ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland women's basketball team travels to Cleveland State for a pair of Horizon League games on Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live from the Wolstein Center on ESPN3.
Notes:
LAST TIME OUT - DEAN NEARLY AVERAGES TRIPLE DOUBLE: Kahlaijah Dean nearly averaged a triple-double at 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game and 2.5 blocks defensively helping Oakland to a weekend sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne for the team's third and fourth consecutive league win. In game one, Dean posted her first double-double of the season scoring a game-high 14 points with a career-high 12 rebounds, six assists and career-best three blocks in Oakland's 58-49 win. In the series finale, Dean recorded her second consecutive double-double with a game-high 21 points shooting 6-for-12 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line while dishing a career-high 12 assists with seven rebounds and two blocks in the Golden Grizzlies' 73-61 victory.
SIX-PACK THREAT: Dean leads the team in scoring (15.9 ppg – 4th HL), rebounds (5.5 – 13th HL), assists (4.7 – 1st HL) and steals (2.0 – 6th HL). She also ranks second on the team in blocks (7) after posting a career-high three vs Purdue Fort Wayne (1/22) and eighth in the league in field goal percentage (39.9%).
DROPPIN' DIMES: Oakland leads the Horizon League in assists per game (15.47) and 14th nationally in total assists (232) while Dean (4.7) and
Brianna Breedy (2.9) are first and second on team and rank first and 10th in the league respectively.
Breanne Beatty (2.4) also ranks third on the team and 17th in the league.
SHARING IS CARING: The Golden Grizzlies dished out a season-high 23 assists on 32 made baskets in the game one win over the Titans (1/15) and matched that output with 23 assists on 30 made hoops against Purdue Fort Wayne (1/23).
DYNAMIC DUO: Dean and Blackwell are the only two players averaging in double figures at 15.9 ppg and 10.7 ppg respectively. Dean is shooting 39.9% (7th-HL) from the field while Blackwell is shooting at a 33.9% clip. Dean has reached double figures 12 times followed by Blackwell at eight.
CENTURY CLUB: With the sweep vs Fort Wayne, head coach
Jeff Tungate has 98 career wins two shy of 100.
SYD THE KID: Sydney Gouard reached double figures for the first time this season with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field helping Oakland to a 58-49 win over Purdue Fort Wayne (1/23).
A LOOK AT CLEVELAND STATE: Cleveland State on the season at 3-7 in conference play overall and leads the overall series against Oakland 10-5 winning the last six straight games. Sophomore guard Mariah While leads the team and league in scoring (19.4) and she also is topps on the team in assists (3.4). Redshirt-junior forward Nadia Dumas leads the team in rebounds (6.5) which also ranks 10th in the league.
2019-20 SEASON REWIND VS THE VIKINGS
Game 1 - 1/18/20: Autumn Kissman scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game posting a team-high 16 points on 7-for-14 shooting while
Kahlaijah Dean added 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 2-for-2 from the 3-point line as Oakland battled through three quarters before Cleveland State pulled away in the fourth quarter leading to a 79-58 setback.
Game 2 - 2/22/20: For the second time this season,
Kayla Luchenbach matched a season-high with 17 points just missing her career-high by one point along with grabbing seven rebounds while
Kahlaijah Dean and
Alona Blackwell each added nine points as Oakland fell 83-64 at Cleveland State on Friday night at the Wolstein Center.
Chloe Guingrich and
Jalisha Terry also chipped in with eight points each.
GETTIN' BUCKETS: Oakland ranks second in the league in scoring (67.0 ppg) and sixth in field goal percentage (39.8). Oakland shot a season best 52.5% at Detroit Mercy (1/15) and season second-best 51.7% from the field against Purdue Fort Wayne without hitting a 3-pointer (1/23).
DIAL IT UP FROM LONG RANGE: Blackwell leads the team and ranks fourth in the league in 3-point field goals per game (1.9) and second in the league and 15th nationally in 3-pointers attempted (101). As a team, Oakland is second in the league and ranks 41st nationally in 3-pointers attempted (310) and is fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (30.2%). Ironically, Oakland didn't hit a 3-pointer (0-for-4) against PFW (1/22). Dean is fourth in the league in 3-point attempts (74).
PASS/PROTECT THE ROCK: Oakland ranks second in the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.00) and second in turnover margin (2.20). Breedy (1.6) ranks second in the league followed by Dean (1.2) in seventh.
CHARITY STRIPE PRODUCTION: Dean is second in the conference and is 31st in the country in free throw attempts (78) while ranking seventh in the league in free throw percentage (74.4).
I'LL TAKE THAT: Oakland ranks fifth in turnovers forced (17.73) and sixth in steals per game (8.20).
CRASH THE BOARDS: The Golden Grizzlies rank third in offensive rebounds (12.4) and are seventh in defensive rebounds (22.7) and fifth in total rebounds per game (35.1).
GUARD THE ARC: The Golden Grizzlies also rank fifth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.9).
GET THAT OUTTA HERE: Individually, Perry leads the team in blocks (9) followed by Dean (7),
Autumn Kissman (4),
Chloe Guingrich (4) and
Kayla Luchenbach (3).
DO IT ALL DEAN: Against Detroit Mercy, Dean averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals helping Oakland to a Metro Series sweep. In game one, she had 18 points, six assists and three steals followed by 17 points, three steals while matching a career-best eight assists in game two. She averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists against No. 25 MSU and Green Bay. She had 15 points at MSU and matched a season-high with 28 points connecting on 5-of-12 from 3-point range in Oakland's overtime setback to Green Bay. Dean averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds to lead Oakland to a split at Wight State. She scored 19 of her 20 points in the second half with six rebounds and two assists to lead the Golden Grizzlies to the historic 75-69 win. Against UIC, she averaged 18.0 points, with 16 rebounds (8.0), 10 assists (5.0) to lead Oakland to a weekend sweep to open Horizon League play. She poured in a game-high 28 points, just missing her career-high of 30.
20-POINT CLUB: The Golden Grizzlies have had two players score over 20 points this season. Dean (4) posted 28 points vs UIC (12/12) and Green Bay (1/1), 21 vs Purdue Fort Wayne (1/23) and 20 at Wright State (12/19). Blackwell (1) posted 22 at Toledo (11/29).
"B" SQUAD CHECK IN:
BEATTY HEATS UP: Breanne Beatty matched a career-high in rebounds (11) and assists (5) helping Oakland sweep arch-rival Detroit Mercy (1/15). She also posted a career-high 15 points going 5-for-8 from the field hitting a career-best three 3-pointers in the first half at Youngstown State (1/9). She also added 11 points against Purdue Fort Wayne (1/23).
BP BLOCK PARTY: In just six games, Temple transfer
Breanna Perry leads the team in blocks (9) having already recording three blocks in a game twice at YSU (1/9) and at Detroit Mercy (1/15).
SEASON DEBUT: Missing the first 10 games due to injury, Perry made her season debut at YSU on limited minutes at the end of each quarter. She scored five points in both games hitting a 3-pointer each time with two free throws and three blocks in game two defensively.
BREEDY POSTS CAREER HIGH IN UIC SWEEP: Brianna Breedy posted a career-high 16 points hitting a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc while going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line to lead Oakland to a series sweep over UIC in Horizon League play (12/13).
BLACKWELL BLASTS OFF VS ROCKETS: Alona Blackwell poured in a career-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting as the Golden Grizzlies fell, 71-59, at Toledo (11/29). She also matched a career-best with four rebounds.
4-POINT PLAY: For the second consecutive season, Dean has excited the elusive 4-point play. With 57 seconds left against Green Bay (1/1), she hit a 3-pointer, was fouled and completed the rare 4-point play to pull the Golden Grizzlies within two points, 65-63. Last season, she converted one against Detroit Mercy in the third quarter (2/1/20).
EIGHT AND COUNTING = METRO SERIES SWEEP: Oakland continued its dominance over arch-rival Detroit Mercy with a series road sweep (1/15 & 1/16). The Golden Grizzlies now lead the overall series 18-15 including winning the last eighth consecutive meetings with a 12-4 mark in Metro Series match ups.
BIG THREE TAKEOVER: In game one at Detroit Mercy,
Kahlaijah Dean,
Autumn Kissman and
Alona Blackwell combined for 51 points to lead Oakland to its seventh consecutive Metro Series win over Detroit Mercy in convincing fashion, 80-61, at Calihan Hall. Dean scored a team-high 18 points with six assists and three steals followed by Kissman who scored 17 points shooting a blistering 8-for-10 from the field. Blackwell was the third player in double figures with 16 points and six rebounds.
KISSMAN DELIVERS PURE PRODUCTIVITY VS DETROIT MERCY: Autumn Kissman averaged 17.5 ppg shooting a blistering 16-for-20 (80.0%) from the field over a two-game clip leading Oakland to a Metro Series weekend sweep over arch-rival Detroit Mercy marking the Golden Grizzlies' seventh and eighth consecutive win over the Titans. In game one, Kissman scored 17 points going 8-for-10 from the field with four rebounds in the 80-61 win. The next day, she scored a game-high 18 points just missing her career-high of 19 by one point while shooting 8-for-10 from the field for the second straight game which included hitting a career-best 2-for-3 from 3-point range in the 71-61 series finale victory.
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