Valparaiso finds out about its conference slate as the MVC schedule is released

Time Staff

Valpo learns the conference schedule: The Missouri Valley Conference announced its conference schedule for the upcoming women’s basketball season. Valparaíso learned that it will open the season with two matchups with MVC newcomers. The Beacons will begin their conference slate on the road against Belmont on Dec. 30. They will then ring in the new year on Jan. 1 at Murray State. Valparaiso’s first home conference game will be against Evansville at the ARC. The Beacons hope they head into the MVC with more momentum than they did last season. Valparaíso opened the 2021-22 season with nine straight losses, eventually entering the Valley slate with a 2-9 record. The Beacons finished MVC play with a 9-9 record, good enough for seventh in the conference. This season will mark the first time since Valparaíso joined the conference that the schedule is not a doubleheader format. Teams will play 20 conference games.

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Athletes of the Week named: The fifth Athletes of the Week for the 2022-23 school year are Hammond Central’s Jordan Woods, Crown Point’s Kenzie Wilson, Michigan City’s Jaden Hart and Valparaiso’s Leah Ribordy. Woods had 300 yards of total offense, two rushing touchdowns and a punt return TD in a win over Pioneer. Wilson shot an 81 to earn medalist honors at the Lake Central Sectional. Hart had 142 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries in a loss to Merrillville. Ribordy shot an 84 to medal in the Valparaiso Section. Each week, the Times will honor four athletes, one boy and one girl each from two areas: Lake, Jasper and Newton counties and the south suburbs; and Porter and LaPorte County. Coaches and athletic directors are invited to submit nominations by noon on Monday to munsports@lee.net. For more information, email Times Sports Editor Mike Clark at michael.clark@nwi.com.

Beacons host homecoming parties: Brown Field will host Valparaiso’s return game on Saturday, when the Beacons host San Diego at noon. The game will also feature plenty of festivities for the occasion. The tailgate community lot will be open three hours prior to kickoff and will give ticket holders access to food trucks, bounce houses and games according to the athletic department. The cost to enter the lot is $10 per car for the general public and $5 for faculty and staff.

Star in the sky at the World Cup: Four members of last season’s WNBA semifinalist Chicago Sky continue their strong seasons overseas at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Kahleah Copper and the United States opened group play against two Sky players in Julie Allemand and Emma Meesseman. Copper had 11 points, five rebounds and three steals in the USA’s 87-72 win on Wednesday. Allemand had 10 points, four assists and two steals. Meesseman recorded four points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block on the night. Li Yueru represents China in the tournament. Yueru and China opened Thursday with a strong 107-44 win over Korea in which Yueru scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and blocked a shot.

Gallery: Valparaiso hosts No. 22 Notre Dame women’s basketball

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Valparaiso’s Leah Earnest chases the ball to steal Notre Dame’s Abby Prohaska in the fourth quarter Wednesday evening in Valparaiso. Tied at 25-25 at the half, Valparaiso fell behind in the second half, losing 73-56 to Notre Dame.