WBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Maroon&Gold]

Yeah...she's OK I guess

[Collegeville Magic]

Predictions for the weekend, anybody?

St. Olaf @ Carleton - Carleton is ripe for an upset, but not at home; CC by 9
Augsburg @ Gustavus - can the Ugs rise up again?  Not likely, GAC by 14
Bethel @ Concordia - Cobs tough at home but Bethel needs the playoff help; Christians sweep Concordia for the year (by 2)
Saint Benedict @ Hamline - Blazers sans Heikenen are tested, but CSB by 3 is my pick
St. Thomas @ Saint Mary's - SMU in another shocker, final score=25-24

I found an interesting line on the UST home page today as well... apparently the Tommies current 6 game losing streak is the longest in the 29-year history of the program.  I have to say I didn't think I'd see the day when a perennial conference championship contender would fall this steadily.

And yes, CSB fans are a little nervous about having Anna lead cheers from the bench instead of leading scoring drives to the hoop.  Any team who has a top MVP candidate watching instead of playing isn't happy about the situation.

[Maroon&Gold]

Weekend Games

STO @ Carl:  Knights too tough at home, CC by 14
Auggie @ Gustavus: Auggie plays tough again, but not tough enough away from home, Gac by 10
CSB @ HU: Upset special, Pipers sense weakness of Blazers without Anna, and win a tight one, by 4
STU @ SMU: Does anyone care?  I will take the tommies by 9
BU @ Cord: Cobbers face a tough test with the Royals after the shocker in Minneapolis.  Hageman, Elhert, and Keeley lead the youngsters to a big time home win over Bethel by 8

[gacbacker]

All I have to say is go Pipers and go Royals!

[LA RAMS]

Saturday Games:

UST @ SMU - Both teams playing out the string; should be a happy Alumni weekend for SS51 & the Gang; Birds by 12

Bethel @ Concordia - Corn by 10

CSB @ Hamline - Bennies will struggle in this game but still find a way to win; probably by 6

St. Olaf @ Carleton - My Knights will dispose of their cross-town rival by 15

Augsburg @ GAC - A potentially dangerous game for the Gusties; Auggies won in St. Peter last year and just knocked off Concordia a few nights ago.  As long as Gusties bring their "A" game; they should clear this hurdle by 10

P.S.
They say it happens in threes:  First Jack Snow, then Ron Jessie, now Dick Bass.  R.I.P. #22 

[Willy Wonka]

Ummm...if the Gusties bring their "A" game, they'll win by 10x4. They brought their "D" game @Auggie Tech and won by 11 earlier this year.

[Collegeville Magic]

CSB played tough in the second half to pull out a win w/o Anna, 83-80.  Game ball is split 5 ways, if it's my choice.  Kempe, Tauer, Goehner and Noreen all in double figures, and a wonderfully surprising 12 points from Jenna Tody to round things out.

Looks like the CSB-GAC showdown a week from today will be a big one!

Olaf continues the string of MIAC days with at least one shocker, anybody at the Carleton gym to tell us what happened?

I also noticed that Monahan wasn't in the stats for the win over Auggie Tech.  Are the top MVP candidates both banged up right now? 

[Collegeville Magic]

UST loses team record 7th consecutive game and only scores 33, losing to SMU by 28 in the process.  0-17 from 3-point territory for a team that relies on the deep ball.  Ouch.

[gacbacker]

Monahan was sick today with what sounds like flu-like symptoms. I'm guessing she could have played if it was absolutely necessary, but since it was against Auggie Tech, no need. The Gusties led by 16 at the half and had only 4 points from Vadnais and obviously 0 from Monahan. Makes me wonder how the heck the Cobbers lost to them just 3 days ago.

Nice games from Michelle Linbo, Sara Boldt, Erin Boese, Emily Nelson, Missy Mills and Kenzie Consoer. I really thought the Pipers were going to pull it off today against the Bennies...oh well. The game next Saturday should be very fun.

I'm still hoping for another Cobber loss...probably not to St. Thomas after today's performance, but that regular season finale against Hamline could loom large for both teams.

[Maroon&Gold]

I also noticed that Monahan wasn't in the stats for the win over Auggie Tech.  Are the top MVP candidates both banged up right now? 

Nope, Hageman is just fine.  Drops 31, 25 in the 2nd half, and  leads the Cobbs to a come from behind win against Bethel on saturday afternoon.

Cobbers still have not put together a full 40 minutes of their best basketball, as they seem to always be close at half and end up on top by about 6 at the end of games. Exciting and stressful for the fans at the same time. Here's hoping  that the Cobbs can stay on track and go 2 and 0 this week and that the Gusties can bump off CSB.

Last thing, I just wanted to say give some props to Bethel's Jen Ahlberg (although it hasn't always been that enjoyable for me to watch her against the Cobbs the last couple years ).  Tremendous player.

I just said something nice about Bethel...I think I need to wash my mouth out.

[Willy Wonka]

gacbacker - Didn't you miss someone? In naming so few players, aren't you leaving out a few trainers, the water boy and the stat girls? You're starting to sound like CM...

I'm not sure Monahan could have played yesterday. She was puky and has/had strep.

If GAC beats CSB and everyone else wins out, we have a 3-way tie again. Will there be another lame coin flip to decide homecourt like a few years ago at Carleton?

[blazerball]

Congratulations to Mike Durbin on his 450th career win yesterday!  It was a great college basketball game with both teams shooting lights out.  It was fun to see the Blazers drop in 83 without Heikenen.  It almost makes me look forward to next year since Heikenen is the only senior.  But, I hope we don't have to think about next year for several more weeks!!!

All I know is that CSB has everything in thier own hands --- win two and they are conference champs and the #1 seed.  If they drop another to GAC they could possibly be as low as the #3 seed as a tri-conference champ.  While CSB controls their own destiny there is definite pressure on the Cobbs to win two this week at UST and home v. Hamline -- they have had their struggles on the road (see Auggie game).   GAC is also in a must-win at home against the Blazers b/c if they lose they will be a #3 seed since they got swept by Concordia and that means the possibility of another long bus trip to Moorhead if they make it to the MIAC tourney semis...

Also fun to see the battle for the #5 and #6 seeds shape up.  A big game Wed with Bethel and Hamline.  St. Kate's can also sneak in if they win two and Bethel or Hamline lose two. 

It is exciting to see things come down to the final week.  I only wish the Blazers were at full-stregth.  Not sure about the status of Heikenen for this week but if she has to miss the next two games in order to be ready for the playoffs then so be it...we need her healthy come tournament time!

[gacbacker]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if the three way tie occurs I believe it would be 1. Concordia 2. Gustavus 3. St. Ben's. Concordia would be 3-1 vs. the other two teams, GAC would be 2-2 and St. Ben's would be 1-3.

[Maroon&Gold]

Geez, quiet times around here lately

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if the three way tie occurs I believe it would be 1. Concordia 2. Gustavus 3. St. Ben's. Concordia would be 3-1 vs. the other two teams, GAC would be 2-2 and St. Ben's would be 1-3.

That is the way that I have had it explained to me, and I for one am hoping for that secnario to play out.

[randle]

MIAC Women's Basketball Tie Breaking Procedure
1. Head to head competition
2. Results against all teams above those tied
3. Results against above teams beginning in rank order.
4. Order of losses beginning with the 12th seed and moving up to the tied teams.
5. Best road record.
6. Coin flip.