WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[sac]

I'm just curious but everyone is aware that Kalamazoo is known as the Hornets right?

[bballfan13]

I'm just curious but everyone is aware that Kalamazoo is known as the Hornets right?

News to me 

I think they were trying to say go Kalamazoo and go Olivet.

[bballforever]

oops, my mistake.  GO HORNETS!!!!

[sac]

oops, my mistake.  GO HORNETS!!!!

whew, I was afraid we were having an awkward moment.

[sac]

Olivet's Stephanie Lang is featured in this weeks Around the Great Lakes section

http://d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/great-lakes-south/2013-14/lang-finds-olivet-great-place-for-volleyball-basketball

[sac]

Olivet's game winning shot over St. Mary's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZn11-w8oCY

[Roundball999]

Nice win for the Comets, though I'm surprised it was that close.  Seems that winning margins for both Olivet and Hope are down recently though that can be misleading due to substitutions and so forth.  Looks to me like the Calvin women are playing really well right now.  The league regular season will probably be decided next week with both Olivet and Calvin playing at Hope.  Kzoo still in the drivers seat for the last league tournament spot, but they have to keep beating everyone not in a Hope, Calvin or Olivet uniform.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Congrats to Olivet as they break into the top 25 this week at number 24.  First time for the Comets?

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

[Pat Coleman]

Congrats to Olivet as they break into the top 25 this week at number 24.  First time for the Comets?

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

Yep, first time. Pretty cool for them!

[sac]

Hope 82  Olivet 57
http://athletics.hope.edu/sports/wbkb/2013-14/boxscores/20131126_1366.xml?view=boxscore

Too much interior depth for Olivet to contend with tonight.  Strong starts to both halves combined with a strong end of first half led to this victory.  They made Olivet play up hill all night and very few times let them get much momentum.

59 of Hope's 82 came from their "bigs"  20 each from McAfee and Llorens with 5 from Doell and just when you think you have them covered inside Traversa steps up with 14 with an impressive 4-6 from 3.

Olivet did a pretty good job on Berry and Gaddy, neither of those two were really an offensive factor.  But most of the time it felt like there was one too many Hope players that Olivet had to defend.

Olivet has a nice inside post player in Lang and a very nice PG in Campbell to get her the ball.  Hope didn't always defend her well but they came up with enough steals and good post defense to disrupt Olivet's offense.  On the other end I think they took advantage of Langs lack of mobility and dribbled around her quite a bit for easy layups.  Overall though, lack of depth was Olivet's biggest issue, they just couldn't match-up with Hope there.

I don't know man, unless Olivet or Calvin pulls off a win in DeVos or Hope messes up somewhere on the road they shouldn't its a little hard to see a loss on the remaining schedule anywhere.  I know this totally jinx's them.

Along time ago Hope and Olivet played a game against each other.  I wrote this after watching that game, would be interested if anything is different in tonight's match-up.

[jspiii]

The difference from Olivet/Hope first game is the absence of Lloren's, due to injury. The interior quickness used by Hope in the first game is somewhat diminished. Hope has plenty of bigs, but McAfee has no help like before under the basket.

[Roundball999]

The difference from Olivet/Hope first game is the absence of Lloren's, due to injury. The interior quickness used by Hope in the first game is somewhat diminished. Hope has plenty of bigs, but McAfee has no help like before under the basket.

Actually, Hope will be even quicker with Doell starting in Llorens' place.  Both are 6'1" but Doell usually plays more at small forward and guard.  It will be a different style, Llorens is an outstanding low post player while Doell is more of a slasher and a lock down defender.  Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but clearly Hope is a stronger/deeper team when Llorens is available.

This game will go a long way toward deciding the regular season league championship.  A Hope win will keep them undefeated while Olivet and Calvin would have two losses.  But an Olivet win would have Hope facing a must win game against a hot Calvin team on Saturday in order to maintain a share of the league lead. I expect a Hope win but by a narrow margin.

[Stinger]

I think the the Hornets and Coach Katie Miller deserve a shout out.  This team is 5 seasons removed from a zero wins, and three wins away from matching the entire total over those past 5 seasons. They are also 2 games up for the final tourney slot.   An amazing turnaround. 

[jspiii]

The difference from Olivet/Hope first game is the absence of Lloren's, due to injury. The interior quickness used by Hope in the first game is somewhat diminished. Hope has plenty of bigs, but McAfee has no help like before under the basket.

Actually, Hope will be even quicker with Doell starting in Llorens' place.  Both are 6'1" but Doell usually plays more at small forward and guard.  It will be a different style, Llorens is an outstanding low post player while Doell is more of a slasher and a lock down defender.  Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but clearly Hope is a stronger/deeper team when Llorens is available.

This game will go a long way toward deciding the regular season league championship.  A Hope win will keep them undefeated while Olivet and Calvin would have two losses.  But an Olivet win would have Hope facing a must win game against a hot Calvin team on Saturday in order to maintain a share of the league lead. I expect a Hope win but by a narrow margin.

Speaking of Doell.
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140128/SPORTS/140129218

[Roundball999]

Kind of a grind-it-out sort of a win for the Dutch.  Shots weren't falling, except for Berry, but Hope did it's usual pounding of the offensive boards and creating a big turnover margin, resulting in Hope having 22 more shots than the Comets.  Olivet played really well, but depth is a problem with only 4 players scoring, two starters playing the entire game and two others playing 36 minutes.  They are just a role player or two from being possible league champs.

Berry had once of those games where she was really going off, making beautiful passes and hitting step back threes.  She went down with an injury with a few minutes left, but the Dutch were able to shake it off and hold off the Comets.  Another huge blow to the Dutch if she is seriously injured.