Klein making trip to Chicago

Hall alum Kailey Klein will be making a trip back home when the Cleveland State University Lady Vikings travel to play two games in Chicago this weekend.

First up is a date with Chicago State University at 8 p.m. Thursday. The Lady Vikings will then face Loyola University for a 2 p.m. tip Saturday.

The Lady Vikings have won nine of their last 11 games to improve to 16-10 overall and 10-4 in the Horizon League, tying the school record for conference wins. CSU stands in third place, one game behind second place Butler (11-4).

Klein is second among all scorers in the Horizon League, averaging 17.5 points per game. She had her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 points against Loyola.

In the Vikings’ latest contest, Klein led the team with 24 points in a 60-50 win over Detroit.

• University of St. Francis freshman and Hall alum Jen Andes returned to action on Saturday for the first time since suffering an ankle sprain three weeks ago. Andes scored four points in seven minutes in USF’s 68-39 win over Illinois Tech.

Andes is averaging 7.8 points and 4.8 boards coming off the bench at center as a freshman.

Her teammate at USF, St. Bede alum Katie Carls, is averaging eight points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while starting at guard for the Saints (15-12) in her sophomore campaign.

• Princeton alum Brooke Jensen has started 14 games for Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. Jensen, a sophomore forward, is averaging 2.9 points and three rebounds for the Eagles (14-16), who finished regular season play on Saturday with a 109-102 loss to Berea.

• Former St. Bede Lady Bruin Sarah Stariha is averaging 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, three assists and 1.3 steals for Beloit College, who finished off their regular season at 15-8. Stariha has started 19 of  23 games as a freshman for the Bucs and tossed in nine points in their 58-36 win over Lawrence University.

• Hall product Vanessa Cruz is a sophomore guard for Lincoln Land College in Springfield.

• A trio of local players are continuing to contribute to the IVCC mens’ team. LaMoille grad Brett Barkman is averaging 8.7 points and 7.1 rebounds at center for the Eagles. Hall alumni Clayton Cissell is averaging four points and 1.9 rebounds, and fellow former Red Devil Korby Kasperski is tallying 5.3 points and 1.6 boards per contest.