Monday, March 31
Fort Wayne, Ind.
7 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Cleveland State
Audra Emmerson
Photo by: John Nagel
Mastodon WBB Set For WNIT Great 8 Clash With Cleveland State
3/30/2025 2:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball team will play Cleveland State for the fourth time this season, this time with a trip to the WNIT Fab 4 on the line. The Mastodons and Vikings will clash in the Gates Sports Center on Monday night (March 31) at 7 p.m.
Game Day Information
Who: Cleveland State Vikings
When: Monday, March 31 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Cleveland State | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Cleveland State is 26-9, and since falling to the Mastodons in the semifinal of the Horizon League championship, the Vikings won two close games in the WNIT. CSU beat Coppin State 72-70 in overtime and Duquesne 55-52 thanks to a 3-pointer in the final minute from Filippa Goula.HL Player of the Year Mickayla Perdue is scoring 20 points per game, while Jordana Reisma is leading the country at 68.2 percent shooting on 14.8 points per game.
Series History
Cleveland State leads the series 16-3, but Purdue Fort Wayne won two of the three games this season against the Vikings. Cleveland State is the only team to beat Purdue Fort Wayne at home this year, and the Mastodons have never beat the Vikings in Fort Wayne.
In The WNIT...
Purdue Fort Wayne has scored exactly 87 points and allowed exactly 61 points in both games in the WNIT this season. Amellia Bromenschenkel is averaging 19.5 points and Audra Emmerson is pouring in 17.5 points per game. Jordan Reid and Lauren Ross are both adding around 11 points per game as well. The 'Dons are shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and 44.47 percent from 3-point range.
Making History
Lauren Ross' 47.3 percent from 3-point range is the 32nd-best in NCAA history for a single season while meeting the 3-point percentage minimum of 2.5 makes per game.
Making History x2
Lauren Ross is leading the country in 3-point percentage and free throw percentage this season. She would be the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both categories in the same season dating back to at least 2001, given available records.
Chasing 1,000
Audra Emmerson needs 20 points to reach 1,000 for her career.
Familiar Vikings
Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State split the regular season and the Mastodons beat the Vikings in Indianapolis in the Horizon League Championship semifinal. In those meetings, Lauren Ross averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. As a team, the 'Dons shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range against the Vikings on 11.0 triples per game. On the other side, CSU got 24.3 points per game out of Mickayla Perdue.
Amellia Tripleschenkel
Over the last seven games, Amellia Bromenschenkel shot 65.3 percent from 3-point range. In league and postseason games, she is at 45.5 percent from deep.
On Butler...
In the Mastodons' Super 16 matchup against Butler, the 'Dons finished the game at 60 percent shooting (33-of-55), their highest in a game since 2017. After going 7-for-16 in the first quarter, the 'Dons finished the game making 14 of their last 15 shots.
Net Positive
Purdue Fort Wayne has the highest NET ranking of all teams in the WNIT field with a ranking of 88.
Literally Free
Lauren Ross has missed just one of her last 51 free throws dating back to the fourth quarter of the IU Indy game on December 11.
On the Semifinal...
Purdue Fort Wayne beat Cleveland State 83-65 in the semifinal round of the Barbasol Horizon League Championship to move on to the championship game. The Mastodons had 26 assists, which is a season-high and top-10 mark in program history. They hit 15 3-pointers, one shy of the Horizon League Championship record. It was also the fourth time this season with 15 or more 3-pointers, all of which are top-10 marks in program history. Lauren Ross had six of the Mastodons' 15 3-pointers. The Mastodons hit 10 3-pointers in the first half, tying a program record.
Program Records
Purdue Fort Wayne has set new program records in points (2,670), field goals (973), 3-point field goals (329), rebounds (1,245) and steals (334) this season.
Finishing Strong
In the last 11 games, Audra Emmerson averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent (50-of-111) from the floor and 43.2 percent (29-of-67) from beyond the arc.
She's Not Done Yet!
Amellia Bromenschenkel recorded double-digit scoring performances in eight each of the last nine games. She averaged 14.6 points per game in that stretch.
Fort Wayne's Own
Over her last 10 games played, Sydney Graber is shooting 68.9 percent (31-of-45) from the floor.
She Can Reid The Defense
Over the last 13 games, Jordan Reid averaged 10.2 points per game while shooting 57-of-104 (54.8 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 3.06 triples per game rank seventh nationally.
Road Warriors
Purdue Fort Wayne is 11-5 on the road this season and owns a 9-1 record in Horizon League road games. The Mastodons' 11 road wins is the best mark in program history.
Dubs
Purdue Fort Wayne has 27 wins this season, which is the most wins for the program in a season at any level.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 35 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 47.3 percent from 3-point range and 94.7 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.
Some is Schwiet, More Is Schwieter
Renna Schwieterman is shooting 53.2 percent (41-of-77) from 2-point range this season.
Rankings Respect
Per the NET and Bart Torvik, Purdue Fort Wayne has a national ranking of 88 and 89, respectively.
Home Sweet Gates
The Mastodons are 15-1 at home this season. In its home games this season, Purdue Fort Wayne is scoring 79.3 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 23.8 points per game. The Mastodons are shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 38.7 percent from 3-point range in Fort Wayne.
Career-Bests For Freezy
Sydney Freeman is shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 35.9 percent from 3-point range, both of which are career-best marks. Her mark of 67 steals is also a career-best.
League Leaders
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the Horizon League in scoring margin (16.5), points per game (76.3), 3-pointers taken and made per game (24.8, 9.5), 3-point percentage (37.9), 3-point defense (29.2), turnover margin (6.11), turnovers forced per game (18.54) and bench points per game (22.5).
Lively Lineup
Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Audra Emmerson and Sydney Freeman have started all 35 games this season.
Magic Numbers 70 and 80
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 48-8 when they score 70 points or more and 22-3 when they hit 80.
Last Time Out
After trailing by 13 early, Purdue Fort Wayne scored 50 points in the middle two quarters to beat Butler 87-61 in front of a crowd of 1,015 fans in the Gates Sports Center.
Next Time Up
With a win, Purdue Fort Wayne will play Buffalo in the Fab 4. A win in that game would mean a berth to the WNIT championship game on Saturday (April 5).
Game Day Information
Who: Cleveland State Vikings
When: Monday, March 31 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Cleveland State | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Cleveland State is 26-9, and since falling to the Mastodons in the semifinal of the Horizon League championship, the Vikings won two close games in the WNIT. CSU beat Coppin State 72-70 in overtime and Duquesne 55-52 thanks to a 3-pointer in the final minute from Filippa Goula.HL Player of the Year Mickayla Perdue is scoring 20 points per game, while Jordana Reisma is leading the country at 68.2 percent shooting on 14.8 points per game.
Series History
Cleveland State leads the series 16-3, but Purdue Fort Wayne won two of the three games this season against the Vikings. Cleveland State is the only team to beat Purdue Fort Wayne at home this year, and the Mastodons have never beat the Vikings in Fort Wayne.
In The WNIT...
Purdue Fort Wayne has scored exactly 87 points and allowed exactly 61 points in both games in the WNIT this season. Amellia Bromenschenkel is averaging 19.5 points and Audra Emmerson is pouring in 17.5 points per game. Jordan Reid and Lauren Ross are both adding around 11 points per game as well. The 'Dons are shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and 44.47 percent from 3-point range.
Making History
Lauren Ross' 47.3 percent from 3-point range is the 32nd-best in NCAA history for a single season while meeting the 3-point percentage minimum of 2.5 makes per game.
Making History x2
Lauren Ross is leading the country in 3-point percentage and free throw percentage this season. She would be the first player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both categories in the same season dating back to at least 2001, given available records.
Chasing 1,000
Audra Emmerson needs 20 points to reach 1,000 for her career.
Familiar Vikings
Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State split the regular season and the Mastodons beat the Vikings in Indianapolis in the Horizon League Championship semifinal. In those meetings, Lauren Ross averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. As a team, the 'Dons shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range against the Vikings on 11.0 triples per game. On the other side, CSU got 24.3 points per game out of Mickayla Perdue.
Amellia Tripleschenkel
Over the last seven games, Amellia Bromenschenkel shot 65.3 percent from 3-point range. In league and postseason games, she is at 45.5 percent from deep.
On Butler...
In the Mastodons' Super 16 matchup against Butler, the 'Dons finished the game at 60 percent shooting (33-of-55), their highest in a game since 2017. After going 7-for-16 in the first quarter, the 'Dons finished the game making 14 of their last 15 shots.
Net Positive
Purdue Fort Wayne has the highest NET ranking of all teams in the WNIT field with a ranking of 88.
Literally Free
Lauren Ross has missed just one of her last 51 free throws dating back to the fourth quarter of the IU Indy game on December 11.
On the Semifinal...
Purdue Fort Wayne beat Cleveland State 83-65 in the semifinal round of the Barbasol Horizon League Championship to move on to the championship game. The Mastodons had 26 assists, which is a season-high and top-10 mark in program history. They hit 15 3-pointers, one shy of the Horizon League Championship record. It was also the fourth time this season with 15 or more 3-pointers, all of which are top-10 marks in program history. Lauren Ross had six of the Mastodons' 15 3-pointers. The Mastodons hit 10 3-pointers in the first half, tying a program record.
Program Records
Purdue Fort Wayne has set new program records in points (2,670), field goals (973), 3-point field goals (329), rebounds (1,245) and steals (334) this season.
Finishing Strong
In the last 11 games, Audra Emmerson averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent (50-of-111) from the floor and 43.2 percent (29-of-67) from beyond the arc.
She's Not Done Yet!
Amellia Bromenschenkel recorded double-digit scoring performances in eight each of the last nine games. She averaged 14.6 points per game in that stretch.
Fort Wayne's Own
Over her last 10 games played, Sydney Graber is shooting 68.9 percent (31-of-45) from the floor.
She Can Reid The Defense
Over the last 13 games, Jordan Reid averaged 10.2 points per game while shooting 57-of-104 (54.8 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 3.06 triples per game rank seventh nationally.
Road Warriors
Purdue Fort Wayne is 11-5 on the road this season and owns a 9-1 record in Horizon League road games. The Mastodons' 11 road wins is the best mark in program history.
Dubs
Purdue Fort Wayne has 27 wins this season, which is the most wins for the program in a season at any level.
Ross Has the Sauce
Through 35 games, Lauren Ross is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 47.3 percent from 3-point range and 94.7 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.
Some is Schwiet, More Is Schwieter
Renna Schwieterman is shooting 53.2 percent (41-of-77) from 2-point range this season.
Rankings Respect
Per the NET and Bart Torvik, Purdue Fort Wayne has a national ranking of 88 and 89, respectively.
Home Sweet Gates
The Mastodons are 15-1 at home this season. In its home games this season, Purdue Fort Wayne is scoring 79.3 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 23.8 points per game. The Mastodons are shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 38.7 percent from 3-point range in Fort Wayne.
Career-Bests For Freezy
Sydney Freeman is shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 35.9 percent from 3-point range, both of which are career-best marks. Her mark of 67 steals is also a career-best.
League Leaders
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the Horizon League in scoring margin (16.5), points per game (76.3), 3-pointers taken and made per game (24.8, 9.5), 3-point percentage (37.9), 3-point defense (29.2), turnover margin (6.11), turnovers forced per game (18.54) and bench points per game (22.5).
Lively Lineup
Lauren Ross, Amellia Bromenschenkel, Audra Emmerson and Sydney Freeman have started all 35 games this season.
Magic Numbers 70 and 80
Under head coach Maria Marchesano, the Mastodons are 48-8 when they score 70 points or more and 22-3 when they hit 80.
Last Time Out
After trailing by 13 early, Purdue Fort Wayne scored 50 points in the middle two quarters to beat Butler 87-61 in front of a crowd of 1,015 fans in the Gates Sports Center.
Next Time Up
With a win, Purdue Fort Wayne will play Buffalo in the Fab 4. A win in that game would mean a berth to the WNIT championship game on Saturday (April 5).
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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