WBB: Northwest Conference

[Kibitzer]

Rimshot: Swiss and Andrew are you two holding out any hope at all GFU gets an at large? 

> GFU has been eliminated and should remain eliminated.

ghr: Hopefully PLU has figured a way to stop the young post player who seems to be playing very well right now.

> Don't count on it. She can score down low and she can shoot from the outside too.

I don't think PLU has defeated UPS on their own home court in 3 years but I expect them to rise to the occasion tonight and I expect both of them to be playing next week.

[Loggerville]

nice win by PLU tonight.  i agree, both teams will be dancing come Monday.  let's just hope the NCAA does these schools right and sends one out of the region at least for the early rounds.  good luck to both programs going forward!  go NWC

[ghr]

Congratulations to PLU on a huge win last night. The lutes put on a couple of nice runs that UPS could not answer. The lutes defence  proved to be their best weapon holding the highest scoring team in the league to under 60 points and less than 30% shooting. Its been a great season for both teams and now lets hope that the NCAA splits them up so that both teams can have a chance to represent the conference well. It would be a shame to let the almighty dollar force these teams to face off for the fourth time this year. My hope would be that PLU would host the first round and ship UPS off to the south for the first round games.

[rimshot]

Plea$e note--
money will and the map will come into play when the NCAA announce$ who i$ going to match-up and where.  but then again hi$tory ha$ proven good team$ get left out and are $hipped off.

PLU will host.

[parklandpride]

UPS and PLU in...very nice. Wondering if it will look like this tomorrow morning.

Wed: Cal Lutheran @ Chapman

Winner of that game plays at PLU on Saturday.

UPS goes to Simpson with St. Bens and Concordia-Moorhead.

Since the 63 teams creates a bye and the money is thin to go West, PLU could get the bye Friday night letting Chapman and Cal Lu fight for the change to play in Tacoma. Just hoping they dont put PLU and UPS in the same regional bracket. 4 times is too many this early on the tourney. Just my opinion.

Congrats to both the Lutes and Loggers. I anticipate both will do well in the tourney and think with a week of rest the Loggers will get their legs back. They looked a little tired on Sat as many of their shots were short.

Will check it early Monday am.

[Loggerville]

well, despite the good ideas of ParklandPride, the NCAA didn't listen. 

PLU to host, Loggers facing CLU and a fourth-time in a single year match-up between two top 20 teams from the same conference looming in the second game; not what fans or the teams deserve.   Good luck to both teams in the first game.

[parklandpride]

Ugh....a possible 4th UPS/PLU game...wrong again. Glad both UPS and PLU got in, just wish the NWC didnt have to eliminate itself so early to get to the final 4. Would have loved seeing UPS and PLU make runs at it to show what kind of conference the NWC is.

Money, Money, Money.

[rimshot]

As if there needed to be anymore firewood thrown on the fire---is that how that saying goes?

The cross-town-rival doesn't need anymore fuel---what a shame for the NWC.  But, I guess I should say that both teams need to get by their first round opponents in order to have this 4th match-up.

[arforbes]

Rimshot, you certainly nailed thi$ call.  This is the regional that history would have predicted.  If we think it is unfair that UPS and PLU have to play each other so early, think about how the California teams must feel since they always have to make the trip to the northwest and have yet to manage a win up here.  Still, I wish Parkland had been correct with his logical prediction.

[swiss]

The Loggers and the Lutes should have no problem at home with their first round opponents.  They both faced them early in the year and won handily.  Playing each other in round two should be another great game with one going on and one going home.  Too bad it couldn't have been in the Sweet Sixteen. 

I suspect, though, that Randolph-Macon will be an even greater challenge this year than last.  They're big, they'll probably get to play at home again (a true yellow-jacket nest), and they have one of the best point guards in D3 (Megan Silva).  One of my big regrets this year is not seeing the Bruins get another shot at them.  We had them on the ropes last year but let the crowd get back in the game which took us out of it.  If PLU or UPS can knock them off it won't hurt my feelings.

Of course there is much work to do before thinking of that.  The NWC representative will have to take care of business with the Texas schools first.  The bracket is reversed from last year when Trinity played to a tough loss against R-M.  But, if either the Lutes or the Loggers can shoot like they did against us I hope to see them in the Final Four.

[rimshot]

arforbes-Logic has nothing to do with the tournament.  I think some very good west region teams once again got overlooked and those bids went out to the EAST.  (everyone can drive to those game$$$$)-no flights.

swiss-The only team playing at home is PLU--which will  have fans out.  If UPS was at home without a doubt I would give them the win---but they are playing in PLU's gym against a talented Cal-Lu team.  The loggers haven't shot the ball well--just look at the team's recent box scores.  Maybe they can get hot from the outside?

As for PLU---they are driven by M.M, turner and nikki and seem to be focused on bigger and better things.

[swiss]

swiss-The only team playing at home is PLU--which will  have fans out.  If UPS was at home without a doubt I would give them the win---but they are playing in PLU's gym against a talented Cal-Lu team.  The loggers haven't shot the ball well--just look at the team's recent box scores.  Maybe they can get hot from the outside?

I suspect that the UPS fans will manage to make the 10 mile (or whatever it is) drive across town.  Since they have played there twice in the last couple of weeks I suppose that they can find their way to the basket.  In my mind it still qualifies as home court advantage.  Plus... they already beat Cal-Lutheran by 14 on Cal-Lu's home court.  We had a subpar game in Hawaii and beat them by 11.  They are not an awful team and no game at this level is a "gimme," but if UPS can't beat them again, they don't belong in this tournament.  I think they'll take care of business, as will PLU, and we'll get another showdown in Parkland.

[chemguy]

Both games on Friday should be good games.  UPS won against Cal Lutheran in December, but it wasn't easy.  The Cal Lutheran post is their most potent weapon, (average 22 ppg, & she scored 35 in the last meeting). UPS had good performance from their guards, and the Cal Lut post went cold when she was subed out in the second half.  In that game, the UPS post had probably her worst game & only played 9 minutes.  Based on the last few games, Chase should be in top form, and I don't see the Cal Lut post scoring anywhere near her average this time, (look at how Dee Dee performed against UPS, not that well when being guarded by Chase).  So, it could be close, but UPS will probably win.

PLU won against Chapman in November, but they are a similar team to L&C, which the PLU had difficulty with on one of their outings.  (They also tend to count on their post play).  I'd still bet on PLU in this game, as long as they don't give up too much in the middle, which is their weakness.

Assuming both PLU and UPS win, I think the 4th meeting will be much closer than any of the previous 3.  If UPS can focus on not turning over the ball, playing help side defense and working the ball more to the post, (Chase scored all but one of the times she shot, but only took 8 shots, as well as the good performance from Aderly), PLU will have a hard time walking away with the game.  I give a slight advantage ti UPS, (but I've been wrong before).  In any event, it will be a great game, and I think the NWC will be well represented into the sectionals.  Good luck to all!

[swiss]

...it wasn't easy. 
So, it could be close, but UPS will probably win.

Probably?... You sound worried... Not usually a good sign.

I'd still bet on PLU in this game, as long as they don't give up too much in the middle, which is their weakness.

That's really good of you... to give our NWC champion the benefit of your doubt.  But, Chapman, having started the season losing by 14 to PLU; ended the season losing by 24 to a 10-16 team (Nebraska Wesleyan) and squeaking out two wins by 1 and by 4) to another sub .500 team (University of Dallas).  They lost by 11 and won by 14 to your feared opponent, Cal Lu, and won by one to La Verne (a team Fox beat by 33).  Oh... and did I mention that Fox overwhelmed them by 33 in the tournament last year?  So... yeah... PLU better not give up too much in the middle. 

Assuming both PLU and UPS win, I think the 4th meeting will be much closer than any of the previous 3. 
...I give a slight advantage ti UPS, (but I've been wrong before).

We've all been wrong... but that's what makes this speculation fun.  My hunch is that you will be wrong again very soon.    I'd put my money (if I had any) on Turner, Johnson, and Long.  At tournament time it's upper classman leadership that will carry you, which is why PLU beat the Loggers by 14 in the championship game.  Chase is a fine player but you'd better hope Keaton and Carnahan step up.  If Keaton shoots 58% like she did against the Bruins (not to mention 7-13 3pt) and Carnahan manages a double double, then maybe the Loggers WILL have a "slight advantage." 

[chemguy]

Swiss,

I'm always a little worried when I see teams perform erratically. No one in the NWC has been perfect, (PLU, UPS, Whitman or GFU).  In the case of UPS, the games they have lost or been close in, have always been due to a combination of losing focus on defense, poor outside shooting and lack of use of the post players.  The last two are fairly tightly connected.  If they punish a team for weak inside play by pushing the ball to the post, the opposing team will either 1) lose or 2) make an adjustment, (go to a zone or sag to the middle). Either of these adjustments will reduce the pressure on the outside shooters and bring the outside game back.  UPS is a strong outside shooting team, (Killty, Sarah, Laura, Allison or Shelby can and have all stepped up.)  The common thread is to play as a team, which UPS has done fairly well all season.  They match up well position to position with every team they have faced all season, with the exception of the few games in which they struggeled.  The same can be said of all the other top NWC teams.  Great individuals won't win championships, only great team work gets you to that point.

I hope both NWC teams play their best, and I'm sure they intend on doing just that.  If they bring their "A" game, they will both win on Friday, and UPS will prevaile on Saturday.  If not, no games are "gimmes" at this time.  Both California teams have the potential to beat either team, if they are allowed the opportunity.