WBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[blah]

Coach Brunner and the Falcons of Concordia have put a nice season together. The won the NAC and enter the post-season tourney with a one seed. With this being the inaugral year the NAC doesn't get an automatic bid, correct? If the Falcons cruise through the tourney what are there chances of getting a bid to the DIII big dance?

Have they played enough quality opponents? What's the criteria for selecting teams at DIII?

[WLCALUM83]

The NAthCon does not get an automatic bid this season. (In the first QOWI index this poster saw, of the teams the Falcons have lost to, one finished below .500 on the year, and the other two are between 140 and 200 on the QOWI index.) If the Falcons win both of their tournament games, and end up with a 23-3 overall record, their chances are better, but, depending on what happens in other regions, they may still have some sweating-out to do on Sunday/Monday.

[Northern_Explorer]

Well, according to the quality of win index posted in the multi-region area (under Pool C), CUW is listed as #33 - which I think is pretty good among independents for strength of schedule. 

CUW's currently 19-2 in region (which is the record that really counts), so if they can win the NAthConf tournament, they have a really good shot.  They are up for one of the 4 "Pool B" bids that go to "independents" (teams in leagues without AQ's or not in a conference at all).  I have no idea who their competition would be for those spots, though.

[Pat Coleman]

There's a board discussing Pool B under multi-regional topics where people tackle this in some detail.

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Edgewood 68, WLC 64. (After halftime, some 5 minutes or so into 2nd half play, WLC's Kristin Dillon took a blow to the head and had to leave the game. With just over 9 minutes left, the Warriors' Emily Laete fouled out. Edgewood got called for several traveling violations. Whitney Miller hit a couple of shots and then the Warriors took the lead with 13 seconds left on a Kami Ten Pas field goal--On the ensuing play, Megan Scheele got a bucket, drew a foul, hit the free-throw--see you later.) As usual, Scheele and Kittoe were able to get to the line a lot.

Can't really complain much, though. It would have been worse if the Warriors had not won their last 2 regular season in-conference home games (and they had to do that without their best all-around off-the-bench 2-way player, Lauren Lanza). Bittersweet way to have WLC's Kami Ten Pas' playing days come to a close.

Final:  Benedictine 74, Lakeland 54. (Muskies' M Chart unavailable due to injury--four IL Eagle players in double-figures--Muskies' cold shooting did them in again. Lakeland loses 4 players to graduation--per their own press release, first time since 1995 the Muskies haven't reached a conference tournament final.) How many D3 schools would love to have a run like that???

[WLCALUM83]

Semi-final projections:

Concordia-WI over Edgewood:  (Only because the Falcons are at home. Wonder what else Eagle Coach Neils can pull out of her bag of tricks--even though she'll have to do it on the road? It would make Edgewood's season even more to knock the Falcons off and give them reason to sweat over the next few days.)

Aurora over Benedictine:  (Interesting match-up here-IL Eagles' Curtis vs. Aurora's 1-2 offensive punch of N Guise and B Plucinski--sp).

[libero]

Call me crazy, but I am going to predict a Ben upset of AU. I think with a player like Curtis, anything can happen in the women's game. A slow-paced game plan and low turnovers could get it done for Ben.

Conc-W over Edge.

Conc-W over Ben in the final.

[WLCALUM83]

Congratulations and best of luck to MSOE's Catherine Chappell, who just became one of the 10 Women's Nominees for the Jostens Award!

[WLCALUM83]

It's Concordia-WI women's teams turn to get the props:

www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=569113

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Concordia-WI 70, Edgewood 67. (Whew!!) 

Edgewood broke out to an early 10-3 lead. The Falcons came up with several steals and offensive rebounds and hoops to regain the lead. In the second half, the Falcons increased that lead to 47-34, but then had several turnovers of their own. Eagles also didn't get to the line nearly as much as previously against WLC. Megan Scheele, despite being in serious foul trouble most of the game, kept the Eagles in it. (21 pts before fouling out late.)

Falcons' Asia Beckum hit several clutch FT's and Edgewoods' M Schulz missed 2 FT's that would have tied the game After Beckums' FT's, a last second Jordane Kittoe 3-point attempt to tie fell short of the mark.

[blah]

Whew is right. Edgewood and Concordia go down to the buzzer - free throws ended up being the name of the game. Congrats go out to Edgewood for playing a tough tough game at Buuck Fieldhouse. Scheele certainly has a bright future in front of her and Kittoe has definitely leaving a legacy!

Best of luck to the Falcons on Saturday - here is to hoping the weather cooperates!

[WLCALUM83]

NAthCon website indicates that Benedictine defeated Aurora, 68-63.

[WLCALUM83]

NAthCon Women's Final Projection:

Concordia-WI over Benedictine:

1--  Falcons are at home

2--  They know they need a win here to stay in contention for an NCAA Div III Tournament bid.

(the Eagles can win this if Curtis has a monster game scoring and on the offensive boards, she gets scoring support, and the Falcons have a cold-shooting day. Two other factors. The Falcons' chances are better if they get off to a fast start. You know how difficult it is to beat the same team 3 times in a season.)

[libero]

Call me crazy, but I am going to predict a Ben upset of AU. I think with a player like Curtis, anything can happen in the women's game. A slow-paced game plan and low turnovers could get it done for Ben.

Conc-W over Edge.

Conc-W over Ben in the final.

Props to me 

I hope CUW makes wins out and gets a win in the tourney. I think they have the "horses" to do it.

[cuw10]

For a live broadcast of Benedictine at CUW go to:

http://www.cuw.edu/Athletics/broadcasts/scoreboards.html

and click on basketball. Should be nothing less than a great game.