The Raven women's basketball team takes to the court tonight for the first of their final two home games of the 2013-14 season as they host Graceland University.
Benedictine holds a 34-12 series lead as the Ravens and the Yellowjackets match up for the second time this season in the 47th meeting since Benedictine joined the HAAC for the 1992-93 season.
TIP-OFF: The Ravens have won the last four meetings since the Yellowjackets took two of three from Benedictine during the 2010-11 season while the Ravens are going for their 14th sweep in the HAAC series. ... Back on Jan. 16, the Ravens earned a 81-74 win over Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa. ... Benedictine is 4-2 against Graceland in the last six meetings inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium with the Yellowjackets taking both meetings inside the Nolan during the 2010-11 season. ... Graceland enters the match up winners of their last two but are 2-2 in February and 6-5 in 2014. ... Benedictine has lost three straight – all to current NAIA Div. I-ranked opponents – and are just 6-7 in 2014. ... The Ravens are currently tied with Missouri Valley College for fourth place in the HAAC standings with the Yellowjackets just a game back in sixth place.
GAMEDAY LINKS
Match up: Graceland Univeristy (11-10, 7-7 HAAC) vs. Benedictine (160-101, 8-6 HAAC) - 5:30 p.m., Ralph Nolan Gymnasium
Radio: KAIR 93.7 FM or www.network1sports.com/station/kair
Video: BRSNtv - www.livestream.com/benedictineravensportsnetwork
Livestats - click on the ((w)): Dakstats Livestats
ABOUT GRACELAND: Graceland has become a tough out under head coach Rich Harrup. ... He was able to make an immediate impact on the program, guiding the Yellowjackets to their only HAAC Tournament finals appearance at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. ... Graceland is the third-leading scoring team in the HAAC this season, averaging 75.8 points through 21 games. ... That mark is also good for 23rd in NAIA Div. I. ... Graceland averages 6.8 3-pointers per game while they convert an average of 27 field goals per game. ... As a team, the Yellowjackets rank in the top four in the HAAC in 3-point field goal defense, limiting their opponents to 31.8 percent this season. ... Graceland is also among the HAAC leaders in steals per game, ranking third with an average of 8.3 steals per game. ... Individually Jerica Smith is the Yellowjackets leading scorer at 13.0 ppg while she also leads the team in rebounds at 8.8 per game. ... In addition to Smith's double-figure average, Graceland has two additional players with an average over 10 points per game. Sydney Vaughn is at 12.4 ppg and Ashleigh Wilson is at 10.7 ppg.
ABOUT THE RAVENS: Benedictine finds themselves in a very unfamiliar place with four games remaining in the season. ... Through 26 games, Benedictine is 5-6 at home this season with just two more chances to move that number back into the winning column. ... Benedictine has been held to 72.1 ppg in 2014, dropping their season average to 74.3. In HAAC play, that number sits at 73. ... Thanks to their four-game winning streak where they won by an average of 28 points per game, the Ravens have still outscored their opponents by an average of 2.6 points per game, down from their season average of 4.9. ... A bright spot for the Ravens in January and February has been their ball control. ... The Ravens are averaging a turnover less per game this semester than their season average and have recorded 106 of their 210 steals in their last 13 games. ... The Ravens post play has stepped up over their current losing streak. ... Chayla Rutledge is averaging 17.0 ppg while Erin Murphy is averaging 11.7.
EXTRA POINTS: Forward Erin Murphy currently has 979 career points as a Raven heading into the final four games of the year. ... If she hits her season average of 9.6 she should reach the 1,000 point plateau against Culver-Stockton or Evangel in Benedictine's final two games.
