KENOSHA, Wis. — Parkside women's basketball returns to De Simone Arena this week for its final two home games of the regular season, beginning Thursday, Feb. 19, when the Rangers host Purdue Northwest at 5:30 p.m. CT. Parkside will then close its home slate on Saturday, Feb. 21, by welcoming (RV) Wayne State for a 1 p.m. CT tip in Kenosha in a Senior Day contest that will also feature the retirement of Alyssa Nelson's No. 2 jersey.
Parkside enters the week 12-12 overall and 7-9 in GLIAC play, sitting sixth in the league standings with four regular-season games remaining. The Rangers are 5-6 at home this season and need two more wins to clinch a GLIAC Tournament berth.
The Rangers are coming off a split 1-1 week on the road in Michigan. On Thursday at Davenport, Parkside earned a 73-68 victory, hanging on in the final minutes behind five players scoring in double figures. On Saturday in Allendale, the Rangers fell to No. 3 Grand Valley State, 74-56, despite 17 points from Peighton Nelson, as Parkside committed 20 turnovers against the Lakers' pressure.
Through 24 games, Parkside has built one of the GLIAC's most balanced profiles. The Rangers are scoring 68.9 points per game while allowing 65.4, ranking fifth in the conference in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Defensively, Parkside is holding opponents to 39.0% shooting from the field and 28.2% from three, while leading the GLIAC in blocked shots at 4.2 per game (101 total). The Rangers are also averaging 37.5 rebounds per game and 15.0 assists per contest while committing just 8.4 turnovers per game.
Individually, Parkside's production has been anchored by its veteran core. Katie Hamill leads the Rangers at 14.0 points per game, shooting 41.7% from the field and ranking among the league leaders in steals. Cassidy Arni follows closely at 13.8 points per game on 44.9% shooting. Lillie Petersen ranks second in the GLIAC in rebounding at 7.7 per game (184 total), while adding 10.6 points per contest. At the point, Peighton Nelson leads the GLIAC in assists with 112 total (4.7 per game), while also averaging 11.1 points per game.
Thursday, Feb. 19
Purdue Northwest at Parkside
5:30 p.m. CT | De Simone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
Saturday, Feb. 21
(RV) Wayne State at Parkside
1 p.m. CT | De Simone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
SCOUTING PURDUE NORTHWEST:
Parkside last saw Purdue Northwest on Jan. 17 in Hammond, Indiana, when the Rangers earned their most lopsided win of the season, 92-46. Parkside scored 42 points in the paint and turned 25 Purdue Northwest turnovers into 37 points, while Kiyah Hurst delivered a season-high 20 points off the bench.
This season, Purdue Northwest enters the week 3-21 overall and 1-15 in GLIAC play, sitting last in the conference standings. The Pride are 1-10 at home and 1-10 on the road. Statistically, Purdue Northwest is scoring 59.1 points per game while allowing 79.5, with opponents shooting 45.5% from the field. The Pride are shooting 37.9% overall and 30.5% from three, and they are being out-rebounded 41.7 to 30.3 per game.
Alyssa Cole leads Purdue Northwest at 13.8 points per game and adds 6.6 rebounds per contest while shooting 41.1% from the floor and 86.3% at the line. Ciara Sims is next at 10.4 points per game on 43.4% shooting, and Riley Milausnic is averaging 10.2 points per game while leading the team with 41 made 3-pointers. Cameryn Phillips runs the offense and leads the Pride with 79 assists, while also averaging 8.4 points per game.
All-time, Thursday will be the 19th meeting between Parkside and Purdue Northwest. Parkside is 18-0 in the series and 8-0 all-time in Kenosha, including a 78-68 win last season in De Simone Arena. Since joining the GLIAC, Parkside is 15-0 against the Pride.
SCOUTING (RV) WAYNE STATE:
Parkside and Wayne State last met on Jan. 15 in Detroit, when the Rangers fell 95-88 after surrendering 32 points in the third quarter. Parkside placed five players in double figures, but Wayne State's Gabi Lutchka scored a career-high 32 points to power the Warriors in the first meeting.
Wayne State enters the week 18-6 overall and 13-3 in GLIAC play, good for third place in the league standings. The Warriors have already clinched a GLIAC Tournament spot and bring a 10-0 home record into the week, while sitting 7-6 on the road. Wayne State is also riding a four-game winning streak and has won eight of its last 10 games.
Statistically, Wayne State is scoring 75.5 points per game while allowing 68.2. The Warriors lead the GLIAC in field goal percentage at 45.4% (654-for-1,442) and are holding opponents to 39.0% shooting. Wayne State is shooting 35.3% from three and averages 38.0 rebounds per game, including a league-best 27.6 defensive rebounds per contest. The Warriors also share the ball at a high level, averaging 14.9 assists per game, while forcing 15.9 opponent turnovers per night and producing 8.4 steals per game.
Individually, Wayne State features three of the GLIAC's top 15 scorers. McKenna Ferguson leads the Warriors at 16.5 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 42.6% from three (46 made), and she has 62 steals on the season. Taylor Thompson adds 15.3 points per game and is one of the league's best rebounders at 7.3 per game (174 total), while also leading Wayne State with 77 assists. Lutchka is averaging 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest, while adding 14 blocks and 60 assists.
Saturday will be the 23rd meeting between Parkside and Wayne State, with the Warriors holding a 12-10 advantage in the all-time series. Wayne State has won the last three meetings, including a 73-64 win in Kenosha last season. Parkside is 4-4 all-time against the Warriors at home and last defeated Wayne State in De Simone Arena on Feb. 23, 2023.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the home weekend, Parkside will head to the Upper Peninsula to close the regular season, traveling to Michigan Tech on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 4:30 p.m. CT in Houghton before heading to Marquette to face Northern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 28, at noon CT.
To keep up with the Rangers throughout the season, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
