WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Roundball999]

For the third time Coach Morehouse will take his undefeated Dutch on the road in the NCAA's.

If any team can fight through yet another obstacle, this one can.  Time and again this season they have demonstrated toughness and resilience.

In November, the Dutch traveled to NCAA-bound and perennial NACC champ Wisconsin Lutheran, survived a desperation 3 pt bank shot at the close of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In December they survived the season-ending loss of leading scorer and starting center Rebekeh Llorens, and another desparation 3 pt heave at the end of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat UW-La Crosse handily in overtime.

In February they survived the season-ending loss of starting point guard Angelique Gaddy and went on to win the MIAA regular season and tournament, going 27-0 to date.

I'm not saying they'll win it all, but I wouldn't bet against them either.

[bballfan13]

Hope with the rematch against WI Lutheran.

It is at Carthage who plays St. Norbert.  Looks like a tough pod.

[sac]

at Carthage

Carthage v St. Norbert
Hope v  Wis-Lutheran


Not very creative considering this is a re-match.  Bracket suggests Hope is down the pecking order behind WashU/DePauw for hosting a sectional if they were to advance.

[bballfan13]

at Carthage

Carthage v St. Norbert
Hope v  Wis-Lutheran


Not very creative considering this is a re-match.  Bracket suggests Hope is down the pecking order behind WashU/DePauw for hosting a sectional if they were to advance.

Not totally surprising though as the NCAA did that last year with St. Thomas and Calvin in the first round.

[Captain_Joe08]

For the third time Coach Morehouse will take his undefeated Dutch on the road in the NCAA's.

If any team can fight through yet another obstacle, this one can.  Time and again this season they have demonstrated toughness and resilience.

In November, the Dutch traveled to NCAA-bound and perennial NACC champ Wisconsin Lutheran, survived a desperation 3 pt bank shot at the close of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In December they survived the season-ending loss of leading scorer and starting center Rebekeh Llorens, and another desparation 3 pt heave at the end of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In February they survived the season-ending loss of starting point guard Angelique Gaddy and went on to win the MIAA regular season and tournament, going 27-0 to date.

I'm not saying they'll win it all, but I wouldn't bet against them either.

Don't remember WLC playing Hope again in December. You mean UW-LAX?

[Hwbb]

For the third time Coach Morehouse will take his undefeated Dutch on the road in the NCAA's.

Friday will be the ninth--and hopefully, Saturday the tenth--games the Hope women have played in the NCAA tournament as an undefeated team (2003 and 2008 were the other years they entered the tourney without a loss; both years they were knocked off in the elite eight). Number of those nine/ten games they've played at home: one. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

For the third time Coach Morehouse will take his undefeated Dutch on the road in the NCAA's.

If any team can fight through yet another obstacle, this one can.  Time and again this season they have demonstrated toughness and resilience.

In November, the Dutch traveled to NCAA-bound and perennial NACC champ Wisconsin Lutheran, survived a desperation 3 pt bank shot at the close of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In December they survived the season-ending loss of leading scorer and starting center Rebekeh Llorens, and another desparation 3 pt heave at the end of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In February they survived the season-ending loss of starting point guard Angelique Gaddy and went on to win the MIAA regular season and tournament, going 27-0 to date.

I'm not saying they'll win it all, but I wouldn't bet against them either.

Don't remember WLC playing Hope again in December. You mean UW-LAX?

11/23/13       at Wisconsin Lutheran  WOT  78-72 

[Roundball999]

For the third time Coach Morehouse will take his undefeated Dutch on the road in the NCAA's.

If any team can fight through yet another obstacle, this one can.  Time and again this season they have demonstrated toughness and resilience.

In November, the Dutch traveled to NCAA-bound and perennial NACC champ Wisconsin Lutheran, survived a desperation 3 pt bank shot at the close of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In December they survived the season-ending loss of leading scorer and starting center Rebekeh Llorens, and another desparation 3 pt heave at the end of regulation, and rather than deflate they pulled away to beat WLC handily in overtime.

In February they survived the season-ending loss of starting point guard Angelique Gaddy and went on to win the MIAA regular season and tournament, going 27-0 to date.

I'm not saying they'll win it all, but I wouldn't bet against them either.

Don't remember WLC playing Hope again in December. You mean UW-LAX?

You're right of course.  I went back and changed it to UW-La Crosse.

[monsoon]

Hope certainly didn't get any favors with this bracket.  The geography could get interesting by the second weekend, too, depending on who survives.

[pointlem]

Hope certainly didn't get any favors with this bracket.  The geography could get interesting by the second weekend, too, depending on who survives.

Agree, Monsoon . . . the top five ranked teams are all on Hope's half of the bracket, which forces Whitman, DePauw, Thomas More, Wash U, and Hope to compete against each other (and some other good teams) for the right to play in the national championship game.  This may be a year where the toughest game is before the final game.  If the ratings are right, none of the east coast teams will have to face this level of competition before the final game.

If Hope were to win its games this weekend--not a given, especially with the loss of two key starters to injuries--then it potentially would have to face DePauw in the next game (too bad that couldn't have been put off another game or so).  If both put in to host, I wonder whether DePauw's #1 regional ranking or Hope's better house and revenue (and DePauw's already having a home floor opportunity) would be given priority.

[jspiii]

Is it pretty much a foregone conclusion that Stephanie Lang will be the league's MVP?

Based on stats I would say yes and that is most likely how it will go.  I think it is deserved, she's had a great year.  But I think you could also argue that her teammate, Kelsey Campbell, could win it.  Without Campbell, I don't think Lang has the year she has had.

I guess the MIAA coaches see it differently. Maura McAfee is MVP of the MIAA. Megan Kelley, Defensive Player of the Year.

All-MIAA First Team
Kelsey Campbell, Olivet** (senior from Olivet/Olivet HS)
Brett deBear, Albion* (senior from Plymouth/Salem HS)
Megan Kelley, Hope* (senior from Rockford/Rockford HS)
Stefanie Lang, Olivet* (junior from Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso HS)
Maura McAfee, Hope* (sophomore from Midland/Midland HS)
Breanna Verkaik, Calvin* (junior from Holland/Holland Christian HS)=

All-MIAA Second Team
Nicole Antoine, Kalamazoo (senior from Lithonia, Ga./Lithonia HS)
Brittany Berry, Hope (senior from Grand Rapids/GR Catholic Central HS)
Shanlynn Bias, Saint Mary's (senior from Griffith, Ind./Griffith HS)
Chelsea Ciba, Olivet (senior from Olivet/Olivet HS)
LaQwana Dockery, Adrian (senior from Macomb Twp./Macomb Dakota HS)
Kayla Engelhard, Calvin (junior from Unionville/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS)

[Hwbb]

Hope certainly didn't get any favors with this bracket.  The geography could get interesting by the second weekend, too, depending on who survives.

Agree, Monsoon . . . the top five ranked teams are all on Hope's half of the bracket, which forces Whitman, DePauw, Thomas More, Wash U, and Hope to compete against each other (and some other good teams) for the right to play in the national championship game.  This may be a year where the toughest game is before the final game.  If the ratings are right, none of the east coast teams will have to face this level of competition before the final game.

Just another normal bracket for the D3 women's basketball committee, where the most important number seems not to be W-L, SOS, RPI, or national ranking, but bus fare.

[iwumichigander]

Hope certainly didn't get any favors with this bracket.  The geography could get interesting by the second weekend, too, depending on who survives.

Agree, Monsoon . . . the top five ranked teams are all on Hope's half of the bracket, which forces Whitman, DePauw, Thomas More, Wash U, and Hope to compete against each other (and some other good teams) for the right to play in the national championship game.  This may be a year where the toughest game is before the final game.  If the ratings are right, none of the east coast teams will have to face this level of competition before the final game.

Just another normal bracket for the D3 women's basketball committee, where the most important number seems not to be W-L, SOS, RPI, or national ranking, but bus fare.

Congratulations - the bolded above the best one liner I've seen this year!  Good work!! +1

[Roundball999]

An excellent story on Hope's Brittany Berry at: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/article/20140307/SPORTS/140309338/2000/NEWS

Quite an exceptional young woman....

[scottiedawg]

Bizarre numbers so far in the Hope-WiscLuth game.  Hope 4-21 from the floor, getting out rebounded 15-9, but haven't turned the ball over, as compared to 7 TOs for Wisconsin Lutheran. Hope currently down 12-9 midway through the first half.