WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[Dutchfan]

This is Hope's 10th Sectional appearance (1 more in what was considered Regionals in 1990).  Third time hosting the Sweet 16 round (1990, 2002), those games were played at the Dow Center.

I am a little bit dumbfounded that this is the Hope women's first time hosting a Sectional round in DeVos Fieldhouse.

I believe the Hope men may have something to do with that.

[Dutchfan]

Coach Morehouse will be a guest tonight on Hoopsville.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

This is Hope's 10th Sectional appearance (1 more in what was considered Regionals in 1990).  Third time hosting the Sweet 16 round (1990, 2002), those games were played at the Dow Center.

I am a little bit dumbfounded that this is the Hope women's first time hosting a Sectional round in DeVos Fieldhouse.

I believe the Hope men may have something to do with that.

That and the women's committee also had a burr up... well, they had a few years when a school like Hope (or IWU) was hosting the championship weekend they didn't want them hosting all three weekends. That nearly happened, but sometimes they shipped the women to another place if they had an excuse to do it.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Sectional Round games are here. Soon 16 teams on both the men's and women's brackets will be whittled to eight ... and before we know it just four will remain.

Who will advance, who will fall short of the final weekend, and who is best prepared? Hard to answer all of those questions, but on Thursday's edition of Hoopsville Dave will have plenty of guests who will give us their insight on their programs.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch the show LIVE starting at 7pm ET right here:http://bit.ly/2FBCA0N.

If you have questions, be sure to email them to hoopsville@d3hoops.com or interact with the show via the social media avenues.

Guests include (in order of appearance):
- Bob Amsberry, No. 2 Wartburg women's coach
- Brian Morehouse, No. 4 Hope women's coach (WBCA Center Court)
- Glenn Robinson, Franklin & Marshall men's coach
- Charlie Brock, Springfield men's coach
- Eric Bridgeland, No. 1 Whitman men's coach
- Jim Scheible, No. 16 Rochester women's coach

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[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Coach Morehouse will be a guest tonight on Hoopsville.

Yes - and it is a great interview. Always like chatting with Brian, but he really has some great thoughts this show (if you notice, this means I have already recorded the interview LOL).

[Roundball999]

Coach Morehouse will be a guest tonight on Hoopsville.

Yes - and it is a great interview. Always like chatting with Brian, but he really has some great thoughts this show (if you notice, this means I have already recorded the interview LOL).

Agreed, it was a great interview.  Coach Mo is quite a man running a great program that is not just about hoops.

[Dutchfan]

At the half in Holland...

Thomas More ....... 32
Gustavus Adolphus 29

[Mr. Ypsi]

Congratulations to Hope, though that game was tougher than I was expecting.  Thomas More looked pretty damn good tonight, but since Sidney Moss ain't suiting up in the DeVos tomorrow, I think you will taken 'em out.

Congratulations to Trine on a GREAT season.  I confess I underestimated Wartburg - their schedule was not the toughest in the world, but they are a legitimately undefeated team nonetheless.  I'd say they have as good a chance as anyone at winning the whole enchilada.

[dykstraj@hope.edu]

Hope wins 68-64    

[pointlem]

The game was just about as tough as a lot of us were expecting, Mr. Ypsi . . . though a bunch of missed open layups and 12 missed free throws didn't help. But defense offset that, and with Francesca on the floor instead of the bench, Hope seemed the better team. Olivia's 6 blocks, 7 rebounds, and two clutch free throws with the game on the line were also big . . . though not bigger than Kenedy swishing two free throws with 18 seconds left. Finally, a shout-out to Celina King, who was pulled into the game to shoot two free throws after a teammate had a poke in the eye knocking out a contact. Not only did she calmly swish the two shots, she also did the same with an open 3 just seconds later . . . and those 5 quick points, in the end, were the margin of victory.

CNU's press seemed brilliantly effective, forcing Hope into long passes and shortening the shot clock, and with few easy baskets coming off it. I thought it kept them in the game.

Massey has TMC, which earlier this season defeated CNU 86 to 53, a heavy (81%) favorite tomorrow night. But if Hope can stay out of first half foul trouble and shoot like it's capable . . .

The top five teams are all still playing in the Elite 8 . . . but with #3 TMC vs. #4 Hope, the top 4 cannot make it to next weekend.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Congratulations to Hope, though that game was tougher than I was expecting.  Thomas More looked pretty damn good tonight, but since Sidney Moss ain't suiting up in the DeVos tomorrow, I think you will taken 'em out.

Congratulations to Trine on a GREAT season.  I confess I underestimated Wartburg - their schedule was not the toughest in the world, but they are a legitimately undefeated team nonetheless.  I'd say they have as good a chance as anyone at winning the whole enchilada.

FYI - Thomas More was a darn good program before Moss arrived and proving to be good after. Abby Owings is a damn good player and she lead them to their second only national title, not Moss, because her play in the championship against Tufts was outstanding.

I think Hope matches up well, but that will not be an easy game whatsoever.

I was impressed Hope was able to come back against CNU, but that game showed a lot for both teams. That was a terrific game.

[TUAngola]

Trine ran into a buzzsaw at Wartburg as the Knights continue to dominate the tournament so far with a 78-54 victory over the Thunder.  Wartburg is certainly one of the more impressive shooting teams you'll see in D3, you aren't going to win many games when your opponent shoots 53% from the field and 64% from beyond the arc.  And this was against the number 2 scoring defense in the nation in Trine.  Now Wartburg faces the Cinderella story of the tournament so far, East Texas Baptist as they took out St Thomas.

Trine loses 5 to graduation: Lucy Sare, the ultimate program player, didn't see much playing time over her 4 years, but a great teammate and kept the girls grounded. Jayde Abenth, backup center to Haley, had some good games over her 2 years after transferring from community college to Trine. Kayla Freeman, another community college transfer who had some terrific games over the last half of this season when inserted into the starting lineup, played big against IWU to get Trine to the Sweet 16.  Ashley Elliott, a 4 year player, worked very hard to become a key role player for the Thunder, was hampered this year in dealing with knee injury, just didn't have the bounce she normally had.  And finally Haley Martin, a key cog that helped turn the Trine program into a league champion and tournament team.  She had an outstanding 3 years at Trine after transferring from D2.  Very good around the basket, but could also step out and shoot the 3.  2 time MIAA defensive player of the year, was our "stopper" around the basket.

Congrats Trine on another outstanding season.  Trine returns 3 starters for next year, plus some key reserves, and get starting PG back from knee injury.  Got makings of a good class coming in, some 6 footers too, which is needed when you are competing with Hope and their bigs.

Good luck in the Elite 8 tonight Hope!  Thomas More is very, very good, but I expect Hope to really go at them and win!     
 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Great season by the Flying Dutch comes to an end with a 72-57 loss to Tomas More. Close game for 3 quarters and then the Saints simply outplayed Hope in the fourth to advance to the final four. A well deserved victory.

[Dutchfan]

The key stats of the game...
Turnovers
Hope                 21
Thomas More 14

Points off TO's
Hope                 11
Thomas More 27

[pointlem]

I remarked to Mrs. Pointlem while leaving for the game that I expected to return home with a long face (from a loss) but not too long a face--because this team has exceeded expectations, not to mention treating us to a string of thrilling, memorable, gutsy wins.

At the season's beginning some of us were hoping that this young team might achieve this level of record and play next year. The not-too-long face is because they did so a year early, and with so much promise for the long-term future.

Kudos to the four seniors, both for their play and for their contagious joy. And congrats, also, to the Trine women . . . who, after splitting the first two games with Hope and taking the third to overtime, showed themselves to be Hope's equal.

P.S. Interesting all the Final Four women's teams were ranked in the d3Hoops top 5 . . . and that none of the Final Four men's teams were ranked in their top 20.