WBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

2/4 update:

Lakeland 54, Maranatha 39  3:40 left in 2nd half  (Crusaders committed 21 first-half turnovers, per Lakeland stats)

With 3 more wins, Rockford can clinch the last NAthCon North playoff spot.

[Look It Up]

Concordia Chicago's Marche Smith is on the verge of setting the school's all-time women's scoring record. She needs 23 to tie, 24 to pass the current record of 1,243 points. Keep in mind that Smith is only a junior, 70 games into her college career.
The Cougars host Edgewood tomorrow and Aurora on Tuesday, so it looks like she will get to do this in front of the home crowd.

[WLCALUM83]

Concordia Chicago's Marche Smith is on the verge of setting the school's all-time women's scoring record. She needs 23 to tie, 24 to pass the current record of 1,243 points. Keep in mind that Smith is only a junior, 70 games into her college career.
The Cougars host Edgewood tomorrow and Aurora on Tuesday, so it looks like she will get to do this in front of the home crowd.

That comes out to an average of just less than 18 PPG for every game she's played. If it weren't for
the attention Edgewood's Megan Scheele was getting the previous 2 seasons, Marche's accomplishment would have stood out all the more for the NAthCon. She is, indeed, a great all around hoops player.

[WLCALUM83]

2/6 NAthCon finals:

MSOE 64, Maranatha 33 (Raiders outshot Crusaders 43% to 24% from floor-per MSOE stats)

Lakeland 61, Dominican 42 (Muskies used a 30-7 scoring run in 2nd half to take this one-per Lakeland PBP acct)

Alverno 69, Rockford 60  3 secs left 2nd half (Inferno outshot Rockford 47% to 33% from floor for game--Inferno's Diedrich had 18 pts and was one of 3 Alverno players in double figures, per Alverno stats)

WLC 82, Marian 48 (Warriors maintain their lead in the South with this win)

CUW 64, Benedictine 61

CUC 57, Edgewood 54 OT (Cougars scored last 7 points in OT to win this one- Cougars' Smith got 30 pts and CUC outshot the WI Eagles 67% - 33% in the extra session- per CUC PBP acct)

[WLCALUM83]

Hey, hey, look at which 2 NAthCon South squads have clinched tournament berths!

http://northernac.org/sports/basketball_women/standings

There are 2 South spots open yet.

Scenarios:

Aurora:  1 more loss eliminates the Spartans
CUC: Best bet is to win out and hope MSOE and Benedictine both lose at least one more game.
MSOE & Benedictine: Should both squads win out, both would get in. 

[WLCALUM83]

Who should get the NAthCon ROY award?

[hoop_junkie]

Although Diedrich is a solid presence in the lane for Alverno, I think the best freshman in the league is Decorah. Decorah was offered out of HS by Duluth and also had some walk-on interest from Milwaukee and other D1s out east I believe. I sense that she's a bit of a homebody and that's why she ended up at Edgewood, but no offense to the NAC or Edgewood but she really should be playing at the scholarship level.

[WLCALUM83]

2/9 NAthCon final:

CUC 53, Aurora 51 (Cougars come back from a 19-pt deficit to nab this win at home. Lietermann hit a couple of 3s and M Smith stepped it up in the clutch--as usual for CUC wins).

[WLCALUM83]

Remaining regular season schedule for NAthCon South playoff contenders:

MSOE:  2/13 @ CUC; 2/15 @ Benedictine; 2/17 vs. Alverno
CUC:    2/11 @ Dominican; 2/13 vs MSOE; 2/17 @ Benedictine
Benedictine:  2/11 @ Alverno; 2/13 vs WLC; 2/15 vs. MSOE; 2/17 vs. CUC

Dominican could spoil it for CUC if the Stars are hitting their 3s; Benedictine's D slowed MSOE's Cayo down big-time -limiting her point total in the earlier match-up. MSOE's Guthrie, Benedictine's Bren, and CUC's Smith get most of the press for their point production--yet each contending squad has more than one good 3-point FG shooter --it may very well come down to who is nailing the most 3s and tightening up the D at the same time.  

[Just Bill]

Although Diedrich is a solid presence in the lane for Alverno, I think the best freshman in the league is Decorah. Decorah was offered out of HS by Duluth and also had some walk-on interest from Milwaukee and other D1s out east I believe. I sense that she's a bit of a homebody and that's why she ended up at Edgewood, but no offense to the NAC or Edgewood but she really should be playing at the scholarship level.

I disagree. Decorah is athletic, but I haven't seen anything that shouts to me, "Wow! she should be at a higher level." Frankly, had EC stayed healthier this year I doubt she'd be their leading scorer.  I think she would have been eaten up at a D-II.  I'm not sure she'd even make a big impact in the WIAC.

[WLCALUM83]

Had Diedrich entered the NAthCon a year earlier-in terms of blocked shots, she would have given MSOE's Carol Cayo a good run for her money for the '09 ROY award. IMHO WLC's Dillon enters the picture this year because she's a 3-point threat who has sparked some scoring rallies for the Warriors on a couple of occasions this season. 

[hoop_junkie]

First of all, Decorah would not get eaten up at a DII. She's the best freshman in a lower level DIII conference. Most kids that can play at the DII level are not going to "wow" you. And don't put the WIAC on a pedestal that it doesn't belong on by saying that Decorah wouldn't make that big of an impact in the WIAC if she played in that league. She would start for most of those teams and would have a big impact compared to other freshman in that league. The question at hand here is whether or not she's the best freshman in the NAC and I say without question she should be freshman of the year.

[Just Bill]

Agreed that she's the best freshman in the NAC. She got my vote in the poll at the top of the page.

As a freshman, she would likely start for Superior, Platteville and Oshkosh, but not the other WIAC schools. Honestly, very few freshman start in the WIAC anyway.

No need to be defensive. She's an excellent player and fun to watch. I just disagree with your assessment that she's playing at a level below where she belongs. I think she's found a ideal level for her skills and abilities.

[hoop_junkie]

Basically what I was getting at is that she has the potential to play at a higher level. And she would start for those schools you mentioned and would probably start at Stout as well. I think it's great when kids go the d3 route and are able to have a more prominent role on a team, rather than go somewhere that's not right for them just because there's scholarship $ involved. I think most people are aware that there are a number of good players in d3 that don't play at the d2 or d1 level and could and my point here was that Decorah could play at that level if she wanted to. Anyways, no need to exhaust this topic but we obviously agree that she is the best freshman in the league.

[WLCALUM83]

2/11/10 finals:

Benedictine 74, Alverno 65 (IL Eagles' Arias a double-double 17 pts-10 rebounds-
Eagles hit 7 3s on the night, their clutch FT shooting late in thegame sealed this one-per Alverno stats)

CUC 65, Dominican 49 (M Smith a double double 17 pts-16 rebounds-- Cougars hit 10 3s in this one-Stars committed 20 turnovers-Cougars used a 17-8 scoring run early in 2nd half to take the lead for good-per
Dominican stats-PBP acct)

Aurora 72, WLC 69
CUW 78, Marian 47
Edgewood 52, Lakeland 51