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UW-Parkside Postseason Info Page

Ashland Regional Info Page

SOMERS, Wis. (Mar. 14, 2013)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's basketball team is back in the field of 64 at the NCAA Division II Tournament for the fourth straight season as the Rangers will open the competition against archrival and 20th-ranked Lewis University of Friday inside Ashland University's Kates Gymnasium.

The seventh-seeded Rangers (20-9) will face the second-seeded and Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Champion Flyers (24-5) for the fourth time this season and the third time in the last five games. Friday's grudge match is set for 1:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be provided by the host institution Ashland University. (Live Stats)(Video)

About the Rangers: UW-Parkside makes its fourth straight trip to the NCAAs and fifth overall appearance in the big dance with all five trips coming under the direction of head coach Jenny Knight-Kenesie.

The Rangers have won seven of their last nine with the two setbacks during the run coming against first round opponent Lewis. UWP's recent run began on Feb. 9 with a 58-40 win over host University of Southern Indiana. The Rangers rattled off three straight home blowout wins over McKendree University, Bellarmine University and Saint Joseph's College before hitting the road and defeating University of Indianapolis 71-61 on Feb. 23. The five game win streak came to a close on Feb. 28 in the regular season finale, falling 64-60 on the road to Lewis.

The squad returned to the win column on Mar. 3 with a 65-39 win over Drury University in the opening round of the 2013 Deaconess Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament before taking down Quincy University 57-46 two days later. The Rangers' conference tournament run came to a close in the semifinals with the 21st-ranked Flyers slipping past UWP 61-59.

Leading the Rangers offensively is Jenna Endisch, entering the NCAA Tournament averaging 14.1 points per game. The senior is a deadly threat from beyond the arc, canning a school record 88 three-pointers on the season, shooting at a 36.2 percent clip from distance.

Sierra West comes in averaging 9.1 ppg while dishing out a team-best 5.8 assists per game while Gaby Bronson adds 8.8 ppg. Danielle Slivka leads the squad in rebounding, coming into the tournament grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game while contributing 8.7 ppg on the offensive end. Jaleesa Trussell chips in 8.2 ppg and 4.7 rpg with Tara Knapstein dropping 6.8 ppg.

Ashland is a familiar site for the Rangers as the Eagles hosted the regional in 2011-12 where UWP advanced to the regional final only to fall to host and eventual national runner-up Ashland.

Series History: The Rangers and Flyers have met 56 times on the hardwood with Lewis owning a 37-19 edge in the all-time series. The Rangers swept the regular season series in 2011-12 but have dropped three against the Flyers this season.

Round 1: The Flyers had the last laugh on Jan. 21 inside DeSimone Gymnasium, sinking four free throws down the stretch to emerge with a 63-58 win in a game featuring four lead changes and six ties.

Round 2: Lewis swept the regular season series and claimed the division crown on Feb. 28 with a 64-60 victory. UW-Parkside was unable to find a rhythm offensively against the stingy Flyer defense.

Round 3: The two squads collided for the third time on March 9 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., in the semifinals of the 2013 Deaconess Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The Rangers overcame a 13-point deficit and held a lead with under three minutes to go but could not overcome the Flyers, faltering 61-59.

Trussell stole the inbounds pass with 15 seconds left to give the Rangers a chance to tie or win the game but two errant jumpers in the waning moments sealed UWP's fate.

About the Flyers: Lewis heads to Ashland having won eight straight, winning the GLVC East Division title and the 2013 GLVC Tournament. The Flyers have additionally won 13 of their last 15 a streak that started on Jan. 21 with a 63-58 victory over UW-Parkside in Somers.

The Flyers two defeats during their current run came back-to-back, stumbling on the road 68-55 to the University of Southern Indiana and on the road against Kentucky Wesleyan College, 74-61.

Lewis secured the GLVC Tournament title with a 76-61 victory over second seeded Maryville University on Mar. 10 inside the Ford Center. The Flyers opened the tournament by grinding out a 50-42 win over eight seed Missouri S&T University on Mar. 8 before edging the Rangers by two points the following day.

Jess Reinhart paces Lewis averaging 14.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg while Sam Rinehart adds 11.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Labrenthia Murdock is the third Flyer in double figures, contributing 11.0 ppg along with 4.7 rpg.

The Flyers own a 4-0 record in neutral site contests in 2012-2013 and are 17-4 away from Romeoville, Ill.

Lewis leads the nation (out of 287 teams) in three-point field goal defense, allowing the opposition to shoot just 23.3 percent from the perimeter. The Flyers sit 33rd in field goal percentage (42.7 percent) while clocking in at 34th nationally in both scoring offense (71.0 ppg) and field goal defense (35.7).

Flyers head coach Lisa Carlsen was named the 2013 GLVC Coach of the Year after leading the squad to the divisional title.

National Rankings: UW-Parkside ranks in the top 35 nationally (out of 287 teams) in three statistical categories and sits in the top 50 in six categories. The Rangers are 10th in the nation in field goal percentage (44.2 percent) while sitting 22nd in both scoring defense (55.5 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (35.3 percent). The Rangers register 31st nationally in scoring margin (+10.8) while sitting 40th in free throw percentage (73.8 percent) and 45th in rebounding margin (+4.8).

Individually, Sierra West is fifth in the nation in assists per game, registering 5.8 per game while Jenna Endisch sits sixth in three-point field goals per game, draining 3.14 per contest. Gaby Bronson ranks 33rd in free throw percentage, hitting 84.4 percent from the charity stripe.

March Madness: UW-Parkside owns a 4-4 record in its previous four appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Rangers advanced to the Sweet 16 the last two seasons while recording first round exits in both 2005 and 2010. Last season's run began with a 73-66 win over the University of Indianapolis before downing Ferris State University 71-57. The Rangers bowed out in the regional final, succumbing 78-65 to eventual national runner-up and host Ashland.

Lewis owns a 2-7 record in NCAA play, having made seven appearances to the big dance. The Flyers have survived the opening round just twice, first during the 2006 tournament and again in 2007. Both times Lewis met its demise at the hands of Drury University in the second round. The Flyers first NCAA trip was in 1984 while also making appearances in 1985, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011. During their last trip to the field of 64 in 2011, the Flyers bowed out in the first round, falling 72-56 to Michigan Tech University.

Rest of the Regional: The winner of the UWP-Lewis game will face the winner between three-seeded University of Findlay (24-5) and sixth-seeded Wayne State University (20-8) at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The other side of the bracket featured top-seeded Ashland (31-1) against eight seed University of Indianapolis (19-9) and fourth-seeded Michigan Tech University (20-8) against five seed Kentucky Wesleyan College (20-8).

Top 25: Three of the eight participating institutions in the Midwest Regional appear in the most recent WBCA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Ashland leads the way at No. 2 while Findlay is No. 18 and Lewis is No. 20.

Postseason Awards: Danielle Slivka was named Second Team All-GLVC on Tuesday while joining Jaleesa Trussell and Sierra West on the GLVC All-Defensive Team. It was Slivka's first All-GLVC honor while Trussell earns a spot on the All-Defensive squad for the second consecutive year.

Home Sweet Home: The Rangers have been nearly unbeatable at home in recent years, winning 59 of their last 64 games inside DeSimone Gymnasium. UWP compiled a 14-1 home record in 2011-12, the only blemish a one-point 68-67 defeat to Kentucky Wesleyan on Dec. 1.

UWP is 11-3 at home in 2012-2013, marking the first time since the 2007-2008 season the Rangers have dropped more than two contests at home. UW-Parkside was 12-4 at home in 2007-08, 10-2 in 2008-09 while finishing 15-1 in 2009-10, 15-0 in 2010-11 and 14-1 in 2011-12.