WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Hello, is this working?  Can anybody hear me?  Just wondering if anyone has entered the room yet for the 2007-2008 ODAC Women's Bball season.  Looking for your preseason front runners.

I don't know much about the other teams in the ODAC, but I'm guessing Randolph-Macon has to be considered one of the pre-season favorites with Amanda Hiltunen, Lindsay Reisbeck, and Molly Arial returning.

[odacfan99]

Hello, is this working?  Can anybody hear me?  Just wondering if anyone has entered the room yet for the 2007-2008 ODAC Women's Bball season.  Looking for your preseason front runners.

I don't know much about the other teams in the ODAC, but I'm guessing Randolph-Macon has to be considered one of the pre-season favorites with Amanda Hiltunen, Lindsay Reisbeck, and Molly Arial returning.

Expect big things from EMU and Lynchburg.  Both young teams but kids got lots of playing time last year.  Also, it sounds like Wesleyan has a very impressive incoming class of freshman who will see lots of playing time.  I agree RMC should be tough again but not sure about the quality/depth of their freshmen.  Anyone have any insight?

[axp24]

Looking at some of the rosters on the websites, is it true that Guilford has no seniors and no freshmen?  How does that happen?

[y_jack_lok]

I see from the ODAC site that R-MC has been picked as the ODAC favorite this year. I watched the taped interview with coach LaHaye. She mentioned six returning players, but didn't say anything about her freshmen. Anybody know anything about the newcomers?

[y_jack_lok]

The Randoph-Macon roster is now posted.
http://www.rmc.edu/athletics/Womens/basketball.aspx

The college's entire website has been redesigned, so I had to go through the home page to get to it, rather than using my existing bookmark. I then bookmarked the new page and deleted the old one.

[odacfan99]

Hey...where is everybody?  Next weekend kicks off the 2007-2008 season!  Is anyone else as pumped for ODAC Women's B'ball as me?  Look for Va Wesleyan to win the ODAC followed closely by EMU and RMC.  Lynchburg will be strong too and is my sleeper pick to upset the above mentioned teams.  Their back court will be among the best in the conference and their post game should be strong.  Any thoughts from some posters more seasoned at this than me???

[hasanova]

Looking at some of the rosters on the websites, is it true that Guilford has no seniors and no freshmen?  How does that happen?

Looks like it's a half-truth, axp24.  I also see no Seniors, but there are four First Year players on the attached 2007-08 Guilford roster.

http://www.guilford.edu/athletics/wbball/roster.html

[hoopstermom]

First intra conference games tonight!

RC 76  GC 51
RMC 75   EMU 61
VWC 79  Rand 45

also:
W&L 62  Mary Baldwin 59
EH 62  Greensboro 79

[odacfan99]

hoopstermom, did u get to see any of the games?  if so, any impressions?

[hoopstermom]

I've seen Macon for all three of their games so far. They had a slow start in the Mt. Aloysius tourney, took some time to get their defense adjusted but ended up winning both games easily by ~30 point margins.  Riesbeck was named on all tourney team with Jess Shiflett who also took MVP honors.   Shiflett has stepped in nicely to run the offense.

I thought the game against EMU would be closer, but Macon came out fast and scored the first 8 points quickly.  RMC dominated the boards 1st half 20-8 to gain 16 point lead going into the half.  EMU played pretty much even in the 2nd half but couldn't recover.  Carolyn Riley (EMU) has impressive moves and a great shot, but she was kept in check with only 8 points for the game.  EMU seemed to have difficulty adjusting to her lack of production, plus she picked up some quick early fouls.

LaHaye has a small (no. of players) but well-balanced team.  Since Riesbeck, Ariail and Hiltunen are all big scoring threats, it's hard for the opposition to shut all three down.   4 players were in double figures against EMU. Multiple subs have been getting 10-15 minutes or more each of playing time in every game.

Defense is not what was without Kristen Morgan and seems to be the weakest part of RMCs game at this point. 

Look for Stein and Childress to step up even more as the season goes on.  They did a good job coming in for Riesbeck and Ariail providing fresh legs and renewed intensity with no significant loss in production at either end of the floor.

RMC has a road trip this weekend playing W&L Friday and Roanoke this Saturday.   Should be good ones.  Wish I could make the trip.

[odacfan99]

Wow, hoopstermom, you're all over this stuff!  Impressive.  Sounds like you get to see quite a few RMC games.  Will have to count on you for "from the sideline" reports this season.  I only wish others would join in on the post up board.  Unlike last year, not a lot of traffic yet.  Maybe it's still too early?  Can't wait to get a better sense for the teams in the ODAC - this weekend's games might reveal a lot.

[whitecaylxx]

Randolph Macon soundly defeated Washington and Lee, 81 - 57.  W & L was slated to finish 5th in the ODAC, and seems to have more talent than it has had in years.  It seems though, that you can't complete the puzzle if you don't know what to do with the pieces.  W & L starts off 1 - 5.

[hoopstermom]

Per Live Stats:

RMC defeats Roanoke 73-67 behind unbelievable free throw shooting 25 of 26 at the line.  Curiously, Hiltunen fouled out of the game and Arail, Riesbeck and Childress finished with 4 fouls each for RMC.  Caityn Long and Jordan Gholson fouled out for Roanoke, no one else for RC was in jeapardy of fouling out, but four other RC players had 2 fouls each.

All five RMC starters finished in double figures scoring: Merkel-11, Shifflett-13, Hiltunen-16, Riesbeck-12, Arail-15.  Erin Hanson must have been unstoppable as she had 22 for Roanoke, followed by Caitlin Long with 11 and Torri Bridger with 10. 

Game went back and forth in the 1st half with 8 ties and 11 lead changes before Roanoke took the lead into the locker room 32-29.

Roanoke built their lead to 7 twice in the 2nd half and did not lose the lead until 2:44 to go when Marta Merkel hit a 3 pointer to give Macon the lead 61-59. Roanoke got within 1 point at the :42 mark on a layup by Toni Bridge, but Macon answered with another 3 pointer and then made their last four free throws to seal the win.

Other games:

EMU 71 BC 62
VWC 61   W&L 44
GC 71  Rand 59
EH 98  Hollins 55

[odacfan99]

Thanks for the details, hoopstermom.  You've got me wanting to go to the RMC website to read the game details myself 

So far, looks like the RMC team has a wealth of scoring options.  Quite a change from when the team relied on M. Silva to provide much of the offense.  Balance is good.

[hoopstermom]

Actually, I got all the info off Roanoke's site.