WBB: GNAC Women's Hoops

[Biggirlzdontcry]

well it looks like the top 8 teams are set for the GNAC playoffs , it's not a given that Emmanuel will breeze through as I orignally thought, having lost to Suffolk and barely beating Emerson and their first round opponent(either Simmons or Rivier) could give them a run in the opening round, especially if they can handle Emmanuels pressure and take care of the ball, both teams can score when they are on. It's no secret that the key to beating Emmanuel is good guard play,  I'm sure the Saints would love to see Suffolk again on their home floor, but there will be some tough challenges for them both to get through, before that can happen. I hope the playoffs make for some interesting basketball for this conference.

[deiscanton]

The big challenge for the Saints is going to be getting up from the opening tip and playing ball for the entire 40 minutes rather than sleepwalking through the first half. 

I attended the first round game tonight against Simmons, and Emmanuel didn't really get up and play their best game until the start of the second half.  That was enough to put away Simmons, but that style can very well run into a lot of trouble this weekend.  On Friday at 5 PM Eastern, Emmanuel hosts Johnson & Wales (RI) in the first semifinal game at the Jean Yawkey Center in Boston.

PS-- I was informed today by the coaching staff of Emmanuel that the Emmanuel women's basketball team had never lost to Suffolk until this season.  If Suffolk has past stats that indicate otherwise, please inform me.

[deiscanton]

Emmanuel v. Suffolk for the GNAC title on Saturday.

Today, Emmanuel's defense held JWU to 18.5% shooting for the game.  JWU took 81 shots from the field and only made 15 field goals-- the Wildcats shot 5-35 from 3 pt. land.  22 of JWU's 57 points came from the charity stripe.

In the second game, Norwich almost pulled off the upset to make it to their 5th consecutive GNAC final, but Suffolk pulled it out by 1 point to advance to their 1st ever GNAC tournament final. (I believe that to be the case.)  Still, considering what Norwich had at the beginning of the season when they were not even competitive in non-conference action, the Cadets should be proud of at least making it to the GNAC semifinals this season.

[deiscanton]

Well, we have gone a few weeks into the new GNAC season, and I just wanted to give some of my thoughts on the conference so far:

(1)  I have read the GNAC Women's Pre-season poll, and I find it interesting that the coaches think that Emmanuel can successfully defend the GNAC title this year with 12 newcomers on the team.  That's right-- there are only 5 veterans, and 12 newcomers on Emmanuel's roster this season.

I know that Andy Yosinoff can recruit good talent to come to Emmanuel, but great recruiting does not, by itself, mean that the Saints can automatically win another GNAC regular season and conference title.  I will need to see some evidence of team chemistry and great work ethic between the newcomers and veterans developing before I can proclaim Emmanuel to be the best team in the GNAC once again. 

I will know more about the Saints after they go through their Florida trip and face Northwood to see whether or not Emmanuel is getting better.

(2)  As it stands now, my pick to win the GNAC title this season is Norwich.  Norwich has enough athletic talent to be successful in GNAC play, and the Cadets also have the experience to succeed in GNAC regular season and conference tournament play.  It would not take much improvement for Norwich to win the GNAC championship, as they have the most experience among the top 4 teams (Emmanuel, Emerson, Norwich, and Suffolk) coming back.    Norwich also is having a better non-conference season this year than last, with their only loss so far being a 3 pt. defeat to Southern Maine.

(3)  Suffolk made the GNAC title game last season, but the Rams also have a very young team this season on the roster.  For this reason, I cannot pick them to be the favorite to capture a GNAC title-- especially since the Rams have never been GNAC Women's Basketball Champions.

(4)  Emerson is well coached and a team that also has a good work ethic.  These qualities are essential to succeed in GNAC conference play. 

(5)  Other than these 4 teams, I don't see any other GNAC team with a decent shot of winning the GNAC title this season.

Just my brief thoughts so far....

[deiscanton]

Congratulations to Andy Yosinoff on the milestone 600th career win last night.   Andy, you deserve that victory for your long years of service to Division 3 women's basketball and to the Emmanuel Saints. 

[deiscanton]

I just saw the final box score from the Emmanuel at Norwich game, and I have to say that I was impressed with Emmanuel's play from the 11:30 mark of the first half to the end of the game.

According to the box score, Norwich played in the first half like the Cadets wanted to put away the young Emmanuel Saints team early.   Only the final box score is printed from today's game at the moment, and the game in Vermont was not webcasted on streaming audio or video, so I can only guess what happened.   It looked like the Cadets went on a 24-4 run to open the game for the first 8 min and 30 seconds, and then Emmanuel started playing their best ball of the season.

2 of Emmanuel's newcomers, Karin Bird and Breanna Ockimey, had big games for the Saints, and Emmanuel needed the newcomers to step it up today because Norwich was doing a good job containing Iman Davis and Kristin LeBel on defense.

So, after Norwich opened up the 24-4 lead (I am guessing that was what the score was like at that time), Emmanuel's game brought the Saints all the way back and Emmanuel took the lead for good with 20 seconds left in the first half.

The halftime score was Emmanuel 30, Norwich 29-- and the Cadets had very little gas left in the tank to deal with the Emmanuel onslaught in the second half.

Emmanuel won the game, 71-45, and the Saints are now in the driver's seat to once again host the GNAC Tournament-- it looks like the GNAC women's title game will once again be on Emmanuel's home floor, and Norwich and the rest of the GNAC will have to rethink their game strategy if they are going to defeat the Saints on Emmanuel's home floor in the conference tournament.

Emmanuel still has road games at Rivier and Emerson left, and those two teams are decent, but I think that the Saints will now be able to run the table in the GNAC until the conference tournament.  To be honest, I didn't think that it was going to be the case based on Emmanuel's lackluster first semester, and Bowdoin's blowout victory over Emmanuel earlier in the month (remember, my pick was for Norwich to be GNAC champion this year)-- but it says something about the rest of the GNAC when Emmanuel can still be the top dog in the GNAC with 12 newcomers on the roster.

There is still 1 non-conference game left for Emmanuel when Wesleyan comes to the Jean Yawkey Center, and the Saints can use that game to prove that they are indeed a better team than they were a few weeks ago.

[deiscanton]

I went to the Emmanuel game vs. Wesleyan at the Jean Yawkey Center last night, and I was pleased with what I saw.

Emmanuel defeated Wesleyan by 11 points, 66-55, and the Saints have proved to me that they are indeed a better team than they were just a few weeks ago when Bowdoin beat the Saints by 25 points.  In contrast, the past two Emmanuel/Wesleyan games have since Emmanuel win by 2 points just two years ago, and lose by 8 last season.

The newcomers are proving that their work ethic and their ability to bond with the veterans is paying off.  I saw some great defense and hustle from the newcomers, and their ability on offense to work with Iman Davis and Kristin Lebel to put together some great plays is also paying off.  In the game last night, Iman Davis accounted for 1/3 of the Emmanuel offense, Kristin Lebel accounted for another 1/3 of the offense, and the newcomers made up the rest.

They still have a lot more work to do, however, before they can get back to the top 25 again, but look for the Saints to be back in the top 25 next season and make a serious run in the NCAAs next season as well.  I am also probably going to be proved wrong with my pick of Norwich to win GNAC this season, as it now looks like Emmanuel is now poised to not only host the GNAC tournament, but also to win it as well and go to the NCAAs as GNAC champion once again.  (You never know, however, a lot can happen on that week.)

Andy's recruiting effort from this past season is paying off now, and over the next two seasons, he may have a team that can go back to the sweet 16 in the NCAAs and compete for a Final Four bid.

[deiscanton]

Assuming the weather does not get bitterly cold again Wednesday night (I had to take a cab ride home from Canton Jct. last Wednesday after Emmanuel beat Wesleyan because of the wind chill temperatures), I may go in to Boston Wed. night to see Emmanuel play at Emerson.

On Saturday, Emerson crushed Norwich by 20.  After a few games out, Emerson's #45 Lauren Zaniboni is back in the lineup.  Zaniboni is the leading scorer among the newcomers in the GNAC this season.  Zaniboni only had 4 pts on Saturday, but the rest of the Lions stepped up their game.

I expect to see a good match on Wednesday between Emmanuel and Emerson.  After that, the next big games will be in the GNAC tournament.

[deiscanton]

I went to the Emmanuel at Emerson game last night, where I saw Emerson beat Emmanuel for the first time in the history of the Emmanuel/Emerson series.

Emerson plays a game very similar to what you find with the top NEWMAC teams such as WPI, Springfield, Wheaton (MA), or Babson.  Emerson has only 9 or 10 players on the roster, but they all can play-- they are very athletic, quick, and can shoot the ball.  Carol Simon of Brandeis would call Emerson one of the "scrappy" teams of Division III.

To me, this loss to Emerson felt no different than I would feel if Emmanuel lost at WNEC in the days when the WNEC Golden Bears were part of GNAC.  Emmanuel can learn from this game and play better in the GNAC Tournament coming up.

As it stands now, Emmanuel should be the #1 seed when GNAC regular season play concludes, and Emerson should be the #2 seed.  I just want Norwich to be the #3 seed so that Emmanuel would not have to play Norwich in a potential Friday semifinal before an anticipated rematch with Emerson for the GNAC title.

The good thing about the GNAC Tournament this year is that Emmanuel will not have to go to Vermont to win it.

[deiscanton]

What is at stake this weekend to set up the GNAC Tournament field:

1.)  Emmanuel clinched the top seed in the GNAC Tournament with last night's victory against Mount Ida.   Next Tuesday, the Saints will play the winner of Saturday's elimination matchup between the Lasell Lasers and the St. Joseph's of Maine Monks.  The winner of the Lasell at St. Joe's (Maine) match gets the #8 seed, and the season is over for the loser of that game.

2.)  Emerson can clinch the #2 seed with a victory on Saturday, while Norwich needs a victory and an Emerson loss to get the #2 seed.  A Norwich victory on Saturday assures the Cadets the #3 seed at the very least.

3.)  Simmons needs a victory over Norwich on Saturday to clinch the #4 seed, but a Simmons loss and a Johnson and Wales victory on Saturday gives the Wildcats the #4 seed.

4.)  Suffolk has clinched the #7 seed in the GNAC Tournament and will travel to play either Emerson or Norwich on Tuesday.

I will try to give my thoughts on the upcoming GNAC Tournament on Sunday evening.

[deiscanton]

The field for the GNAC Women's Tournament is set:

First Round Games-- Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009

1.)  #8 St. Joseph's (Maine) (Lady) Monks at #1 Emmanuel Saints
2.)  #7 Suffolk Rams at #2 Emerson Lions
3.)  #6 Simmons Sharks at #3 Norwich Cadets
4.)  #5 Rivier Raiders at #4 Johnson & Wales Wildcats

The following GNAC Tournament Teams expressed interest in being considered for the ECAC New England Tournament and have officially filed their declaration papers as of the deadline of Friday, Feb. 20:  (Listed with their current overall records)

1.)  Emerson (18-7)
2.)  St. Joseph's (Maine)  (13-12)
3.)  Rivier (17-8)
4.)  Suffolk (14-11)
5.)  Simmons (17-8)
6.)  Johnson & Wales (14-11)

The following teams have placed their seasons on the line and will pack it up for the season on their next loss:

(1) Emmanuel Saints
(2) Norwich Cadets

[deiscanton]

Preview of the GNAC Tournament:

(1)  All of the first round games on Tuesday should be very interesting-- all 4 games are very capable of going down to the final minute-- but some of these games could also have wider margins of victory than in the regular season as well.  You can't really tell in these single elimination games.

(2)  Here are the results of the previous matchups this season:

#8 St. Joseph's Maine Monks at #1 Emmanuel Saints

Last time out:  Emmanuel won, 89-82, on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at St. Joseph's Maine.

The game had 20 lead changes, and Emmanuel needed a career best 39 points from Iman Davis and another 21 pts. from Kristin Lebel to help secure the victory.

Emmanuel newcomer Karin Bird also scored 16 pts. in the previous match between the Saints and the Monks.

S. Maine flavor:  St. Joseph's #23, Megan McDevitt, is the daughter of current S. Maine head coach (and former St. Joseph's head coach) Mike McDevitt.

More S. Maine flavor:   Former Division III Player of the Year and S. Maine standout Ashley Marble will be making her first visit back as an assistant coach to Emmanuel's Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday.  I believe that she played for S. Maine against Calvin in the Sweet 16 in the 2007 NCAA Division III Tournament the last time she visited Emmanuel as a player.  Ashley Marble currently is serving her first year as an assistant under Deb Reardon, the current head coach at St. Joe's Maine.

#7  Suffolk Rams at #2 Emerson Lions

Last time out:  Emerson won, 62-61 in overtime, on Feb. 4, 2009 at Suffolk.

#6  Simmons Sharks at #3 Norwich Cadets

Last time out:  Norwich won, 67-60, yesterday (Feb. 21) at Simmons.

#5  Rivier Raiders at #4 Johnson & Wales Wildcats

Last time out:  Johnson & Wales won, 62-60, on Feb. 7, 2009 in Providence, RI.

[deiscanton]

Emmanuel has just advanced to the GNAC Women's Title game where they will take on either Emerson or Norwich.  Johnson & Wales made it interesting for the first 30 min of the game, but the Saints were able to pull away in the final 10 minutes.

[deiscanton]

Emerson defeated Norwich in the other GNAC semfinal to set up a rematch with Emmanuel in the GNAC title game tomorrow (Saturday) at 3 PM.

If Emerson can once again defeat Emmanuel on Saturday, the Lions will win their first GNAC title and go to their first NCAA Tournament.  The Saints will be looking to avenge their defeat from earlier this season on their home court.

[deiscanton]

An outstanding defensive performance by Emmanuel today has led to Emmanuel once again winning the GNAC Women's Basketball Championship and earning another automatic bid to the NCAAs.

This win is even more incredible when you figure that Emmanuel had 12 newcomers on the roster this season.

Final:  Emmanuel 51, Emerson 40

Congrats to Andy Yosinoff and the Emmanuel Saints on a job well done.  A tough game will await the Saints in Friday's first round, but Emmanuel will prepare themselves over the week for the challenge.

I'm tempted to want to see a first round rematch between Emmanuel and NYU.  (Be careful what you wish for....)