Butler Basketball Roster

Transcription

1 Inside arc, l-r: Candyce Brown, Cassie Freeman, Ellen Hamilton and Julie Seiss Outside arc, l-r: Candace Jones, Tara Miller, Carla Gheorghe, Susan Lester, associate head coach Gene Hill, head coach Beth Couture, assistant coach Rachel Bullard, assistant coach Amy Cherubini, Candace Bain, Lade Akande, Mel Thornton and Jackie Closser Butler Basketball Roster No. Name Ht. Pos. Year Hometown/High School (Last School) Candace Jones Jackie Closser * Carla Gheorghe Julie Seiss Tara Miller # Cassie Freeman * Candyce Brown Candace Bain Ellen Hamilton * Mel Thornton Susan Lester Lade Akande G G F G/F G/F F G F/C G F F/C C So. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Indianapolis, Ind./Arsenal Tech Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria Monroe Bucharest, Romania/Ion Creanga (Vincennes) Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Ramsey, Ind./North Harrison (Indiana) Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North Clarksville, Ind./Clarksville Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central Carmel, Ind./Carmel Anderson, Ind./Pendleton Heights Robinson, Ill./Robinson * denotes team captains # will become eligible following the fall semester Head Coach: Beth Couture (Erskine, 1984), Fifth Season Associate Head Coach: Gene Hill (Coker College, 1997), Fifth Season Pronunciation Guide Lade Akande: la-day a-con-day Closser: CLAW-ser Assistant Coach: Amy Cherubini (Indiana, 1994), First Season Couture: KOO-chur Assistant Coach: Rachel Bullard (Presbyterian, 2000), First Season Gheorghe: geh-yor-geh Seiss: SEESS

2 Butler Basketball TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION Schedule... 1 Quick Facts... 2 Media Information... 3 Horizon League Composite Schedule Horizon League Preseason Information BULLDOGS Rosters Season Outlook THE COACHES Head Coach Beth Couture Assistant Coaches Support Staff THE PLAYERS Jackie Closser Carla Gheorghe Ellen Hamilton Candace Bain Cassie Freeman Lade Akande Candyce Brown Candace Jones Tara Miller Susan Lester Julie Seiss Mel Thornton Athletic Administration IN REVIEW Season Review Horizon League Review OPPONENTS Opponents Results vs Opponents Series Records HISTORY & RECORDS All-Time Roster Butler Athletic Hall of Fame Team and Individual Records Honors and Awards Year-by-Year Results Coaching Records BUTLER UNIVERSITY Butler University Butler Athletics Hinkle Fieldhouse Horizon League Indianapolis BUTLER WOMEN S BASKELL SCHEDULE Date Day Opponent Site Time Oct. 31 Tuesday HOOSIER LADY STARS# Hinkle Fieldhouse 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 Sunday at Illinois Champaign, Ill. 2:00 p.m. Nov. 17 Friday BRADLEY Hinkle Fieldhouse Nov. 21 Tuesday vs. UC-Riverside^ Anchorage, Alaska Nov. 22 Wednesday vs. Anchorage/USAF^ Anchorage, Alaska Nov. 26 Sunday at Ohio Athens, Ohio 2:00 p.m. Nov. 29 Wednesday IUPUI Hinkle Fieldhouse Dec. 2 Saturday BALL STATE% Hinkle Fieldhouse 1:00 p.m. Dec. 6 Wednesday at Evansville Evansville, Ind. Dec. 10 Sunday PURDUE Hinkle Fieldhouse Dec. 18 Monday at Louisville Louisville, Ky. Dec. 20 Wednesday at Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 28 Thursday at Cleveland State* Cleveland, Ohio Dec. 30 Saturday at Youngstown State* Youngstown, Ohio 2:05 p.m. Jan. 6 Saturday at Wright State* Fairborn, Ohio 1:00 p.m. Jan. 11 Thursday UIC* Hinkle Fieldhouse Jan. 13 Saturday LOYOLA* Hinkle Fieldhouse 6:00 p.m. Jan. 18 Thursday at Detroit* Detroit, Mich. Jan. 20 Saturday at IPFW Fort Wayne, Ind. 1:00 p.m. Jan. 25 Thursday UW-GREEN BAY* Hinkle Fieldhouse Jan. 27 Saturday UW-MILWAUKEE* Hinkle Fieldhouse 2:00 p.m. Feb. 3 Saturday WRIGHT STATE* Hinkle Fieldhouse 6:00 p.m. Feb. 8 Thursday at Loyola* Chicago, Ill. Feb. 10 Saturday at UIC* Chicago, Ill. Feb. 17 Saturday DETROIT* Hinkle Fieldhouse Feb. 22 Thursday at UW-Milwaukee* Milwaukee, Wis. Feb. 24 Saturday at UW-Green Bay* Green Bay, Wis. March 1 Thursday YOUNGSTOWN STATE* Hinkle Fieldhouse March 3 Saturday CLEVELAND STATE* Hinkle Fieldhouse 2:00 p.m. All times local to site and subject to change Home games in BOLD CAPS # Exhibition game ^ Carrs/Safeway Great Alaskan Shootout % Hoosier Classic game * Horizon League games The Horizon League Championship March 5, 7, 9 & 11, 2007 Held at higher seeds Credits: The Butler women s basketball media guide was designed, written and updated by Chris Urban, assistant sports information director, with assistance from Matt Malloy, sports information student assistant. Photography by Mark Roach and Brent Smith. Cover design by Alisha Luckenbill of the Butler publications offi ce. Special thanks to the Horizon League and Visual Sports Network. Design and editing assistance provided by Jim McGrath, sports information director, and Sally Cutler. Printing by Multi-Ad, Peoria, Ill. On the Cover: The Butler seniors: Jackie Closser, Carla Gheorghe and Ellen Hamilton. Butler Basketball 1

3 Butler Basketball GENERAL Location:... Indianapolis, Ind Founded: Enrollment:...4,400 Nickname:...Bulldogs School Colors:...Blue & White Home Court:...Hinkle Fieldhouse (11,043) Affiliation:... NCAA Division I Conference:... Horizon League President:...Dr. Bobby Fong Alma Mater/Yr.:...Harvard/1973 Athletic Director:...Barry Collier Alma Mater/Yr.:... Butler/1976 Assistant AD/SWA:...Julie Wooten Faculty Athletic Rep.:... Dr. Joe Kirsch Athletic Dept. Phone:... (317) Ticket Office Phone:... (317) HISTORY First year of women s basketball: All-time record: /31 seasons Years in NCAA Tournament/last:...1/1996 Years in WNIT/last:...2/1998 Last postseason opponent:...louisiana State Result:... Lost, 74-58, in 1998 WNIT 2nd Round TEAM INFORMATION Overall Record: Home: 7-5; Away: 7-8; Neutral: Horizon League Record/Finish:...9-7/4th Home: 4-4; Away: Postseason:...n/a Final Ranking:...n/a Letterwinners Returning/Lost:...8/4 Starters Returning/Lost:...4/1 COACHING STAFF Head Coach:...Beth Couture Alma Mater/Yr.:...Erskine/1984 Record at Butler (yrs.): (4) Career Record (yrs.): (17) Associate Head Coach:...Gene Hill Alma Mater/Yr.:...Coker College/1997 Assistant Coach:... Amy Cherubini Alma Mater/Year:...Indiana/1994 Assistant Coach:... Rachel Sloan Bullard Alma Mater/Year:...Presbyterian/2002 WBB Secretary:... Cindy Butts Basketball Office Phone:... (317) Best time to reach coach:...9 a.m.-12 p.m. Athletic Trainer:... Ryan Galloy (Butler/2000) SPORTS INFORMATION Assistant SID/WBB Contact:...Chris Urban Office Phone:... (317) Cell Phone:... (317) curban@butler.edu SID Fax:... (317) Associate AD/SID:... Jim McGrath Office Phone:... (317) jmcgrath@butler.edu Press Row Phone... (317) Mailing Address:... Butler University Athletics Hinkle Fieldhouse 510 W. 49th Street Indianapolis, IN Athletics Website:... University Website:... Horizon League Website:... Why Bulldogs? Prior to 1919, Butler s athletic teams were known as the Christians. But numerous losses in the 1919 football season caused Butler followers to grow weary of that nickname. During the week leading up to Butler s football game with the heated rival Franklin Baptists, Butler Collegian editor Alex Cavins and his staff, which included cartoonist George Kickson, decided something hot needed to be conceived for the school s weekly pep session. About that time, the mascot of a Butler fraternity - a bulldog named Shimmy (you couldn t shake him) - wandered into the Collegian office. The idea was born! The next day the school paper came out with a big page one cartoon showing Shimmy the Bulldog, labled Butler, taking a bite out of the pants seat of a figure labled John the Baptist. The caption was: Bring on that Platter, Salome! (Butler lost the game to Franklin, 14-0, but the name Bulldogs took hold.) Getting to Butler FROM NORTHWEST: I-65 south to I-465 east, exit I-465 at U.S. 31 (Meridian Street); follow Meridian Street south to 49th Street, turn right and follow 49th Street to Hinkle Fieldhouse (5 blocks). FROM NORTH: U.S. 31 (Meridian Street) south to 49th Street, turn right and follow to Hinkle Fieldhouse (5 blocks) FROM NORTHEAST: I-69 south (becomes Binford Blvd. in Marion County) to 46th Street, turn right and follow 46th Street to Boulevard Place, turn right and follow to Hinkle Fieldhouse (3 blocks) FROM EAST: I-70 west to I-65 north, exit at Meridian Street (U. S. 31) and follow Meridian Street north to 49th Street, turn left at 49th Street and follow to Hinkle Fieldhouse (5 blocks) FROM SOUTHEAST: I-74 north/west to I-465 north, exit I-465 at I-70 west and follow to I-65 north, exit at Meridian Street (U. S. 31) and follow Meridian Street north to 49th Street, turn left at 49th Street and follow to Hinkle Fieldhouse (5 blocks) FROM SOUTH: I-65 north, exit at Meridian Street (U. S. 31) and follow Meridian Street north to 49th Street, turn left at 49th Street and follow to Hinkle Fieldhouse (5 blocks) FROM WEST/SOUTHWEST: I-70 or I-74 east to I-465 north, exit I-465 at 38th Street, follow 38th Street east to Meridian Street (7-8 miles), turn left at Meridian Street and follow north to 49th Street, turn left on 49th Street and follow to Hinkle Fieldhouse (5 blocks). 2

4 Media Information The Butler women s basketball media guide has been prepared to assist members of the print and electronic media with their coverage of the Bulldogs. If you have need for additional information or pictures, please contact: Chris Urban, Assistant SID Butler University Hinkle Fieldhouse 510 W. 49th Street Indianapolis, Indiana address: curban@butler.edu IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Butler Athletic Department...(317) Head Coach Beth Couture...(317) Chris Urban (Offi ce)...(317) Chris Urban (Cell)...(317) SID FAX...(317) Press Row...(317) For additional Butler athletic information, visit: HORIZON LEAGUE PRESS ROW NUMBERS Butler...(317) Cleveland State...(216) Detroit...(313) Loyola...(773) UIC...(312) UW-Green Bay...(920) UW-Milwaukee...(414) Wright State...(937) Youngstown State...(330) WORKING CREDENTIALS: Requests for working press credentials should be directed to the Butler Sports Information Offi ce as far in advance of the game as possible. Working press members will be seated at courtside. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Photo passes will be issued by the Butler Sports Information Office to certified news photographers only. Photographers are limited to working at either end of the court at the right of the basket, and flashes are not permitted. POSTGAME INTERVIEWS: Butler coaches and players will be available for interviews following the game in the basketball interview area, located on the northwest side of the arena. Head coach Beth Couture will be available to all media following a 10-minute cooling-off period. Requests for Butler players should be given to Butler s SID prior to the end of the game. IN-SEASON INTERVIEWS: Head coach Beth Couture is available to the media immediately following any Butler practice session, or by appointment. Butler s players are available immediately following practice or as their class schedules allow. Contact Butler s Sports Information Offi ce for assistance in lining up interviews. RADIO BROADCASTS: Application for broadcasting permission must be made in writing to the Butler Sports Information Offi ce at least one week prior to the game. Courtside seating will be provided for up to four persons. Butler University will provide courtesy phone lines for the designated offi cial station of each visiting school. TELEVISION BROADCASTS: Application for television origination must be made in writing to the Butler Sports Information Offi ce at least one week prior to the game. Courtside seating will be provided for up to four persons. David Woods Indianapolis Star 307 North Pennsylvania Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Ashley Martin Dawgnet Butler University Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Local Media Outlets Dave Calabro WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Vince Welch WIBC 40 Monument Circle, Suite 400 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Steve Herman Associated Press 251 N. Illinois, Suite 1600 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Anthony Calhoun WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Chris Denari WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Greg Rakestraw ESPN Monument Circle, Suite 250 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Jackie Paquette Butler Collegian Butler University Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Dave Furst WRTV-TV 1330 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax John Michael Vincent WNDE 6161 Fall Creek Road Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax News Director WXNT 9245 N. Meridian, Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Butler Basketball 3

5 Horizon League Composite Schedule Oct. 30 Robert Morris at Loyola (EXH) Oct. 31 Hoosier Lady Stars at Butler (EXH) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 Wisconsin AAU at UW-Green Bay (EXH) Nov. 2 Chicago Challengers at UIC (EXH) Concordia (Wis.) at UW-Milwaukee (EXH) Nov. 4 OGBR at Youngstown State (EXH) 10:00 a.m. Michigan Tech at UW-Green Bay (EXH) 1:00 p.m. Grand Valley State at Valparaiso (EXH) 2:05 p.m. Nov. 5 Wheeling Jesuit at Cleveland State (EXH) Wisconsin AAU at UW-Milwaukee (EXH) Nov. 7 Northwood at Detroit (EXH) 4:30 p.m. St. Xavier at UIC (EXH) Saint Joseph s (Ind.) at Valparaiso (EXH) 8:05 p.m. Nov. 10 Bowling Green at Detroit 5:00 p.m. Miami (Ohio) at Cleveland State UW-Milwaukee at South Florida Valparaiso at Northwestern Cincinnati at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. UW-Green Bay at Kansas State Nov. 11 Western Michigan at UIC Nov. 12 Butler at Illinois Niagara at Cleveland State Northwestern at Loyola 3:05 p.m. Nov. 13 UW-Milwaukee at Miami (Fla.) Athletes in Action at Wright State (EXH) Nov. 14 Buffalo at Detroit 5:00 p.m. Illinois at UIC Illinois State at Loyola Nov. 15 Valparaiso at Indiana Oakland at UW-Green Bay Nov. 17 Youngstown State at Coppin State 6:00 p.m. Bradley at Butler Cleveland State at Ohio Detroit at Western Michigan Central Michigan at UIC UW-Milwaukee at Drake Northern Arizona at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Nov. 18 Loyola at Illinois Wright State at Ball State Nov. 19 UIC at Eastern Illinois UW-Milwaukee at C. Connecticut State Nov. 20 Detroit at Michigan UW-Green Bay at Marquette UW-Milwaukee at Wisconsin Nov. 21 Colgate at Cleveland State Miami (Ohio) at Wright State Buffalo at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. Butler vs. UC-Riverside (1) 12:00 a.m. Nov. 22 Valparaiso at Akron Butler vs. Alaska-Anchorage/Air Force (1) Nov. 24 Cleveland State at Long Island (2) 2:00 p.m. Wright State vs. Indiana (3) 5:00 p.m. Youngstown State at UNC-Wilmington (4) 6:00 p.m. UW-Green Bay vs. Minnesota (5) 6:30 p.m. UW-Milwaukee vs. San Jose State (6) Nov. 25 Evansville at UIC Loyola at North Texas 6:00 p.m. Cleveland State vs. Charleston/S. Alabama (2) Wright State vs. Miami (Fla.)/Nicholls State (3) Youngstown State vs. Duquesne/Furman (4) UW-Green Bay vs. Northern Arizona/Kent State (5) UW-Milwaukee vs. SMU/Bradley (6) Nov. 26 Butler at Ohio 2:00 p.m. Nov. 28 Buffalo at Cleveland State Loyola at Indiana State Bradley at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Nov. 29 IUPUI at Butler Detroit at Kentucky Toledo at Wright State UIC at Northwestern DePaul at UW-Green Bay Marquette at UW-Milwaukee Nov. 30 Youngstown State at Miami (Ohio) Valparaiso at Loyola Dec. 2 Ball State at Butler (7) 1:00 p.m. Longwood at Wright State 1:00 p.m. Detroit at Louisiana State UW-Milwaukee at Iowa State Valparaiso vs. Indiana State (7) 3:30 p.m. Illinois State at UW-Green Bay Cleveland State at Toledo Dec. 3 Loyola at Bradley UIC at Northern Iowa 5:00 p.m. Dec. 4 St. Bonaventure at Cleveland State Dec. 5 Wright State at Canisius Dec. 6 Loyola at Dayton 5:00 p.m. Butler at Evansville Detroit at Eastern Michigan Youngstown State at Indiana State Dec. 7 Cleveland State at Western Michigan UIC at Wisconsin Iowa at UW-Green Bay Air Force at UW-Milwaukee Dec. 9 Eastern Michigan at Wright State 1:00 p.m. Northern Iowa at Detroit 2:00 p.m. Air Force at UIC Indiana State at UW-Green Bay Dec. 10 Valparaiso vs. Ball State (8) 1:00 p.m. Purdue at Butler Akron at Cleveland State UW-Milwaukee at North Dakota State Dec. 13 Wisconsin at UW-Green Bay Chicago State at UW-Milwaukee Dec. 14 Wake Forest at Wright State Dec. 15 DePaul at Detroit Bradley at UIC Dec. 16 Akron at Youngstown State 2:05 p.m. Valparaiso at Northern Iowa 5:05 p.m. Cleveland State at Virginia UW-Green Bay at Chicago State Dec. 17 DePaul at UIC Dec. 18 Butler at Louisville Robert Morris at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. Dec. 19 IUPUI at Cleveland State 5:00 p.m. Loyola vs. DePaul (9) Wright State at Marshall Notre Dame at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Detroit vs. SMU (10) Dec. 20 Loyola vs. Syracuse (9) Butler at Tennessee State 4

6 Horizon League Composite Schedule Northern Illinois at UIC Detroit vs. East Carolina (10) Dec. 21 Clarion at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. Central Michigan at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Dec. 22 Dayton at Wright State Dec. 23 UW-Milwaukee at LaSalle 1:00 p.m. Dec. 28 Detroit vs. New Hampshire (11) 4:30 p.m. Butler at Cleveland State Wright State at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. Loyola at UW-Milwaukee UIC at UW-Green Bay Dec. 29 Detroit vs. Winston-Salem State / Virginia Tech (11) Dec. 30 Loyola at UW-Green Bay 2:00 p.m. Butler at Youngstown State 2:05 p.m. Saint Francis (Ind.) at Valparaiso 2:35 p.m. UIC at UW-Milwaukee Wright State at Cleveland State Jan. 3 Huntington at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Jan. 4 Youngstown State at Loyola 5:45 p.m. UW-Green Bay at Detroit Cleveland State at UIC Jan. 6 Butler at Wright State 1:00 p.m. Valparaiso at Oral Roberts 1:05 p.m. UW-Milwaukee at Detroit 1:30 p.m. Cleveland State at Loyola 1:30 p.m. Youngstown State at UIC Jan. 8 Valparaiso at Centenary Jan. 9 North Dakota State at UW-Green Bay Jan. 11 Detroit at Cleveland State 5:00 p.m. Loyola at Wright State UIC at Butler Jan. 13 UIC at Wright State 1:00 p.m. IUPUI at Valparaiso 2:35 p.m. UW-Milwaukee at UW-Green Bay Detroit at Youngstown State 5:15 p.m. Loyola at Butler 6:00 p.m. Jan. 15 Oakland at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Jan. 16 Loyola at Chicago State Jan. 18 Butler at Detroit Youngstown State at UW-Milwaukee Cleveland State at UW-Green Bay Jan. 20 Butler at IPFW 1:00 p.m. UIC at Loyola 1:30 p.m. Valparaiso at Western Illinois 2:00 p.m. Wright State at Detroit 2:00 p.m. Cleveland State at UW-Milwaukee Youngstown State at UW-Green Bay Jan. 24 Valparaiso at IPFW Jan. 25 UW-Milwaukee at Wright State UW-Green Bay at Butler Detroit at UIC Jan. 27 UW-Green Bay at Wright State 1:00 p.m. Detroit at Loyola 1:30 p.m. UW-Milwaukee at Butler 2:00 p.m. Cleveland State at Youngstown State 2:05 p.m. Valparaiso at Southern Utah Jan. 29 Valparaiso at UMKC Feb. 1 Loyola at Cleveland State 5:00 p.m. UIC at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. Detroit at UW-Milwaukee Feb. 3 Centenary at Valparaiso 2:35 p.m. UIC at Cleveland State Loyola at Youngstown State 5:15 p.m. Wright State at Butler 6:00 p.m. Detroit at UW-Green Bay Feb. 5 Oral Roberts at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Feb. 6 Youngstown State at Oakland Feb. 8 Youngstown State at Detroit Wright State at UIC Butler at Loyola Feb. 10 Cleveland State at Detroit 12:00 p.m. UW-Green Bay at UW-Milwaukee Valparaiso at Oakland 3:30 p.m. Wright State at Loyola Butler at UIC Feb. 12 Valparaiso at IUPUI Feb. 13 UIC at Chicago State Feb. 15 UW-Milwaukee at Cleveland State Detroit at Wright State UW-Green Bay at Youngstown State 7:05 p.m. Feb. 17 Loyola at UIC 2:00 p.m. Western Illinois at Valparaiso 2:35 p.m. UW-Green Bay at Cleveland State Detroit at Butler UW-Milwaukee at Youngstown State Feb. 19 Chicago State at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Feb. 22 Loyola at Detroit Wright State at UW-Green Bay Butler at UW-Milwaukee Feb. 24 UIC at Detroit 2:00 p.m. UMKC at Valparaiso 2:35 p.m. Wright State at UW-Milwaukee Youngstown State at Cleveland State Butler at UW-Green Bay Feb. 26 Southern Utah at Valparaiso 8:05 p.m. Mar. 1 Youngstown State at Butler Cleveland State at Wright State UW-Green Bay at Loyola UW-Milwaukee at UIC Mar. 3 Youngstown State at Wright State 2:00 p.m. Cleveland State at Butler 2:00 p.m. UW-Milwaukee at Loyola UW-Green Bay at UIC Valparaiso at Mid-Continent Conference Tournament (1) Butler at Carrs/Safeway Great Alaskan Shootout (Anchorage, Alaska) (2) Cleveland State at Long Island Turkey Classic (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (3) Wright State at Miami (Fla.) Thanksgiving Tournament (Miami, Fla.) (4) Youngstown State at UNC-Wilmington Tournament (Wilmington, N.C.) (5) UW-Green Bay at Northern Arizona Tournament (Flagstaff, Ariz.) (6) UW-Milwaukee at SMU Tournament (Dallas, Texas) (7) Butler and Valparaiso at Hoosier State Classic (Indianapolis, Ind.) (8) Valparaiso at Hoopla: A Celebration of Women s Basketball (Fort Wayne, Ind.) (9) Loyola at San Juan Shootout (San Juan, Puerto Rico) (10) Detroit at Caribbean Classic (Cancun, Mexico) (11) Detroit at Lady Luck Classic (Blacksburg, Va.) Butler Basketball 5

7 Preseason Information Horizon League Preseason Information The Horizon League Preseason Polls taken by a vote of the league s head coaches, sports information directors and media members. Horizon League Preseason Poll (27 ballots) 1) UW-Green Bay, 234 points (22 fi rst-place votes) 2) UW-Milwaukee 198 points (3 fi rst-place votes) 3) Butler, 192 points (1 first-place vote) 4) UIC, 185 points (1 fi rst-place vote) 5) Wright State, 132 points 6) Loyola, 83 points 7) Youngstown State, 72 points 8) Detroit, 63 points 9) Cleveland State, 56 points Preseason All-Horizon League First Team Nicole Soulis, UW-Green Bay (Preseason Player of the Year) Lade Akande, Butler Jackie Closser, Butler Traci Edwards, UW-Milwaukee LaShonda Grant, UIC` Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team Natalie Berglin, UW-Green Bay Dominique Butler, Cleveland State Marquise Hanser, Loyola Meredith Onson, UW-Milwaukee Brittney Whiteside, Wright State Jackie Closser enters her senior season with the Bulldogs as the school s single-season and career record holder in three-pointers made. Monday, March 5 - First Round No. 9 Seed at No. 8 Seed Wednesday, March 7 - Quarterfinals No. 8/9 Seed at No. 1 Seed No. 7 Seed at No. 2 Seed No. 6 Seed at No. 3 Seed No. 5 Seed at No. 4 Seed Friday, March 9 - Semifinals At Higher Seeds Sunday, March 11 - Championship At Higher Seed Lade Akande s 470 points scored in were the most ever for a Butler freshman and the fi fth-most in school history. 6

8 BULLDOGS Butler Basketball 7

9 Butler Bulldogs Roster Breakdown By Class Seniors...3 Juniors...2 Sophomores...4 Freshmen...3 By Primary Position Guard...6 Forward...5 Center...1 By Home State/Country Illinois...1 Indiana...9 Ohio...1 Romania...1 By Experience Three Letters Earned...2 Two Letters Earned...2 One Letter Earned...4 No Letters Earned...4 By Height Bain Lester Akande Thornton Gheorghe Freeman Hamilton Miller Seiss Brown Jones Closser Captains Jackie Closser Cassie Freeman Ellen Hamilton Numerical Roster No. Name Ht. Pos. Year Hometown/High School (Last College) 4 Candace Jones 5-7 G So. Indianapolis, Ind./Arsenal Tech 10 Jackie Closser * 5-5 G Sr. Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria Monroe 11 Carla Gheorghe 6-0 F Sr. Bucharest, Romania/Ion Creanga (Vincennes) 12 Julie Seiss 5-9 G/F Fr. Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw 15 Tara Miller # 5-10 G/F So. Ramsey, Ind./North Harrison (Indiana) 20 Cassie Freeman * 5-10 F Jr. Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian 21 Candyce Brown 5-7 G/F So. Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North 22 Candace Bain 6-2 F/C Jr. Clarksville, Ind./Clarksville 23 Ellen Hamilton * 5-10 G Sr. Greenfi eld, Ind./Greenfi eld Central 24 Mel Thornton 6-1 F Fr. Carmel, Ind./Carmel 30 Susan Lester 6-2 F/C Fr. Anderson, Ind./Pendleton Heights 55 Lade Akande 6-1 C So. Robinson, Ill./Robinson Alphabetical Roster No. Name Ht. Pos. Year Hometown/High School (Last College) 55 Lade Akande 6-1 C So. Robinson, Ill./Robinson 22 Candace Bain 6-2 F/C Jr. Clarksville, Ind./Clarksville 21 Candyce Brown 5-7 G/F So. Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North 10 Jackie Closser * 5-5 G Sr. Alexandria, Ind./Alexandria Monroe 20 Cassie Freeman * 5-10 F Jr. Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian 11 Carla Gheorghe 6-0 F Sr. Bucharest, Romania/Ion Creanga (Vincennes) 23 Ellen Hamilton * 5-10 G Sr. Greenfi eld, Ind./Greenfi eld Central 4 Candace Jones 5-7 G So. Indianapolis, Ind./Arsenal Tech 30 Susan Lester 6-2 F/C Fr. Anderson, Ind./Pendleton Heights 15 Tara Miller # 5-10 G/F So. Ramsey, Ind./North Harrison (Indiana) 12 Julie Seiss 5-9 G/F Fr. Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw 24 Mel Thornton 6-1 F Fr. Carmel, Ind./Carmel * denotes team captains # will become eligible following the fall semester Head Coach: Beth Couture (Erskine, 1984), Fifth Season Associate Head Coach: Gene Hill (Coker College, 1997), Fifth Season Assistant Coach: Amy Cherubini (Indiana, 1994), First Season Assistant Coach: Rachel Bullard (Presbyterian, 2000), First Season Pronunciation Guide: Lade Akande: la-day a-con-day Closser: CLAW-ser Couture: KOO-chur Gheorghe: geh-yor-geh Seiss: SEESS 8

10 Butler Bulldogs CANDACE JONES So. G 5-7 Indianapolis, Ind. Arsenal Tech JACKIE CLOSSER Sr. G 5-5 Alexandria, Ind. Alexandria Monroe CARLA GHEORGHE Sr. F 6-0 Bucharest, Romania Ion Creanga/Vincennes Univ. JULIE SEISS Fr. G/F 5-9 Warsaw, Ind. Warsaw TARA MILLER So. G/F 5-10 Ramsey, Ind. North Harrison/Indiana Univ. CASSIE FREEMAN Jr. F 5-10 Fishers, Ind. Heritage Christian CANDYCE BROWN So. G/F 5-7 Pickerington, Ohio Pickerington North CANDACE BAIN Jr. F/C 6-2 Clarksville, Ind. Clarksville ELLEN HAMILTON Sr. G 5-10 Greenfield, Ind. Greenfield Central MEL THORNTON Fr. F 6-1 Carmel, Ind. Carmel SUSAN LESTER Fr. F/C 6-2 Anderson, Ind. Pendleton Heights LADE AKANDE So. C 6-1 Robinson, Ill. Robinson BETH COUTURE Head Coach GENE HILL Associate Head Coach AMY CHERUBINI Assistant Coach RACHEL BULLARD Assistant Coach Butler Basketball 9

11 Outlook ARMED & DANGEROUS Led by two of the most prolifi c threepoint shooters in school history, the Bulldogs have their sights aimed high for the Horizon League Championship. The Butler women s basketball season came to an end at the Horizon League Championship, as the Bulldogs fell to eventual champion UW-Milwaukee in the fi nal seconds of a semifi nal game on March 5. The eight Butler players who appeared in that contest had been the driving force behind the team s success that season, responsible for nearly all of the offense on the team. Over eight months after that seasonending game, the Bulldogs will take the fl oor at Illinois on Nov. 12 to open up the season, and all eight of those crucial players will once again be hitting the hardwood. Including 2006 Horizon League Preseason First Team members senior Jackie Closser and sophomore Lade Akande, the returning octet accounted for nearly 95 percent of team s scoring, 84 percent of its rebounding, 84 percent of its assists and every one of its three-pointers made. This seasoned corps of players, coupled with four talented newcomers and an energetic coaching staff, has the Bulldogs thinking about ending this year s Horizon League Championship by cutting down the nets on the fi nal day. Head coach Beth Couture, now in her fi fth season as the Bulldogs mentor, sees great potential and confi dence in this season s squad. With the eight players we have returning, we won t have to learn how to play with each other, Couture said. Our strength will be in our mind-set. We feel good about last season and have a chance to do even better this year. GUARDS The Butler backcourt has rarely been a concern for the Bulldogs during Couture s tenure, and this season s lineup could feature the most potent of them all. Seniors Closser (890 career points) and Ellen Hamilton (885) enter their fi nal campaigns on pace to become the 17th and 18th players in school history to reach 1,000 career points. The tandem was downright deadly from beyond the arc last season, with Closser (84) and Hamilton (69) recording the two highest single-season three-point 10 Jackie Closser, a Horizon League Preseason First Team member, set single-season and career marks in three-pointers made last season. totals in school history and among the best in the nation in Closser, a team captain for the secondstraight season, is already the school record holder with 186 three-pointers made, thanks in part to her hitting at least one trey in each of her 28 games played last season. She paced the conference with 3.0 threepointers per game and was also tops with 5.21 assists per game, a.867 free throw percentage and a 1.85 assist-to-turnover ratio. For the second straight season, she saw over 1,000 minutes of playing time, fi n- ishing with the third-highest total in school history (1,072). Jackie is our fl oor leader, Couture said. She is our rock, our steady force. We go the way that she goes, which is why she was our MVP last season. Hamilton was just as deadly when it came to her shooting totals from beyond the arc, with her 46.6 percent made from downtown tops in the league and the fi fth-highest mark in the NCAA. She fi nished third on the team and 11th in the league with 12.3 ppg and played 887 minutes, second only to Closser. Ellen is the best three-point shooter on the team when it comes to consistency, Couture said. She has become much more physically stronger in the off-season, which will only help her game. Sophomore Candace Jones will vie for playing time both at the point and shooting guard positions after averaging 4.3 points per game in She paced the team from the free-throw line, hitting 89.4 percent (42-of-47) and was the leading scorer off the bench in eight games. Candace is a versatile perimeter player who could play guard or forward, Couture commented. She is capable of hitting the three as well as driving to the basket. The backcourt will also have added depth from newcomer Julie Seiss. A McDonald s All-American candidate while playing at Warsaw High School, she earned all-state honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Julie is a very athletic perimeter player, Couture said. Because of that, she has the potential to become a great defender. FORWARDS Sophomore Candyce Brown saw signifi cant playing time at small forward in her fi rst season last year and should continue to do so in She settled into the starting role at the end of the season, earning the nod in six of the last seven games, and averaged 29.5 minutes during that span. Candyce is the team s best perimeter defender, Couture said. We re counting on her to bring some more offense to her game in addition to her strong defensive presence. Brown will be challenged for playing time by transfer Tara Miller, who will become eligible following the fall semester after transferring from Indiana University. She was ranked among the state s leading scorers while playing at North Harrison High School, averaging 19.6 points, 6.6 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game. Tara is our strongest and most physical perimeter player, Couture said. She is a scorer. She shoots the three and can get to the hole. Freshman Mel Thornton could also see playing time at small forward. Ranked among Indiana s top-100 players in 2004 and 2005 while playing at Carmel High School, Thornton was named to both the Indiana Junior All-Star and Indiana All-North Team in Mel is a very athletic forward, Couture said. She will provide us with outside shooting, quickness to the bucket and rebounding ability. Junior Cassie Freeman returns as the Bulldogs starting power forward. She ranked third in the Horizon League with a 45.5 three-point percentage last season and was the only post player ranked among the league s top 15 in that category. She also finished third on the team and 16th in the league with 4.7 rebounds per game.

12 Outlook Cassie has developed into a great power forward, Couture said. She has great outside shooting, rebounds well and does anything to make us a better team. Senior Carla Gheorghe gave the Bulldogs a strong option at forward in her fi rst season with the team, fi nishing fi fth on the squad with 6.0 points and 2.6 boards per game. One of the team s most accurate shooters, Gheorghe hit 44.8 percent of her fi eld goals, the Bulldogs third-best mark Carla is an offensively skilled player, Couture said. She will only get better as she learns the system. Freshman Susan Lester will be relied upon for depth at both forward and the post. She was named to the Indiana All-Star team and to the North-South All-Star team while playing at Pendleton High School, where her 1,770 career points are a school record for both the women s and men s teams. Susan is a very skilled player, Couture commented. She understands the game and can score from both the inside and outside. Ellen Hamilton led the Horizon League and was fi fth in the nation in three-point effi ciency, hitting 46.6 percent. CENTER Akande returns as the anchor of the Butler frontcourt after a tremendous freshman campaign in which she ranked second in the league with 8.0 rebounds per game and third with 16.2 points per game. Her 470 points set a Butler freshman record and are the fi fth-highest single-season total in school history. She posted eight doubledoubles, scored in double fi gures in all but fi ve games and tallied 20 or more points 13 times. Lade is an explosive offensive player, Couture said. She has worked hard in the off-season to gain comfort on the perimeter and is much improved defensively. Junior Candace Bain will challenge for playing time both at center and power forward after seeing signifi cant action during her sophomore season. She was the leading scorer off the bench in eight contests and shot 41.1 percent (39-95) from the field, the fourth-best mark on the team Candace is a post player with excellent perimeter skills, Couture said. She can shoot the three and is a great passer. She has increased her strength in the off-season which will give her an advantage on the boards. THE SCHEDULE A Thanksgiving trip to Alaska, a Sunday home game against Purdue and an always challenging Horizon League slate highlight the schedule. Butler will host 12 regular season contests at Hinkle Fieldhouse, including eight against Horizon League foes and three versus in-state rivals. The demanding campaign will also pit the Bulldogs against six teams that advanced to postseason play in The Bulldogs open the regular season in Champaign, Ill. on Nov. 12 against the Fighting Illini, who advanced to the Women s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) last season, and open the home slate against Bradley on Nov. 17. Butler then hops a plane to Anchorage, Alaska for the twoday Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, where the Bulldogs will face UC-Riverside, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament a season ago, on Nov. 21 before taking on either Alaska-Anchorage or Air Force on Nov. 22. The Bulldogs host cross-town rival IU- PUI on Nov. 29 and host the Hoosier Classic on Dec. 2, as Butler battles Ball State while Valparaiso takes on Indiana State. After a road game at Evansville (Dec. 6), the Bulldogs will take on Purdue on Dec. 10 in their fi nal home contest until the New Year. The Boilermakers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship last season. Things don t get any easier for the team the following week, as Butler heads to Louisville - another NCAA Tournament participant - on Dec. 18 to begin a five-game road trip that spans three weeks and includes the Horizon League opener at Cleveland State on Dec. 28. Lade Akande paced the Bulldogs in points and rebounds last year while earning All-League Second Team and Newcomer honors. The Horizon League schedule will pit Butler against two more post-season participants, as the Bulldogs host UW-Green Bay, a WNIT participant last season, on Jan. 25 and Horizon League Champion UW-Milwaukee on Jan. 27. The season concludes at home with games against Youngstown State on March 1 and Cleveland State on March 3. The contest against the Vikings will also serve as Senior Day, with Closser, Hamilton and Gheorghe being honored in pre-game ceremonies. The Horizon League Championship begins with the No. 9 seed taking on the No. 8 seed on March 5, quarterfi nals on March 7, semifi nals on March 9 and championship game on March 11. We have a very competitive non-conference slate, Couture said. We open up with some tough competition on the road with Illinois and Louisville. Purdue is going to be a big game at home. We also are going to renew some in-state rivalries with Ball State, Evansville and IUPUI. The Horizon League has become more and more competitive each year I have been here, Couture added, and I expect this season to be no different. The nonconference schedule is going to be crucial to our preparation for the conference season. Butler Basketball 11

13 Outlook BULLDOGS TABBED THIRD: The Bulldogs were picked to fi nish third in the Horizon League this season in a poll of the league s coaches, sports information directors and media. Butler tallied 192 points in the poll, including one fi rst-place vote, and fi nished just six points behind second-place UW-Milwaukee (198). UW-Green Bay was selected to win the regular season title, receiving 234 points and 22 of the 27 voters fi rst-place ballots. DOUBLING-UP THE FIRST TEAM: Senior Jackie Closser and sophomore Lade Akande were both mentioned among the Horizon League s fi nest as members of the Preseason All-League First Team. Butler was the only school to have multiple players mentioned on the fi ve-player team. THREE TIMES THE LEADERSHIP: Senior guards Jackie Closser and Ellen Hamilton and junior forward Cassie Freeman were named team captains for the season. Closser returns as a second-year captain after receiving the honor as a junior, while Freeman and Hamilton earned the distinctions by a vote of the Butler players. The trio combined for 183 of the team s 223 three-pointers in and provide leadership both vocally and in their play. BACK FOR MORE: The Bulldogs return nearly 95 percent of their scoring from last season in their eight returning players. The octet also combined to nail down every one of the team s 223 three-pointers last year. THE RACE TO 1,000: Seniors Jackie Closser and Ellen Hamilton sit on the verge of becoming just the 17th and 18th players in Butler history to score 1,000 points in their careers. The two players stand just over 100 points away from the standard, with Closser totalling 890 during her career and Hamilton notching 885 in her three seasons. With just a fi ve-point gap separating the two at the start of the season, the race to 1,000 will likely be a photo-fi nish. TRIPLE TEAM: Butler was the undisputed champion in the Horizon League when it came to hitting shots from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs 223 three-pointers-made paced the league and was the fi fth-highest total in the NCAA. Additionally, the squad s league-leading.393 three-point percentage was the eighth-best rate in the nation and set a Butler single-season record. SPARK FROM THE ARC: Closser was a major reason for the Bulldogs success from three-point land in , as the 5-5 guard shattered her own Butler single-season mark with 84 three-pointers. Her total not only paced the team and the league but was the fourth-highest yearly mark in Horizon League history. She finished the season ranked sixth in the NCAA in three-point fi eld goals made, averaging 3.0 per game. A LITTLE BIT OF HELP: Closser was not the only Bulldog lighting it up from downtown last season. Hamilton s 69 treys in was the second-highest single-season total in school history. Additionally, her 46.6 percent-made paced the league and was the fi fth-highest mark in the NCAA. LADE TO REMEMBER: Lade Akande got off to a torrid start in her collegiate career as a freshman last season, leading the Bulldogs in scoring (16.2 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg). Her 470 points were also the fi fthhighest total in school history and the most ever for a freshman. POSTING-UP FROM DOWNTOWN: Junior forward Cassie Freeman fi nished third in the Horizon League in three-point percentage last season, knocking down 45.5 percent. In fact, she was the only post player ranked among the league s top 15 threepoint shooters. Candyce Brown earned the starting nod in six of the Bulldogs fi nal seven games, averaging 29.4 minutes during that span. Cassie Freeman fi nished third in the Horizon League with a 45.5 three-point percentage and was the only post player in the top 15. COURT AND CLASSROOM PRESENCE: Jackie Closser was recognized as a 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection, earning a spot on the women s basketball District V Second Team. The team was chosen by voting members of the College Sports Information Directors of America and was based on both athletic and academic performance from a list of nominated student-athletes who held at least sophomore status, a minimum grade point average of 3.2 and were starters or key reserves on their team. 75 AND ALIVE: Seventy-fi ve points was apparently all it took for Butler to ensure a victory last season. The Bulldogs sported a perfect 8-0 mark in when they tallied 75 points or more in a game. GET AHEAD AND STAY AHEAD: Butler also had a knack for holding on for wins after leading at halftime. The Bulldogs touted a 12-2 record when they were ahead at the break. DON T LET IT GET TO YOU: The Bulldogs were fairly resilient when it came to bouncing back from a defeat. Butler held a 9-4 record in games that followed a loss, which was a big reason why the Bulldogs never lost more than three consecutive games all season. 12