WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[TUAngola]

#24 UW-Stout 77 #17 Trine 76

Trine with probably their best half of basektball this season led by 10 at the break 43-33.  Then the Blue Devils came out and quickly erased that lead scoing the first eight before Trine got on the board.  Stout took their first lead in the 3rd quarter but Trine with a bucket at the buzzer took a 1 point lead heading to the 4th quarter 60-59.  This time it was the Thunder who went on a scoring flurry to jump out to a 70-59 lead 4 minutes in, but the Blue Devils kept fighting back.  Some missed free throws and a couple turnovers in the last few minutes hurt the Thunder when they could have kept Stout at bay, but some clutch shooting by Sorensen including a contested jumper over Wagner with 3 seconds to go put Stout up 77-76.  We call timeout and get the ball at halfcourt.  An inbounds play was run for Wagner but she gets fouled before she can get a shot off as Stout had 3 fouls to give.  We get the ball on the baseline with Wagner the trigger, we run a nice screen in the lane to get the ball to Sherwood but her contested shot under the basket just rimmed out at the buzzer.

It was a fun game to watch, both teams went toe to toe.  Stout was by far the best team we've played this season that I've seen in person, even better than Wittenberg.  They are a well coached experienced team with very good players.  We were fortunate that Sorensen got into foul trouble the first half and sat a lot.  In the second half her play was the difference.  Stout is balanced offensively but she is their go to gal when they need a bucket, evidenced by the 14 points she scored in the 4th quarter.  Giesen is also a very good interior player, physcial with a lot of skills.  Trine got a lot of good contributions, Wagner had 21, Capouch 14, Sherwood 11, Rhonehouse 11, and Hinds 10.  The freshman Capouch with her best game off the bench, had 3 triples.  She gives us another offensive threat when she's in the game.  Defensively she is behind though, as freshman typically are. 

The Thunder are back at it with a holiday tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at MTI. Calvin is their partner as both the Knights and Thunder will alternate playing Asbury and Geneva.   

[NW Hope Fan]

Nice win tonight for the Flying Dutch! Merry Christmas.

[Hope Fan]

Super happy this site is back up.
Not much of a MIAA race this year with Hope running away in the standings.
But Hope could have lost any number of games.
Not sure if that last loss shows weakness or if it was a needed wake up ala National Championship year.
Either way, one of four teams is going to win tonight and tomorrow to earn the right to play again next week and the other three are goin' fishing.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Super happy this site is back up.
Not much of a MIAA race this year with Hope running away in the standings.
But Hope could have lost any number of games.
Not sure if that last loss shows weakness or if it was a needed wake up ala National Championship year.
Either way, one of four teams is going to win tonight and tomorrow to earn the right to play again next week and the other three are goin' fishing.

How many go fishing depends on if Hope wins twice or not.  Should they falter in either game, the Dutch are still pretty solidly in as a Pool C.  A non-Hope winner on Saturday should mean the MIAA is a two-bid league.  Hope winning it all likely gets them a good chance to host the first weekend. 

[TUAngola]

Congratulations to Trine in punching their ticket to the NCAA tournament last night with a win over Hope.  This was the 7th straight year that Hope & Trine have met in the championship game.  I did not see this coming from watching our ladies over the course of the year.  You'll have ups and downs with such a young team.  Playing in DeVos seems to bring out the best in the Thunder as we typically play well on Hope's home court.  The win assures the MIAA of continuing to be multi-bid league in the NCAA tournament as Hope is a lock for a Pool C slot. 

[pointlem]

Interesting that DePauw with seven losses (including to Millikin by 33, which Hope defeated) gets chosen to host over three-loss Hope . . . but perhaps SOS is the difference maker? Regardless, not an intimidating first-round bracket for the Hope women (who regardless of next weekend's outcome have realized their potential this year and been great fun to watch).

Nice that Hope and Trine are on opposite sides of the bracket, so they could meet again in the national championship. But with NYU and Transylvania on Hope's bracket side, that's not gonna happen (interesting that they didn't place those two schools on opposite sides).

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Interesting that DePauw with seven losses (including to Millikin by 33, which Hope defeated) gets chosen to host over three-loss Hope . . . but perhaps SOS is the difference maker? Regardless, not an intimidating first-round bracket for the Hope women (who regardless of next weekend's outcome have realized their potential this year and been great fun to watch).

Nice that Hope and Trine are on opposite sides of the bracket, so they could meet again in the national championship. But with NYU and Transylvania on Hope's bracket side, that's not gonna happen (interesting that they didn't place those two schools on opposite sides).

Pretty sure that had Hope won the MIAA Tournament, that pod would be at Hope instead of Greencastle.  Historcally, Hope playing at DePauw in the sectionals in 2006 worked out just fine

[Roundball999]

Super happy this site is back up.
Not much of a MIAA race this year with Hope running away in the standings.
But Hope could have lost any number of games.
Not sure if that last loss shows weakness or if it was a needed wake up ala National Championship year.
Either way, one of four teams is going to win tonight and tomorrow to earn the right to play again next week and the other three are goin' fishing.

I think the Dutch have done a fantastic job this year, pulling out many close games at the end.  That kind of poise under pressure is rare at this level.  I also think they've played to their potential most of the year, a sign of great effort and focus by the women and usual excellent coaching by Coach Morehouse.  That said, they are clearly more vulnerable than many Dutch teams in the past.  The reason I believe that is primarily the lack of the stifling and disruptive defense of past years.  Scoring margin, steals, TO margin in particular are way below recent memory.    That defense previously could carry the Dutch through the occasional off shooting night.

[scottiedawg]

Interesting that DePauw with seven losses (including to Millikin by 33, which Hope defeated) gets chosen to host over three-loss Hope . . . but perhaps SOS is the difference maker? Regardless, not an intimidating first-round bracket for the Hope women (who regardless of next weekend's outcome have realized their potential this year and been great fun to watch).

Nice that Hope and Trine are on opposite sides of the bracket, so they could meet again in the national championship. But with NYU and Transylvania on Hope's bracket side, that's not gonna happen (interesting that they didn't place those two schools on opposite sides).

I believe DePauw was chosen over Illinois Wesleyan (and to a lesser extent Hope), because of geography.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm almost positive DePauw was chosen strictly for geography.  If they were going to choose a host who hadn't earned a Top 16 spot, they picked the very best one for bracketing and didn't worry about resume.  DePauw is exactly where they needed to help balance the bracket.  It was a very good, bold call that definitely would not have been done in the past.

Megan Wilson, who was the committee chair last year, led the bracketing charge this season, and I'm a huge fan.  I think it's easily the best WBB bracket we've ever had.

[TUAngola]

Good luck to the Trine Thunder WBB team tomorrow as they take on #5 ranked 25-2 Gustavus Adolphus in Oshkosh WI.  It will take a massive effort by the Thunder to beat the Gusties.  They have no weaknesses, all 5 of their starters are all-conference.  We'll need to shoot it better than our season average and hope Gustavus has an off night.

[NW Hope Fan]

I feel spoiled by how great the AUDIO and video are for games played at DeVos...

[TUAngola]

Congratulations to the Trine WBB team for a huge win over #5 Gustavus Adolphus last night 61-58 in 2OT.  This team has a lot of grit.  Not the most talented or athletic of past Thunder teams, but when it comes to tournament time Trine always seems to ratchet it up a notch.  The key during this stretch has been Katie Tate stepping up, she's been huge lately.  Need that consistent second or third option to help take the load off of Sidney.  Another unsung gal who doesn't get the gaudy stats is soph Jada Rhonehouse.  Her defense has been terrific this year and has been providing more offense in the second half of the season.

Good luck tonight against #18 UW-Oshkosh at their place.  Can we make it 2 upsets this weekend?   

[scottiedawg]

We're waiting quite a bit for hosts, but I expect Hope to be at UW-Whitewater.

Only thing I can think of (RE: Reason for delay) is the WBB Committee is trying to get an extra flight approved so the host can be Transylvania.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

We're waiting quite a bit for hosts, but I expect Hope to be at UW-Whitewater.

Only thing I can think of (RE: Reason for delay) is the WBB Committee is trying to get an extra flight approved so the host can be Transylvania.

Just have Hope host and you get zero flights 😀😀