 WKU is now 4-1 in the month of December. A win against Wright State would give WKU five wins in the month of December for the first time since 2005-06 when the Lady Toppers won six games in the final month of the calendar year.
 WKU is trying to extend its current three-game winning streak into the first streak of four games since WKU won five straight games between Feb. 17 and Mar. 7, 2010.
 During WKU's current three-game winning streak, the Lady Toppers have held teams to just 45.7 points per game.
 WKU has two non-conference games remaining this season before embarking on a 17-game Sun Belt Conference stretch to end the season.
 With their next win, the Lady Toppers will match their win total from a year ago at nine wins. WKU finished 9-21 a season ago. WKU recorded its eighth win of the season on Dec. 16, 2012 against SEMO. WKU didn't reach the eight-win mark until Feb. 15, 2012 last season, a win over FAU.
 WKU is 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play and stand at the top of the league standings. WKU has started Sun Belt Conference play with three straight wins for the first time since 2007-08 when they won their first 11 league contests en route to a 16-2 conference record and East Division championship.
Game Notes
Road Warriors - The Lady Toppers have been road warriors early in the 2012-13 season, winning all five road contests that they have played. WKU was just 1-13 on the road a year ago.
 WKU is 5-0 on the road to start a season for the first time since the 1994-1995 season.
 WKU has won five road games to start the season for the sixth time in program history. Other occurances came in 1976-77 (won five), 1984-85 (won seven), 1985-86 (won seven), 1990-91 (won 12) and 1994-95 (won six).
On the Road (Non-Conference Edition) - WKU is 3-0 in non-conference road games this season. It is just the fifth time in the last 15 season that WKU has won three non-conference games on the road. WKU hasn't reached four non-conference road wins since 1996-97.
 WKU's win over Murray State on Nov. 9, 2012 ended an 11-game losing streak in non-conference games on opponent's home floors. WKU's most recent win before the win at Murray State came on Dec. 28, 2009 at George Washington, a 74-65 win for the Lady Toppers.
 The Wright State game marks the final road, non-conference game of the season for WKU. A WKU win over Wright State would give WKU a 4-0 non-conference record on the road, which would be the most non-conference road wins for the Lady Toppers since 1996-97 when WKU went 4-3.
Seeking Ten - With three games remaining before the calendar turns to a new year, WKU is two wins shy of reaching the 10-win mark before the new year for just the fifth time in program history. On four previous occasions, WKU has reached 10 wins before Jan. 1 (1990-91, 1997098, 1998-99 and 2005-06).
Filling Up the Stat Sheet (Steals) - WKU continues to fill up the steals column on the stat sheet.
 WKU has double-digit steals in seven of ten games this season after having just seven games with double-digit steals a year ago.
 WKU was one steal shy of having the 13th 20 steal game in program history and second this season when the Lady Toppers had 19 in the win over Morehead State on Dec. 6.
 WKU had a season high 21 steals against ULM on Nov. 29 in Monroe.
 As shown in the following chart, if WKU maintains its current 12.5 assist average per game for 30 games, it would put the 2012-13 team in the top three single-season steal performances of all-time.
WKU's Single Season Record
for Steals By Team
1. 1991-92 379 (10.8)
2. 1990-91 378 (11.8)
3. 2012-13 *125 (12.5)
4. 1987-88 354 (10.4)
5. 1993-94 350 (10.3)
6. 1997-98 348 (9.9)
7. 2005-06 342 (10.1)
8. 1988-89 332 (10.7)
9. 1984-85 331 (9.7)
10. 1994-95 330 (10.3)
*If current average holds for a 30-game season
Gooch's Double-Doubles - Chastity Gooch continues to impress for the Lady Toppers, recording a double-double in nine of WKU's first ten games. Up until WKU's Dec. 4, 2012 game against Vanderbilt, Gooch was one of three players in the nation to record a double-double in every game this season, joining Texas' Nneka Enemkpali and Charlotte's Jennifer Hailey. Gooch is the first player in program history to record five straight double-doubles to open a season. She posted a double-double in the first six games of the season.
 As a team, WKU had 14 double-doubles in 2011-12. The team already has 11 in 10 games this season.
Gooch Leads Nation in Double-Doubles - Sophomore Chastity Gooch leads the nation in double-doubles at nine this season.
National Leaders in Double-Doubles
through games of 12/17/12
1. Chastity Gooch, WKU 9
2 Sammie Jensen, Utah Valley 8
Cheyenne Parker, High Point 8
4. Brandi Brown, Youngstown St. 7
Erika Livermore, Fairleigh Dickinson 7
Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford 7
Shalonda Winton, Cleveland St. 7
Jennifer Hailey, Charlotte 7
Gooch Among National Leaders in Steals Despite Position, Height - WKU sophomore Chastity Gooch is the only non-guard in the nation averaging 3.80 steals per game or more. Each of the 15 indvidiuals on the list are listed as guards except for Gooch. She is one of just two players in the top 24 listed at 6-0 or taller.
National Leaders in Steals
(3.70 or more)
through games of 12/17/12
1 Jocelyn Floyd, Duquesne 5.30
2 Jaclyn Babe, Central Conn. St. 4.71
3 Felicia Barron, Quinnipiac 4.63
4 Jamierra Faulkner, Southern Miss. 4.44
5 Sylvia Shephard, Seattle 4.25
6 Ericka Norman, Sacred Heart 4.13
7 Dawnn Maye, Georgia Tech 4.11
8 Ta'Rea Cunnigan, San Jose St. 4.10
9 Taylor Thompson, Fresno St. 3.90
10 Markel Walker, UCLA 3.88
11 Chastity Gooch, Western Ky. 3.80
Raven Harris, UMBC 3.80
13 Daisha Simmons, Alabama 3.75
14 Briahanna Jackson, UCF 3.70
Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown 3.70
Gooch is Thief on the Court - WKU sophomore Chastity Gooch continues to make a major impact on the defensive end, recording six steals in three different games this season.
 Gooch is one of just three players to record multiple seven assist games in their WKU career, having achieved the feat against ULM (seven on Nov. 29, 2012) and Morehead State (seven on Dec. 6, 2012) this year.
 Gooch already has 38 steals this season. The school record is 83 in 1994-95 by Gwen Doyle. Gooch needs 71 to reach the top 10 mark for a single season.
 Gooch has posted two of the 17 top steal performances in school history this season by recording seven steals twice. The school record is nine in a single game.
WKU's Single Game Steals Records
9 Dawn Warner vs. New Orleans (3/6/96)
8 Charlene James at South Florida (1/31/87)
8 Leslie Logsdon at Illinois-Chicago (1/11/04)
Tifany Zaragoza vs. Miississippi (12/18/03)
7 Sheronda Jenkins vs. UL Lafayette (12/29/84)
Kami Thomas vs. South Florida (3/7/85)
Clemette Haskins vs. Charlotte (3/5/87)
Tandreia Green vs. Miiddle Tenn. (2/28/90)
Renee Westmoreland at Hawaii (11/24/90)
Kristie Jordan at New Orleans (1/30/93)
Gwen Doyle at Lamar (1/20/94)
Gwen Doyle vs. Texas-Pan Am (3/7/94)
Gwen Doyle vs. Murray St. (12/17/94)
Dawn Warner vs. New Orleans (2/22/96)
Kristina Covington at Miami (Ohio) (12/18/01)
Chastity Gooch at ULM (11/29/12)
Chastity Gooch at Morehead St. (12/6/12)
Gooch Among Top Rebounders in Program History - Sophomore Chastity Gooch is having one of the top single seasons on the glass in program history. Her 11.0 rebounds per game average would place her among the top five in school history.
WKU's Single Season Record
for Rebounding Average
1. Arnika Brown (2008-09) 11.6
2. Arnika Brown (2009-10) 11.2
3. Chastity Gooch (2012-13) 11.0
4. Shea Lunsford (1998-99) 10.8
5. ShaRae Mansfield (1999-2000) 10.6
Govan Among Top Scorers in Program History - Sophomore Alexis Govan is currently near the top of the single-season scorers in program history. Her 18.7 points per game average would place her among the top ten in school history. Current assistant coach ShaRae Mansfield ranks seventh on the list for her 2000-01 scoring average of 19.4 points per game.
WKU's Single Season Record
for Scoring Average
1. Crystal Kelly (2006-07) 24.1
2. Crystal Kelly (2007-08) 22.6
3. Natalie Powers (2000-01) 22.3
4. Brenda Chapman (1977-78) 20.2
Crystal Kelly (2005-06) 20.2
6. Lillie Mason (1985-86) 20.0
7. ShaRae Mansfield (2000-01) 19.4
8. Crystal Kelly (2003-04) 19.3
9. Tandreia Green (1988-89) 18.8
10. Alexis Govan (2012-13) 18.7
Govan's Big Night - Alexis Govan had a huge night to help WKU improve to 3-0 in SBC play with a 32-point performance against Troy on Dec. 1, 2012. It was the first 30 point game for WKU since Janae Howard had 30 vs. Troy on Jan. 22, 2011. She was joined in scoring at least 20 points in the game by Chastity Gooch's 25 point performance. It was the first time WKU had two players scored 20 points in a game since Feb. 5, 2011 when Janae Howard (24) and Arnika Brown (20) had the mark against Louisiana-Monroe.
McGee Makes Impact in Debut - Junior Bianca McGee made a major impact in her WKU on Dec. 16, 2012 against SEMO. The junior college transfer had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and an assist in just 24 minutes of play.
First-Year Success - First year head coach Michelle Clark-Heard is one of three coaches in program history to start their WKU career with wins in at least eight of their first ten games as the Lady Topper bench boss. Julia Yeater was 8-2 in 1976-77 (eventually 11-2) and Steve Small was 8-2 in 1997-98 (eventually 9-2) in leading the Lady Toppers in their first year at WKU.
Sun Belt Start - WKU is 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play and stand at the top of the league standings. WKU has started Sun Belt Conference play with three straight wins for the first time since 2007-08 when they won their first 11 league contests en route to a 16-2 conference record and East Division championship.
 WKU's men's and women's basketball teams are a combined 5-0 in league play this season, including the 3-0 start by the Lady Toppers.
Block Party - Despite not using a player taller than 6-0 in the games agaisnt Morehead State on Dec. 6 and Kent State on Dec. 9, WKU recorded a season-high seven blocks each of those games.
Reaching 80 - WKU scored 84 points in their win over Troy on Dec. 1, 2012. Earlier this season, WKU scored 80 points in their 80-69 win over Murray State, marking the first time WKU had reached the 80-point plateau since March 3, 2011 in a 81-66 win over North Texas in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. WKU has won 47 consecutive games when scoring 80 points. WKU's last loss when scoring 80 points or more came March 14, 2002 when WKU suffered a 91-84 setback to Illinois in the WNIT in Champaign, Ill. All-time, WKU is 407-23 (.946) when reaching the 80-point plateau. WKU has won 78 of its last 79 games when scoring 80 points or more, dating to the start of the 2002-03 season.
WKU POW I - In helping WKU to wins over Northern Kentucky and Florida International, Chastity Gooch earned the first Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honor of her career on Nov. 20, 2012. Gooch averaged 14 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4 steals per game in the wins. Gooch was the first Lady Toppers to be named Sun Belt Player of the Week since Amy McNear took the honor on Nov. 24, 2009.
WKU POW II - Alexis Govan earned her first career Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honor on Dec. 4, 2012, following WKU's wins at ULM and Troy. Govan's career high 32 points against Troy helped propel her to the weekly honor. It marked the first time WKU had had multiple POW honors from the league in the same season since 2008-09 when Arnika Brown won the honor twice and Amy McNear won the recognition once. It was the first time WKU had won mutliple honors in the first four weeks of the season since 2007-08 when Kenzie Rich won the award in week one and Crystal Kelly earned honors in week three and four of the season. Additionally, it was the third time in the last 14 years that WKU had won multiple Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors in the opening four weeks of the season.
Noble Out For Season - WKU freshman Kendall Noble will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season after suffering a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the Dec. 9 game at Kent State. A full recovery is expected back in time for the 2013-14 campaign. Noble played in two games for the Lady Toppers this season. She recorded four points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes against Morehead State last Thursday in her Lady Topper debut. She had five points and three rebounds against Kent State on Sunday, both wins for WKU. She previously tore her left ACL during her high school career.
Freshman Guards Making Positive Impact - WKU's freshman guard duo of Micah Jones and LeAsia Wright have combined to post a strong 43-to-31 assist-to-turnover ratio through 10 games.
50 Season of Diddle Arena - WKU is celebrating the 50th season of basketball at E.A. Diddle Arena in 2012-13. While Lady Topper Basketball started playing Diddle with the program's reinstatement in 1973-74, the doors to the building officially opened on Dec. 7, 1963 with an 82-60 Hilltopper victory over Vanderbilt. The 2012-13 season is the 40th for Lady Topper Basketball in Diddle. In those first 39 seasons, WKU has posted a 432-100 home record (a .812 winning percentage), and has won double-digit home games 29 times. That includes undefeated home records in 1994-95 (14-0) and 2005-06 (16-0).
Freshman Orientation - Of the 11 players on the Lady Topper roster, five are in their first year playing collegiate basketball, and six are in their first season with the Lady Toppers. A large percentage of rookies is nothing new for WKU as last season seven of the 15 players on the roster were freshmen.
New Era of Lady Topper Basketball Begins With Win - The Michelle Clark-Heard era opened with a 80-69 win over Murray State on Nov. 9, 2012. A 1990 WKU graduate, Heard was hired as the 15th head coach in program history on March 22, 2012. She became the ninth coach of 15 in the program's history win their opening game at WKU.
Gooch, Govan Named Preseason All-SBC - A pair of Lady Topper sophomores were selected among the top 15 players in the Sun Belt when the league released its preseason all-conference team in October. Both Alexis Govan and Chastity Gooch represented WKU on the all-league third team. Govan is WKU's top returning scorer from a season ago as she dropped in 6.6 points per game to go along with a team-high 58 assists and 42 steals. Gooch ranked among the conference leaders last season averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, while dropping in 6.1 points per contest. WKU joined UALR, Middle Tennessee, Florida International and South Alabama as the only schools in the league with multiple preseason all-conference honorees.
Championship Effort - Lady Topper Basketball has been one of the elite programs in all of college basketball - entering the 2012-13 postseason with 830 victories...tied for 12th most in Division I history. WKU has been to 16 NCAA Tournaments and three Final Fours. It also boasts 19 Sun Belt Conference championships - 10 regular-season titles and a league-best nine postseason tournament championships.
Lady Toppers On The Tube - WKU is slated to play eight televised game in 2012-13. Five of those games will be broadcast by the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network. Road games at ULM, Troy, UALR and FIU, along with a home contest against Arkansas State will be available on HSSN affiliates, as well as on ESPN3. Additionally, WKU's game at Middle Tennessee will be an ESPN3 broadcast, while games at Louisiana-Lafayette and at home against MTSU will be broadcast on the Sun Belt Network.
Clark-Heard Announces Signing Class - Western Kentucky University women's basketball coach Michelle Clark-Heard announced the addition of three signees on Nov. 14 and a fourth on Nov. 20 as the NCAA early signing period got underway. WKU was able to address its need for size with 6-foot forward Aleeya Harris (San Antonio, Texas; John Jay HS) and 6-foot-2 Bria Gaines (Glenwood, Ill.; Bloom Township HS), while adding some depth in the back court with the addition of 5-foot-4 point guard Kierra Muhammad (Lexington, Ky.; Paul Laurence Dunbar HS). 6-foot-4 center Ruta Savickaite was a late addition to the fall class.
 "I'm really excited about this class, and looking forward to bring them on board with our current team next season," said Heard. "We were fortunate to be able to sign some great players in the spring when I first got the job, but this is truly our first signing class in terms of kids we were able to have some time with to build relationships."
