Purdue Calumet Sports Update, October 30, 2015

PUC-Purdue-Calumet-Defeats-GLCC-117-78-to-Open-2015-16Purdue Calumet Defeats GLCC 117-78 to Open 2015-16
Ryan Rader shot a perfect 13-of-13 from the field and four players scored in double-figures to lead the Purdue University Calumet men’s basketball team to a season-opening, 117-78 victory on the road at Great Lakes Christian College Thursday.

Rader (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) didn’t miss a shot and pulled down four boards to finish with 28 points in just 18 minutes to lead the Peregrines, who opened the 2015-16 season 1-0 after coming away with the nonconference road win at the Doty Center in Lansing, Mich.

Junior college transfer LaBradford Seebree (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) added 21 points in his Purdue Calumet debut on 7-of-12 shooting to go along with three boards, two assists and five steals, freshman Chandler Spring (Covington, Ind./Covington) had 12 points and junior Darric Obinger (Munster, Ind./Calumet Christian) chipped in 10 points to lead Purdue Calumet’s scorers.

The Peregrines didn’t wait long to take a sizable lead, as Purdue Calumet made a 10-0 run to start the contest on a bucket apiece from Spring and Rader and two 3-point makes by Sebree, who finished 3-of-6 from downtown. Great Lakes Christian College’s (0-3) David Parks kept his team in the ball game with three triples of his own in the first six minutes to cut the Peregrines lead to 15-11 at the 14:40 mark, but Purdue Calumet would use two Obinger layups to kickstart a 27-8 run that helped the Black and Gold take a 62-42 lead at halftime.

The Peregrines recorded 11 steals in the game compared to just two from GLCC, while capitalizing on 17 Lakes’ turnovers.

Purdue Calumet shot a blistering 67.6 percent (23 of 34) in the first half and didn’t lose much steam in the second period, making 24-of-39 (61.5 percent) to finish with a 64.4 percent clip from the field for the game, compared to 45.9 percent for the Lakes.

Junior Marquette Muhammad (Chicago, Ill./Crete Monee) and senior Ryan Hensen (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler) each had seven boards to lead Purdue Calumet’s effort on the boards, where the Peregrines used a distinct height advantage to out rebound Great Lakes Christian by a 43-26 margin. Muhammad finished with a sparkling all-around game, adding a game-high seven assists, two steals and seven points while draining all three of his shot attempts.

Sophomore Daulton Albanese (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) added eight points and five assists off the bench for the Peregrines, who finished with 22 points and just nine turnovers.

Anthony Kaminski scored 20 points and Mikhail Perkins and David Parks each had 18 to lead GLCC, who dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

Purdue Calumet returns to action Friday, Nov. 6, when the Peregrines kick off Day 1 of the annual Purdue Calumet Tip-Off Classic with a 6 p.m. CT matchup against Governors State at the Fitness and Recreation Center. Purdue Calumet will face Clarke University on Day 2, Saturday at 4 p.m. CT in the eight-game, eight-team tournament.

Purdue Calumet Surpasses 2014 Win Total with 3-0 Victory over CCSJ
The Purdue University Calumet volleyball team defeated Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Calumet St. Joseph, 3-0 Thursday night at the Fitness and Recreation Center.

The Peregrines (11-21, 5-12 CCAC) won in straight sets over the Crimson Wave (6-29, 0-17 CCAC) to surpass their overall and conference win total from last season, and securing the most wins in a season since the program was reinstated in 2010.

“I liked our composure and focus tonight, especially when CCSJ pushed us in the second set,” head coach Julie Wiejak said. It was nice to have Sammy back on the court tonight. Having her energy and experience brought so much to our team.”

“This was a total team effort, and we’re pleased to exceed our win total from last year, especially with two more conference matches left in the season.”

The Peregrines jumped out to an early 13-3 advantage in Set 1, after a strong offensive attack followed by a pair of service aces from Carley Bartolini (Portage, Ind./Chesterton) gave the Black and Gold early momentum.

Purdue Calumet used that momentum for the remainder of the set, taking a 1-0 lead on a 25-12 Set 1 victory.

Set 2 was evened up at 13-13, before a pair of kills from Kayla Elsea (Palmyra, Ind./Crawford Country) and Gabrielle Martin (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley) gave the Peregrines a 19-14 advantage.

The Crimson Wave Battled back to tie the set at 21-21, but the Black and Gold would earn the next two points making it 23-21.

After CCSJ would go on to take a 25-24 lead, Akeelah Muhammad (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Township) would even the score on a kill to knot the score 25-25.

The Peregrines would later capitalize on some Crimson Wave miscues to win the second set 28-26.

Purdue Calumet would use five service aces in the third set to headline a 25-18 Set 3 win, to complete the three-set sweep of the Crimson Wave.

The Black and Gold showed why they’re ranked in the top ten in the NAIA in total service aces, after the Peregrines recorded 12 aces in the match.

Martin led all attackers with 12 kills while freshman Jenna Pasko (Lansing, Ill./T.F. South) recorded seven kills, 13 digs and three service aces.

Bartolini registered 32 assists and a trio of service aces as well, to round out the Peregrine leaders.

Purdue Calumet returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 3 as they travel to Palos Heights, Ill. for a CCAC matchup with Trinity Christian at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Purdue Calumet Opens 2015-16 Season Saturday at Valparaiso
The No. 11-ranked Purdue University Calumet women’s basketball team will look to continue its four-year streak of 20-win seasons as the Peregrines jumpstart their 2015-16 campaign Saturday afternoon with an exhibition match against NCAA Div. I opponent Valparaiso University.

The Peregrines (0-0) will take on the Crusaders (0-0) at 1:30 p.m. (CT) at the Athletics Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind.

“We have a lot of experience returning this year with an outstanding bench,” ninth year head coach and the program's all-time win leader at 139 and counting, Tom Megyesi said. “Our new recruits will play an important part of our team's success, and we look forward to a highly competitive season.”

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS - One year after going 21-8 overall and 12-4 at home, the Peregrines will host 15 games at the Fitness and Recreation Center, including an exhibition contest with NCAA Div. II and GLIAC member Saginaw Valley State on Nov. 28th at 1:00 p.m (CT).

Purdue Calumet will kick off its regular season schedule with a home game against Indiana Tech Tuesday, Nov. 3, followed by the annual Purdue Calumet Tip-Off Classic Nov. 6-7. With the release of the NAIA Div. II Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll, the tournament has proven to be a weekend full of national contenders.

The Black and Gold will face off with No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan in the first game of the Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 6, followed by a contest against (RV) Cornerstone University Nov. 7. CCAC member and No. 18 Robert Morris will take on Cornerstone and IWU in the other two womens' contests.

The Peregrines will continue their home stand with No. 17 Huntington University Nov.10, making it their third straight game against teams recognized in the NAIA Div. II Coaches’ Preseason Poll.

Prior to the start of the bulk of the team's conference slate, the Black and Gold will travel to Springfield, Ohio, for the Wittenburg Classic Dec. 29-30. The Peregrines will face off with Baldwin-Wallace on the 29th, before playing Wittenburg on the 30th.

RETURNING PLAYERS - The Peregrines return nine players to this year’s squad, including 6-foot forward and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American Jada Buggs (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial). Buggs led Purdue Calumet in scoring (17.4 ppg) and was second on the team in rebounding (6.9 rpg) in the 2014-15 season en route to all-CCAC First Team accolades.

Senior center Patrice McBee (Monterey, Ind./Culver Community) and junior guard Cassidy Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) also return to lead a formidable lineup in 2015-16. McBee received All-CCAC Honorable Mention honors after had a breakout season in her third season in a Peregrine uniform, averaging a double-double with 13.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. She led not only the CCAC, but all of NAIA Division II in field goal percentage all season long, finishing the year at a stellar 66.7 percent clip.

Deno was selected to the All-CCAC Second Team after averaging 16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point land, where she made a team-best 72 makes from behind the arc.

Junior 5-foot-6 guard Darien Thompson (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) returns for her third year with the Peregrines, after averaging 5.7 points per game in her sophomore season. Sophomore forward Katie Wampler (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) also returns for her second season with the Black and Gold after averaging 2.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg in her freshman campaign.

Purdue Calumet will also bring back four forwards, Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago), Alexis Johnson (Portage, Ind./Portage), Jessica Kiser (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) and Katie Dominguez (St. John, Ind./Hanover Central) who will put in valuable minutes for the Peregrines this season.

KEY ADDITIONS - The Peregrines welcome two transfer players along with a trio of freshman to round out this year’s squad. Dariyan Morris (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) enters her first year with the Peregrines after spending her last two seasons with Calumet St. Joseph. Morris led the Crimson Wave in scoring averaging 16.0 points per game, while also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.7 assists per contest in 2014-15.

Ashley Weringa (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North) also joins the Black and Gold for her first season in a Peregrine uniform after spending her freshman year at Ashford University. Weringa played in 32 games with the Saints, where she averaged 12.1 minutes per game and 2.6 ppg.

Freshmen Michaela Kikendall (Morristown, Ind./Morristown), Heather Burton (Valparaiso, Ind./Washington Twp.) andKaylee Hardy (Saranac, Mich./Saranac) round out the newcomers for the Peregrines and look to make an immediate impact for the Black and Gold this season.