WBB: NESCAC

[7express]

I haven't really followed the off-season chatter, nor have I checked on graduation losses, but I figure you folks can clue me in without me having to do the work!

Is Amherst the prohibitive favorite entering the season?  Who else should I be paying attention to?

Bowdoin & Colby would be the 2 team's that worry me since they play both of them up in Maine.  I don't think Williams gives them any trouble, and the rest of the conference should be pretty easy going (since Colleen Hart isn't at Tufts anymore, they should win that game easily as well).

[NH NESCAC Fan]

amh63...Just as an FYI update...the Amherst site has been updated to include the names of the new players...All bigs.

[amh63]

Thanks NH...Fan!  Not too surprising in that Amherst lost two front court starters and one back-up from last year.  This year's team also has two senior players that probably will play more in the front court this year.  Need to reload the team so to speak.  There is a "pep rally" tonight at 9PM to cheer on the three teams in the post season tourn. and the football teasm.  The BB teams will be part of the show with dunking contests and 3-point shooting contests.  Hope someone will think about webcasting it.

[amh63]

Back again after looking at the initial roster.  Of interest to me is that the coach brought in four players that are listed as forwards.  The lady from my neck of the woods....MD. must be the transfer player.  The new asst. coach is posted but the school has not yet made an announcement on the hire.  The other point is that one of last years forwards, C. DiMarco, is not listed.  Hope she did not transfer or is injured?.....there is only 14 players on the roster.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

I just googled her...Claire DiMario...it looks like she is still at Amherst. She was part of the women's tennis team this fall.  That is all my sleuthing could uncover.

[amh63]

Amherst's team preview just posted on the website.  Gives schedule comments and good comments where team/players must step up this  season.

[amh63]

Amherst's first games this weekend.  Livestats only so far.  There is a 3 plus minute video of the team...preview type.....on the Amherst website.  Need to go to the u-tube button to get to the video for some reason.  Several comments on the team from two of this year's captains.

[amh63]

Amherst opens up its season at home with a 90-38 win over Norwich.  The story is that Amherst's starters of five seniors started well, led by Stedman with 19 points.  Amherst played 6 other players.  Voight and Hardy played the guard positions and Amherst rotated 4 front court players, including three new players...one soph transfer, and two FY....all 6' or bigger.  The new front court players rebounded well and scored inside.  In short, Amherst seemed to have the found replacements for the rebounders that graduated.  It seems that Amherst's has two teams to put in without loosing a scoring/rebounding step.  It is only the first game and it is played at home, I know, BUT this team reminds me of the UNC MBB team under Dean Smith during the 70's-80's when they would rotate two whole teams. One was the white team and the other was the blue team...the colors refer to the school colors and the blue was sky blue.

[amh07]

Amherst with 65 rebounds against Norwich!  Is Amherst a better rebounding team this year than last year?

Megan Robertson the new Jaci Daignault? 

Savannah Holness the new Sarah Leyman?

[sumfun]

I think the score on Presto Sports from Williams has the teams switched in the Babson /Williams game.  Anyone at the game to confirm who won and final score?

[gordonmann]

Yeah, something looks weird. Kathleen King had one point and Wurdeman and Collins didn't play for Babson? Seems unlikely.

[7express]

Amherst opens up its season at home with a 90-38 win over Norwich. 

It's too bad Mount St. Mary lost to St. Lawrence later in the night.  I know SLU was an NCAA team last year, but MSM vs. Amherst was a lot better matchup than SLU vs. Amherst is.  I more than likely would've been up at Amherst tomorrow if MSM vs. Amherst was the championship game, now I may head over to Williams to see Babson instead.

[amh63]

If the early scores are correct, great start for the conference.  Colby beats Brandeis and Williams beats Babson.  The Williams MBB loses earlier while being highly ranked....while Williams WBB, unranked, beats the 5th ranked Babson team by a wide margin.

[amh63]

Amherst wins its tournament in a win over SLU..93-63.  It was 45-24 at the half.  The lead increased to 36 and the subs by both sides entered and Amherst's lead did not go under 30 in the last quarter of the game.  Again, Amherst starters got a rest and if they returned, it was to work on different combos.....J. Renner, scored only 3 points but played pg for most of the second half and had 6 assist and 6 rebounds.  The rest of the starts all scored in double figures with McCormick leading with 16, followed by Stedman with 15 and Finucane and Fiorentino, both scoring 12 at least.  B. Crowley came off the bench and scored in double figures and rebounded well, as did Meg Robertson again.

[7express]

If the early scores are correct, great start for the conference.  Colby beats Brandeis and Williams beats Babson.  The Williams MBB loses earlier while being highly ranked....while Williams WBB, unranked, beats the 5th ranked Babson team by a wide margin.

That would be correct.  Babson hit only 21.9% from the floor (14-64).  Nicki Wurdeman (14 points), Sarah Collins and Kathleen King (each had 8) had 30 of Babson's 39 points on the afternoon.  First regular season loss for Babson since ECSU beat them January 4, 2010 (incidently also @ Williams).  The last 4 of Babson losses (regular season & NCAA) have occured on NASCAC team courts (twice @ Williams, twice @ Amherst).  Dating back to the start of the 09 season Babson is 55-2 when NOT playing on a NESCAC team floor and only 6-4 when playing on a NESCAC team floor.