WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[sac]

Hope 56 Olivet 44

Hope shot 28%, Olivet committed 29 turnovers.

[Roundball999]

Hope 56 Olivet 44

Hope shot 28%, Olivet committed 29 turnovers.

It wasn't pretty, and Hope was pretty lethargic on the boards in the first half.  I imagine they got a bit of a wake-up call from Coach Mo at half time.  That defense, and 16 steals with +19 turnover margin, helps make up for a lot of ills.

Olivet is much improved, but I don't see them giving Calvin much trouble on Saturday.

[bballforever]

"It wasn't pretty" was an undersatement!!  That was some bad basketball!!

[Roundball999]

"It wasn't pretty" was an undersatement!!  That was some bad basketball!!

I do take one positive from it: last year Hope might have lost when they had an off night like that, e.g. the losses to Albion and Trine.  So far, they're winning those games this year.

[Calvinhoops]

Hope beat UW-Whitewater today 63-52, it was 30-9 at halftime, 14 first half turnovers for WW.
Kust 18, Ellis 18, Doell 15


In the meaningless score comparison department.....
UWSP 83 Calvin 62
Whitewater 55 UWSP 52
Hope 63 Whitewater 52

. Hope 56. Olivet 44
Calvin 84 Olivet 47


Different games, different situations. We won't know anything until January 12. Looking forward to it 

[oldtimer1937]

wake me up jan 12 zzzzz

[Calvinhoops]

Exactly!

[realist]

Calvin wins two out west. 
In the Concordia game J Hilbrands with a double double 20/12.  CV with 18.

[Roundball999]

Nice win for the Flying Dutch yesterday against a very solid Baldwin-Wallace team.  With the win, Hope stretches its record to 12-0 and wins its third tournament of the season.

Even though Hope allowed a season high 60 pts, defense was still key.  Hope was +13 in turnover margin and 28-5 in points off turnovers.  The Dutch also came out with a hot hand, hitting 8 of its first 10 3pt attempts and finishing 11-17 for the game.

Liz Ellis was again outstanding for Hope, winning another tournament MVP.  I haven't seen a better guard in D3 this year; hits the three, runs the offense, breaks the press and plays on-ball defense all at an extremely high level.

BW is a very nice team and will win a lot of games this year.  They took #2 Mt. Union down to the wire at Mt. Union's home court and after seeing BW play, I can understand why.  Yesterday they just ran into a very hot Hope team playing on its home court in one of the Dutch's better games of the year.

[Calvinhoops]

Baldwin is 5-6......I am surprised they looked that good to you.....how did they lose to Case Western?   Sounds like Hope was hitting on all cylinders.....once again Calvin had another player step up to win a game...this time Hilbrands.  Calvin can score in many ways and Verkaik hasn't hit her stride yet...hasn't been player of the week in MIAA...who knows what January 12 will bring!

[Roundball999]

Oh, no doubt Calvin should be a solid favorite on Jan 12.  They were the better team last year and have more of their starters back, are higher ranked, will be playing at home, and have Verkaik.

As far as BW, have you actually seen them play this year?  All I can say is that I saw a team that, compared to many other teams I've seen, rebounds quite well, has good size, guards that can really shoot, and plays good defense.  Their game with Mt. Union shows that on a given day they can play with some of the best in the country.  Two of their other losses were to Hope and to Ohio Northern (higher Massey rating than Calvin) so their schedule has been pretty tough.  I'm not saying they'll contend for a championship, just that they are very solid.  Can't explain Case Western other than to speculate a bad day?  Hope sure had several last year, and apparently even Calvin does (e.g. Wisc-SP)

[realist]

Don't forget when Calvin played UWSP J. Hilbrands was playing vball at the De Vos.

[Roundball999]

Don't forget when Calvin played UWSP J. Hilbrands was playing vball at the De Vos.

Didn't forget, I watched the match and was cheering hard for Calvin and the MIAA.

[oldtimer1937]

Is it jan 12th yet? zzzzzz

[bballforever]

Oldtimer is right on, waiting for 12 Jan.

My thoughts on the upcoming Hope/Calvin rivalry.  Someone in this post stated that CV has not hit her stride yet.  Mid season almost so that might be a worry.  If CV does not touch ball more than she has recently than Calvin might have some more trouble than last year.  But, anything goes in a rivalry game
Ellis playing well but has not historically played well at all at Calvin.  Pressure on her, being her senior year and all.  I am thinking that she won't let a poor shooting performance last year impact her this year.  She is too good a player, maybe an MVP candidate.
Rest of players, all depends on how they handle the pressure and the crowd.  Most of the impact players are seniors, so their last go at it.  They have all been there before, so it should be a well played game.
Coach Mo should be happy the "hope killers" graduated.  It might give them a better chance to win one at Calvin.
My pick, Calvin by 5.