WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[TUAngola]

If Trine's two D-I transfers can stay out if foul trouble - they will handle IWU easily. IWU was not terribly deep to begin with, and they lost a starter recently to an ACL tear and their most athletic post player to the flu - and it looks like she won't be dressing at all this weekend, per the CCIW Board.
IWU relies primarily on speeding the game up and turning the other team over and rely in their (usually) superior athleticism. The biggest issue for them offensively is that their best two players (Ehresman and McGraw) rely on a lot of transition points (Ehresman) and mid-range jumpers (McGraw). Rose-Hulman gave them fits and, but for a missed free-throw with no time on the clock, would have played IWU to OT, at a minimum. Physical, defensive-oriented teams give them trouble historically - and Trine is a nightmare match-up. IWU only wins this game if they get 25-30 from McGraw and Merrit holds her own in the post.
If Trine can hold IWU to fewer than 58 points, they will win.

Yes both Haley Martin and Brandi Dawson were transfers to Trine's program 2 years ago.  However only Brandi came from DI, she was at Wright State in Ohio for 1 year, but I believe she redshirted her freshman year.  Haley transferred from Ave Maria, a DII school in Florida after her freshman year.  Both have been tremendous additions to Trine WBB.  With Brandi her game probably wasn't a good fit at DI, she was very undersized at the 4 for that level, but at DIII she can thrive at being at 5'9 PF for the most part with her skills.  Both Haley and Brandi are local area kids in NE Indiana, Haley from Auburn and Brandi from Garrett, which are only 20-25 minutes from Trine's campus in Angola. 

Even with the illness and injury to key IWU players, you can't underestimate getting to play on your home floor and how huge that is.  I am not sure if Trine will be able to overcome that advantage, but not without giving it all they got.     

[RogK]

IWU's injured players are :
5'8" Sydney Shanks - started all 21 games prior to hand injury -- an excellent defender including 12 blks and 52 stls in 513:00; decent scorer (46% on 2FGs)  and good rebounder and had 67/29 A/TO.
5'10" Raven Hughes - started 1 game, subbed in 25 games -- ACL -- also a fine defender, including 12 blks 23 stls in 489:00; very quick agile scorer near the basket .679 FG% (only one 3FG).
Both players did a lot of things well and were important components of IWU's substantially good (now reduced) depth.
https://static.cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/WBasketball/Stats/1718/iwu.htm
The absence of these players has (in my opinion) caused IWU to reduce their fullcourt pressing -- pretty sure it was much less than half of Marietta's possessions, as well as in recent CCIW games.
Yes, McGraw is of major importance scoring-wise, as her leaping ability (I think she won the D3 high jump as a sophomore) enables her to get shots off in situations where most anyone else can't. But, last evening was her 4th time reaching 20 pts in her 27 games. It's not like the Titans have had to get 20+ from her in order to win.

[Enginerd]

Trine is good, and they are a stronger, more athletic version of RHIT, which gave IWU fits. Should be the best game of the 2nd Round and I would not be one bit surprised to see Trine move on.

[Dutchfan]

Which conference supplied the officials for Hope's game last night?

I thought they did a mediocre job (I'm trying to be polite). I don't know how many times I saw Francesca Buchanan get mobbed and no fouled were called.

[Enginerd]

Did not cost them the game, but officiating was really bad up in Whitewater last night. I presume officials want to "let the players, not the officals" decide the outcome. In something as important as an NCAA Tournament game - that means the games are very physical. Plus, these people are not truly great officials to begin with. Nobody wants to be the one that potentially blows the whistle on a game-ending scrum under the basket.

[Roundball999]

Great win for the Dutch tonight over an always tough WashU team.  Trine still managing small lead late in the game vs. IWU.  Great showing for the MIAA in the first weekend.  It occurs to me that this shows Calvin probably had a better team than was recognized this year, playing Hope and Trine tough in every game but just never quite breaking through. 

[Hopefan223]

When do we find out do you think hope girls will play home we need to know

[Mr. Ypsi]

Final in Bloomington: Trine 79, IWU 70.  The Titans ALMOST came all the way back from a double-digit deficit (63-61), but then Trine pulled away again.

Congratulations to Trine - and to the MIAA for putting TWO teams in the Sweet Sixteen.

[bballfan13]

When do we find out do you think hope girls will play home we need to know

They normally announce this on Sunday afternoon.  My guess is that Hope will host.  They finished #1 in the region over Thomas More.  Christopher Newport and Gustavus Adolphus both finished #5 in their regions.  There are 2 flights needed no matter if Hope or Thomas More hosted, so Hope gets it I think.

I think Sweet 16 hosts will be Amherst, Hope, Tufts, Wartburg (with Trine going to Wartburg, they can drive barely).

[Dutchfan]

The MIAA is one of only four conferences to remain undefeated, and one of only two conferences with multiple teams in the tournament.

Conference	Teams	Record
NECSCAC	3	6-0
MIAA	2	4-0
IIAC	1	2-0
PAC	1	2-0

[Rofrog]

No way will tufts host over Scranton 28-1

[Rofrog]

I see it Amherst,Scranton,Thomas More and Wartburg.

[bballfan13]

I see it Amherst,Scranton,Thomas More and Wartburg.

Agree with Scranton over Tufts, missed that one. And I checked and Bowdoin can get to Scranton by bus and not a flight.

Thomas More won't host over Hope. Hope was #1 in the Great Lakes Region and Thomas More #2 in the final rankings. And Christopher Newport and Gustavus Adolphus have to fly no matter what.

[Rofrog]

So then Amherst,Hope,Scranton and Wartburg?

[TUAngola]

Congrats to Trine on big win over IWU last night.  Off to the Sweet 16 for first time in their DIII program history.

Huge contributions from unexpected gals keyed the victory.  Cassidy Williams (20 pts) and Kayla Freeman (21 pts) both with career highs.  Cassidy's offensive output is especially noteworthy as she is the "defensive specialist" on the team, is an "in your face" type, which rubs off on everyone else.  If Cassidy isn't on the floor fighting for loose balls at least half dozen times a game then you know she's had on off night, ha! On the other hand it's been Kayla's lack of defensive play that has kept her on the bench as a sub for most of her 2 years at Trine, Kayla's always has had the offensive game.  Only when starter Camille Lira went down in January with a season ending knee injury did Kayla's minutes increase and Coach inserted her into the starting 5.  I believe Trine has been playing their best basketball when she got into the lineup.  Her defensive play has improved as she is not thinking about making that defensive mistake that's going to put her back on the bench anymore and just does what Kayla can do.

Now we have a trip to Wartburg to take on the #2 Knights.  Wartburg has been very impressive in their tournament wins, will take a near flawless game by the Thunder to get the "W", but why not Trine?  Let's do this!!