WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Dark Knight]

The knights defeated Manchester 62-48 this evening. Verkaik had 25 points and 7 rebounds. The knights were leading by as much as 22 late in the game, before they retired the starters. This result was very similar to last year's 60-44 defeat of Manchester.

The starting point guard was freshman Kristin Tripp. She handled the ball well and could drive to the basket with some facility. She did end up with five turnovers, though. The other starters were Jill Thomas, Courtney Kurncz, Ally Wolffis, and Carissa Verkaik.

Logan Marsh got the most minutes off the bench, at 20, and the most points after Verkaik, with 11. Kelsey Irwin hit three 3-pointers in just a couple of minutes and ended with 9.

It seemed as though the knights turned the ball over rather freely, but their 16 turnovers were two less than last year's total vs. Manchester.

I think that Marsh and Tripp will be good additions to the team, adding some speed and ability to drive to the basket.

With a little more experience on the books for the new players, I think the Knights will have another good year.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Congrats to Carrie Smikkers on surpasing the 1000 point mark last night!!  In addition, her 7 rebounds bring her career total to 600.

[sac]

Congrats to Carrie Smikkers on surpasing the 1000 point mark last night!!  In addition, her 7 rebounds bring her career total to 600.

Carrie has a really good chance at being Hope's #2 all-time leading scorer.  It would take a special ( long and healthy) season for her to catch Amanda Kerkstra.

1. 1568 - Amanda Kerkstra (107 games) - 1999-03
  2. 1368 - Karen Gingras (86 games) - 1982-86
  3. 1266 - Jordyn Boles (120 games) - 2004-08
  4. 1249 - Lisa Hoekstra (102 games) - 1996-00
  5. 1245 - Bria Ebels (119 games) - 2002-06
  6. 1233 - Kristin Carlson (99 games) - 1991-95
  7. 1101 - Amy Baltmanis (116 games) - 1999-03
  8. 1089 - Nicki Mannes (99 games) - 1991-95
  9. 1059 - Philana Greene (123 games) - 2006-10
10. 1032 - Kris Koenigsknecht (108 games) - 1997-01
11. 1008 - Carrie Snikkers

Career avg's for both points and rebounds would put her in Hope's top 5 in each category, with a modest prediction of 25 more games.

[realist]

FWIW:  If Carissa Verkaik is as productive this year as she was last year she should hit 1,000 points in Feb. 2011.
If she is able to produce the remaining 3 years the same as her fr. year she could finish with over 2,00 points, 1,000 rebounds and nearly 400 blocks.

Granted Calvin has to depend on Carissa much more than Hope does on Carrie for points etc.  One can only wonder what Carrie's numbers might have looked like in a similar situation.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Not to mention the 14 games Carrie has missed due to injury.  Had she been able to play those games, she would have been on pace to be Hope's all-time leading scorer.

[realist]

Not to mention the 14 games Carrie has missed due to injury.  Had she been able to play those games, she would have been on pace to be Hope's all-time leading scorer.

She could still do it, but I doubt Hope is going to need her to play 35 minutes a game or average 25 points a game. 

[WWWRHH]

In recent years Hope has had several players that could have posted some gaudy stats if they had played for different teams / systems.  It is common for Hope starters to average 21 or 22 mins per game vs. 30 -35 mins or more for starters in weaker programs.  Some very good players have had to wait a couple of years before breaking into the rotation. and scoring also is more evenly distributed than most teams.

Morehouse has somehow managed to get very good players to join the program and buy into the team first concept.  I am sure it has not been an easy transition for all of the players, but the system is responsible for the programs sustained success.

[realist]

Well said WWWRHH.  About the only arguement against that strategy is at some point in the season it is probable the starters are going to be needed for more than their customary 60% of pt.  If memory serves correct every year we find teams making it quite a long way into the NCAA tournament, and even winning it all, with 7 or 8 players playing almost all the minutes.  Having your big guns suddenly faced with playing 36+ minutes, and being pressed to maximum performance with no experience doing either also has a potential downside.

[WWWRHH]

I don't disagree.  Hope is usually able to field a second team at least as strong as most starting lineups they come up against.  However, teams with exceptional talent that are used to being on the floor for long stretches can disrupt the rotation.  I think there have been times Hope's outside shooters have had trouble getting into rythum against strong defenders.

Although it is hard to argue with consistent runs deep into the playoffs, it would seem that using some competitive games to stretch the top 7 or 8 players minutes out would be a good idea.

[realist]

It is indeed very hard to argue with a proven success.  Few teams can match Hope's track record.  I take my hat off to Hope's coach for repeatedly being able to sell his school, and his program to young ladies that could start at most schools, but willingly sit on the bench to be with a winning program.
Looking at Hope's schedule for this year they should be tested at least once this season, and Calvin giving them a run for their money in one of 3 likely matchup is highly probable.

[gohope]

An update from the DeVos:

Hope 76  Manchester 32

Once again all team players were involved with the victory and all but one got ink in the score column.

Congratulations Ladies!  Go Hope!

[jspiii]

Observations from Hope's 76-32 win.
  Hope's depth and pressure were too much for Manchester. It looked like it might be a close game 12 minutes in, with Hope up 20-14 but Manchester didn't get many good looks at the basket for scoring chances.

  A total team effort but I need to single out Hope's 3rd unit, outscoring Manchester 19-7 on 8 for 12 shooting in 8:03 minutes of play. Not a game changer, but played with confidence seldom seen this far down in the depth chart. Kudos to Brittany Berry with her 5th 3-pointer of the season (71%) and a crisp no-look pass to Bauman that brought the Hope bench to its' feet.

[realist]

It would be nice if Calvin could recruit 2 or 3 of those 6' 1" girls from the v-ball team.   My gosh, even the announcers in St. Louis could not reall any D3 team with 6 players at that size.

[gohope]

A final from Defiance:

Hope 76, Defiance 56

Another team effort as all fifteen players were on the court and contributing to the victory.  Congrats Ladies!

[oldknight]

A final from Defiance:

Hope 76, Defiance 56

Another team effort as all fifteen players were on the court and contributing to the victory.  Congrats Ladies!

I did watch the first half and thought Hope looked oddly out of sorts. Things just didn't go smoothly and at times they looked susceptible to ball pressure--something I've rarely seen from the Hope women in recent years. Maybe it's just something they will have to work through given the loss of two starters. Or maybe it's the fact that their opponent was Defiance. Of course 27 from Snikkers (on only 9 shots from the floor) makes up for a lot of imperfections.