Storylines
Sin Win City: Chicago State makes its eighth trip to the WAC Women's Basketball Tournament, taking place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The Cougars earned the WAC's seventh seed and will match up with second-seeded Utah Valley in the first round. The Cougars and Wolverines met on February 5 and 6 in Orem, Utah, with Utah Valley taking both games, 61-53 and 56-46, respectively.
Last Time Out: Chicago State dropped each of its matchups with New Mexico State on March 5 and 6 in Chicago, 73-40 and 71-47. The shorthanded Cougars dressed just seven players due to injuries. Christina Britter led Chicago State in scoring in each contest, dropping 18 and 16 points, respectively. The hot-shooting Aggies, however, rolled to secure a two-game sweep. New Mexico State shot a blistering 43% from three-point range during the series.
Hello Old Friend: The Wolverines and Cougars meet in Las Vegas for the first time and for the 31st time in history. Second-year head coach Dan Nielson leads the Wolverines to Vegas with a 10-4 conference record, powered by junior center Josie Williams, who earned first-team All-WAC honors. Williams poured in 14 points and eight rebounds per game this season, shooting 54% from the field. Sophomore forward Shay Fano, a transfer from Southern Utah, earned All-Newcomer Team recognition after scoring 10 points per game during her debut season in Orem.
McBeast: In her Division I debut season, Nadia Thorman-McKey has powered Chicago State's offense. The Evanston, Illinois native has posted double-figures in seven games 10, including a pair of 20-point outbursts January 22 and 23 at California Baptist. Thorman-McKey leads the Cougars in scoring (13.4 points per game) and ranks second in total rebounds (52). The junior forward has scored 972 career points, knocking on the door of 1,000.
Christina, Crushing It: After not scoring in double figures until late January, Britter, a junior transfer from Northern Illinois, has posted 10 or more points in five of her last seven games. Britter posted a career-high 18 points Friday vs. New Mexico State, adding eight rebounds. The looming post pres- ence leads all Cougars with 70 total rebounds and six blocks this season.
Croatian Sensation: After missing a month with an elbow injury, Dubrovnik, Croatia native Ana Haklicka stormed back to Chicago State's starting lineup, posting 12 points against New Mexico State. Haklicka nailed each of the Cougars' two three-pointers and added five rebounds and two assists.
It's Raining Threes: In Chicago State's February 13 matchup with Tarleton, the Cougars nailed each of their first six three-pointers. Thorman-McKey, Wynter Webb and Laura Segues each tallied treys to power the Cougars to a commanding start from the perimeter. Chicago State finished the afternoon 7-for-9 from three-point territory.
Tres for Segues: Freshman Laura Segues has drilled 10 three-pointers this season, leading the Cougars from beyond the perimeter. The Castelloli´, Spain-native scored 13 points on January 23 against California Baptist, a career-high. All 13 points came in the second half, during which the Cougars outscored the unbeaten Lancers, 32-24.
Cleaning the Glass like Windex: Britter and Thorman-McKey have owned the offensive glass this season. The duo has corralled 51 offensive boards in 13 games, accounting for more than a third of Chicago State's offensive rebounds.
Hey, I Know You: Associate Head Coach Curtis Loyd, now in his first season at Chicago State, served as an assistant at the University of Virginia, overlap- ping with current Cougars Head Coach Tiffany Sardin. Loyd coached on Debbie Ryan's staff at Virginia from 2004-09, while Sardin played for the Cavaliers from 2002-06. In Charlotesville, Sardin powered the Cavaliers to a 71-53 overall record and back-to-back 20-win seasons as a junior and senior. Loyd last spent two season as head coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he compiled a two-year record of 41-20 and, in his first season at the helm, led the ThunderWolves to the program's first-ever Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title and RMAC tournament championship.
No Sweat(er): Coach Tiffany Sardin was named winner of "Best Ugly Sweater" at the Chicago State Athletic Department's Zoom holiday party. Sardin's sweater included a full light show, dazzling the staff.
Complete Chicago State Game Notes
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