WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[PRF2009A]

UWL crushes Stout, 82-36.  Who is this Kassie Robinson?  She goes 11-11 from the field, including 1-1 on 3s.  She also goes 3-3 from the line and pulls down 9 boards.

Kassie is a transfer from St. Thomas.  She can definitely score, but has struggled at times this year as she can have a tough time playing defense against some of the WIAC forwards.  Great to see her go off like she did.  Good confidence builder and UWL could use some offensive production off the bench.  Kassie could definitely be the difference maker during close games if she can be that efficient.

Coach Thomas was definitely frustrated with his team and it was easy to see why.  At one point UWL scored a layup on a missed assignment and Thomas put his face into a chair in disgust, by the time he turned around again UWL had stolen the inbound pass and scored again.  I think that summed up his feelings for the night.  He pulled all 5 starters less than a minute into the 2nd half and benched them for quite a while.

Overall that was a beating of a game especially since UWL starters didn't play much more than 5 minutes in the 2nd half.

One thing I know for sure is that I don't want to be Lois going into Stout next year after losing all 5 starters to graduation.  Something tells me there will be no mercy in that matchup.

[bulk19]

Consistency and turnovers have been a problem all year for UWEC. If you listen to, or have been reading anything that Coach Englund has been saying all year, the whole season, you'd realize she's been aware of it. It didn't take a story in the local paper to point it out...

Perhaps benching a starter was a indeed message? Or maybe the player wasn't feeling well, or was injured, or what? Who knows? But turnovers have always been a focus, something Englund has stressed, for as long as she's been the coach.

What is of more concern is the 3-5 record at Zorn. So, like Champ says, maybe it's the fans. 

[The Champ]

What is of more concern is the 3-5 record at Zorn. So, like Champ says, maybe it's the fans. 

Had to laugh at that one...

[JMM]

Could be moody fans! Enough from me on EC turnovers unless it continues into next year. Then I will resign as AD.
SO does WW and SP go NCAA tournament? And can any one stop SP from winning the NCAA bid. (I'm trying to change the subject to show, I'm done complaining).

[PRF2009A]

Could be moody fans! Enough from me on EC turnovers unless it continues into next year. Then I will resign as AD.
SO does WW and SP go NCAA tournament? And can any one stop SP from winning the NCAA bid. (I'm trying to change the subject to show, I'm done complaining).

UWL and WW are the obvious choices.  I'm pretty confident UWL could beat Point in a one game take all setting.  The question is can they beat team X, WW, and Point 3 games in a row to get the Automatic bid.  That is a much tougher task.

Either way, if WW or UWL gets the chance to play Point either one of them have a very good chance of pulling off the upset.  In WW's favor is that I have always thought one of the toughest things to do is to beat a team 3 times in one year, especially a good team.

[Just Bill]

The WIAC hasn't had an undefeated conference champ since Eau Claire in 2002-03. Can UWSP run the table?

[badgerwarhawk]

Their remaining schedule lines up pretty well for them.  There's no way I can see them losing to Superior, Stout or Platteville.  Of the three toughest appearing games remaining Eau Claire and River Falls are at home leaving only LaCrosse which they'll have to play on the road.  It was a close game the first time around so it will be a challenge on LaCrosse's home court. 

[Out_Of_My_Kitchen]

Lot of players missing games for this league so far this year.  EC, WW, SP, RF, Platteville, LC have all had key players miss conference games this year. 

This may be one reason Oshkosh has really stepped up and is looking on not only making the conference tournament, but possibly even hosting a game at Kolf.  I have heard the first step of success is showing up and Oshkosh is proving this true by having the same starting line up every game this season. 

[Just Bill]

Congratulations to Coach Egner of UWSP on her 400th win. She got her 200th win in the 2002 national championship game, so it took her a full 13 seasons to win her first 200, but less than nine to win her second 200.

[badgerwarhawk]

With the opening basket, a layup by Dana Thompson, the WARHAWKS took a lead they would never surrender and Thompson joined eleven other WARHAWK players to score 1000 points in their careers.   Coupling that with her 500+ rebounds and the list is shrunk to five.  Thompson's basket was part of a 12-2 game opening run by the WARHAWKS who eventually built a 24-8 lead with 9:56 left in the half  Stout cut the deficit to nine points, twice, but the WARHAWKS went into intermission leading 38-22.  Stout cut the deficit to twelve points in the second half but with each team scoring 31 points the halftime lead held up 69-53.

Each team connected on only a single three point basket with Stout going 1 of 14 and the WARHAWKS attempting a season low 8 attempts.  Stout committed 33 turnovers, 20 of which were steals by the WARHAWKS.  Thompson finished with 19 points and tied with a game high 6 rebounds.  Cortney Kumerow also had double figure points finishing with 12.  Kaityln Thill had game highs of 5 assists and 7 steals.  As a freshman Thill is leading the conference in steals with 78.  

[The Champ]

A loss is still a loss - but at least the Stout crew kept it reasonably close this time.  The LaCrosse game was tough for a fan to follow.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WHITEWATER hosting LaCrosse game has been rescheduled for Thursday 2/3. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

First Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/category/ncaa-stuff/regional-rankings/

[buf]

First regional rankings are out:

Central Region
1. Illinois Wesleyan 12-3 15-4
2. UW-Stevens Point 18-2 18-2
3. UW-Whitewater 13-3 16-3
4. Chicago 15-3 15-3
5. Washington U. 12-2 15-3
6. Millikin 14-4 14-5

[Just Bill]

UWSP leading Stout by 10 at the half, 39-29. UWSP is very balanced with 20 points from starters and 19 points from the bench.