WBB: American Southwest Conference

[gccfan]

ETBU just put on a big run and looks like they will win, 69-47

[WLCALUM83]

I know it's still early, but how much of a threat do you think ETBU will be coming out of the "opposite" bracket in conference? (I remember they gave HSU reason to sweat after knocking the Cowgirls out of the conference tournament last season). Vallo rounding into form and Baines getting off the bench in the ETBU win over TLU previous to tonight helped some. 

[gccfan]

ETBU wins 78-57, Davis plays some in the second half, but I think she's just been passed up on the depth charts... Lori Lewis had something like 18 points and 18 rebounds.

[gccfan]

I know it's still early, but how much of a threat do you think ETBU will be coming out of the "opposite" bracket in conference? (I remember they gave HSU reason to sweat after knocking the Cowgirls out of the conference tournament last season). Vallo rounding into form and Baines getting off the bench in the ETBU win over TLU previous to tonight helped some. 

ETBU will likely have to play UMHB in the first round which is a better match up for them.  I think they want to avoid McMurry and HPU because they get up and down the floor too fast.  ETBU's big girls don't run the floor exceptionally well and LETU was able to exploit that for some easy lay-ups.

[gccfan]

LETU up early 22-12 midway through first half.

[gccfan]

LETU up 54-29 with 15 seconds left in the first half... Isom went down again, but looks like he'll be able to return.

[CUAfan]

Right now, my All-ASC-West is Tarra Richardson at the high post and Symbri Tuttle from McM at point, HPU's Meia Daniels at the #2 and Stacey Blalock down low.  I am still considering another forward/wing.

Our best bet for such an honor this year would be Bills, but IMO her offensive game is too much like Iverson's. I think our freshman posts have a chance at getting at least close to that level eventually (Eddins had a 20 point, 11 rebound game and Zeleny had a 13 point, 17 rebound one).

[thundercat]

CUAfan, we will see how good your posts are this week when they go up against HSU's Contrussi and MCM's Richardson.  I doubt they had those good games against this caliber of talent (LETU and UTD if I remember correctly).  They are young and playing against some "seasoned vets" will be a nice welcome to the ASC West.

[CUAfan]

Very true, thundercat. I've been thinking about these games as a test for our posts ever since I first saw our freshmen posts play this season. I'm looking forward to seeing Tuttle/Richardson on Saturday, but unfortunately I can't make the HSU game tonight.

You're right on those games, btw. I didn't have time to look them up at the time, thanks.

[thundercat]

Finally, west vs west games the rest of the way.  Games up to this point in the season have been intense, but there is going to be a whole new level of play come out of teams now!  I am interested to see how schools begin to match up in head to head competition. 

[gccfan]

I made a similar post on the men's side and thought I would do the same for the women.  Anyways, using the Player Rating system from Sports Ill. here are the top 10 players in the conference so far.  Feel free to debate.

1. Tarra Richardson, MCM, 56.21
2. Lacey Kennedy, MC, 56.00
3. Meia Daniels, HPU, 43.38
4. Mandi Carter, UO, 42.62
5. Sha Shead, UTT, 40.38
6. Kassandra Bills, CUA, 39.20
7. Sarah Stanley, UTT, 37.96
8. Jeanne Randall, UO, 37.50
9. Nitra Woods, SRSU, 36.18
10. Shannon Barnes, UMHB, 35.09

I still think that Meia Daniels is the best player in the conference and her rating would be higher if they weren't blowing everyone out by 40 points a game.

[mcmfan]

I'm thinking more and more that the big matchups will be McM and HSU with Howard Payne.  HPU continues to outscore the other two schools when facing common opponents.  UT Tyler gave McM and HSU quite a bit of trouble this weekend.  But compare their scores with those of HPU vs. UTT:

McM 78, UTT 74: McM by 4
HSU 74, UTT 72: HSU by 2

HPU 84, UTT 52: HPU by 32

HPU may have played easier schools than McM or HSU so far, but these are massive score differences when playing the same schools.  Are they real?  I guess we find out starting Jan. 25!

[pirateonthebrazos]

I don't believe for one minute that anyone can go compare score margins and figure if anyone has the edge.  Different teams, different sites, different injuries, sickness, coaching philosophy, different referees, travel, different motivation and even the weather.  There are just too many variables.
I do believe that on any given nite anyone can beat anybody and I will leave it at that.

[Ralph Turner]

Pirate, long time, no post!  How did the Cowgirls look since the McMurry game.  Who has caught your eyes among the Cowgirls?

This season is boiling down to a real slugfest.  Don't slip up against the rest of the league, especially UMHB and CUA, then McMurry needs to hold "home court".

I think that the thing for which I am most grateful is that HSU is our travel partner and teams must confront both of us in the weekend.  Of course, they have to handle to drive to SRSU and the trip to Brownwood as well. 

[fanstand]

Pirate, you are right on this one.  Also playing teams early in the year when newcomers have not always had time to gel makes a differernce.  HPU returns all their starters, so they pick up where they left off from last year.  There is so much that plays into games with the female persuasion. The "moon", the month, the boy, the family.  Females are fueled by emotion. But comparisons are hard to make.  And the rankings of those players, to me is by scoring, they do not figure the intangibles. I don't think computers see the whole picture when ranking individual players. I do think HPU is for real and will be a difficult opponent, but no one is unbeatable in this league