WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Wow ... what a game tonight!

Bridgewater upsets #7 Randolph-Macon in double-overtime, 83-81.  Silva had an excellent game finishing with 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting.  Bridgewater's Katy Herr hit the game's final shot (over Silva) to give the Eagles the win.  Herr finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

[former rmcsid]

Kid, I said the same thing to myself when I saw the score and then the stats -- WOW.  Disappointing for the Yellow Jackets but it must have been an incredible game.  Almost sorry I didn't make the trip.

Now the BRIDGEWATER Eagles travel to the #9 MARY WASHINGTON Eagles Thursday night.  Could be an interesting week for Coach Willi's BC team.

R-MC hosts Guilford and Emory & Henry, back-to-back Saturday and Sunday.

By the way, R-MC senior forward Michelle Orton scored her 1,000th career point tonight.

Silva's 30 points was a SEASON HIGH.  Her career-high is 34 points back in November 2004.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

rmcsid,

It would have been nice to see you again had you come.  R-MC made quite a comeback in the final three or so minutes of regulation.  BC had a 10-point lead at one point, but the Jackets didn't give up.  Silva hit three threes in a row during one stretch towards the end, even with hands in her face.

The difference in the game was free throws.  R-MC was only 6-of-12, while Bridgewater hit on 24-of-26.

Hopefully the Eagles can give Mary Washington a game.  I'll be listening in.

[Mom#15]

Congratulations to VWC for being #1 in ODAC.  Keep up the good work Marlins.

[religion_major]

As far as game lines, I was very impressed by the play of BC freshman Tori Ruckman.  She recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds tonight.  Katy Herr came on well at the end of the game and Marshia Kender played very well the whole game with 20 points.  This is the first time that I have seen Megan Silva play and all I have to say is WOW.  Great game by two very good basketball teams.

[odacbballfan]

The huge Bridgewater win proves that 1) The Jackets aren't as good as they were last year and 2) the ODAC is wide open. The Eagle's win makes for an interesting scenario right now at the top of the conference. VWC, by benefit of not having played BC or Macon yet, has moved into first place. Not a position that anyone expected them to be in, nor one that I expect that they will stay in for long. They have a tough week still ahead with games at Lynchburg (which i hope to get to to finally see the marlins in person) and home against E&H and Guilford. If however, they could somehow win those three games that would make for 2 HUGE games the 12th vs Bridgewater and the 17th vs Macon.. Those two games could go a long way in deciding the conference. I would say it's safe to
bet that even as well as VWC has played so far they are not ready for the "big time" and I don't see anyone else coming close to giving BC or Macon a run for their money so last nights win becomes even bigger at the end of the year. Now the real question is, if BC and Macon both end up with one loss. Who gets the Number 1 seed at the tourney? ANYONE?

[mizzou_mafia]

Heck of a game last night between RMC and BC.  Tough fought first half, and then when Silva went to the bench, the Eagles exploded to get that 10 point lead.  But, as long as Silva's in a game, RMC's never out of it. 

Congrats to the Lady Eagles on huge win!

[bcsportswriter]

WOW!!!  Another fan that enjoyed a great basketball game last nite between RMC and BC.  A few thoughts....first off, I have never been a huge women's b-ball fan, but have loved the Eagles team since my sophomore year when Katie Herr and Jessica Young and Amy Childs and Shannon Scales came in as freshman.  I can now say that I enjoy watching them play more than the men (never thought I would be able to say that).  On another note...I have never seen athletes in as good of condition as those girls on both teams were last nite.  Katie and Marsha and Amy and Megan Silva (not to mention everyone else) played through two overtimes and never looked winded or like they had broke a sweat.  Marsha chased Silva around the whole second half and both overtimes almost and she would come out of timeouts looking like the game just started.  Absolutely amazing physical condition by both teams. 
Regarding the idea that RMC might not be as good this year as last year...I dont think that is exactly true.  Though BC played an amazing game (and i dont want to take anything away from them) RMC was cold last nite from the field.  They missed some easy layups that Im guessing they dont normally miss (the EMU girls team was there last nite, sitting behind me, and they kept saying "They (RMC) didnt miss any shots against us").  I still think RMC has the ability to win the conference and go very far in the playoffs, so i wouldnt say they arent as good as last year quite yet.  All I can say is that there were some stars out there last nite that for one reason or another didnt make it to Division I.  But im not complaining becasue Im lucky i get to watch them play at this level.

[huskiect]

I think the ODAC will be very interesting. Before you write VWC off, remember they almost beat Bridgewater at Bridgewater last year. BC was saved by a very late call with less than a second on the clock to allow BC to win. VWC still has those players and more.

[bbald eagle]

Freshman Sarah Flanagan scored a career-high 26 points and All-American junior forward Debbie Bruen added 15 points and nine rebounds in leading the CAC's Mary Washington to an 85-67 win over ODAC's Bridgewater. Sophomore center Liz Hickey added 13 points and ten boards.

UMW never trailed, leading 40-25 at the half.

http://athletics.umw.edu/wbindex.htm

[odacbballfan]

I was able to slide over to Lynchburg last night to get a glimpse of the "first place" marlins of VWC. Here are my impressions :  A slightly above average team, with a group of slightly above average players. No Silva or Herr here just a group of about 11 girls who play hard. They have the ability to make outside shots, shooting something like 6 or 7 for 11 in the first half from behind the arch, but there ability to finish put backs and lay-ups could be a problem against better teams and at time they seemed to be confused about, or unable to recognize what defense the Hornets were in. There press was more bothersome than smothering, and even Lynchburg was able to beat them down the floor for some easy baskets,  They are probably  one of the top 4 team in the conference and it was easy to see how they have been able to run off an impressive winning streak against some lesser teams, but they don't have that same "here we are come get us" swagger that most 1st place teams have they have a more of a look over our shoulder to see who is behind us look about them. If they make it through this weekend with games against E&H and Guilford that will set up a big game next Thursday at BC. Then we will see what these Marlins are all about......Speaking of BC OUCH!  Let down after beating Macon or just beat by a much better team?

[eaglemaniac]

It didn't look like BC let down after their win against RMC. I was impressed with their shooting as well. I don't think they matched up very well against Mary Washington in terms of size and the UMW depth kept them from ever really getting back in the game.

[bbald eagle]

It didn't look like BC let down after their win against RMC. I was impressed with their shooting as well. I don't think they matched up very well against Mary Washington in terms of size and the UMW depth kept them from ever really getting back in the game.

That seems about right to me, with maybe an extra emphasis on UMW's depth.  Kinder and Scales were shooting well; especially 3s.  But Bridgewater had 3 players at 31 minutes or more; Katie Herr played 39 minutes.  Mary Washington played no one more than 28 minutes, and only used 2 players more than 22 minutes.

[bbald eagle]

The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star on the Mary Washington/Bridgewater game:

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/012006/01062006/158286

[huskiect]

What they failed to mention about the VWC / Lynchburg matchup is that VWC won going away by 21.