WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[bballfan13]

Listening to the Calvin/Trine game and am reminded of something that I observed last year, but it is worth mentioning again.  Trine has the best radio announcers in the MIAA.  They do their homework on opposing teams and players, are fun to listen to, keep the pace moving, and understand basketball.

I couldn't agree more.  I was extremely impressed with Trine's announcers.  This was the first time I listened to them and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Well done.

As for the game it was a defensive struggle in the first half with Calvin on top 19-17.  Not too much of a surprise as Trine and Calvin are 1 and 2 in the conference in scoring defense.  Calvin came out in the 2nd half and opened the game up and never looked back.  I believe during a 12 minute stretch during the end of the 1st half and beginning of the 2nd that Trine only had 1 field goal during a 12 minute span.  That pretty much ended it for them.  Good win for the Knights against a previously undefeated Trine down in Angola.

[sac]

Barely 2 weeks in and its Hope/Calvin and then everybody else with 2 losses.

[sac]

Hope 61 Ithaca 50

Hope won a rare game vs an East region team against Ithaca.  Prior to today, Ithaca's only other loss had come to #5 Rochester.

http://www.miaa.org/wbb/stats/1112/1217itha.htm

[Dark Knight]

I guess Calvin's defense is on track, holding Olivet to single digits in the first half.  In fact, Olivet had only 4 points in the first 18 minutes or so.

Some of those freshmen who aren't in the main rotation look pretty promising.

[sflzman]

Inside 9 to go today in the Alma/Elmhurst game, the Scots trailed 15-0

[wwjjdd]

Freshman Rebekah Llorens was the leading scorer for the Dutch for the third game in a row.      16 today after 19 and 22 in the two previous games.  In all games she came of the bench in the first line-change.  Meredith Kussmaul left the game with a knee injury after a tangle under the basket.   She was able to walk gingerly with assistance, but did not return.     Needless to say, this is not rosey news.  Thankfully, there is a layoff until the Florida tournament Dec 28-29.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[pointlem]

The Hope women had their premier post player out of the game, grimacing over a (reinjured?) knee, after just 4 minutes, and Liz Ellis--using an exercycle during bench time to cope with her leg issue--shooting one out of ten.  The team as a whole shot just 31.6%, including 2 of 15 three's.  And yet, with all this adversity and cold shooting, they still managed to beat a 7-1 team by eleven points. 

Watching this game, it struck me that aggressive, high-energy defense can sometimes win games even when other things aren't going your way.  Good win for the Dutch . . . and a good time for some healing rest.

[Roundball999]

The Hope women had their premier post player out of the game, grimacing over a (reinjured?) knee, after just 4 minutes, and Liz Ellis--using an exercycle during bench time to cope with her leg issue--shooting one out of ten.  The team as a whole shot just 31.6%, including 2 of 15 three's.  And yet, with all this adversity and cold shooting, they still managed to beat a 7-1 team by eleven points. 

Watching this game, it struck me that aggressive, high-energy defense can sometimes win games even when other things aren't going your way.  Good win for the Dutch . . . and a good time for some healing rest.

I agree.  Actually I thought both teams played ferocious defense and that lead to low shooting percentage by both teams.  Despite that, it was a very well played game and a great character builder game for this time of the season.  Ithaca is a very solid team and will do some damage going forward.

[Roundball999]

Hope wins the RDV Classic in Orlando with solids wins over Concordia-Chicago then Baldwin-Wallace.  This team appears to be characterized by balance with typically a different leading scorer every game, 3-4 players in double figures, and 10 or more players making solid contributions even in tight games.  Overall record is now 12-1 and they should creep up a little in the rankings.

[Dark Knight]

Key game for the Knights today against Wisconsin LaCrosse. This is really the Knights' only game against a quality DIII opponent outside the MIAA season.

LaCrosse's leading scorer is their 6'1" center, Kassie Robinson, at 13.8 pts, 7.2 rebounds per game. If Verkaik can hold her in check that will take away a key dimension of their game. Calvin shoots .418 to .406 for LaX; three-point percentages are .309 to .252. LaX seems to win through more rebounds, steals, blocks, and fewer turnovers than their opponents. LaCrosse has played a tougher schedule than Calvin, with opponents almost five points stronger on average.

Massey has LaCrosse at #30 to Calvin's #13. The predicted outcome is a 61-59 victory. However, with the long layoff and the big drive around the lake, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Knights find this to be a very difficult game. I think they're going to have to work very hard on defense to come away with a W in a relatively low-scoring game. (Calvin's defense is rated #18, LaCrosse #19.)

[realist]

Calvin 60 UWL 40. 
CV 27 points, and 10 boards.
Calvin shot about 42%, and held UWL to 23%.  Calvin had a +2 margin in rebounds.
Robinson had 8 boards, and 17 points.  Hilbrand with 8 boards, and 10 points.

[wiz]

Another outstanding game for Verkaik as she shoots at a 50% clip, scores 27, hauls down 10 rebounds and blocks 6 shots!

[Dark Knight]

From the La Crosse Tribune article:

Teams that come into Mitchell Hall to play the UW-La Crosse women's basketball team know they'll be met by a superb defense.

Calvin (Mich.) raised the stakes Friday. 

The Knights (10-0), ranked fourth by D3hoops.com, also know how to play great defense, and used that — plus a dominating performance by preseason All-America forward Carissa Verkaik — to defeat the Eagles 60-40.

The previous low points for La Crosse in a game was 47.

[bballfan13]

I was at the game yesterday.  The Knights looked great after a long layoff. They came out playing great right from the start. Their defense really shut down a good, tough La Crosse team.

With the Knights up by 2 at the half they came out in the 2nd half and took the game away pretty quickly. They were able to force La Crosse to take a lot of forced shots near the end of the shot clock.

With the Knights defense playing the way it is they will be tough to beat this year. 

[realist]

Calvin beats Luther 74- 38.  Lots of playing time for the bench.  Something like 12 or 13 people scored for Calvin.  Irwin hit 4 3's, and the commentator said she has yet to shoot a 2 point shot this season.