Valparaiso coach Keith Freeman likes challenges. His schedule seems tougher every year with 10 of 29 games this season against teams that made the postseason.

The toughest test likely comes tonight at No. 17 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (8-1) have won six straight capped by their first victory in 10 trips to Purdue's Mackey Arena, 61-48, Saturday.

Sophomore guard Ashley Barlow got 19 of her career-high 22 points in the second half as the Irish rallied. Charel Allen added 10 points and Lindsay Schrader eight points and 10 rebounds. Purdue fell to 3-5.

The Crusaders lost a heart-breaker 65-62 at Purdue Nov. 12 as the Boilers shot 39 free throws to VU's 3, outscoring Valparaiso by 24 at the line.

Sparked by point guard Agnieszka Kulaga, averaging 21.7 ppg the last three games, Valparaiso brings a modest, three-game win streak to South Bend, home of Crusaders Aimee Litka and Ashley Varner.

"It will be a nice homecoming with lots of friends and family. It's a good challenge," Litka said. The 5-9 forward averages 11.8 points, second to Kulaga's 13.8; both are juniors. At Purdue, Litka had 13 points, six boards and a block before fouling out.

Her pass list includes 11 family members; "they're really looking forward to seeing me play," said Litka, sporting a shiner after getting hit in the nose at practice before Saturday's 73-61 win over North Texas in which she had 15 points and six boards.

She can't forget last year's gut-wrenching 60-59 loss to the visiting Irish. "I remember the whole game." She had five points and four rebounds but shot 1-of-5 on 3's.

"It was such a great experience playing ND, a well-known, highly-ranked team. We were with them til the final seconds. I hope we can do it again and pull out a W.

"We need to get back on transition defense, play as a team and be consistent," Litka said.

Kulaga had 10 points and five boards in that loss to back senior Betsy Rietema's 22 points. Valparaiso was outshot 45.3 to 36.8 percent but stayed close by hitting 7-of-18 from the arc to ND's 1-of-5. Allen had 18 points and eight boards and Barlow 12 and six for the Irish.

Kulaga's points, and confidence, are soaring of late. She uses quickness and desire to offset her 5-6 stature and leads VU in rebounding at 4.8 a game. Career highs of 26 points, eight boards and five assists vs. North Texas made her Valpo's first Horizon League Player of the Week.

"Aggie's emerging as our go-to person," Freeman said. "We're a more perimeter-oriented team this year (having lost its top 3 scorers and lots of height). Aggie's moving better than last year. The best thing she did (Saturday) was give up the ball, making her harder to guard."

Her points and leadership will be key as will sinking 3's since the Irish rank fourth nationally at 81.6 ppg. Valpo has made 19 more treys than foes, outshooting them .393 to .321 led by twins Leah (50 percent) and Launa Hochstetler (48) and Kulaga (47.4).

The Irish prefer to run and pound it inside, hitting just .293 from the arc but grabbing 41 rebounds a game. Becca Bruszewski, a 6-1 freshman from Wheeler, shoots .563 overall, second on the Irish. She averages 4.3 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 11.3 minutes, subbing in all nine games.

Notre Dame uses quickness and pressure, with double-digit steals in seven games totaling 115 to foes' 51.

Freeman is concerned. "This is probably the best Notre Dame team I've seen since I've been here (13-plus years). Typically they play a slow tempo; now they speed it up which could be very lethal for us.

"There's a big difference between mid-majors and Division I teams. With nine McDonald's (prep) all-Americans they are very, very good, usually winning by 30-plus. Our goal is to be competitive."