WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[oldknight]

My opinion - Hope will win the league again, although I doubt it will be at 16-0.  The Hope team is still very deep, with a lot of experience, speed, and what I see as two legit All-American level players in Snikkers and Greene.

I agree with your assessment. The 2007-08 edition of Hope basketball was an unusual core group of talented, proven veterans combined with exceptionally talented newcomers--a team of so many good players on one squad we might not see the likes of again in the MIAA. This year's core group is very talented, but I think Hope will lose at least one conference game. In addition to last year's seniors, I think the retirement of Emily O'Hare from Hope's team is a loss. I saw her in high school and thought she was perfectly suited to the D3 game. She gave Hope some good minutes off the bench last year and I thought she was destined to give Hope more and even better minutes this year. Apparently she wanted to move into the next phase of her life before graduation, and that's OK too. The commitment to college sports big and if you're dissatisfied with it, it's best to move on, so best wishes to Emily.

Based on this weekend's results it appears that Marcia Harris is fully recovered from her 2007 tournament injury. Combined with a couple of freshmen who might inject new life, I think the Lady Knights might offer a test in February when they (not the men's team) host Hope for Homecoming at the new arena. This game has potential to be an exciting event.

The big post combination of Knox and Snikkers worked out very well.  Snikkers has as much pure basketball talent and skills as any player at this level, but is still too streaky. 

In part because of her outrageous talent, Carrie does have a tendency to coast when the opponent isn't challenging her or her team. But I have seen her play a lot and can tell you that she has often bailed out her team when the game was close and the hour was late.

[sac]

Hope 80 Albion 54

What a defensive effort by the Lady Dutch this evening. 

Hope held Albion's starting 5 to 21 points, on 7-33 (21.2%), 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 11 turnovers, 3 steals

Hope's starting 5 scored 57 points, on 23-43 (53.5%), 23 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 turnovers, 7 steals.

What a couple young teams these are,  Albion has 1 Jr, 1 Sr (who did not play) they started So, So, So, Fr, Jr.   Hope has 2 Jr, 2 Sr but started Sr, Jr, Jr, Sr, So.  And they just kicked some tail.

It was just domination on the defensive end.  I'm not sure how many but I can only remember a handfull of Albion baskets that seemed to come from their offense, all the backdoor cut variety.  The rest seemed to be late in the shot clock desperate looking shots.   I don't think the final score reflects just how dominating this was, maybe it does.  It was 40-21 at halftime and Hope was a miserable 1-11 from trey, I mean, wow!

The difference to me seemed to be movement.  The whole Hope team just moved better than Albion.  They were all over the Brits on defense because they could be, and on offense they probably move the ball, and without the ball better than most at this level.  They should list Philana Greene on the other teams roster because she always seems to be wearing the other girls jersey.

Hope's girls looked like they hit the weight room (and the tanning beds), a number of them also looked a little trimmed down from last year.  Lots of offseason running I'm guessing.  They didn't look fatigued at all in this one.   Geers, Bruinsma and DeKuipers off the bench looked much improved, if Hope can get these girls and the rest of the bench to perform at the next level........well, lookout.

I'm sure coach Mo was very pleased with the overall defensive effort and intensity which was there all evening.


Past trips to Albion have been more thrilling, I'm not certain this Albion team is as good as last years but..........

08  Hope 64 Albion 62
07  Albion 82 Hope 75
06  Hope 82 Albion 78 OT
05  Albion 84 Hope 72

in the MIAA world, I think this score is a shocker.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Albion has indeed been the toughest MIAA opponent for Hope in recent years.  Starting with the 1999-2000 season through today, Hope is an incredible 148-14 in MIAA play - that's a .914 winning percentage.  The 14 losses break down like this:

7 Albion
5 Calvin
2 Alma (both in 99-00)

[WWWRHH]

good summary sac

I will add a "few" observations.  While the defensive effort was very good there was also notable improvement on the offensive end. Turnovers were cut in half and the offensive rotation was the best it has been this year.  The Dutch won a couple of their previous games because they were bigger and more athletic than the opponent, but last night they were bigger and played better basketball making it a lot more fun to watch.

The Brits are not as good as last year.  They graduated four good 4 / 5 position players and the incoming bigs are not yet up to speed.  Hope starts some size...5-7, 5-9, 5-9, 6-2, 6-3.  While neither of the bigs (Snikkers and Knox) have started before, they are experienced and productive.  They are backed up by an athletic 6-1 Bruinsma (who would start on other MIAA teams) and 6-1 Kutney.

This size is going to give the rest of the MIAA problems since a lot of the better post players have graduated over the last couple of years and have not been replaced with equivalent size.  Hope's height inside poses two problems for opponents.  The Dutch posts are real basketball players and the guards are such great defenders there is no relief from the pressure on the perimeter making it very hard for opponents to find open shots.

Last night was Snikkers' best outing of the season and possibly of her college career.  She shot well, played active defense -including going to the floor for loose balls and challenging shots from the corner - and moved very well without the ball.

The double big combination of Knox and Snikkers is somewhat different than Morehouse's past strategy of pairing a big center with more of a 3 position type player at power forward.  They are working well together although it seems like both still want to go to the same spot at times.  It also requires Knox to often guard a forward on the perimeter which is not a situation we have seen in the past.

Last night the post players combined for 38 points (Snikkers 19, Knox 10, and Bruinsma 9)  Knox played less minutes and Burinsma more minutes vs. previous outings.  Erica was playing well and Albion started a 5-10 forward that liked to play away from the basket which is a more natural position for her than Knox.  However, #24 finished with only 3 points so there was not much to complain about either's defensive effort.

You are right about Green.  I have not seen a better defender in the MIAA, but what is seldom mentioned is her effort on the boards.  With all the attention given to trying to box out the bigs, she finds a way to slide in and grab a lot of rebounds.

Although the three point shooting was cold in the first half it improved in the second half and the guards shoot well enough to keep any team from sagging inside and shutting down the post options.

[Flea]

Combined with a couple of freshmen who might inject new life, I think the Lady Knights might offer a test in February when they (not the men's team) host Hope for Homecoming at the new arena. This game has potential to be an exciting event.

Apparently Calvin is inviting any and all high school students to the game free of charge.

[Oval]

Women's Basketball Dec 06 scores
Trine 66, Kalamazoo 59
Adrian 54, Albion 52 (wow)
Hope 63, Alma 46
Saint Mary's 79, Calvin 74 (ouch)

[WWWRHH]

Not much to say about the Hope game.  The team was not as sharp as against Albion but the game was not as close as the score indicates.  The starters played only 15 mins. and the posts once again dominated the inside.

Based on comp scores between common opponents it looks like there is parity among most of the league - except for Hope.  The Dutch are balanced and have a lot of weapons.  They just have to keep their focus and find ways to stay sharp.

I enjoy watching comortable victories, but the team needs to be challenged.  Next Saturday's game against Cornerstone will be interesting given CU's NAIA ranking.

[sac]

Albion's loss to Adrian helped put Hope's win in a better light.  The Bulldogs have snuck up to 6-1 on the young season.  Interesting that Hope opens the new year at St. Mary's with a share for first place on the line.


The Cornerstone game WWWRHH mentioned immediately follows the men's tournament on Saturday at DeVos.  Cornerstone was ranked #14 in last weeks NAIA II poll.  They won all 3 of their games last week to move to 8-3.  You would think they'll move up a little this week. (tommorrow.)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Here's to HOPEing that Mo is able to keep the girls focused on CU Saturday night, given that they will have just finished exams, and are headed to Florida the very next day.  I know he can do it, I just expect it might be a little tough.  Should be a good crowd though - since they play at 5:30, right after the men.

[sac]

Whew

Hope 76 Cornerstone 69

Must have been a fun one.  Cornerstone nearly erased a 19 point halftime deficit and trailed by 2 with just 2 minutes left.  They had the ball down 3 twice but Hope pulled away with FT's

Carrie Snikkers with 27 points, 21 rebounds.

[OC_SID]

Whew

Hope 76 Cornerstone 69

Must have been a fun one.  Cornerstone nearly erased a 19 point halftime deficit and trailed by 2 with just 2 minutes left.  They had the ball down 3 twice but Hope pulled away with FT's

Carrie Snikkers with 27 points, 21 rebounds.

Livestats from the game show Snikkers with 23 rebounds ...

Anyhow, a very interesting day in MIAA women's action:
       Snikkers scores 27, grabs 23 rebounds
       Albion hangs on to beat Calvin, 77-75 ... Albion's Nicole Dennis scores 32, including 25 in first half
       Saint Mary's breaks the MIAA single-game record with 42 free throws made

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Not only did Carrie Snikkers have 27 points and 23 rebounds in 27 minutes, she also had four blocks, and for me the most amazing part is she had a double double at halftime, and nearly did it again in the second half.  At the half she had 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Second half - 8 points and 10 rebounds.  If either half was her game total, as a coach you'd be pretty happy.

[hope1]

have a safe  flight to florida today  have some nice weathear  come back with some more wins

[HopeConvert]

Carrie playing against these other young women isn't fair. Since we might describe a dominant male player as "a man among boys" would it be appropriate on the distaff side to describe Carrie, mutatis mutandis, as a woman among girls?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Carrie playing against these other young women isn't fair. Since we might describe a dominant male player as "a man among boys" would it be appropriate on the distaff side to describe Carrie, mutatis mutandis, as a woman among girls?

Not sure if that comment would be considered proper or not, but in my book it is spot on.