WBB: Middle Atlantic Conference board archive

[saratoga]

Mack: I think the person who had the computer at Kings left school...so they're taking a collection as we speak to get the school a new one.

[macfan]

well....so good to see that there are still TWO sides to the MAC! was wondering if this would continue to be one sided!  question though....there are 6 teams in the post...but you suggest that 4 of those will be in the thick of things on the other side of the conference!  will look forward to seeing some of the cross conference games!  things could be changing in the MAC?? hmmmmm

[mytwocents]

Sorry about that. In no particular order Moravian, Messiah, Susquehanna, Widener.

[Warren Thompson]

A nice win for the LVC ladies last night. Monica's on a roll.

[kate]

To think i was  "worried" about Coach Richter.  Great games for DeSales & LebVal last night -  they're Baaack!  Good luck with Ursinus tonight, Del Val (is it still bear season in PA?)  Get em!

[macfan]

my two cents; curious....if you DID put an order what would it be?

anyone care to comment on whether the desales victory over widener was an "upset" or expected?? is the scranton side still the stronger of the MAC?

will hold comments on the lvc victory over rowan to see what some other teams do with rowan!  (york plays rowan, they also play messiah, and messiah already played lvc)....

thoughts??

[saratoga]

A very good test will be held tomorrow in Bethlehem when Scranton visits the Lady Hounds. Not a fan of common opponents being a primary predictor of what may happen...but, the last game for Scranton was against Drew on Sat....they won by 45 I believe. The last game for the Hounds was last evening vs. you guessed it...Drew. The Hounds won by 13. Is Scranton about 20 better? Will playing in Bethlehem help? One thing I'm sure Scranton will do is take it right to K.Applegate & try to get her in foul trouble. The Lady Royals go about 4 deep in the post & I've seen Coach Strong use 12 to 20 fouls from his end just wearing the opposition down in there. If the Lady Hounds collapse around her in the post to protect her, they then become vulnerable to Scranton having some pretty good looks from beyond the arc. Should be a great one...this game is big for both schools as they each recruit the Lehigh Valley pretty good.

[hoopster]

Scranton/Moravian = no contest in my humble opinion. Scranton too big, too athletic and too deep for Moravian to handle. BTW, the Moravian game last night against Drew was alot closer than the final score would indicate. Drew had no answers for Scranton in their game last Saturday and needs to improve alot to be competitive against Scranton at home. Moravian does possess two great players in Applegate and Hackleman. Unfortunately for Moravian, Scranton has about 10 great players and two superior D-3 players in  Melody and Matts without much drop off when they're on the bench!

I'll be watching this score to see if I still have an eye for scouting!! Good luck to all the girls.

[oiler]

Women's Basketball

Scranton at Moravian

7PM

www.scranton.edu/wusr

[kate]

Thanks, oiler - i'll be listening tonight - can't make the scranton/ moravian game, but GO Lady Royals!!!

[saratoga]

You're the best Kate. By the way, it seems like you've had quite a bit to cheer about this season with the Lady Aggies. Good luck to you as well.

[mytwocents]

Macfan,

Messiah, Moravian,Widener, Susquehanna.  Based upon games played so far this season it would seem that the Commonwealth side of the conference would have a slight edge over the Freedom with the exception of Scranton of course.  The Royals are still kings.......er......queens of the hill until someone knocks them off. Maybe tonight by Moravian but that is a tall order.  I have not seen any games in person but Moravian sure has taken care of business so far with almost all their starters returning. Messiah seems to have reloaded nicely with necomers Lobach,Brooks & Wenrich teaming up with Cook, Ringer & Reed. I honestly think this years  squad is improved over last. Much more scoring potential, better shooting % and a little better rebounding. Lastly their sleeper Lauren Schurr is an excellent 3 point shooter but improved her overall game from last year and seems to have stepped it up a notch.  If you play for Coach Miller defense is the key and Messiah still plays that end of the court as well as anyone.  Thats enough for now.  

[bballislife]

Scranton beat Moravian by about three.....forget the exact score......but Moravian did a great job hanging in there.....Scranton committed a number of unnecessary fouls, sending Moravian to the line one too many times and therefore, letting them stay in the game.  As much as I'm a Lady Royal fan, I have to give credit to Moravian for exposing Scranton's one weakness.....they're post game......Williams, Fabio, Daly, Lewandowski could not handle Moravian's  Kelly Applegate who finished with game highs in pts (22) and boards (17).  Hat's off to Moravian for keeping Scranton's All-American in check....Mellody missed another two free throws and I believe was held to about ten points, if not less than ten points....But she's still awesome in my book

However, as always, Scranton's bench play prevails.....Matt and Remington were the stars in this one making some key shots/plays for Scranton.....Anyway, nice win ladies....On to the Diversified Invitational this weekend....Go Lady Royals!!!

[saratoga]

I realize having 15 good players can be both a luxury & a curse, but I think the time may have arrived for the coaching staff to finally determine the starting 5 and real substitution patterns as opposed to the ongoing hockey format of changing lines. Against lesser talented clubs you'll be able to still get away with it for the most part, but the better clubs are not going to blink and will actually do better when they see what they perceive as the first team heading out for an extended period of time. I mean certain players on the second line are clearly very good players but they are not getting quality game time with kids on the starting unit. For example, when is Casey Thran & Steph Remington going to get the chance to get the minutes & feel comfortable with the passes from Allie? When do they get to feel which way Taryn is cutting...only in practice? Kathleen Daly played great yesterday...will she get the chance to do it with the 1st. unit as well? The Hounds average just over 20 turnovers / game...this was very evident just before the half when Scranton forced 8 in a 4 minute span...the press then disappeared the rest of the game as did the traps, not sure why...perhaps many of the kids are sick & just could'nt keep up that pace. Another stat that jumps out is some players combining for 39 minutes: 4pts. total, 4 defensive rbs. total, no offensive rbs. & 6 turnovers. Of course what doesn't show are charges taken & tough D played, however some additional production will be needed down the stretch as the games will keep getting tougher & the bullseye larger. Not sure why Taryn & Allie sat for so long midway through the 2nd. half...perhaps illness, because as the Lady Hounds were making their run we were without 2 very important generals. Shooters have off nights, but they need to work through them & scorers can't score on the bench. Riddick & GMac keep firing even when they're not always falling because they are a tremendously important part of their respective offenses. This game reminded me of Desales last year when Taryn sat for 12 min. in the 2nd. half, came in & instantly buried a 3, got her game back on & with 2 seconds left buried another 3 from NBA range to turn defeat into victory. Getting playing time to all those talented kids is important, establishing a starting unit with appropriate subs patterns to meet the demands of the game is even more so.

[bballislife]

Saratoga, I agree.....I  think Coach Strong needs to make very clear what each individual's role on this team is in order for this team to be successful and subbing "hockey style" just isn't going to do that.  Actually, this style of subbing leads me to believe that Coach Strong himself doesn't know what each individual's role on the team is just yet, and at 7 games into the season (1/4 way through mind you), I think he better figure it out.  Like you said, the bullseye is just going to keep getting bigger as the season progresses, esp. into conference play.  If the coach doesn't know the players' roles, how do you expect the players' to know their roles and fill their roles/do their job, each and every game, esp. the big games??? Without a doubt, Taryn and Ali are the go-to players as far as shooters go.  Come crunch time the ball needs to be in one of their hands, afterall lets face it, they led the team to the final four last year as sophomores (a team in which everyone knew and fulfilled their roles very well).  Coach Strong needs to respect that.  However, I see no one in the post stepping up (maybe Coach Strong isn't giving them the chance to step up by his erratic sub patterns, not letting the girls get comfortable in the game before taking them out???).  Someone needs to be a presence in the post in order to allow the perimeter to open up for Taryn and Ali.  Last year seniors Tara Gemmel, Eileen Webster and Maura Kane did a great job of that.  From what I can see, no one has stepped up to replace them.  This is definitely going to become a factor down the stretch, as it is easier to defend a team with just shooters scoring than a team with both shooters and a post presence/slash-type player.  It may be early in the season, but the season as always is passing quickly and these issues need to be addressed if Scranton expects to be successful.