WBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Second Wind]

Riley, what I like about Benes is that despite being "only" 5-3, she is not afraid to drive the lane against the "trees."

[Second Wind]

CUC 85, Alverno 50. Cougars 5-3, 4-0 NACC.

First quarter was a wild one. Alverno hit four early threes (but just one more the rest of the game). The Inferno raged for 18 points in those first 10 minutes, but Kate Benes scored CUC's first 17 points - a hot start indeed! Cougars led 28-18 after one before running away over the final three quarters. Coach Martin was able to get 16 of her players some valuable experience tonight. Benes finished with 31 points and Melia Perry with 18.

CUC hosts Marian next Saturday and then have a break from conference play until January.

[WLCALUM83]

NACC 2021-22 Freshman of the Year Anaya Davis isn't listed on Rockford's roster this year. Where her play is missed is in the rebounding department--

Only other score I'm surprised about is St. Norbert winning as big as it did over Aurora yesterday.

[Second Wind]

CUC 76, Marian 62. Cougars now 6-3, 5-0 NACC.

The Cougars stayed perfect in the conference, taking a 25 point lead by halftime. They were never seriously threatened, although a good fourth quarter by Marian made the final score more respectable.

Alexis Desjarlait took the spotlight tonight, out scoring the Sabres all by herself in the first half (23-19).  She finished with her first career double-double of 30 points and 11 rebounds. Kate Benes added 18 points.

Now the question is, can CUC stay hot with only one more game in December (at North Central on the 19th) and conference play not resuming until January 4?

[Second Wind]

at North Central 83, CUC 74, Cougars now 6-4.

The Cougar women nearly pulled off a nice comeback win today, erasing a 12-point halftime deficit to take a seven-point lead with under eight minutes remaining. But it was too much Allison Pearson down the stretch as NCC went on a closing 27-11 run.

Jaylene Wade's three gave the Cougars a 63-56 lead at the 7:52 mark. The lead was still at six when Pearson scored the Cardinals' next 11 points including a trio of threes. Pearson had 17 in the quarter, 32 for the game, and the Cardinals scored 35 in the fourth quarter after a seven-point third.

Kate Benes led CUC with 22 points, followed by Wade with 19. Good news for Cougars was Mikalah Ellis with 11 points in 16 minutes off the bench. Ellis has been back only the last few games but today's game is a good sign of things to come. The Cougars return to conference play January 4 when they host Dominican.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah and enjoy your fill of those holiday tournaments!

[WLCALUM83]

1/4/23:  Aurora vs. Benedictine and Edgewood/St. Norbert appear to be the top 2 NACC match-ups on paper.
             MSOE/WLC and CUC/Dominican are cross-town rivalry games.
             Between Rockford/Marian and Alverno/IL Tech possibly 2 teams could get off the in-conference
                        schneid.

[WLCALUM83]

1st Final: St. Norbert 85, Edgewood 55 (Green Knights took lead early and pulled away early for the at home win here.
2nd Final:  Rockford 53, Marian 45 (despite being out-rebounded 44-23, the Regents hang with Marian and hit some key shots toward the end to pull away late and assure that 2 NACC teams get off the schneid tonight.)
3rd Final:  WLC 43, MSOE 36 (Warriors hold off a 2nd half MSOE run to get a win at home)
4th Final:  Lakeland 58, CUW 42 (Falcons got off to a slow start,and didn't get over the hump.)
5th Final:  CUC 76, Dominican 60 (3 Cougar players scored in double figures, another big scoring night for Benes
6th Final:  Aurora 62, Benedictine 59 (a late IL Eagle rally falls short
7th Final:  IL Tech 71, Alverno 69 (A Kaya Jones 3-point play sealed this come-from behind win)
                    Inferno led by 12 at halftime.

[Second Wind]

CUC 76, Dominican 60, Cougars now 7-4, 6-0 NACC.

Looking at the teams' records going into the game, you might have expected the Cougars to win in a cakewalk. And yet, while CUC led from start to finish, the Stars were within four points midway through the fourth quarter. A strong closing burst by the home team put away any thoughts of an upset.

As WLC Alum noted, Kate Benes scored 22 points, but only six of those were in the second half. Alexis Desjarlait and Jaylene Wade picked up the slack though, finishing with 17 and 15 respectively. Also, Alisyn MacGregor corralled 21 rebounds and Mikalah Ellis 12 as CUC won the battle of the boards 59-41.

Concordia Wisconsin visits Geiseman on Saturday. Should be an interesting rematch as Cougars edged the Falcons in an early season match at Buuck.

[WLCALUM83]

1/7/23:  Final  Aurora 93, Alverno 59 (Spartans outscored Inferno 34-11 in 2nd Quarter to break this one open.

Of the other NACC games, Benedictine/St. Norbert appears to be the most interesting, on paper. WLC/Rockford:  Warriors need to take care of the ball-if the Regents get a lot of points off turnovers, this may be tighter than expected.  CUW/CUC:  Falcons' Lassiter is out injured (primarily known to crash the boards and get to the line). IL Tech/Lakeland and Dominican/Marian: Scarlet Hawks have a chance to get a 2nd win in a row at home. Potential X-factor in the latter matchup? Marian's Paris Harris (went on a hot scoring run early in 2nd half vs. Rockford).             

[WLCALUM83]

Edgewood 64, MSOE 49 less than 1 min left. (WI Eagles outshot MSOE 48.5% to 29% in 1st half to take a 9 point lead, and barring very crazy developments, will get a road win here)

 

[WLCALUM83]

More 1/7/23 Finals:

Marian 70, Dominican 62 (Stars cut the deficit down to 5, but Marian hit late FTs to seal this)
CUW 76, CUC 55 (Falcons outshot Cougars 46% to 31% from the floor
WLC 79, Rockford 37 (Regents only 9 points off 17 Warrior turnovers-Warriors  40 bench points)
Lakeland 86, IL Tech 70 (23-14 2nd quarter Muskie run broke this one open)

[WLCALUM83]

St. Norbert 63, Benedictine 59 (Green Knights hit their late FTs to get a key win on the road)

[Second Wind]

CUW 76, CUC 55, Cougars now 7-5, 6-1 NACC.

The Cougars ceded their share of first place as very little went well for them today. Kate Benes went off for 27 points with a couple of her five threes coming from NBA distance. But outside of Mikalah Ellis' 17, Benes had little help. The Falcons got solid contributions from their front court players and also shot a fine 11-19 from long range, led by Reagan Obry's 5-6.

The Cougars now hit the road for three straight, starting Wednesday at Lakeland.

[WLCALUM83]

1/11/23 NACC Finals:

CUW 67, Alverno 42 - Falcons hit 9 3 pointers on the night
Marian 58, MSOE 51 (Marian 36 points in the paint-1 of MSOE's forwards was in early foul trouble
St. Norbert 60, WLC 58 Hogensin shot missed-Green Knights get breathing room at the top of the NACC
IIT 85, Dominican 83 OT IIT hit OT FTs, a last second Star long range shot fell short-IIT gets in-NACC win 2
Edgewood 77, Benedictine 55 (49 to 31% shooting pcts, WI Eagles higher of the 2)
Lakeland 59, CUC 54 (Gardner's 2 FT's provided the Muskies with enough distance to get a key home win)
Aurora 64, Rockford 44 Spartans 8 3 pointers., 23 points off turnovers

[Riley Zayas]

1/11/23 NACC Finals:

CUW 67, Alverno 42 - Falcons hit 9 3 pointers on the night
Marian 58, MSOE 51 (Marian 36 points in the paint-1 of MSOE's forwards was in early foul trouble
St. Norbert 60, WLC 58 Hogensin shot missed-Green Knights get breathing room at the top of the NACC
IIT 85, Dominican 83 OT IIT hit OT FTs, a last second Star long range shot fell short-IIT gets off the NACC schneid)
Edgewood 77, Benedictine 55 (49 to 31% shooting pcts, WI Eagles higher of the 2)
Lakeland 59, CUC 54 (Gardner's 2 FT's provided the Muskies with enough distance to get a key home win)
Aurora 64, Rockford 44 Spartans 8 3 pointers., 23 points off turnovers

Any idea why Kate Benes didn't play for CUC tonight? With her on the floor, they win that game.