WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hoopstermom]

Bridgewater runs away from Virginia Wesylan 75-42.

Roanoke over Emory and Henry 73- 57

RMC blows a 15 point half time lead and 24 point lead in the 2nd half but holds on for the win 64-61 over EMU.

      Molly had another double double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, but fouls out with 2:00 min to go.

      Macon has 18 turnovers to EMU's 9, but wins the boards battle 44-35
 
      What the heck happened in the 2nd half???

Lots of games left to decide the middle of the pack and big games this Saturday coming up when RMC hosts Bridgewater and EMU hosts VWC.  Roanoke faces Randolph and Hollins before meeting Lynchburg at Lynchburg on 2/2.

[wmjofva]

Bridgewater runs away from Virginia Wesylan 75-42.

RMC blows a 15 point half time lead and 24 point lead in the 2nd half but holds on for the win 64-61 over EMU.

      Molly had another double double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, but fouls out with 2:00 min to go.

      Macon has 18 turnovers to EMU's 9, but wins the boards battle 44-35
 
      What the heck happened in the 2nd half???

10 players played double mins, 8 played 20, we are learning as we go.
Checking the other games...Roanoke, E & H, Va W/Bw...most that played 20 are 6 and two teams had two players pay 30+

Sara Lamneck, the 6' freshmen for EMU, is a very nice player.  She will be in the running for freshmen of the year.

[dukeofargyle]

Just one comment: Becca Bolton is the real deal; one amazing player.

[hoopstermom]

Bridgewater up by 17 at the half over RMC

[hoopstermom]

BC 68 RMC 57 final

[whitecaylxx]

I thought this was going to happen with the Bridgewater / W & L game.  Bridgewater always pulls it together after the first of the year.  Coach Willi makes her players produce!  Congratulations Eagles.

[wmjofva]

With 8:25 to play Burkholder hit a two point jumper to put the Eagles up 51-48.
Roy struck again on the next possession with a three to tie the game before Arial sunk a layup with 5:52 to play, giving Randolph-Macon their first lead of the ballgame 53-51.
Bridgewater then used a 7-0 run to regain the lead and pull away for the 68-57 win. This was the Yellow Jackets first home loss in nearly a year and just their third home loss in three seasons.


Coming back from 17 points down was great but a lot of energy was used.

[Brookland]

Wow, knowing how tough it is to win at RMC, that is a great win for Bridgewater! It looks like RMC's big guns did their usual offensive work (20 pts for Roy, 19 points, 14 rebs for Arial) but no one could stop Ms. Burkholder (28 points)! Congratulations to the Eagles!
I think the Eagles have shown the one weakness RMC has - team defense. A quick look at the ODAC stats and some comparisons between RMC and Roanoke show some interesting facts:
RMC is #1 in scoring, FG percentage, 3-pt percentage, and offensive rebounding. However, RMC is #6 in FG percentage defense and #7 in scoring defense.
Roanoke is #1 in scoring defense, FG percentage defense, and defensive rebounding. They are #3 in scoring.
In RMC's 13 conference games, they have allowed their opponents to score  more than their season average 6 times. In their 14 conference games, Roanoke has not allowed a single opponent to reach their season scoring average.
It's starting to look like a good test of the "scoring wins games but defense wins championships" theory! As a proponent of that philosophy, guess who I pick to go all the way?  ;-)

[wmjofva]

Roanoke on paper is 15 points better than anyone.  They have three 6+ front line players, two guards from Div I programs and trasfer from Lynchburg who may have been their leading scorer. I looked at their games last week and if I am correct only in one loss did they fail to hold teams down.

Couple years ago RM went to the three point offense and if they don't turn the ball over, shoot 40% it's 'shock and awe',  if as in both Bridgewater games they don't get shot due to turnovers on the wings and don't shoot well...they get 15-17 points down and have to 'defense their way back' (this week it was full court pressure in 2nd half) and hit the threes until they got lead, then they went back to regular defense, had trouble with help on Jordan.  J Burkholder was awesome!  Some of the RM fans even had to cheer a couple of her post moves.

VA W has two post players who play great team defense with switching.  When #5 (post position) would be over played and she went across the lane to set pick for #4 (power forward) they would just 'switch' and keep positon that keeps the ball from going in to Molly A.

If team has guard that shoots 3 well and drives with both hands, it will be hard for guard to cover deep and drive, when the guard starts to beat them, if they have 'help', inside player steps up to plug the drive hole and 3rd player drops down from the 'weak side' to cover player they left to you reduce the scoring of a strong guard like Burkholder or the guard for Va W.

You can only give up the 2 foot layup to run down and take a 23 foot 3-pter if you are shooting 40% and getting shots on every possession.

I'm old school , I'd rather win 55 to 40...with team walking out knowing they can never make up the 15 points than win 97-91.  In back to back games (tournament),strange gym, must win circumstances sometimes the ball just doesn't go in, good solid defense will never leave you.

[Bammer]

If Roanoke is 15 better on paper, then not everyone is reading the paper.  W&L lost at RC by 3.  RC will lose again.  Defense is important but team chemistry is important also.  I am not convinced that this team will jell.  It is not time to crown the Maroons league champs just yet.  If RMC beats them and they both win out, RMC should be seeded higher.  Also, don't be surprised with some more upsets.  Bridgewater needs aggressive defense to make its offense work.  Just slow them down and don't turn it over and they will come up short on points.  If W&L finishes well and were to beat RMC, Bolton should be league MVP.  If RMC wins the regular season then Arial should be MVP.  It should be an interesting February.  Huge game for the Generals tomorrow at VWC.  VWC beat the Generals at the buzzer in the first game.

[Brookland]

... It is not time to crown the Maroons league champs just yet.  ...

Agreed! That's what makes it fun - ya gotta play the games! Roanoke certainly isn't unbeatable, and game time emotion counts for a lot in this conference - who's flat, who's ready to play, etc., so upsets can certainly still happen! (Isn't that what tournaments are for?  )
Having said that, Roanoke is still loaded and has a better track record of playing consistently dominant defense, so it's hard to argue that they shouldn't be the favorite. And if they can play this well without having jelled yet, then look out for the rest of us if they ever do! 

[Brookland]

...I'm old school , I'd rather win 55 to 40...with team walking out knowing they can never make up the 15 points than win 97-91. 

I'll go out on a limb and bet you are not an NBA fan...LOL  (Hint: That's why I'm not!)

[whitecaylxx]

Roanoke does look good on paper - and they have excellent coaching.

[wmjofva]

Roanoke does look good on paper - and they have excellent coaching.

How do you edit on here?  That is the one thing I wanted to add.  Excellent coaching, firm but positive.  May be just the right person with all the transfers who have gone thru trauma.  205.166.218.69 

[whitecaylxx]

Log in and to the right of your post will be a place to modify your remarks.