WBB: Landmark Conference

[Tim the Enchanter]

That was perhaps the best game that I've seen Maddy Ryan play.  She was strong on the glass, attacked the basket with a much better handle than in the past, and she was in control on her shots.  No fouls, no turnovers.

Kudos to Monaghan on her 1000th point!

Tufts tomorrow will be a tough one -- Maggie Russell is virtually unstoppable in the paint and they have plenty of others who can step up if the Royals can keep Russell in check.

[ronk]

 Nice that Bridget got the 1000 in front of family and friends in NJ. Congrats to her! Bigs(Kaci and Maddy) are taking it to the hoop and drawing fouls in the process(14-16, between them today).
Saw Kyra walking around with the help of crutches and knee brace.
#6 Amherst and #10 Trine lose today; if the Royals take care of business tomorrow against #19 Tufts, they should move up in the rankings.
  Tufts' preseason All-American Maggie Russell and Royals' Emma Duerr played on same AAU team alternating at the post position; at the time, I evaluated Maggie as better, but there wasn't too much difference in their games.   

[saratoga]

Agreed that Maddy played a great all-around game last evening.
Congrats to Bridgett on hitting 1,000...a real testament to her perseverance going against taller kids each & every game.
As for tonight, the Royals will certainly miss Kyra as she would be able to body up against Russell and give them 5 more fouls against her.
Instead, Maddy will be really tested inside & out with her & she has to limit her fouls to give the Royals offensive help by staying in the game.
Russell will get her points, just don't let her go crazy & play great D on everyone else.
Should be a really good mid-season test.
Biggest concern is Scranton's lack of bench scoring & defense once the starters come out.

[saratoga]

Ronk:
It is nice to see the Royals taking it to the basket & getting all those free throws.
One of my biggest complaints about DiPillo's offensive schemes...far too many crazy 3 point shots.
That was taking many potential free throws every game away from a team that shoots nearly 80% from the line.
It also took away from Maddy Ryan's strengths which is offensive rebounding.
Under Ben's motion offense, there are more set plays that allow Maddy & others to get in position & thrive on second chance put backs.

[ronk]

 Nice hard-fought victory for the Royals over #19 Tufts. They had 3 good runs and Tufts could only respond to the 1st 2. Hannah provided the big spark in the 1st half with 13 points. She starts slowly in the early games of the past 2 seasons but kicks herself into a higher level of play about the time of the big conference games. She has the ability to be a major factor in the Royals' play, just a question of being proactive.
Kaci is not playing like a freshman; did a creditable job on Maggie Russell. Sara also with good sub play with Maddy out with fouls. Wishing some others(Bender, Brewer, Duerr, Sloan) would get some of the rotation playing time.
Still some playing smarts problems(a player fouling 94' from the basket with 4 secs left in the quarter and in the bonus; then another free with the ball at midcourt for a final last second shot but passing instead. Little things like those unforced errors can waylay your season in the tough games and there's 1 such coming up in a week at Catholic where every possession can be meaningful.
  Tufts should probably find more playing time for Sophie Davis.
  NYU with a tough victory over Bowdoin in their holiday invitational tourney. Bowdoin had the lead late in the game a couple of times but Bella Pellechia wouldn't let them lose.

[Augie2020]

Congrats to Kaci Kranson for taking home MVP in the Steven tournament.Well done Lady Royals on a very impressive win again.Ronk Jenna Sloan didn't make the trip she was sick.

[saratoga]

Great job by Ben, his coaching staff, & all the Lady Royals executing it to near perfection.
I knew coming in to the season Kacy had some excellent offensive skills, however her help defense has been spectacular.
Clearly not playing like a freshman.
Kudo's again to Maddy Ryan for playing within her game & just being a bear defensively.
Really nice win & Tufts is far better than a 19 ranking which will undoubtably fall even a few more.

[NEPAFAN]

How could DiPillo not have offered her a chance to play on the team?

[Tim the Enchanter]

Tufts plays ridiculously good defense... they didn't allow as much inside as George Fox did, but Scranton still toughed it out.  And as we saw yesterday, there are times that the Royals played strong defense themselves but Tufts still has the offensive weapons to be able to score. 

The thing that stood out to me was how, even after Tufts went on a run at the end of each quarter, Ben kept this team calm going into the next quarter and they kicked their defense into high gear.  Scranton held Tufts scoreless in the first 3:27 of the 2nd, 3:42 of the 3rd and 5:35 of the 4th.  Each time Tufts had a run, the Royals held firm and never let them take the lead after a minute left in the first quarter.  And even when Rajza and Monaghan weren't shooting well, Angelini and Kranson played with poise and efficiency.  And when  Ryan was in foul trouble, Walsh held her own.

All in all, a nice win over a Tufts team that, I agree, is better than their ranking.  They're young and will only get better:  other than Russell, most of their key players are freshman/sophomores.  The only senior on the team doesn't get much PT.  Their loss to NYU was without Russell and their only other loss before yesterday was at an Emory team that's on the verge of the top 25. 

[Augie2020]

How could DiPillo not have offered her a chance to play on the team?

Nepafan from what i heard he recruited one player Jenna Sloan.If you listen to that interview that was posted you heard Kaci say that once she found out Coach O'Brian was becoming head coach that is when she decide she was going to the U .I agree how can yoh not recruit her?Like I told you many times she is way further then in my eyes better then the  greatest womens basketball player to ever wear thst uniform Taryn Mellody as a Freshman.The way she played last night against Russell(Yes she scored 28pts) but she (Kranson) was undersized by about 3 inches.But wa but still impressive on offense and defense against Russell !If they call the Super sophomore from NYU(Bellachina  hopefully spelling is correct)what name do you give Kranson as a Freshman-Fabulos,Fantastic etc?

[saratoga]

Speaking of those not recruited by the Lady Royals former coach...you can add Anna Scoblick from Abington Heights who starts for Catholic as a freshman.
Lizzy Neville from Scranton Prep is starting & doing great as a freshman at F&M & Clair Marion is the leading scorer in the Centennial at Dickinson.
None received any interest from the former coach.
There are about 4-5 others starting & doing great at other schools.
Not inferring he'd get everyone but to not even reach out...not the best way to endear yourself to the local coaches.

[saratoga]

Another un-recruited freshman had a nice day today.
Maria Belardi out of Scranton Prep has been getting some great minutes at Bowdoin.
In todays win over Springfield, she chipped in with 7 points in 16 minutes of action.

[ronk]

Another un-recruited freshman had a nice day today.
Maria Belardi out of Scranton Prep has been getting some great minutes at Bowdoin.
In todays win over Springfield, she chipped in with 7 points in 16 minutes of action.

She had a nice effort in the NYU game, also. One of her fellow reserves(Callie Godfrey) has been doing well recently. Callie just made my prospect list a few years ago.
I see that Bowdoin's new assistant coach this season is Abby Kelly who was the star of the team in 2019 when Scranton was in the final 4 with them, also. Both teams lost to Thomas More then, Scranton in the semi and Bowdoin in the final. I asked Abby's dad how I missed out on her during AAU; he said they didn't travel very far(way upstate NY); I had remembered seeing them play on video because I focused on their tall post player who eventually went D1 but I missed out on Abby.

[ronk]

My forecast:
1 Scranton
2 E-town
3 Catholic
4 Moravian
5 Drew
6 Susquehanna
7 Goucher
8 Juniata

[saratoga]

Great road win for the Lady Royals yesterday vs. an always tough Catholic team.
Big game Friday evening vs. E-town as 2 undefeated teams meet.