five-game road swing when they play two games in Chicago. Dayton first takes on Chicago State on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. ET and two days later they go up against UIC, Monday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET.
The Flyers started the season against four teams that were nationally ranked or receiving votes, and every one of those games was decided by three points or less. That all changed in its fifth game. The Dayton Flyers broke out against Seattle at the Purdue University Basketball Travelers Classic as UD cruised to a 75-37 victory to claim the BTI Classic title, Nov. 22.
The Flyers won the tournament with a 3-0 record and the Georgetown Hoyas finished second with a 2-1 record. The Boilermakers were 1-2 and Seattle University 0-3. The five-member Basketball Travelers Classic All-Tournament team was: Brittany Rayburn (Purdue), Jaleesa Butler, Sugar Rodgers (Georgetown), Justine Raterman and Brittany Wilson (Dayton).
Dayton's Kristin Daugherty was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Classic marked the 27th in-season tournament UD has ever played. UD posted a 2-3 record during in-season tournaments last season, including 1-1 in the Dayton Flyer Classic (Dec. 28-29, 2008). The last time Dayton won an in-season tournament was 2005 when the Flyers captured the Tulane Basketball Classic in New Orleans, La.
In their home opener, Dayton registered a 77-74 upset of No. 10/10 Michigan State. Kristin Daugherty scored a team-high 17 points for Dayton. Kendel Ross had 14 points, including four free throws in the final 15.8 seconds. Justine Raterman added a double double of 13 and 10 rebounds and Patrice Lalor had 10 points. The win over MSU marks the second time that head coach Jim Jabir has coached his Flyers to a win over a nationally-ranked opponent. UD's last win over a ranked opponent came against No. 16/15 Xavier in the Atlantic 10 semifinal last season.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE
Chicago State is 2-3 and has won two straight going into the game against the Flyers. Junior Courtney Waldon leads the Cougars with 12.8 ppg. Sophomore Jael Pena adds 10.0 ppg and senior Alyssa Waldon chips in 8.6 ppg. Senior Laureen Pierson (Northmont graduate) grabs 5.6 rpg to lead the Cougars on the glass. The Cougars won against Winthrop, 45-41 in a WNIT Preseason Game, and against St. Francis (Ill.) 73-66 in their home opener, Nov. 25.
SERIES STUFF
The Cougars lead the all-time series 2-1. Dayton is 0-1 when playing on the road against Chicago State. The Flyers claimed the last meeting 75-70 last season on Dec. 12, 2008. Four Flyers scored in double figures in the win, led by Justine Raterman's 16 points and 14 rebounds. Kendel Ross also had a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Kristin Daugherty had 15 points and De'Sarae Chambers added 14.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
After a huge weekend to begin the 2009-10 season, the University of Dayton women's basketball program started receiving votes in both major women's college basketball polls. In the first regular season poll, UD garnered 14 votes in the Associated Press Top 25, and three votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. They are currently within three spots of cracking the Top 25. The Flyers come in at No. 28 on both polls; with 39 votes in the AP Top 25 and 37 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. Prior to this season, the last time the Flyers were in the polls, they were on a 16-game winning streak - tying the longest streak in the nation - and picked up three votes in the AP Top 25 Poll on Jan. 14, 2008. The first time in modern history the Flyers ever received votes in a national poll was Dec. 24, 2007 when they received five votes in the AP Top 25. The Flyers also received one vote in the Jan. 7, 2008 AP poll.
NEXT UP
The Flyers conclude their five-game road swing when they go up against UIC, Monday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET in Chicago.
