Friday, March 28
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Butler
Maria Marchesano from her playing days at Butler
Marchesano and 'Dons Host Butler in WNIT Super 16
3/26/2025 3:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball will play host to head coach Maria Marchesano's alma mater, the Butler Bulldogs, on Friday (March 28) at 7 p.m. in the Gates Sports Center.
Game Day Information
Who: Butler Bulldogs
When: Friday, March 28 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Butler | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Butler is 16-17, but the roster has just seven players active for the WNIT. Kilyn McGuff is the team's leading scorer from the players left on the roster and is averaging 12.4 points per game. The Bulldogs are 2-0 against teams in the state, topping Indiana 56-46 and Indiana State 80-55. Butler beat UIC 61-54 in the second round of the WNIT after getting a bye. Lily Zeinstra had 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting in that contest.
Series History
Butler leads the series 6-5 and has won the last two. Purdue Fort Wayne won the last game in Fort Wayne 68-60 in 2011. The series dates back to the first season of Mastodon basketball in 1976-77.
Making History
Lauren Ross' 47.5 percent from 3-point range is the 27th-best in NCAA history for a single season while meeting the 3-point percentage minimum of 2.5 makes per game.
Net Positive
Purdue Fort Wayne has the highest NET ranking of all teams in the WNIT field with a ranking of 88.
All-League Accolades
Purdue Fort Wayne raked in All-League awards on March 3. Lauren Ross was named the Newcomer of the Year and was an All-League First Team selection, Jordan Reid was the Sixth Player of the Year, Jazzlyn Linbo earned the Sportsmanship Award, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Sydney Freeman were selected to the All-League Second Team and Maria Marchesano was named the Coach of the Year. Marchesano was the first Coach of the Year in program history.
Program Records
Purdue Fort Wayne has set new program records in points (2,583), field goals (940), 3-point field goals (318) and steals (330) this season.
Finishing Strong
In the last 11 games, Audra Emmerson averaged 10.8 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent (43-of-101) from the floor and 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from beyond the arc.
She's Not Done Yet!
Amellia Bromenschenkel recorded double-digit scoring performances in seven each of the last eight games. She averaged 13.3 points per game in that stretch.
Fort Wayne's Own
Over her last nine games played, Sydney Graber is shooting 67.5 percent (27-of-40) from the floor.
She Can Reid The Defense
Over the last 12 games, Jordan Reid averaged 10.2 points per game while shooting 54-of-99 (54.5 percent).
Shooters Shoot
Lauren Ross' 47.5 percent clip from 3-point range and 94.6 percent from the free throw line are both the best in the country. Her 3.12 triples per game rank fifth nationally.
Dubs
Purdue Fort Wayne has 26 wins this season, which is the most wins for the program in a season at any level.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 34 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 47.5 percent from 3-point range and 94.6 percent from the line. If those percentages hold, she would be one of 17 players to shoot 45/45/90 while meeting the 3-point percentage minimums since the 3-point line was added to college basketball.
Amellia BromenDubayoo
Amellia Bromenschenkel has 73 wins in her career which is the most of any Mastodon women's basketball player at the Division I level. Audra Emmerson and Jazzlyn Linbo have 72 each, right behind the graduate student.
Some is Schwiet, More Is Schwieter
Renna Schwieterman is shooting 53.2 percent (41-of-77) from 2-point range this season.
Literally Free
Lauren Ross has missed just one of her last 49 free throws dating back to the fourth quarter of the IU Indy game on December 11.
Rankings Respect
Per the NET and Bart Torvik, Purdue Fort Wayne has a national ranking of 88 and 94, respectively.
Home Sweet Gates
The Mastodons are 14-1 at home this season. In its home games this season, Purdue Fort Wayne is scoring 78.8 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 23.7 points per game. The Mastodons are shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 38.0 percent from 3-point range in Fort Wayne.
Career-Bests For Freezy
Sydney Freeman is shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from 3-point range, both of which are career-best marks. Her mark of 65 steals is also a career-best.
League Leaders
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the Horizon League in scoring margin (16.2), points per game (76.0), steals per game (9.7), 3-pointers taken and made per game (24.9, 9.4), 3-point percentage (37.6), 3-point defense (29.3), turnover margin (6.26), turnovers forced per game (18.71) and bench points per game (22.3).
Lively Lineup
Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Audra Emmerson and Sydney Freeman have started all 34 games this season.
Magic Numbers 70 and 80
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 47-8 when they score 70 points or more and 21-3 when they hit 80.
Last Time Out
After a 34-34 tie at halftime, Purdue Fort Wayne blew out Old Dominion 87-61. Audra Emmerson, Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Jordan Reid and Jazzlyn Linbo all scored in double-figures.
Next Time Up
With a win, Purdue Fort Wayne will move on to play the winner of Duquesne and Cleveland State in the WNIT Great 8. The window for that game is March 29-31.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Game Day Information
Who: Butler Bulldogs
When: Friday, March 28 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Butler | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Butler is 16-17, but the roster has just seven players active for the WNIT. Kilyn McGuff is the team's leading scorer from the players left on the roster and is averaging 12.4 points per game. The Bulldogs are 2-0 against teams in the state, topping Indiana 56-46 and Indiana State 80-55. Butler beat UIC 61-54 in the second round of the WNIT after getting a bye. Lily Zeinstra had 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting in that contest.
Series History
Butler leads the series 6-5 and has won the last two. Purdue Fort Wayne won the last game in Fort Wayne 68-60 in 2011. The series dates back to the first season of Mastodon basketball in 1976-77.
Making History
Lauren Ross' 47.5 percent from 3-point range is the 27th-best in NCAA history for a single season while meeting the 3-point percentage minimum of 2.5 makes per game.
Net Positive
Purdue Fort Wayne has the highest NET ranking of all teams in the WNIT field with a ranking of 88.
All-League Accolades
Purdue Fort Wayne raked in All-League awards on March 3. Lauren Ross was named the Newcomer of the Year and was an All-League First Team selection, Jordan Reid was the Sixth Player of the Year, Jazzlyn Linbo earned the Sportsmanship Award, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Sydney Freeman were selected to the All-League Second Team and Maria Marchesano was named the Coach of the Year. Marchesano was the first Coach of the Year in program history.
Program Records
Purdue Fort Wayne has set new program records in points (2,583), field goals (940), 3-point field goals (318) and steals (330) this season.
Finishing Strong
In the last 11 games, Audra Emmerson averaged 10.8 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent (43-of-101) from the floor and 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from beyond the arc.
She's Not Done Yet!
Amellia Bromenschenkel recorded double-digit scoring performances in seven each of the last eight games. She averaged 13.3 points per game in that stretch.
Fort Wayne's Own
Over her last nine games played, Sydney Graber is shooting 67.5 percent (27-of-40) from the floor.
She Can Reid The Defense
Over the last 12 games, Jordan Reid averaged 10.2 points per game while shooting 54-of-99 (54.5 percent).
Shooters Shoot
Lauren Ross' 47.5 percent clip from 3-point range and 94.6 percent from the free throw line are both the best in the country. Her 3.12 triples per game rank fifth nationally.
Dubs
Purdue Fort Wayne has 26 wins this season, which is the most wins for the program in a season at any level.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 34 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 47.5 percent from 3-point range and 94.6 percent from the line. If those percentages hold, she would be one of 17 players to shoot 45/45/90 while meeting the 3-point percentage minimums since the 3-point line was added to college basketball.
Amellia BromenDubayoo
Amellia Bromenschenkel has 73 wins in her career which is the most of any Mastodon women's basketball player at the Division I level. Audra Emmerson and Jazzlyn Linbo have 72 each, right behind the graduate student.
Some is Schwiet, More Is Schwieter
Renna Schwieterman is shooting 53.2 percent (41-of-77) from 2-point range this season.
Literally Free
Lauren Ross has missed just one of her last 49 free throws dating back to the fourth quarter of the IU Indy game on December 11.
Rankings Respect
Per the NET and Bart Torvik, Purdue Fort Wayne has a national ranking of 88 and 94, respectively.
Home Sweet Gates
The Mastodons are 14-1 at home this season. In its home games this season, Purdue Fort Wayne is scoring 78.8 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 23.7 points per game. The Mastodons are shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 38.0 percent from 3-point range in Fort Wayne.
Career-Bests For Freezy
Sydney Freeman is shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from 3-point range, both of which are career-best marks. Her mark of 65 steals is also a career-best.
League Leaders
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the Horizon League in scoring margin (16.2), points per game (76.0), steals per game (9.7), 3-pointers taken and made per game (24.9, 9.4), 3-point percentage (37.6), 3-point defense (29.3), turnover margin (6.26), turnovers forced per game (18.71) and bench points per game (22.3).
Lively Lineup
Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Audra Emmerson and Sydney Freeman have started all 34 games this season.
Magic Numbers 70 and 80
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 47-8 when they score 70 points or more and 21-3 when they hit 80.
Last Time Out
After a 34-34 tie at halftime, Purdue Fort Wayne blew out Old Dominion 87-61. Audra Emmerson, Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Jordan Reid and Jazzlyn Linbo all scored in double-figures.
Next Time Up
With a win, Purdue Fort Wayne will move on to play the winner of Duquesne and Cleveland State in the WNIT Great 8. The window for that game is March 29-31.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballPFW vs Cleveland State WNIT Great 8 Highlights
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PFW vs Old Dominion Post Game and Highlights
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