BLOOMSBURG – It succeeded in its first task of knocking off a nationally-ranked team.  Next, the 16th-ranked Bloomsburg University women's basketball team will look to hand Millersville University its first loss of the season. The two undefeated teams face off on Saturday, Dec. 8 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contest at Pucillo Gymnasium set to tipoff at 1 p.m.
 
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on WHLM (930-AM) based out of Bloomsburg with Larry White calling all the action. In addition, listeners throughout the world can listen to and watch the game live on BU's website at www.buhuskies.com. The pre-game show will begin 20 minutes before tipoff.
 
The Huskies (5-0, 2-0 PSAC) are off to their best start in 11 years. Bloomsburg sealed its first 5-0 start to a season since it started 8-0 in 2001-02.  It's success and most recent accomplishment of knocking off a top 15 team has it ranked 16th in the latest USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll.  BU moved up nine spots in the national poll, the biggest jump of any team in this week's rankings.
 
Coming off a momentum-building, 25-point victory over then-No. 15 Edinboro last Sunday, Bloomsburg is off to a fantastic start with some eye-opening statistics. BU's 57.4 field goal percentage against Edinboro was the highest since it shot 60.8 percent against Stevenson University in 2008.
 
Bloomsburg has not had a problem getting the ball in the net in the early going as it leads the PSAC and is fifth in Division II in scoring at 84.7 points per game. It is on pace to shatter the school-record of 73.4 set last season.
 
Passing the ball on offense and getting everyone involved has been one of the significant factors in the Huskies' success.  They lead the PSAC and are fifth in Division II at 20.2 assists per game. Notably, BU is assisting on 69.18 percent of its total field goals.
 
Bloomsburg has registered 20 or more assists in each of its last three, and four of its five games this season. The last time BU had 20 or more assists in three straight games was during the 2009-10 season. It has not had a four-game stretch dating back through the 2001-02 season.
 
Senior guard Dana Wieller (Bethlehem/Liberty) has been named this week's PSAC East Athlete of the Week.  Wieller has scored in double-digits in 22 straight games, and she is fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Her 14 three-pointers rate third in the conference.
 
Attacking the basket and converting at the free-throw line will play a factor on Saturday as both teams have outstanding defenses that force their opponents into tough looks at the basket. MU and BU hold the best defensive field goal percentages in the PSAC (MU - 30.9; BU - 31.4).
 
At the line, the Huskies lead the PSAC in free throw shooting at 73.3 percent. BU has had two games this season in which it missed just one free throw. Individually, senior guard Kayla Oxenrider (Ashland/Tri-Valley) leads the PSAC in percentage at 94.1 (16-for-17).
 
Another significant improvement this season from last has been on the glass.  After ranking last in the PSAC in rebounding last season at 35.1 per game, Bloomsburg rates second this season at 48.8 per game. Its 32.6 defensive rebounds per contest lead the PSAC.
 
Millersville (4-0, 2-0) has played well on both sides of the ball this season, allowing just 57.5 points per game with a 22-point average scoring advantage through four games.  It is off to its fifth 4-0 start in the past six years.
 
Senada Mehmedovic and Carly Gallagher, younger sister of former Bloomsburg women's basketball player, Kelsey  Gallagher, lead the Marauders in scoring at 14.8 and 14.5 points per game, respectively. Mashira Newman also plays a significant threat in the MU offense, averaging 13 points and a team-leading 4.3 assists per game to go along with 14 steals.
 
Following Saturday's undefeated showdown, Bloomsburg travels to Western Pennsylvania for a pair of crossover contests.  It will play 14th-ranked Indiana (PA) on Tuesday, Dec. 18, and California (PA) on Wednesday, Dec. 19 with both games set to tip at 5:30 p.m.