WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[buf]

At the half,

UWL over UWEC, 30-28, Olson's 3-3 on 3s keeping EC in it.  EC's starting posts only 2-9 on attempts.

Stout blowing out RF, 42-22.  Stout's offense looks good.  I can't believe how many layups RF has missed.

[badgerwarhawk]

Eau Claire beats LaCrosse 61-57.  LaCrosse missed a jumper with 2 seconds left that would have tied it.  Eau Claire will play WHITEWATER.

[PRF2009A]

EC pulls it out over UWL.  GREAT GAME!

I remembered why I once said that Messick was such a great player. 17 pts, 12 boards, 4 blocks tonight.  She also plays great DEFENSE!

Laura Olsen gets hot again for EC going 5-6 from three point range.
Lang and Churchill go a combined 5 for 21 for UWL. 

Great season for UWL.  Looking forward to next year and a conference championship run (if they can beat UWEC for once!) 

Best of luck to the remaining teams.  Hope to see the WIAC get a couple teams in the tourney.

[JMM]

Hooray Stout! Hooray Blugolds. One of these teams could take the tournament if they stay focused.As already stated, Like ST over SP. If EC keeps TOs under 15 should take WW. They will need their best defense and STOP the 3pt shots. If there is no Brain fog - EC has a shot.
Would be super to be at Stout next Saturday watching EC and ST rematch. I know who would win that one. All that said, WW is still the team to beat. I beleive the seniors at WW will play such unbeleivable tight defense that EC will struggle.. Gameplan Tonja, Gameplan.

[The Champ]

Julia Hirssig Academic All-America of the Year

UW-Stout senior forward Julia Hirssig (Rochester, Minn/Mayo) headlines the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women's Basketball Team, College Division, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Hirssig has been named as the winner of the Academic All-America® of the Year award in the College Division. Junior forward Maya Moore of top ranked University of Connecticut received the same award in the University Division. College Division is made up of NCAA Division II and III schools, along with NAIA schools. The University Division is made up of NCAA Division I schools.

The only repeat selection on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America ® Women's Basketball College Division first team, Hirssig is a Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management major with a 3.96 G.P.A.  A three-year starter, she owns the school scoring record with 1,686 points. A two-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) selection, the Rochester, Minn. native has started 79 games in a row and has played in all 108 games since her freshman year.

As a senior, Hirssig is averaging a league-leading 21.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. She ranks first in NCAA Division III with a .679 field goal percentage while leading the Blue Devils to a 15-10 record and a berth in the WIAC Tournament. A pre-season All-American selection, she was the second-leading scorer in the WIAC as a junior, averaging 18.5 points per game. She was also the second-leading rebounder in the league with a 10.8 average and earned honorable mention All-American honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Congratulations Julia!  You've worked hard and are receiving the well deserved rewards.

Keep working - this season isn't over yet....

[The Champ]

I remembered why I once said that Messick was such a great player.  She plays DEFENSE.  (17 pts, 12 boards, 4 blocks tonight)

Is this something new?  Did she just start playing defense this year?

I looked at the 2008/2009 WIAC All Defensive Team and didn't find her name there.

Before you say that only Seniors get recognized for that, let me remind you that Hirssig was All Defense last year.

And now I can see it coming, Messick was only a Sophomore last year.  Well, check out the 2007/2008 All Defensive Team - Hirssig was on that one too - as a Sophomore.

This year?  Maybe Messick might make the squad.

Stats?

Rebounding

1.Frank, Danielle-LC....... JR 16   71  108  179  11.2
2.Hirssig, Julia-ST........ SR 16   84   93  177  11.1
3.Mesick, Hannah-EC........ JR 16   35   91  126   7.9
4.Churchill, Shelby-OSH.... JR 16   34   91  125   7.8
5.Plendl, Ellen-EC......... SO 16   44   77  121   7.6
6.Dohrn, Maranda-RF........ SO 16   51   67  118   7.4
7.Nemitz, Stacia-PLT....... SR 16   38   58   96   6.0
8.Stokke, Kim-ST........... SR 16   27   67   94   5.9
9.Hart, Hailey-SUP......... SO 15   53   35   88   5.9
   Lindner, Jodi-EC......... SR 15   20   68   88   5.9

Steals

1.Hendrickson, Kelsey-WW... SR 16     55   3.44
2.Flease, Andrea-STP....... JR 15     37   2.47
3.Poad, Claire-PLT......... FR 16     34   2.13
4.Stotmeister, Charity-PLT. SR 16     33   2.06
   Hirssig, Julia-ST........ SR 16     33   2.06
6.Holst, Alise-RF.......... SO 16     31   1.94
7.Stokke, Kim-ST........... SR 16     30   1.88
   Bundy, Nicole-WW......... SR 16     30   1.88
9.Sonntag, Heidi-WW........ SR 16     29   1.81
10.Gregorich, Tiffany-RF.... SO 15     27   1.80

Messick averaged 1.43 steals per game.

Blocks

1.Frank, Danielle-LC....... JR 16     59   3.69
2.Plendl, Ellen-EC......... SO 16     26   1.63
3.Averkamp, Ashley-STP..... SO 15     22   1.47
4.Kumerow, Cortney-WW...... FR 16     21   1.31
5.Stokke, Kim-ST........... SR 16     20   1.25
6.Petersen, Britta-STP..... JR 16     19   1.19
7.Bauer, Dannielle-OSH..... JR 16     16   1.00
8.Dohrn, Maranda-RF........ SO 16     15   0.94
9.Maslowski, Megan-ST...... SR 16     13   0.81
10.Mesick, Hannah-EC........ JR 16     12   0.75
   DeWitt, Danielle-ST...... SR 16     12   0.75



I think Frank and Hirssig are locks for All Defense.  I think Stokke makes it because she's in the top 10 (5th, 7th and 8th) in all 3 categories.  Plendl is top 5 (2nd and 5th) in 2 categories.

Messick is a distant 3rd (over 3 fewer rebounds per game) in Rebounding, tied for 10th in Blocks, and not in the top 10 for Steals.  She might get in the All Defensive Team, but there are other possibilities - Hendrickson from WW comes to mind.

There are lots of WIAC players that play defense.  That's actually one of the strengths of the WIAC.

I said it before - Messick is a very good player.  She would be a welcome addition to any team in the league.

I just don't understand your continually making her out to be the second coming.  She's very good, but so are several other young women in this conference.

[PRF2009A]

I just don't understand your continually making her out to be the second coming.  She's very good, but so are several other young women in this conference.

Continually?  I commented about her great play twice after seeing her play in two different games.  Each time came away very impressed. 

Continually would be your long rants trying to put her down for some reason like you are being personally attacked. 

But, since your going to bring in some stats, you hit on one of the points I saw yesterday.  Rebounding.  How about defensive rebounds if you are trying to make a case for an all-defense team?  I'm surprised your stats didn't include free throw % since that is about as valid to being a good defender as offensive rebounds are.

DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS
## Player-Team               Cl  G  No.  Avg/G
----------------------------------------------
1.Frank, Danielle-LC....... JR 26  168   6.46
2.Mesick, Hannah-EC........ JR 26  162   6.23
3.Churchill, Shelby-OSH.... JR 25  150   6.00
4.Hirssig, Julia-ST........ SR 26  146   5.62
5.Plendl, Ellen-EC......... SO 26  118   4.54
6.Churchill, Dana-LC....... JR 26  108   4.15
7.Nemitz, Stacia-PLT....... SR 24   96   4.00
8.Lindner, Jodi-EC......... SR 24   95   3.96
9.Dohrn, Maranda-RF........ SO 25   98   3.92
   Petersen, Britta-STP..... JR 25   98   3.92
11.Stokke, Kim-ST........... SR 26   98   3.77
12.Burg, Chantel-WW......... SO 24   90   3.75
13.Maslowski, Megan-ST...... SR 26   91   3.50
14.Bundy, Nicole-WW......... SR 25   81   3.24
   Gregorich, Brittany-RF... FR 25   81   3.24

[The Champ]

The game last night...

Was a good one for Stout.

But two totally different games in each half.

It appeared to me that RF was trying to stop Stout's scoring by fouling them and forcing them to the line to score.  But Stout sank 67% of the FT's accounting for 50% of their 20 point first half lead.

Second half started the same way with Stout building the lead to 30.

But then the game changed.  A technical was called against the RF bench (don't know what happened) with about 13 minutes to go.

After the technical, the refs must have decided to call anything that looked remotely like a foul.

In the last 13 minutes of the game, these refs called a total of 21 fouls.  That's 2 more fouls than were called in the entire first half!

The outcome of the game was a foregone conclusion (both teams putting the bench players in) and the refs were still called 2 touch fouls with less than 20 seconds to go.

It was a painful/joyful game to watch, if that makes any sense.  It was dragged out because of the officiating, but my team was winning...

Hirssig led the scoring with 20, closely followed by VanVreede with 19 and 8 other players scored for Stout.  B. Gregorich and Holst had 13 and T. Gregorich and Theisen had 11 each for River.

DeWitt, Maslowski for Stout and Dohrn for River fouled out in the foulfest that occurred in the second half (33 fouls).

Stout hit 22 of 27 from the charity stripe, while River made 14 of 24.

Rebounding was 41 - 39 with Stout holding the advantage.

Next up - Stevens Point!

[The Champ]

Continually?  I commented about her great play twice after seeing her play in two different games.  Each time came away very impressed. 

Weren't you the one that posted that Messick was the best WIAC player that you've seen in the last 5 years?  If not, I apologize for confusing the issue.

Continually would be your long rants trying to put her down for some reason like you are being personally attacked. 

Who's putting her down?  I've clearly stated multiple times that she IS a very good player.

But, since your going to bring in some stats, you hit on one of the points I saw yesterday.  Rebounding.  How about defensive rebounds if you are trying to make a case for an all-defense team?  I'm surprised your stats didn't include free throw % since that is about as valid to being a good defender as offensive rebounds are.

I used total rebounds because that is the STAT you used to make your point in your previous post: 

(17 pts, 12 boards, 4 blocks tonight)

You counted all the boards (even points scored - I could bring up those #'s - but I don't think I need to embarrass you anymore), and in many respects a rebound is a rebound - it keeps the ball away from the other team.

And yes, I was aware that if you only look at Defensive Rebounds, Messick #'s are a little better.

Bottom line - is Messick the only player in the WIAC that plays very good defense?  That's what your post implied. 

She is one of several that have earned that recognition.  She's a player that must be accounted for on both ends of the floor.

Is she a GREAT player as you continually claim.  I'm not willing to go that far yet.  She is very good though.

[PRF2009A]

Fixed my previous post for you.  I apologize for the error.  Break down this reply into 17 comments please.

[The Champ]

 /\

[badgerwarhawk]

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Your wish is my command.

[Blue Devil Backer]

Julia Hirssig Academic All-America of the Year

UW-Stout senior forward Julia Hirssig (Rochester, Minn/Mayo) headlines the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Women's Basketball Team, College Division, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Hirssig has been named as the winner of the Academic All-America® of the Year award in the College Division. Junior forward Maya Moore of top ranked University of Connecticut received the same award in the University Division. College Division is made up of NCAA Division II and III schools, along with NAIA schools. The University Division is made up of NCAA Division I schools.

The only repeat selection on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America ® Women's Basketball College Division first team, Hirssig is a Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management major with a 3.96 G.P.A.  A three-year starter, she owns the school scoring record with 1,686 points. A two-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) selection, the Rochester, Minn. native has started 79 games in a row and has played in all 108 games since her freshman year.

As a senior, Hirssig is averaging a league-leading 21.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. She ranks first in NCAA Division III with a .679 field goal percentage while leading the Blue Devils to a 15-10 record and a berth in the WIAC Tournament. A pre-season All-American selection, she was the second-leading scorer in the WIAC as a junior, averaging 18.5 points per game. She was also the second-leading rebounder in the league with a 10.8 average and earned honorable mention All-American honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Congratulations Julia!  You've worked hard and are receiving the well deserved rewards.

Keep working - this season isn't over yet....

she is now second all time scoring leader in stout history of men and women

[wisco87]

The game last night...

Was a good one for Stout.

But two totally different games in each half.

It appeared to me that RF was trying to stop Stout's scoring by fouling them and forcing them to the line to score.  But Stout sank 67% of the FT's accounting for 50% of their 20 point first half lead.

Second half started the same way with Stout building the lead to 30.

But then the game changed.  A technical was called against the RF bench (don't know what happened) with about 13 minutes to go.

After the technical, the refs must have decided to call anything that looked remotely like a foul.

In the last 13 minutes of the game, these refs called a total of 21 fouls.  That's 2 more fouls than were called in the entire first half!

The outcome of the game was a foregone conclusion (both teams putting the bench players in) and the refs were still called 2 touch fouls with less than 20 seconds to go.

It was a painful/joyful game to watch, if that makes any sense.  It was dragged out because of the officiating, but my team was winning...

I believe the tech was on Coach Holbrook.  She was speaking with the ref and then he called the foul and pointed to her, although it was the most calm technical foul I've ever seen, so I'm guessing she must have said something.  There was another post about RF missing layups in the first half, which may have been the game.  I did some very unofficial tallying, and thought it was around 8 layups they missed, that should have been made.  Although it is easy to say from the stands that a shot should have been made.  That being said, that would have trimmed the 20 point lead at half to only 4.  It is complete speculation, but may have changed the game. 

You make a good point about the fouls, it was, well a lot of calls being made that I don't think were made in the first half, so pretty inconsistent.  RF was able to make a run the final ten minutes of the game, mostly from the hustle of there three senior guards.  The score was something like 60-28 at 10 mins or so left in the game, and got the lead down to around 15 or so at one point.

There was also a great mens game after for anyone who watched it, with Stout nailing a 3 pointer at the buzzer to win.  So a great night for Stout fans.  Not so much for the Platteville/River Falls fan in me.

[The Champ]

I believe the tech was on Coach Holbrook.  She was speaking with the ref and then he called the foul and pointed to her, although it was the most calm technical foul I've ever seen, so I'm guessing she must have said something.

That's what I saw too.  But in the stats it's says the T was charged to the bench.  Maybe that's how they list it all the time - I don't know.

You make a good point about the fouls, it was, well a lot of calls being made that I don't think were made in the first half, so pretty inconsistent.  RF was able to make a run the final ten minutes of the game, mostly from the hustle of there three senior guards.  The score was something like 60-28 at 10 mins or so left in the game, and got the lead down to around 15 or so at one point.

That was my point.  I wasn't complaining about who the fouls were being called against - just the sudden timing of the change in how the game was being called.  Consistency went out the window after that T foul.

The RF runs started at about the 11 minute mark and lasted about 2 minutes, fueled by 4 fouls against Stout and some excellent play by the RF team, bringing the Stout lead down to 18 points.

After that, things settled down and the lead floated between 15 and 21 points, with the final score 86 - 70.

There was also a great mens game after for anyone who watched it, with Stout nailing a 3 pointer at the buzzer to win.  So a great night for Stout fans.  Not so much for the Platteville/River Falls fan in me.

Sounds like it was a great game.  I had a 2 hour drive home, so chatted with the players for about 30 minutes and headed home...