WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

On Witt, I beleive Pat Coleman from D3hoops was at the game btw UWWW and UWEC. Given the importance of the game and the incredible way Witt played, that might have been part of the equation. What the stats do not show is her totally devasting the UWWW press single handily and then passing off to others when she could have taken the shot.

Been a while since I've read here -- indeed, I was at that game and that had to have some sort of influence on the Team of the Week decision. The stats wouldn't really show how much Witt had to handle the ball and how little UWW's press had an effect on her. I was impressed with her enough as a ball-handler to overcome some stats in which she didn't do as well as other candidates.

[JMM]

Looking at the central rankings, looks like the EC game with UWSP is extra important, a loss could mean no NCAA. Seems like the ranking system favors UWWW and Washington. The UWRF LOSS WAS HUGE.

[Just Bill]

UWSP 31, UWEC 22 at the half.

SP Audio: http://radio.securenetsystems.net//radio_player_large.cfm?stationCallSign=WSPT

Live Stats: http://www.uwecblugolds.com/live/bb/index.php?game=32

[The Champ]

Stout 42 - Superior 21 at the half.

Hirssig is one rebound shy of another double/double at the half.

[Just Bill]

Point 49, EC 38 - 9:59 remaining

[Just Bill]

Pointers will get the win. 63-52 with 26 seconds to play.

[The Champ]

Stout 88 - Superior 56 Final

UWRF 58 - LaCrosse 56 Final

[buf]

Point defeats EC.  They lead pretty much the whole game.  Point hit some tough shots, especially early on in each half.  Disappointing performance at the FT line for EC.  They are one of the best from the line, but totally flopped tonight.  Good win for Point.  It looks like they may be the champs, and well deserved.  For EC, I think they need some rest (a hectic past few days) over their bye and need to regroup.  They may need to win their last 2 games if they want to be in position for a pool C bid.

[bulk19]

Pointers played well tonight. They earned it, basically being in control most of the game. UWSP shot the ball extremely well tonight, too. Blugolds didn't. And, as buf notes, coupled with the 'Golds woes at the free throw line, UWEC could never make any big runs to get back into it when they got down by double digits a couple of times...

The Pointers are a tough team to match up against, since they don't have one person to key on. Basically, Petersen (14), Sporle (14), Van Gomple and Webber (12) have all taken turns leading the team in scoring throughout the season, with the three noted in () as being in double figures tonight, too.

Nice crowd tonight, 1600+ on senior night. But I'm not recognizing them for their contributions to the program until after the season is officially over... Ha.

Much needed break for the 'Golds, then two more to go in the regular season. Then we can start thinking about the conference tournament.

And only then, buf, can we think about the NCAAs!    Although I say if they are 21-5 after their next three games, it would be awfully hard to keep them out...

[buf]

Nice to see you back on the board, bulk19!  Where have you been?

[buf]

UWW wins over UWP by 13.  However, it looks like UWP had UWW on the ropes for most of the game.  UWW pulled away in the last couple minutes.

[JMM]

Agree that EC pretty tired also think Point is super and really delivered on key shots. Point has gotten better and better. Love the Point coach - she is a grand person and really prepares. She was so excited to when at Zorn - like a kid.

Seems EC offense has lost it's identity.  Think the players are missing shots because they are unsure. Sometimes offense focuses at Messick, now it's more Plendil the freshman. The team is at their best when Witt runs the offense with support from Fermstad and Archie is a major part of the offense - most recent Whitewater game is a good example. There were some key points in tonights game when Archie was on the bench. TE has really gone away from her seniors these past few weeks and I think it is causing problems - then again, what do I know.

[buf]

Looking at the central rankings, looks like the EC game with UWSP is extra important, a loss could mean no NCAA. Seems like the ranking system favors UWWW and Washington. The UWRF LOSS WAS HUGE.

Well here are those central region rankings and the primary criteria:

Central Region
1. Ill. Wesleyan 18-0 20-0
2. UW-Stevens Point 18-2 19-2
3. UW-Whitewater 16-3 18-3
4. Washington U. 14-4 16-4
5. UW-Eau Claire 15-3 19-3
6. St. Norbert 15-2 16-4

The following primary criteria (not in priority order) will be reviewed:
• Win-loss percentage against regional opponents.
• Strength-of-schedule (only contests versus regional competition).
- Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OWP).
- Opponents' Opponents' Average Winning Percentage (OOWP).
• In-region head-to-head competition.
• In-region results versus common regional opponents.
• In-region results versus regionally ranked teams.


I'm a bit confused as to why UWW is ahead of UWEC.  Win-loss barely favors UWW.  SOS barely favors UWEC.  Those two basically cancel each other out.  In region head to head, wouldn't that be 1-1 for each.  I would think results versus common regional opponents would be about the same also.  At this point, I don't really see any separation between the two.  Now the last one would favor UWEC.  UWEC would be at 3-2 and UWW would be 1-2.  Perhaps I am mis-calculating something or mis-understanding something, but as I see it UWEC should be ahead of UWW.   

Its getting late, so I'm not going to compare Wash U.  Off the top of my head, Wash U probably has a higher SOS, but I'm not sure on the other stuff.


Also, don't look too much into EC being one spot outside of the regional rankings.  On the women's side (and I don't know why they do it) they regional rank only 50 teams--there are 63 spots in the national tourney.  Also, keep in mind that not all regions are considered equal.  Its possible that one region gets only 4 teams in while another may get 10.  I would guess that UWEC would be ranked #2 or #3 in the West region, for example.

[closetothechest]

Great game last night at EC.  I love watching a game there.  The community really supports their Blugolds.  SP had a great game.  They looked like they were on control the entire game except for one Blugold run in the 2nd half.  A real impression road win. 

Looks like the WIAC tournament will go through Berg.  As long as they can win one more game, they will secure that #1 seed.  EC looks like they could be in a bit of trouble for the NCAAs.  They will most likely need to win their last 2 games and make it to the WIAC final.  This of course is assuming they don't win the conference tournament, which they could. 

[badgerwarhawk]

For whatever reason Platteville has given the WARHAWKS problems.  Last night they go up by as many as 15 points in the first half.  Fortunately a 14-0 run over the last 5 minutes or so of the half closed the gap and the WARHAWKS, fueled by Dana Thompson and Tiffany Morton, got it to a single point, 32-31.   But Platteville wasn't going away and increased the lead to a high of 5 points, 45-40, with just over 13 minutes remaining.   At that point the WARHAWKS ran off ten straight to go up 50-40 and a few minutes later had a 9-0 run to increase the lead to 66-54 with just under two minutes remaining.  The final was 69-56.

Morton had a huge night with 27 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks.  It was her thirteenth double-double of the season and the 24th of her career tying the WARHAWK program record.  Dana Thompson also scored in double figures with 10 points and had 3 blocks.  The WARHAWKS had 11 blocks as a team.  Kelsey Hendrickson recorded 4 steals.  Free throws were a significant factor as the WARHAWKS made nearly twice as many as Platteville attempted, 21-24 to 9-12.  

Stacia Nemitz had a pretty good night herself and led Platteville with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block and a steal.