WBB: GNAC Women's Hoops

[deiscanton]

A few things to note from tonight's Emmanuel at Simmons game, which Emmanuel just won by 22 points.--

1.)  Emmanuel took control of this game in the first half-- the game was only close for the first five minutes before the Saints clamped down on the Sharks.

2.)  Late in the first half, Emmanuel fans were starting to chant LaTeisha Johnson's name.  It was only at halftime that I learned that LaTeisha Johnson was in range of the 1,000 point milestone.   LaTeisha Johnson started today's game with 983 points for her college career at Emmanuel.  At halftime, LaTeisha Johnson was 7 points shy of the milestone.  Emmanuel was up 16 at the break, but Simmons scored the first 5 points of the second half while the Emmanuel fans were putting the pressure on for the milestone to be achieved today at Simmons.

3.)  With about 5 minutes to go in the game, LaTeisha Johnson scored points 1,000 and 1,001 on a made basket to become the newest member of the Emmanuel 1,000 point club.  The game was briefly suspended for a few minutes for a short ceremony before play resumed.

4.)  After the game, an Emmanuel basketball tradition of celebrating coach Andy Yosinoff's birthday took place on the Simmons court as the Emmanuel fans and players sang "Happy Birthday" to him.  (Andy Yosinoff's birthday always falls either on the exact day of the game, or within a day or two either way of the game, so the birthday is always observed at the Emmanuel/Simmons game.)

[Pat Coleman]

Unfortunately, five GNAC schools tonight couldn't even be bothered to report scores to their own conference Web site, which means we didn't get the scores either.

The Rivier/Emerson game affects Quality of Win Index calculations for everyone Rivier played, as does the Southern Vermont/St. Joseph game for anyone St. Joseph played (though if SJC lost to Southern Vermont that would be a significant surprise).

[deiscanton]

What's at stake for the GNAC Women's Tournament with 1 regular season GNAC game remaining:

1.)  Emmanuel has clinched the #1 seed and has home court advantage throughout the GNAC tournament.   Emmanuel will host the GNAC semifinals and championship game next weekend with a victory over the GNAC's #8 seed.

2.)  The winner of the Suffolk at Norwich game on Saturday will get the #2 seed in the GNAC tournament, while the loser will get the #3 seed.

3.)  The #4 and #5 seeds for the GNAC tournament has been locked up, thanks to a 2 point victory by WNEC in the head to head match vs. Emerson.  WNEC has the #4 seed, and Emerson has the #5 seed.

Emerson will play at WNEC in a GNAC quarterfinal-- This GNAC quarterfinal in Springfield will be a rematch from the regular season tilt which was also held in Springfield-- This should be the most exciting quarterfinal match of this year's GNAC tournament.

4.)  The winner of the Simmons at Johnson & Wales match on Saturday will clinch the #6 seed in the GNAC tournament and travel to play the #3 seed.

5.)  Albertus Magnus, Pine Manor, and Daniel Webster have been eliminated from GNAC tournament consideration.

6.)  St. Joseph, CT can get into the GNAC tournament if they defeat Daniel Webster, Johnson & Wales can defeat Simmons, and then the Blue Jays must win a coin flip for seeding.  A Simmons victory at Johnson and Wales eliminates the Blue Jays from GNAC tournament consideration.

7.)  If Simmons wins at JWU, and SJC wins at DWC, and Emmanuel wins at Rivier:

Simmons-- #6 seed
Johnson & Wales-- #7 seed
Rivier-- #8 seed
St. Joseph, CT-- OUT

8.)  If JWU def. Simmons, SJC wins at DWC, and Emmanuel wins at Rivier:

Johnson & Wales-- #6 seed

Rivier, Simmons, and St. Joseph, CT would all end up with GNAC records of 4-7.   Since each team in the group would have gone 1-1 vs. the other two, and since all 3 members of the group would have defeated and lost to the same common GNAC opponents outside the group, a coin flip would have to settle the #7 and #8 seeds-- as well as eliminate one of the three.

Rivier, Simmons, and St. Joseph, CT would each have wins over Albertus Magnus, Daniel Webster, and Pine Manor as the 3 wins vs. common GNAC opponents.

[deiscanton]

My quick thoughts on the upcoming week ahead for Emmanuel and the GNAC tournament--

1.)  St. Joseph, CT was eliminated from GNAC tournament consideration yesterday as a result of a 2 point loss to Daniel Webster.  The loss by the Blue Jays saved the GNAC of the necessity of having to go to a coin flip for the 7th and 8th seeds.

2.)  Emmanuel's bid to host 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tournament the weekend of Friday March 2 and Saturday March 3 got a huge boost with the losses by Fitchburg State and S. Maine yesterday.  As a result, look for Emmanuel to rise to the #2 ranking in the Northeast Region when the next regional rankings get released on Wednesday.  Should Emmanuel win the GNAC tournament this week and Bowdoin win the NESCAC tournament this upcoming weekend, then Bowdoin and Emmanuel should be the favorites to get host sites in the Northeast Region.

3.)  The GNAC tournament field-- Quarterfinals on Tuesday, with Emmanuel hosting the GNAC semifinals and championship game on Friday and Saturday should the Saints win on Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 20-- GNAC Quarterfinals

1.)  (#8 seed) Rivier at (#1 seed) Emmanuel-- tip time 7 PM Eastern.
2.)  (#7 seed) Simmons at (#2 seed) Norwich
3.)  (#6 seed) Johnson & Wales at (#3 seed) Suffolk
4.)  (#5 seed) Emerson at (#4 seed) WNEC

The GNAC quarterfinal between Emerson and WNEC should be the most exciting matchup of the four.  Emerson, in their second ever appearance in the GNAC tournament, will look to advance to the GNAC semifinals for the first time, while WNEC will try to advance to the GNAC semifinals in the final year for the Golden Bears as members of the GNAC.  WNEC will be in the Commonwealth Coast Conference next season.

In the regular season matchup in Springfield, WNEC took a 2 point victory over Emerson, so this rematch should be a good one.

I expect Emmanuel, Norwich, and Suffolk to win their Tuesday games and advance to the GNAC semifinals, with a potential rematch between Emmanuel and Norwich on Saturday for the GNAC championship and the automatic bid to the NCAAs.

[Biggirlzdontcry]

Well we finally are ready for the exciting part of the season, post season tournaments, Like Deis, I expect the top seeds to advance on Tuesday. But I think that kudos should also go out ot Emerson for making the tournament again, and for Rivier(when was the last time they were in) ? its always good to see some new faces in the tourney, I think Simmons also deserves some credit for making it back to the conference playoffs, considering what / who they graduated last season. Don't sleep on the Jwu vs Suffolk game, and I will bet the house that Norwich will not take the Sharks lightly this time around. Good Luck to all of the teams, I'll be watching for those scores

[deiscanton]

Congratulations to Emmanuel College on the winning of the GNAC championship and their landing of a host site for this weekend's first and second rounds.

The Brandeis women are also playing at the Jean Yawkey Center this weekend in Friday's first game.

Here are the starting times for the games at the Yawkey Center, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA.

Friday, March 2, 2007

1.)  5:30 PM Eastern-- Brandeis v. Maine-Farmington
2.)  7:30 PM Eastern-- Emmanuel v. Salve Regina

Saturday, March 3, 2007

7 PM Eastern-- Brandeis/Maine-Farmington winner vs. Emmanuel/Salve Regina winner.

I will not be going to Friday's first round games at Emmanuel, as I will be in Providence to cheer on the Brandeis men's basketball team against Trinity(CT).  Both Brandeis games will be playing simultaneously, with the Brandeis men tipping off one half hour after the start of the Brandeis women's game.

Should both Brandeis teams win on Friday, however, I will be attending Saturday's second round game at Emmanuel College however.  I don't want to miss a Brandeis v. Emmanuel women's basketball game if that comes to fruition.

If the Brandeis women win on Friday, but the Brandeis men lose, then I will also be attending the second round game at Emmanuel.  Likewise if both Brandeis teams get upset this Friday.

The only way that I would go to the second round men's game in Providence is if the only game that Brandeis loses on Friday is on the women's side-- which I hope does not happen.

Good luck to Brandeis and Emmanuel this Friday, and I hope that the Judges and Saints win their respective games so I can get a dream matchup on Saturday.

Note:  Please save a 2XL t-shirt with the field printed on it and an official NCAA women's basketball program for me to buy if Friday's games don't go as I hope.

[nescac hoops]

deis,
you sound like you will be pretty busy this weekend! thanks for keeping us updated on your weekend plans. let us know if anything changes.

I will not be going to Friday's first round games at Emmanuel, as I will be in Providence to cheer on the Brandeis men's basketball team against Trinity(CT).  Both Brandeis games will be playing simultaneously, with the Brandeis men tipping off one half hour after the start of the Brandeis women's game.

Should both Brandeis teams win on Friday, however, I will be attending Saturday's second round game at Emmanuel College however.  I don't want to miss a Brandeis v. Emmanuel women's basketball game if that comes to fruition.

If the Brandeis women win on Friday, but the Brandeis men lose, then I will also be attending the second round game at Emmanuel.  Likewise if both Brandeis teams get upset this Friday.

The only way that I would go to the second round men's game in Providence is if the only game that Brandeis loses on Friday is on the women's side-- which I hope does not happen.

Good luck to Brandeis and Emmanuel this Friday, and I hope that the Judges and Saints win their respective games so I can get a dream matchup on Saturday.

Note:  Please save a 2XL t-shirt with the field printed on it and an official NCAA women's basketball program for me to buy if Friday's games don't go as I hope.

[dannyboyc5]

I was reading the tourney preview piece and was a little surprised that there was no mention of Emmanuel in there. The Saints are having their best season in the programs history and are still being overlooked by most of the field in this tourney.  I know Coach Andy Yosinoff has his girls ready for this tournament more then ever, and I hope the Saints come marching in on Friday!

Alan - Enjoy the game on Friday at RIC... A little interesting fact that you might not have known about the two teams... Both teams have an assitant coach with the last name of Tabb... Trinity has Sean Tabb and Brandeis Colin Tabb... the two are brothers and from my hometown of Somers, CT. Both were all state high school players and continued their careers in college Sean at U-Hart and Colin at Trinity. So if the game's stakes are already high, theres a little family rivalry going on in the coaching staffs as well! My fathers going to be at the game as well, so I'm sure I'll hear all about it. Enjoy!

[atn alum]

We're broadcasting tonight's game- Emmanuel vs Brandeis. Check for the link here

http://www.d3hoops.com/audio

We'll be on about 6:50-6:55 or so with pregame.

Thanks, and enjoy!

[deiscanton]

Congratulations to the Emmanuel Saints on defeating my Brandeis Judges and advancing to the Sweet 16.  If you get to host a sectional next weekend, I'll be cheering just as hard for you in the sectionals as I did for Brandeis last night.  If you get to play against another UAA team this postseason, I will have to remain neutral, however.

I did find my old XL "EC Saints Basketball" t-shirt in one of my closets this morning, and yes, I am wearing it today.  (OK, enough with the "traitor" teasing that I heard Emmanuel fans call me last night after the game-- Brandeis is my alma mater, after all, and I have to support them in every game that 'Deis plays.)

This Emmanuel team is every bit as good as the 2000-2001 Saints Final Four team.  There are some differences, though.

(1)  This year's Emmanuel press defense is definitely way better than the press defense that the 2000-2001 Saints team that was captained by my good friend Brianne Bognanno used.  In 2000-2001, Emmanuel's old home court was 10 feet shorter than regulation size, so the press defense that Emmanuel used in 2000-2001 had to be adjusted when the Saints played on regulation sized courts.  This year's press defense was made for the regulation sized court.  In both cases, Emmanuel's press defense, when executed correctly, would remind a lot of people of the swarming quick defenses that Arkansas's "40 Minutes of Hell" men's basketball teams used.

(2)  The 2000-2001 Emmanuel team led the nation in rebounding margin, while this year's Emmanuel team could still use some rebounding work between now and Friday.  Last night, Brandeis outrebounded Emmanuel 49-31, but Emmanuel's press defense which led to Emmanuel getting 20 steals off Brandeis, and forcing Brandeis to turn the ball over at least 10 more times more than made up the difference last night.  Emmanuel got 36 points off Brandeis turnovers-- a very typical Emmanuel-style run game.

(3)  I was reading that Emmanuel was leading the nation in steals per game-- I will have to check the NCAA stats to see if that is still true.

I was glad that the Saints held nothing back last night to win this ball game.  Brandeis held nothing back as well.  (I wish that the officiating would have been better last night, but that is another story....)

Good luck against DePauw on Friday.

[deiscanton]

Women's sectional sites have been announced.

Emmanuel is hosting a sectional this weekend!

Scranton, Luther, and NYU are hosting the other sectionals.

Emmanuel will host next weekend regardless of the outcome of today's second round game between S. Maine and Fitchburg State.

Emmanuel will play in the second game on Friday against DePauw, while the first game on Friday at the Jean Yawkey Center has Calvin going up against the winner of S. Maine against Fitchburg State.

[atn alum]

Good analysis on the UAA board and here allen. The halftime guest on our broadcast (emerson's coach, the site rep) told us that emmanuel was a different team in the 2nd half all yr, and she was right on...

Definitely a unique team to watch. A lot of coaches that run and press (the number seems to be growing)should watch Emmanuel to see how it's best done

[atn alum]

If you can't make it on Friday or Saturday, please tune in:

We'll have all 3 games
http://www.d3hoops.com/audio

* Calvin vs Southern Maine
* Emmanuel vs DePauw
* Saturday's sectional final

Coverage on Friday starts at 5:15pm, Saturday at 6:45 ET

[atn alum]

and feel free to e-mail the broadcast crew at cgbears2006@aol.com

Thanks!

[pops]

HOLLA!!!

yo whattup. my lady saints are getting it in this year.

just wanted to hop on her for old time's sake and shake the haters off.

basketball..........i love this game!!!!!!!

get your wet wipes! holla!