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Tia Morgan
Photo by: Josh Gales
League-Leading Mastodons Set to Battle Panthers on Thursday
1/8/2025 12:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The only unbeaten women's basketball team in the Horizon League, Purdue Fort Wayne, will be back in action on Thursday (Jan. 9) at 7 p.m. against the Milwaukee Panthers in the Gates Sports Center.
Game Day Information
Who: Milwaukee Panthers
When: Thursday, January 9 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Link
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Milwaukee | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Milwaukee is 4-13 with a 1-5 start to Horizon League play. In their last three games, the Panthers are 1-2, but went to overtime at Cleveland State and fell to Northern Kentucky by three. A 25-point victory at Wright State was sandwiched between those two games. Kacee Baumhower is leading the Panthers with 13.6 points per game, while Anna Lutz is adding 10.9 points per game.
The Series
Milwaukee leads the series 10-5, but the Mastodons lead 4-3 at home all-time and have won three of the last four. The 'Dons won the last meeting 75-55 in Fort Wayne behind 21 points from Shayla Sellers. The series dates back to 1984, when Milwaukee won 77-68 in Fort Wayne.
Points For Millie
Amellia Bromenschenkel needs 34 points to match Shayla Sellers and move into 10th place on the Mastodons' all-time scoring list.
9. 1386 - Haley Seibert (2011-15)
10. 1332 - Shayla Sellers (2019-24)
11. 1298 - Amellia Bromenschenkel (2020-present)
Boards for Millie
Amellia Bromenschenkel needs 25 rebounds more to match Robin Scott for third on the Mastodons' all-time rebounding list.
2. 759 - Pam Edwards (1989-94)
3. 662 - Robin Scott (1987-91)
4. 637 - Amellia Bromenschenkel (2020-present)
Linbo Limbo
Jazzlyn Linbo is shooting a career-best 52.7 percent from the floor this season and ranks in the top-five in program history in career field goal percentage at 50.8 percent.
3. 53.1 - Rhonda Unverferth (1982-85)
4. 50.8 - Jazzlyn Linbo (2021-present)
5. 50.7 - Pam Edwards (1989-94)
6. 50.6 - Lisa Miller (1988-92)
Can't Lose if you Don't Trail
Purdue Fort Wayne has not trailed for the last 153 minutes of basketball, dating back to December 21.
We Love Fort Wayne
Purdue Fort Wayne's 6-0 start at home is the best as a Division I institution and the best overall since 1995-96, when the Mastodons went 13-0 at home.
A Deep Lineup
Eight different Mastodons have scored at least 18 points in a single game in their Division I careers: Amellia Bromenschenkel, Audra Emmerson, Sydney Freeman, Jazzlyn Linbo, Ella Riggs, Lauren Ross, Renna Schwieterman and Taeya Steinauer.
Home Sweet Gates
The Mastodons are 6-0 at home this season. In its six home games this season, Purdue Fort Wayne is scoring 85.2 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 30.2 points per game. The Mastodons are shooting 48.4 percent from the floor and 39.6 percent from 3-point range in Fort Wayne.
League Leaders
Purdue Fort Wayne stands as the only unbeaten team left in Horizon League play at 6-0. The Mastodons beat the only other remaining unbeaten, Oakland, 77-37 on Sunday (Jan. 5).
Streak Tracker
The Mastodons are on a seven-game winning streak, which ties the fifth-best in program history and is the longest of the Division I era (2001-present).
14 wins - 1995-96
11 wins - 1982-83
10 wins - 1990-91, 1993-94
8 wins - 2024-25
A Perfect Start to League Play
Purdue Fort Wayne is 6-0 to start Horizon League play this season. That is the best start to a league season since the Mastodons started 7-0 in the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference in 1995-96, which stands as the program record.
Free Assists Here!
Sydney Freeman dished out her 500th career assist at Oakland on January 5. She ranks in the top-25 nationally among active players in that category.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 16 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 48.5 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 93.5 percent from the line. With a slight uptick in field goal percentage, she would be the first women's player and second player overall to ever shoot 50/50/90 since the 3-point line was added to college basketball. Salim Stoudamire (Arizona, 2004-05) is the only other college player to do hit all three marks for an entire season while meeting minimum requirements.
Triumphant Trio
Through six Horizon League games, Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Sydney Freeman have all been dangerous for the Mastodons. Ross is averaging 15.2 points, Bromenschenkel is at 14.3 and Freeman is at 10.0. All three of them have scored at least 19 points in a league game this season.
Schweeeeeet
After a 28.9 3-point field goal percentage a year ago, Renna Schwieterman is shooting 36.2 percent from deep this season.
Thief!
Sydney Freeman is second in the Horizon League and top-75 nationally with 33 steals this season.
Our Ball!
Purdue Fort Wayne's 7.88 turnover margin ranks first in the Horizon League and is a top-20 mark nationally. Their 21.13 turnovers forced per game also leads the league.
Offensive Threat
Per College Basketball Reference, Lauren Ross has an offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) of 132.6, the highest on the team among rotation players. She also has an effective field goal percentage of 63.6 percent, a team-best. She is taking 60.4 percent of her shots from 3-point range. She also has the highest plus/minus on the team among rotation players with +8.0 per game.
Fill It Up
Purdue Fort Wayne is averaging 78.8 points per game, which ranks first in the Horizon League and top-35 nationally. The Mastodons' 37.1 3-point shooting percentage and 9.9 3-point makes per game both rank top-25 nationally.
Chasing 1,000
Audra Emmerson has a chance to reach 1,000 points for her career. She has 825 points, needing 175 to reach the milestone. She scored 343 last season.
In The Polls...
Purdue Fort Wayne has been receiving votes in the recent CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 since November 12. On December 10, they earned 25 points, their most ever in the 15 years the poll has been done.
Magic Numbers 70 and 80
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 35-8 when they score 70 points or more and 16-3 when they hit 80.
200 For the Boss
Maria Marchesano is nearing 200 head coaching wins for her career. She owns 197 W's as a head coach, 57 of which have come as the head coach for the Mastodons.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne dominated Oakland on the road 77-37 to win their eighth in a row and move to 6-0 in Horizon League play. Sydney Freeman led the way with 21 points as the Mastodons poured in 13 3-pointers.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will be back in action on Sunday (Jan. 12) with a visit to preseason favorite Cleveland State. The Vikings are 13-3, 5-1 in the Horizon League.
Game Day Information
Who: Milwaukee Panthers
When: Thursday, January 9 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: Link
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Milwaukee | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Milwaukee is 4-13 with a 1-5 start to Horizon League play. In their last three games, the Panthers are 1-2, but went to overtime at Cleveland State and fell to Northern Kentucky by three. A 25-point victory at Wright State was sandwiched between those two games. Kacee Baumhower is leading the Panthers with 13.6 points per game, while Anna Lutz is adding 10.9 points per game.
The Series
Milwaukee leads the series 10-5, but the Mastodons lead 4-3 at home all-time and have won three of the last four. The 'Dons won the last meeting 75-55 in Fort Wayne behind 21 points from Shayla Sellers. The series dates back to 1984, when Milwaukee won 77-68 in Fort Wayne.
Points For Millie
Amellia Bromenschenkel needs 34 points to match Shayla Sellers and move into 10th place on the Mastodons' all-time scoring list.
9. 1386 - Haley Seibert (2011-15)
10. 1332 - Shayla Sellers (2019-24)
11. 1298 - Amellia Bromenschenkel (2020-present)
Boards for Millie
Amellia Bromenschenkel needs 25 rebounds more to match Robin Scott for third on the Mastodons' all-time rebounding list.
2. 759 - Pam Edwards (1989-94)
3. 662 - Robin Scott (1987-91)
4. 637 - Amellia Bromenschenkel (2020-present)
Linbo Limbo
Jazzlyn Linbo is shooting a career-best 52.7 percent from the floor this season and ranks in the top-five in program history in career field goal percentage at 50.8 percent.
3. 53.1 - Rhonda Unverferth (1982-85)
4. 50.8 - Jazzlyn Linbo (2021-present)
5. 50.7 - Pam Edwards (1989-94)
6. 50.6 - Lisa Miller (1988-92)
Can't Lose if you Don't Trail
Purdue Fort Wayne has not trailed for the last 153 minutes of basketball, dating back to December 21.
We Love Fort Wayne
Purdue Fort Wayne's 6-0 start at home is the best as a Division I institution and the best overall since 1995-96, when the Mastodons went 13-0 at home.
A Deep Lineup
Eight different Mastodons have scored at least 18 points in a single game in their Division I careers: Amellia Bromenschenkel, Audra Emmerson, Sydney Freeman, Jazzlyn Linbo, Ella Riggs, Lauren Ross, Renna Schwieterman and Taeya Steinauer.
Home Sweet Gates
The Mastodons are 6-0 at home this season. In its six home games this season, Purdue Fort Wayne is scoring 85.2 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 30.2 points per game. The Mastodons are shooting 48.4 percent from the floor and 39.6 percent from 3-point range in Fort Wayne.
League Leaders
Purdue Fort Wayne stands as the only unbeaten team left in Horizon League play at 6-0. The Mastodons beat the only other remaining unbeaten, Oakland, 77-37 on Sunday (Jan. 5).
Streak Tracker
The Mastodons are on a seven-game winning streak, which ties the fifth-best in program history and is the longest of the Division I era (2001-present).
14 wins - 1995-96
11 wins - 1982-83
10 wins - 1990-91, 1993-94
8 wins - 2024-25
A Perfect Start to League Play
Purdue Fort Wayne is 6-0 to start Horizon League play this season. That is the best start to a league season since the Mastodons started 7-0 in the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference in 1995-96, which stands as the program record.
Free Assists Here!
Sydney Freeman dished out her 500th career assist at Oakland on January 5. She ranks in the top-25 nationally among active players in that category.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 16 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 48.5 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 93.5 percent from the line. With a slight uptick in field goal percentage, she would be the first women's player and second player overall to ever shoot 50/50/90 since the 3-point line was added to college basketball. Salim Stoudamire (Arizona, 2004-05) is the only other college player to do hit all three marks for an entire season while meeting minimum requirements.
Triumphant Trio
Through six Horizon League games, Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Sydney Freeman have all been dangerous for the Mastodons. Ross is averaging 15.2 points, Bromenschenkel is at 14.3 and Freeman is at 10.0. All three of them have scored at least 19 points in a league game this season.
Schweeeeeet
After a 28.9 3-point field goal percentage a year ago, Renna Schwieterman is shooting 36.2 percent from deep this season.
Thief!
Sydney Freeman is second in the Horizon League and top-75 nationally with 33 steals this season.
Our Ball!
Purdue Fort Wayne's 7.88 turnover margin ranks first in the Horizon League and is a top-20 mark nationally. Their 21.13 turnovers forced per game also leads the league.
Offensive Threat
Per College Basketball Reference, Lauren Ross has an offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) of 132.6, the highest on the team among rotation players. She also has an effective field goal percentage of 63.6 percent, a team-best. She is taking 60.4 percent of her shots from 3-point range. She also has the highest plus/minus on the team among rotation players with +8.0 per game.
Fill It Up
Purdue Fort Wayne is averaging 78.8 points per game, which ranks first in the Horizon League and top-35 nationally. The Mastodons' 37.1 3-point shooting percentage and 9.9 3-point makes per game both rank top-25 nationally.
Chasing 1,000
Audra Emmerson has a chance to reach 1,000 points for her career. She has 825 points, needing 175 to reach the milestone. She scored 343 last season.
In The Polls...
Purdue Fort Wayne has been receiving votes in the recent CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 since November 12. On December 10, they earned 25 points, their most ever in the 15 years the poll has been done.
Magic Numbers 70 and 80
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 35-8 when they score 70 points or more and 16-3 when they hit 80.
200 For the Boss
Maria Marchesano is nearing 200 head coaching wins for her career. She owns 197 W's as a head coach, 57 of which have come as the head coach for the Mastodons.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne dominated Oakland on the road 77-37 to win their eighth in a row and move to 6-0 in Horizon League play. Sydney Freeman led the way with 21 points as the Mastodons poured in 13 3-pointers.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will be back in action on Sunday (Jan. 12) with a visit to preseason favorite Cleveland State. The Vikings are 13-3, 5-1 in the Horizon League.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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