WBB: Northwest Conference

[BlueZoneBruin]

Anybody have thoughts on Carthage?  Looks like they're a good three point shooting team. 

The Lady Reds are no slouch defensively. In a Jan. 5 game against Wheaton, they held the Thunder to 2 points over the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Moser,

Thanks for chiming in over here on the NWC board. I appreciate your take on the Carthage team. Your comment about the Wheaton game really stood out to me.  Because Fox had a similar game this season at Lewis and Clark, the third place finisher in the NWC.  They limited Lewis and Clark (at the time the best offense in the conference) to 7 points at halftime, and 24 in the game.

With that said, the Bruins were limited to 17 in the half and 40 in the game.  Still a "W" though.

Go Bruins!

BlueZoneBruin

[RogK]

Thanks for the comments about Munger's shot-blocking abilities, BlueZoneBruin. As a player of that height, she has probably/obviously learned (over the years) how to avoid fouls. She must be agile and smart.
Do opposing offenses avoid her vicinity, after getting a few rejections?

[BruinFan]

Anybody have thoughts on Carthage?  Looks like they're a good three point shooting team. 

I have yet to look at their roster or statistics. Apparently Carthage is ranked #1 in FG% and George Fox is ranked something like #5 in FG% defense.

I believe that in most sports, defense wins the big games. Carthage defeated IWU by shooting nearly 50% for the game. They lost big to IWU when they shot 34%. I think if George Fox can hold them to 38%-40% shooting, then a Bruin victory is within reach.

Congratulations Bruins on the victory. The 48 points by Carthage tied their seaon low for points. Carthage shot 32.8% for the game. Keep up the great defense.

[RogK]

Congratulations to George Fox! You beat a superb team.

[BlueZoneBruin]

Thanks for the comments about Munger's shot-blocking abilities, BlueZoneBruin. As a player of that height, she has probably/obviously learned (over the years) how to avoid fouls. She must be agile and smart.
Do opposing offenses avoid her vicinity, after getting a few rejections?

RogK

Apparently not...Munger now has 105 blocks on the season, which include the 7 she had yesterday against Carthage. It seems that many teams continue to challenge her, despite her height and ability to block shots.

It was a tough game yesterday...glad that we survived!

Go Bruins...beat the bears!

BlueZoneBruin

[mark_reichert]

Mount Union will fly. What we don't know is whether Carthage put in to host a sectional on the women's side.

Hard to see why not.  Tarble Arena looks like a great place to hold a sectional.

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/general/tarble.html

The Milwaukee airport and even O'Hare aren't that far away, though neither is anywhere near as a close as Lambert is to WashU and the hotels near it.

On the other hand, it is only the second time the WashU women have hosted a sectional.  The first time being the host was overkill.  This time it *may* have given them the edge.

[northernstar]

Congratulations to George Fox on a very fine season.  Repeating is always tough, because you are the team with the bullseye on your back.  In spite of losing two key players, George Fox reorganized and came up strong again this year.  In spite of losing three starters this year, my guess is that George Fox will again be the team to beat next year too.

All teams, have a great off-season.  Already looking forward to the start of next season. 

[northernstar]

Now that the season is done for all, just a quick recap of what is coming back next year in the Northwest Conference.  Obviously, this doesn't include any potential impact Freshman and/or Transfers. 

PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY (Two (2) Returning Starters)    
Top Five Returners – 48.80 Points/Game

LEWIS & CLARK UNIVERSITY (Four (4) Returning Starters)    
Top Five Returners – 48.60 Points/Game

WHITMAN COLLEGE (Three (3) Returning Starters)       
Top Five Returners – 43.40 Points/Game

WILAMETTE UNIVERSITY (Five (5) Returning Starters)       
Top Five Returners – 42.40 Points/Game

GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY (Two (2) Returning Starters)       
Top Five Returners – 40.60 Points/Game

LINFIELD UNIVERSITY (Two (2) Returning Starters)       
Top Five Returners – 39.10 Points/Game

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (Three (3) Returning Starters)       
Top Five Returners – 37.80 Points/Game

UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND (Three (3) Returning Starters)    
Top Five Returners – 34.90 Points/Game

WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY (Zero (0) Returning Starters)       
Top Five Returners – 16.20 Points/Game

[80sshorts]

Lots of NW Conference Award winners making their mark on the West Region, congrats to all!

Women's All-West Region Team

Player of the Year: Claire Ely, G., Puget Sound
Coach of the Year: Scott Rueck, George Fox
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Munger, C, George Fox

First team

Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown
G Claire Ely Puget Sound Sr. Walnut Creek, Calif.
G Margo Muhlbauer Buena Vista Sr. Manilla, Iowa
F Courtney Carroll Redlands So. Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
F Stephanie Babij Occidental Jr. Ontario, Ore.
C Rachel Booth St. Thomas Jr. Minneapolis, Minn.

Second team

Pos. Player School Yr. Hometown
G Bri Radtke Gustavus Adolphus Sr. Winsted, Minn.
G Keisha Gordon George Fox So. Vancouver, Wash.
F Laura Kalbfell St. Catherine's Jr. Lakeville, Minn.
C Hannah Munger George Fox Fr. Newberg, Ore.
C Stacey Schutjer Simpson So. Titonka, Iowa

[BruinFan]

A mixed day for George Fox fans as Oregon State University announces Scott Rueck is now their head coach. Happy for Coach Rueck as he moves to D1 and the Pacific 10 conference, but sad to lose him and his family. It has been a great 14 year run.


http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/063010aaa.html

[Wydown Blvd.]

Congrats to him and the splash page on the OSU website right now is pretty impressive.

[BruinFan]

Oregon State is fortunate to have Coach Rueck on board.

Here is a link to gain the George Fox athletic department perspective.


http://athletics.georgefox.edu/sports/wbkb/2009-10/releases/0630

[roaringtwenties]

Meek Introduced as Bruins' New Coach
PORTLAND, Ore. – With over 50 former and new players, family members, friends, and media representatives on hand, Michael Meek was introduced as the new head coach of the George Fox University women's basketball team at a press conference Monday morning here at the World Trade Center in downtown Portland.

[bballfan05]

Basketball season is starting up this week!

What are some thoughts on the the teams in the NorthWest Conference?

George Fox and UPS with a new coach?....can they be as dominate as last year?

Lewis and Clark looks very strong...returning 5 out of their top 6 scorers, including there leading scorer from last year who is now a sophomore.

Whitman also returning a lot?...

What do you think?

[80sshorts]

Fox is still the team to beat and should be expected to win the Northwest again, they just have way too much size and depth compared to the rest of the conference.  I think Puget Sound takes a step back but still finishes no worse than 3rd in conference, and Whitman and Lewis & Clark will fill in the other spots.