WBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[JMM]

I was wrong about RF in the tournament so I might as well go ahead and be wrong again, Sup over WW because they want the game really bad (I know WW wants it too). SP by 10 over OSH.

[thrunt01]

So what do folks think about UWO's pool C chances after last night's loss to UWSP. BTW this will be the 4th straight year UWW and UWSP have played for the WIAC championship. UWSP has won all the meetings and has won 5 straight tourney titles.

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS: 80
Superior: 71

The first half was insane.  The WARHAWKS captured the lead eight times and the Yellow Jackets seven times.  In addition to that the two teams were tied eight times.  Kristin Nett opened the scoring for the Yellow Jackets with a three-pointer which was immediately matched by the WARHAWKS Kaitlyn Thill.  Mary Merg's layup gave the WARHAWKS their first lead but the Yellow Jackets answered with a pair of free throws and a basket.  The Yellow Jackets built their lead to four points 9-5 but once again the WARHAWKS rallied back and Sam Quandts jumper created another tie 9-9.  Sally Linzmeier put the Yellow Jackets back in the lead with one of two free throws but the lead changed again when Lisa Palmer's layup was good.  Over the next eleven minutes the two teams tied five times and the lead changed hands six times.  During that span the WARHAWKS largest lead was just four points and the Yellow Jackets largest lead was three.  With the two teams tied at 28 points apiece and two and half minutes remaining in the half the WARHAWKS began a run that would ultimately decide the game.   Mary Merg's layup would give the WARHAWKS a lead which they would extend to five points, 35-30, by the end of the half.  Over the first three minutes of the second half the WARHAWKS picked up where they had left off scoring the first nine points extending the lead to fourteen 44-30.  The lead would remain in double figures, reaching a high of sixteen 64-48 with six and half minutes remaining in the game.  The Yellow Jackets would reduce it to a low of seven 75-68 with less than a minute remaining but could get no closer.

Superior finished the game shooting 45% from the floor to 43% for the WARHAWKS.  Each team hit on 26 shots but the Yellow Jackets nailed 7 of 12 three-pointers to just 4 of 15 for the home team.  The game was essentially decided from the free throw line where the WARHAWKS went 24-32 and the Yellow Jackets were 12-15.  Out rebounding the Yellow Jackets by a 43-31 including a 20-12 on the offensive end gave the WARHAWKS a 21-14 advantage on second chances and a 14 to 20 advantage in turnovers led to a 21-10 WARHAWKS edge in points off of them.

Courtney Kumerow's 18 points led four WARHAWKS in double figures.  Lisa Palmer's 14 points were a season high.  Mary Merg's added 12 points and Kaitlyn Thill finished with 11.  Kumerow's 9 rebounds led the team and Palmer added 7 boards.  Thill's 7 assists were a game high.

Connie Urmanski led the Yellow Jackets with a game high 19 points (4-5 3pts) all which were scored in the second half.  Kristin Nett added 16 (3-5 3pt) and Carmen Watson scored 11 points.  Sally Linzmeier led the Yellow Jackets with 9 rebounds and 4 assists.   

[Voice of the Titans]

So what do folks think about UWO's pool C chances after last night's loss to UWSP. BTW this will be the 4th straight year UWW and UWSP have played for the WIAC championship. UWSP has won all the meetings and has won 5 straight tourney titles.

Don't see a scenario that they get in, unfortunately. Gone are the days of 3 WIAC bids being a norm.

[Captain_Joe08]

#21 UW-Stevens Point 38
#20 UW-Whitewater 32

Halftime

Shooting

UW-Stevens Point: 16/37 (43%)
UW-Whitewater: 11/26 (42%)

Three Pointers

UW-Stevens Point: 5/10 (50%)
UW-Whitewater: 2/4 (50%)

Free Throws

UW-Stevens Point: 1/2 (50%)
UW-Whitewater: 8/9 (89%)

[Captain_Joe08]

#21 UW-Stevens Point 74
#20 UW-Whitewater 71

Final-OT

[badgerwarhawk]

It was 76-71 

We had our chances but just didn't get it done.  A miracle three-pointer from Merg got us into overtime and we had an open look to tie again at the end but the three-pointer grazed off the far side of the hoop and Point rebounded and to their credit made their free throws.

Barber was incredible.  There were stretches where she simply took over and was unstoppable.  She's one player I'm going to be glad to see graduate.   

[JMM]

Think we're talking only SP and WW in the NCAA. I think SP is just coming on and could get to the Sweet16. Simpson and Cornell - fantastic records - I just don't  think they will hold up against the WIAC - earlier in the season, yes but not now. I like the "still tough but kinder and gentler" WW team. May also see them also get to the sweet 16 if they don't play SP again. A fourth match up would be very, very interesting. Here's hoping Sam B's. big game today gets here to all-american status. I expect EC to be back in the NCAA hunt next year.

[Just Bill]

For what it's worth, D3Hoops projection puts Oshkosh in the field as well as UWW and UWSP. None of them hosting.

http://static.psbin.com/r/h/1i6y0akmzi41js/2013-wbb-projected-bracket.pdf

[badgerwarhawk]

Think we're talking only SP and WW in the NCAA. I think SP is just coming on and could get to the Sweet16. Simpson and Cornell - fantastic records - I just don't  think they will hold up against the WIAC - earlier in the season, yes but not now. I like the "still tough but kinder and gentler" WW team. May also see them also get to the sweet 16 if they don't play SP again. A fourth match up would be very, very interesting. Here's hoping Sam B's. big game today gets here to all-american status. I expect EC to be back in the NCAA hunt next year.

ROTFLMAO

[voice]

We had our chances but just didn't get it done.  A miracle three-pointer from Merg got us into overtime and we had an open look to tie again at the end but the three-pointer grazed off the far side of the hoop and Point rebounded and to their credit made their free throws.

Barber was incredible.  There were stretches where she simply took over and was unstoppable.  She's one player I'm going to be glad to see graduate.

#21 UW-Stevens Point 74
#20 UW-Whitewater 71

Final-OT

Sam Barber's 34 point effort in the Pointer's 74-71 overtime win at WW to claim the WIAC Tournament Title was amazing. After torching UWW for the first 31 minutes of the game the UWW coaching staff put Kaitlin Thill on Barber.  Thill responded by holding the dynamic Barber to 1 of 3 from the field the rest of the game. Thill's defensive effort was key to WW being able to comeback from a double digit deficet to get to OT thanks to Mary Merg's 3-pter in the final seconds of regulation.

I really enjoyed watching the game from the dog pound except for a Pointer fan's unfortunate remark to me in regards to my slow, shuffling style of walking due to my physical shortcoming's as I battle cancer.  It was a very down moment for me on an otherwise supurb game.

Good luck to both teams in the NCAA Tourney!!

[Just Bill]

Point goes to Simpson to play Concordia Moorhead. (Other game: Simpson vs. Westminster)

Whitewater hosts a 4-team pod starting with Wisconsin Lutheran. (Other game: Carthage vs. Thomas More)

Point and Whitewater would potentially meet in a Sectional semifinal should they both win two games.

Oshkosh left out.

[Voice of the Titans]

Going to guess that the road loss to EC was the deciding factor for UWO. Otterbein had no losses to sub .500 teams, though they did have THREE 20+ point losses. Againt the top of their conference, they were 1-5, while UWO was 3-4. But Otterbein did make it to their conference final. UWO strength of schedule was 59th, Otterbein was 99th. Still waiting to see if the chair will have an interview for explanations, like maybe who were the last teams in and out and the rationale.

[JMM]

The WIAC having 4 teams in the NCAA last year may have worked against OSH, not based on math but it might have been someone else's turn.

Time to be wrong again. After careful review in the basement of Zorn Arena (next to the March 21, 2003 pain and other souvenirs), here is my take on the NCAA for the WIAC:

- WSP over Concordia Moorhead. WIAC competition and past experience helps WSP.
- I Have seen Simpson 3 times this year - Simpson is good but the WIAC schedule will favor WSP. If WSP can beat that pesky WW team, life against Simpson should be easier.
- When the whistle blows in Whitewater, the adrenaline in the veins of Thill, Quandt, and Theune will be too much for Lutheran and T. Moore. It takes nerves of steel and experience to face the "defensive jaws of death" WW poses. Being at home sweet home will also help the Warhawks. I'd be more worried about Lutheran than T. Moore.

So in the 4th showdown of the year between SP and WW to become elite, I fear the end of the road for Shirley and gang. I see WW. That is the good news for WW fans. The bad news for WW fans is there is no Hope against Hope. So WW advances to the elite 8 but no further.

[Pat Coleman]

As a heads-up for those who don't already know, the Bracket Challenge is out! Our friends at d3photography.com manage our official picks contests:

http://d3photography.com/bracket_challenge/

Playing for pride, which means student-athletes and department personnel can participate.