WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[gacbacker]

I read in the St. Cloud Times story that Durbin is planning on starting Arial Tauer in the Blazers' opening weekend games in Illinois. I'm a little surprised...I know she's very good, I just didn't think she'd be starting as a freshman.

[blazerguy]

I read in the St. Cloud Times story that Durbin is planning on starting Arial Tauer in the Blazers' opening weekend games in Illinois. I'm a little surprised...I know she's very good, I just didn't think she'd be starting as a freshman.

With Ellie Boone gone first semester studying overseas it left a spot open. It will probably help us in the long term with Arial and Kari Shrader getting alot of experience right away.

[gacbacker]

Blazerguy- How is the booster club feeling after the opening night 75-74 loss to Ohio Northern? I wonder if attendance at next week's meeting will slip...Anna can't do it ALL by herself you know.

St. Mary's and Macalester both look awful tonight as well. St. Mary's scores only 38 against LaCrosse and Macalester puts up 25 points against St. Scholastica.

[blazerball]

 
Here is the report from Napervile, IL...
Well, my Blazers dropped their opener in a very competitive and fun game to watch...they lost 75-74 to a very scrappy Ohio Northern squad.  Anna Heikenen was absolutely unbelievable scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 boards.  Ohio Northern keyed on her all game and even triple teamed her several times and she still went off.  Unfortunately for the Blazers, Heikenen did not get much help from the guards or teammates in the post.  Granted, it is early in the season so there is not too much to be overly concerned about.  Why?  Because Ohio Northern is not too bad of a team --- while they only finished 7th in the OAC last year I would say that their team is much improved compared to last season as they had two very solid freshmen.  Plus, they shot the ball very, very well ---- they hit 9 three pointers in this game when as a team they only hit 96 treys on the season last year.  So, they definitely presented a game to the Blazers that was unexpected.  So, I give them a lot of credit for coming away with the victory.  I think the Blazers have some room for improvement on the defensive end and the guards will need to get back to the form they showed in the MIAC and NCAA playoffs.

The good news for Blazers fans...other than Heikenen being even better than last year...is that I saw some nice things from Ariel Tauer and Kari Schrader.  In addition, I think Nikki Carter will be a very good player in the MIAC.  Also, junior Jaime Goehner played some great minutes in the first half before getting hit in the face and having to leave the game.  With a few more games and some opportunities to get the freshmen comfotable in the mix I think this Blazer squad will be very fun to watch and a major factor in the MIAC...while they lost the game today I think it could actually be a tremendous learning experience for the young players and the returning veterans.  So, I'm not that overly disappointed which surprises me because a loss is usually quite depressing for me...maybe I'm turnong over a new leaf as I get older...more to come tomorrow as the Blazers take on Loras... 

[yojo]

Hello, I have a question for you guys.  Just found the board so should be nice to talk, any cobber alums??? Anyway, my daughter plays for MSU and we  had a scrimmage with Hamline and they mopped the floor with us.  Just wondering who the goliath girl was in the middle?  Was she there last year?  I am really surprised they did so poorly last year.  Thanks for any input.

[Willy Wonka]

yojo - MSU meaning Mankato State, Moorhead State or what? I don't know much about Hamline, but maybe someone else here does. I do know we have a few Cobber posters on here though, so they could help you out if you need something particular from up north.

I like the CSB/GAC tensions boiling already. Too bad I don't expect GAC to be able to compete with them on the court as well as gacbacker has taken it to blazerball thus far on here

[peachbasket]

28 TO's and 34% FG shooting for Concordia...UGLY!
The Cobbers pull out an eight point win in Cali, with Mel on the bench for most of the game.  Keely knocked down her free throws, we hit the boards hard, and we win.
Hopefully we can rectify the TO's and we will be fine.
As for MSU, I would assume you are talking about Moorhead.  The monster in the middle is Angel Leon.  She is in her 20th year of college, and on about that number of schools.  They tried to have her eligible last year, but couldn't because of NCAA standards, so she was a student assistant. She must have received a waiver or something to play this year.

[yojo]

Nope, its mankato state. 

[blazerball]

Actually, from what I hear, Leon is NOT eligible to play yet this year.  She is on the roster and practicing with the team but it is my understanding that she is not eligible yet.  Actually, by MIAC standards she should not be eligible at all this year...period.  However, Hamline and Leon are doing everything possible to get her one more season of eligibility.  They desperately want Leon to play because of her talent but it sure seems like she has used up her eligibility and should not be allowed one more season ---- I hope the MIAC stays strong and does not bend to the pressure exerted by Hamline and Leon...

Let's see what happens in the next few weeks because I believe it will be resolved in the coming month but I do not think it looks very optimistic for Leon to be suiting up when the games count for real...

Wonka...As for gacbacker "taking it to me" so be it...don't really know what you're talking about there but have fun with it.  That's what the board is for...

[tommycorn]

UST wins its game today, without knowing the specifics, they won by around 25 to Lasell.  Melissa Keiser starting to get hot shooting three's.  If she can continue hitting those shots, the 1-2 punch of Opdahl down low and Keis on the perimeter could be very effective.

[LA RAMS]

BB,

I disagree with your opinion on how Angel Leon shouldn't be granted another year of eligibility.  Granted, she's bounced around from places such as the U, UMKC, Winona St. and Anoka-Ramsey but if she's indeed eligible for another year what's in it for everybody to try and deny her?  Hopefully the old stodges who run the MIAC will get off their self-righteous high horse and let her play.

Anyway, awesome to have yet another season get underway.  Presumably, CSB will right the ship after stubbing their toe last night to Ohio Northern.  I am very anxious to catch both the Knights and Gusties in action although I probably won't get to a game until after Thanksgiving as I'll be in Dallas for a couple days this week before heading back to Iowa for the holiday.  Hope to see everybody around.......

[tommycorn]

From the tommy web-site it says freshman Jess Katch scores 17, 7 boards, 5 steals, 5 assists.  That's a pretty good line for a first year.  She is one of two starting freshman for the tommies, both from dowling high school in Iowa.  Katch and her high school teamate Wirtz (pg) have a promising future for the tommies.

[gacbacker]

Willy- I haven't made any comments regarding GAC being able to compete with CSB this year. I just need to stick it to the Blazers while I have the chance, because I agree with you that the chances may be few during the conference season.

[blazerguy]

Blazerguy- How is the booster club feeling after the opening night 75-74 loss to Ohio Northern? I wonder if attendance at next week's meeting will slip...Anna can't do it ALL by herself you know.

St. Mary's and Macalester both look awful tonight as well. St. Mary's scores only 38 against LaCrosse and Macalester puts up 25 points against St. Scholastica.

GAC, I actually expect attendence to again be great at this weeks meeting. The booster club is feeling better than ever about the season!   There is even going to be an executive board meeting  later today to plan for the full club event later this week. I will update you on whats going on.  It sounds like our Blazers were ambushed by the three point shooting of Thee Ohio Northern. From what I heard Anna is going to get help from Schroeder, Goehner, Tauer and Boone when she returns, so not to worry.

[bobby]

isn't that the truth, will be interesting to see if marty is the ref when concorida plays st. bens on the 30th.