight points for Findlay. The Oilers would then continue to knock down free throws for the remainder of the game to claim the victory.
The Oilers shot 38.9 percent (14-of-36) from the floor in the win and canned a season-high 39-of-47 (83%) shot attempts from the charity stripe. They also forced 21 turnovers and came away with ten steals in the game.
Gunning led the team with a career-high 19 points on 4-of-9 shooting. She also made all ten of her attempts from the free throw line to go along with one rebounds and one block in 18 minutes of action off the bench. Lacey Kessler also provided a spark off the pine with 13 points and five rebounds while Ciara Geiger produced 13 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Ferris State
The Bulldogs are 5-2 on the year with a 3-1 record in conference play. Katie Mavis leads the team and is averaging 12.4 points per game.
Ally Christman and Christina Branch are also scoring in double figures on the season at 11.9 and 11.1 points per game, respectively. Branch is also pulling down 9.3 boards per contest.
Dena Droste and Destiney Robinson are also playing well and sport averages of 8.3 and 8.0 points per game, respectively, as the Bulldogs and scoring 71.3 points per outing on the year.
Grand Valley State
The Lakers are 7-1 on the season with a 4-0 record in GLIAC play. They are ranked 17th in the nation.
The Lakers are holding their opponents to only 58.1 points per game and have been led by Brionna Barnett, who is averaging 14.9 points per contest.
Kayla Dawson and Kat LaPrairie are also having great seasons for the Lakers and sport averages of 14.3 and 13.6 points per game, respectively.
Putting Points on the Board
The Oilers are averaging 73.8 points per game this season, the fifth best mark in the GLIAC. They have done so with a balanced offensive attack that includes seven players averaging more than 6.0 points per game.
Junior forward Margaret Wuebker leads the team with an average of 12.4 points per game while senior guard Nikki Gunning is also scoring in double figures on a nightly basis with 11.1 points per outing.
The Oilers have nine different players reach double figures in a game this season.
Hot Shooting
The Oilers have come out on fire in the early season and are shooting 46.4 percent from the floor as a team, which is the second best mark in the GLIAC. Junior forward Kelsey Lewis leads the team and is ranked third in the conference with a 62.5 percent shooting clip.
Senior guard Nikki Gunning and junior forward Margaret Wuebker are also shooting the ball well as they are making 49.1 percent of their attempts, tied for 16th in the GLIAC.
Grand Theft
The Oilers are averaging 9.8 steals per game, which is the sixth best total in the GLIAC. Senior forward Lacey Kessler leads the team with an average of 1.5 steals per contest.
Scoring Punch off the Bench
Senior guard Nikki Gunning is averaging 11.1 points per game for the Oilers this season in 17.0 minutes per contest off the bench. She tallied a career-high 19 points in the Oilers 72-66 win over Missouri-St. Louis on Dec. 20.
Senior forward Lacey Kessler has also provided solid contributions off the pine for Findlay and is ranked third on the team with an 8.5 points per game average.
Overall, the Oilers bench is accounting for 34.9 points per outing on the year.
Helpful Links
NCAA
NCAA Division II Stats
Women's Basketball Coaches Association
GLIAC
NCAA Division II Basketball