ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland women's basketball team wraps up the Horizon League regular season and looks to send the 2021 Senior Class out in style against Northern Kentucky for a pair of games on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. and Senior Day Saturday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live from the Blacktop at the O'rena on ESPN+ with Jason Ross Jr. on the call.


 
Notes:
SENIOR SEND OFF: Prior to Saturday's game, the team will honor seniors Myka Cromwell, Autumn Kissman, Chloe Guingrich and Jalisha Terry for their hard work and dedication to the program.


 
LAST TIME OUT – DEAN POURS IN CAREER-HIGH 34 POINTS TO REACH 1000 CAREER POINTS: Kahlaijah Dean became the 29th player in program history to reach 1000 career points as she scored 20 points in the fourth quarter en route to pouring in a new career-high 34 points (over half of Oakland's 64 points) on 10-of-24 (41.7%) shooting from the field, 4-for-9 (44.4%) from 3-point range and 10-of-11 (90.9%) from the free throw line while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds with three assists as Oakland battled but came up short at Milwaukee, 69-66, (2/13). The last player to reach 1000 career points was Taylor Jones who scored 11 points to become the 28th player in program history to score 1000 career points vs NKU (1/6) during the 2017-18 season. She finished with 1615 career points.
 
DEAN UNCONSCIOUS AT MILWAUKEE: Dean averaged 26.5 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists while shooting 14-of-15 (93.3%) from the free throw line, 17-of-41 (41.5%) from the field and 5-for-13 (38.5%) from 3-point range to lead Oakland to a weekend split at Milwaukee. She scored a team-high 19 points with a game-high seven assists while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line helping Oakland to a thrilling 83-82 overtime victory securing the team's third consecutive league win (2/12).
 
A 3-POINTER TO REMEMBER: Freshman Lamariyee "Sug" Williams scored seven points hitting her first collegiate 3-pointer as time expired on the shot clock to give Oakland an 82-78 lead with 15 seconds left in overtime which helped the Golden Grizzlies to a thrilling 83-82 victory at Milwaukee securing the team's third consecutive league win (2/12).
 
A LOOK AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY: The series between Oakland and NKU is tied at 8-8. The Norse enter the upcoming weekend series as the No. 8 seed with a 6-4 league mark after dropping the last four consecutive games. NKU is led by redshirt junior guard Lindsay Duvall who leads the team in scoring (15.3 – 6th HL). Senior forward Kailey Coffey leads the team in rebounds (7.7 – 6th HL) while sophomore guard Ivy Turner is topps on the team in assists (2.7 – 11th – HL).
 
2019-20 SEASON REWIND VS THE NORSE:
Game 1 - 1/23/20: Breanne Beatty, Jalisha Terry and Kahlaijah Dean each scored 11 points as Oakland shot a season-high 8-for-16 (50%) from 3-point range. However, it was not enough to get over the hump as the Golden Grizzlies fell at Northern Kentucky, 69-60. Beatty and Kayla Luchenbach each grabbed a team-high five rebounds while Dean dished out a team-best four assists. Beatty also connected on a career-high 2-for-3 from 3-point range.
 
Game 2 - 2/29/20: Kayla Luchenbach and Alona Blackwell each scored 13 points as Oakland battled to the final shot before coming up short, 67-65, against visiting Northern Kentucky. Kahlaijah Dean and Teneea Heston added eight and seven points off the bench respectively. Jalisha Terry also chipped in with seven points while Blackwell dished out a career-high five assists.
 
LEAGUE TOURNAMENT ON THE HORIZON: Entering this weekend's games against NKU, Oakland currently sits in the No. 4 seed position earning a first-round bye and would face No. 5 IUPUI at home in quarterfinal action on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
 
DROPPIN' DIMES: Oakland ranks third in the Horizon League in assists per game (14.90) and 19th nationally in total assists (313) while Dean (4.4), Brianna Breedy (2.9) and Breanne Beatty (2.4) are first, second and third on team and third, 10th and 17th in the league respectively.
 
GETTIN' BUCKETS: Oakland also ranks second in the league in scoring (68.8 ppg) and sixth in field goal percentage (40.2). Oakland shot a season best 52.5% at Detroit Mercy (1/15), season second-best 51.9% in back-to-back games against Robert Morris. The Golden Grizzlies also hit 51.7% from the field against Purdue Fort Wayne without hitting a 3-pointer (0-for-4) (1/23).
 
DO IT ALL DEAN: Kahlaijah Dean leads the team in scoring (17.2 ppg – 4th HL), rebounds (5.6 – 13th HL), assists (4.4 – 2rd HL) and steals (1.9 – 8th HL). She also ranks second on the team in blocks (11) after posting a career-high three vs Purdue Fort Wayne (1/22) and ninth in the league in field goal percentage (40.4%). Tied for the lead with most 20-point games (7) with a career-high and league second best 34 points at Milwaukee
 
Dean by the numbers:
• Total Points (362) - 1st HL, 39th Nationally (1st Oakland)
• Points per game (17.7) - 4th Horizon League (1st Oakland)
• Total assists (93) - 1st HL, 22nd Nationally (1st Oakland)
• Assists per game (4.4) - 3rd HL (1st Oakland)
• Total free throws made (90) - 1st HL, 25th Nationally (1st Oakland)
• Free Throw % (75.0) - 6th HL (1st Oakland)
• Total Steals (39) – 1st HL, 54th Nationally
• Steals (1.9) - 8th HL (1st Oakland)
• Total field goals made (120) 1st HL, 62nd Nationally (1st Oakland)
• Field goal % (40.4) - 9th HL (1st Oakland)
• Rebounds (5.6) - 13th HL (1st Oakland)
• Total 3-PT field goals made (32) - T-5th HL (1st Oakland)
• 3-PT field goals per game (1.5) - 11th HL (2nd Oakland)
• Blocks per game (0.5) - 16th HL (2nd Oakland)
• Assist/turnover ratio (1.2) - 5th HL (1st Oakland)
• Most 20-point games (7) - 2nd HL (1st Oakland)
• Scored in double figures 18 times
• Career-high and league second-best 34 points at Milwaukee (2/13)
• Career-high and league best 12 assists vs PFW (1/23)
• Career-high 12 rebounds vs PFW (1/22)
• Needs only 16 points to reach 1000 career points mark
 
DIAL IT UP FROM LONG RANGE: Alona Blackwell leads the team and ranks fifth in the league in 3-point field goals per game (2.0) and leads the league and is 16th nationally in 3-pointers attempted (139). Dean is second in the league in 3-point attempts (111). As a team, Oakland is second in the league and ranks 40th nationally in 3-pointers attempted (432) and is sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (30.8%). Oakland shot a season-best 12-for-19 (63.2%) from three-point range against Robert Morris (2/5)
 
Blackwell by the numbers:
• Points per game (11.0) - 9th Horizon League (2nd Oakland)
• 3-PT field goals per game (2.0) - 1st HL (1st Oakland)
• Total 3-PT field goals made (41) - 1st HL, 42nd Nationally (1st Oakland)
• Total 3-PT field goal attempts (32) - 1st HL, 14th Nationally (1st Oakland)
• 3-PT field goal % (29.5) – 5th HL (1st Oakland)
• Steals (1.6) - 16th HL (2nd Oakland)
• Minutes (31.2) - 10th HL (2nd Oakland)
• Scored in double figures 11 times
• 20-point games (2)
• Career-high 24 points at Cleveland State (1/29), career second-best 22 points at Toledo (11/29)
 
PASS/PROTECT THE ROCK: Oakland ranks second in the league in assist/turnover ratio (.96) and turnover margin (2.76). Dean (1.2) ranks fifth in the league.
 
BP BLOCK PARTY: In just 12 games, Temple transfer Breanna Perry leads the team in blocks (15) having already recording three blocks in a game twice at YSU (1/9) and at Detroit Mercy (1/15) while adding a career-best four blocks at Cleveland State (1/30).
 
FIVE FOR FIVE:
Oakland had five players in double-figures with Kahlaijah Dean scoring a game-high 21 points followed by Alona Blackwell with 14, Autumn Kissman 12 and Breanne Beatty and Lamariyee Williams with 11 each to complete the weekend sweep over Robert Morris (2/6).
 
CENTURY CLUB: With the sweep vs Robert Morris (/26), head coach Jeff Tungate reached 100 career wins.
Milestone wins:
1st career win: at home vs Niagara (11/27/13)
50th career win: at home vs Youngstown State (1/22/17)
100th career win: at home vs Robert Morris (2/6/21)
 
Notable wins:
First win over Green Bay: 2/4/15
First win over a nationally ranked opponent: at No. 22 Green Bay (1/28/16)
Second win over a nationally ranked opponent: home vs No. 21 Green Bay (2/2/17)
Program 300th Division I win: at UIC (2/18/17)
Program 800th overall win: vs Lourdes (12/21/19)
 
SUG IN THE BOOKS: Sug Williams posted a new career-high with 11 points going 7-for-9 from the free throw line vs Robert Morris (2/6). She recorded her first collegiate points scoring six while adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal against UIC (12/13).
 
SHARING IS CARING: The Golden Grizzlies dished out a season-high 23 assists three times this season first on 32 made baskets in the game one win over the Titans (1/15), 23 assists on 30 made hoops against Purdue Fort Wayne (1/23) and 23 dimes on 28 made field goals against Robert Morris (2/5).
 
DYNAMIC DUO: Dean and Blackwell are the only two players averaging in double figures at 17.2 ppg and 11.0 ppg respectively.
 
CHARITY STRIPE PRODUCTION: Dean is first in the conference and is 18th in the country in free throw attempts (120) while ranking sixth in the league in free throw percentage (75.0).
 
I'LL TAKE THAT: Oakland ranks third in turnovers forced (18.24) and fourth in steals per game (8.19).
 
CRASH THE BOARDS: The Golden Grizzlies rank second in offensive rebounds (12.0) and are eighth in defensive rebounds (22.8) and seventh in total rebounds per game (34.7).
 
GUARD THE ARC: The Golden Grizzlies also rank ninth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.3).
 
GET THAT OUTTA HERE: Individually, Perry leads the team in blocks (15) followed by Dean (11), Autumn Kissman (7), Alona Blackwell (6), Chloe Guingrich (5), and Kayla Luchenbach (3).
 
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.
 
DEAN PUTTING UP NUMBERS: 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.
 
20-POINT CLUB: The Golden Grizzlies have had two players score over 20 points this season. Dean (7) posted 34 points at Milwaukee (2/13), 28 points vs UIC (12/12) and Green Bay (1/1), 25 vs RMU (2/5), 21 vs RMU (2/6), 21 vs Purdue Fort Wayne (1/23) and 20 at Wright State (12/19). Blackwell (2) 24 at Cleveland State (1/29) and 22 at Toledo (11/29).