WBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

Vandy....nice report!  See you arrived for the Women's game in Pepin.  Does the students sit on the side that face the bench?  Is Bucket's son "working" the game?

[Vandy74]

Vandy....nice report!  See you arrived for the Women's game in Pepin.  Does the students sit on the side that face the bench?  Is Bucket's son "working" the game?

Amh63.....Yes the student section faces the bench side in Pepin.  There are 3-4 more opportunities to see the MC women play in person before the conference scheduling lunacy kicks in.  "6th Man" Little Bucket continues to work the men's games. 

[Vandy74]

Middlebury kept things under control in Pepin tonight following an 18-5 run in the second quarter tonight as they beat Colby-Sawyer 65-44.  Colleen Caveney led all scorers with 18 and teammate Betsy Knox added 17 along with 8 rebounds.  Rachel Collins came off the bench to score 10 while floor general Alex Huffman dished out 6 assists, stole the ball three times and collected 6 boards.  The visitors probably wished KJ Krasco ('05) was still playing for them instead of coaching against them.  Colby-Sawyer was led by Tianna Sugars 13 point, seven rebound effort.  The 4-1 Panthers play host to Clarkson tomorrow night and Skidmore on Saturday.

[Maine 1]

Welcome back to another NESCAC season.   Based on the pre-season, it looks like there won't be much change at the top of the NESCAC.  Amherst, Tufts and Bowdoin all seem to be starting off strong.  Bowdoin is clearly the class of the Maine NESCAC schools, and it appears that Bates is continuing to struggle to compete.  Colby is playing a lot of different combinations under a new Coach, so they may take a few years to get things going again.  It looks like Conn College continues to improve, as does Middlebury and Trinity.  We will learn much more starting in January when the teams start to play each other.  As always, looking forward to some exciting games.

[amh63]

Thought I best post the Amherst win last night over Bridgewater State before the Holiday break.
The Lady Jeffs...my personal label whatever happens in the Amherst Mascot Selection business....see MBB board for possible choices...started slow over a smaller...in height...but game opponent.  Several interesting views in the 25 point win that was never in doubt.  First, the players were all wearing new sneakers in a grey color..brushed suede?...with the Under Armour logo.  Why?  Amherst has just recently signed a 5 -year deal with Under Armour to supply all sports with their products.  Thought the new footwear may have slowed the ladies a bit during the breaking in period.  Old purple color away suits worn last night. 
Second, it was the first time that two Amherst "bigs" was on the floor this season due to injuries.  Both are six footers.  Jr Nagle from VT moved well and scored underneath...wrist injuries.  Important in that she has experience and size to the counter the Tuft's front court.  The other player is a FY from Syracruse NY.  She moves well and played tight defense even at the perimeter and appears to be comfortable playing both outside and inside....another six footer with size.  Young Amherst players got minutes last night.  The announcers would mention often the experience gained playing both Tufts and Amherst would help.  They mentioned that Tufts was helded to 51 points, though Bridgewater did not break 40 points.  Bridgewater did break 40 points in the Amherst game...46 pts, though Amherst scored 71 with the entire team getting on the floor.
Amherst has two games after the hiolidays in California.  Maybe the team will be sporting new UA uniforms then.
It must be noted that at Homecoming I chatted with two UA agents as they were at
Amherst carrying samples, etc.  Their products are in commercial stores in town now.  Was wondering when the Amherst teams will be wearing new gear. 

[Vandy74]

Thought I best post the Amherst win last night over Bridgewater State before the Holiday break.
The Lady Jeffs...my personal label whatever happens in the Amherst Mascot Selection business....see MBB board for possible choices...started slow over a smaller...in height...but game opponent.  Several interesting views in the 25 point win that was never in doubt.  First, the players were all wearing new sneakers in a grey color..brushed suede?...with the Under Armour logo.  Why?  Amherst has just recently signed a 5 -year deal with Under Armour to supply all sports with their products.  Thought the new footwear may have slowed the ladies a bit during the breaking in period.  Old purple color away suits worn last night. 
Second, it was the first time that two Amherst "bigs" was on the floor this season due to injuries.  Both are six footers.  Jr Nagle from VT moved well and scored underneath...wrist injuries.  Important in that she has experience and size to the counter the Tuft's front court.  The other player is a FY from Syracruse NY.  She moves well and played tight defense even at the perimeter and appears to be comfortable playing both outside and inside....another six footer with size.  Young Amherst players got minutes last night.  The announcers would mention often the experience gained playing both Tufts and Amherst would help.  They mentioned that Tufts was helded to 51 points, though Bridgewater did not break 40 points.  Bridgewater did break 40 points in the Amherst game...46 pts, though Amherst scored 71 with the entire team getting on the floor.
Amherst has two games after the hiolidays in California.  Maybe the team will be sporting new UA uniforms then.
It must be noted that at Homecoming I chatted with two UA agents as they were at
Amherst carrying samples, etc.  Their products are in commercial stores in town now.  Was wondering when the Amherst teams will be wearing new gear.

amh63.....good to hear from you.   I thought I was the only NESCAC fan here, which doesn't bode well for the conference.  Middlebury has beaten Clarkson and Skidmore since I last posted.  There will be very few opportunities for me to see them play since I tend to follow the men's team more closely.  The Panthers are young, with no seniors on the roster.  Of the three juniors, only Sarah Kaufman starts but Rachel Collins proved to be the spark plug that put the team on track against Clarkson and Sabrina Weeks, just back from injuries, is a seasoned and solid contributor.  Catherine Harrison returns as a scoring and rebounding force underneath the boards and able floor general Alex Huffman leads the team in assists, averages 7 rebounds and has 23 steals 7 games into the season.  Coleen Caveney leads the Panther scoring with 12 ppg while Betsy Knox, starting since Maya Davis' injury, has shown signs of being a strong offensive presence as well.  If the Panthers can stay healthy there is no reason not to expect them to be a first division team.

"The Lady Jeffs" works fine for me.  The original depiction had nothing to do with the English gentleman/soldier.

[ronk]

Thought I best post the Amherst win last night over Bridgewater State before the Holiday break.
The Lady Jeffs...my personal label whatever happens in the Amherst Mascot Selection business....see MBB board for possible choices...started slow over a smaller...in height...but game opponent.  Several interesting views in the 25 point win that was never in doubt.  First, the players were all wearing new sneakers in a grey color..brushed suede?...with the Under Armour logo.  Why?  Amherst has just recently signed a 5 -year deal with Under Armour to supply all sports with their products.  Thought the new footwear may have slowed the ladies a bit during the breaking in period.  Old purple color away suits worn last night. 
Second, it was the first time that two Amherst "bigs" was on the floor this season due to injuries.  Both are six footers.  Jr Nagle from VT moved well and scored underneath...wrist injuries.  Important in that she has experience and size to the counter the Tuft's front court.  The other player is a FY from Syracruse NY.  She moves well and played tight defense even at the perimeter and appears to be comfortable playing both outside and inside....another six footer with size.  Young Amherst players got minutes last night.  The announcers would mention often the experience gained playing both Tufts and Amherst would help.  They mentioned that Tufts was helded to 51 points, though Bridgewater did not break 40 points.  Bridgewater did break 40 points in the Amherst game...46 pts, though Amherst scored 71 with the entire team getting on the floor.
Amherst has two games after the hiolidays in California.  Maybe the team will be sporting new UA uniforms then.
It must be noted that at Homecoming I chatted with two UA agents as they were at
Amherst carrying samples, etc.  Their products are in commercial stores in town now.  Was wondering when the Amherst teams will be wearing new gear.

amh63.....good to hear from you.   I thought I was the only NESCAC fan here, which doesn't bode well for the conference.  Middlebury has beaten Clarkson and Skidmore since I last posted.  There will be very few opportunities for me to see them play since I tend to follow the men's team more closely.  The Panthers are young, with no seniors on the roster.  Of the three juniors, only Sarah Kaufman starts but Rachel Collins proved to be the spark plug that put the team on track against Clarkson and Sabrina Weeks, just back from injuries, is a seasoned and solid contributor.  Catherine Harrison returns as a scoring and rebounding force underneath the boards and able floor general Alex Huffman leads the team in assists, averages 7 rebounds and has 23 steals 7 games into the season.  Coleen Caveney leads the Panther scoring with 12 ppg while Betsy Knox, starting since Maya Davis' injury, has shown signs of being a strong offensive presence as well.  If the Panthers can stay healthy there is no reason not to expect them to be a first division team.

"The Lady Jeffs" works fine for me.  The original depiction had nothing to do with the English gentleman/soldier.

  I think Fy Vanessa Young will be a significant factor, also. I SPECULATE from the boxscores that she was injured, then played in 1 game, before possible re-injury. I think she has too much ability not to have played otherwise. But I have been wrong before on player evaluations.

[amh63]

Been watching the Lady Jeffs lately and they are running an offense that wants to score inside, even though they have fine outside shooters.  They play more " man to man" defense and will surround inside opponents.  When the chance occurs, they will run, run and run...fast break...as big opponents do not keep up.  A lot of young PGs are gaining floor experience.  Coach G seems to be getting the team ready for conference play in January.  Tried watching some other CAC teams too...in games that have NO " viewing" charge.  Bowdoin did lose agame in Pomona Ca.  Tufts did not have any recent games scheduled. 
Let the games begin.... .

[Maine 1]

Looks like the Big three of Amherst, Tufts and Bowdoin will lead the league again.  Amherst appears to be very strong and is scoring a lot of points.  Getting production out of everyone in the starting line-up, and it would appear that there is more depth that JP is willing to play then in the past few years.  Tufts will be very good--another excellent defensive team.  Watched a bit of the Bowdoin-Tufts game last night.  Two very good teams in a very tight, well played game.  I think both teams will have excellent seasons. 

[Maine 1]

My sense is that both Bowdoin and Tufts had a little let down after they big match up on Friday, as both teams struggled against Colby and Bates.  Both ended up with wins, but games were closer than I would have anticipated based on the overall quality of the teams.

[amh63]

Maine 1...Thanks for holding the fort here.  Plus k
I agree with your assessment that Coach G is rotating alot of players into games this season. My take is two fold. The talent level of new players and the return of young players that were injured last season.  The last several season, key experienced players were injured late in the season and prevented flexibility of player rotations in games.  Plus his PG Renner and the Doswell twins are seniors.  Amherst has brought in a D1 transfer from Fairfield Un that is presently playing well in the front court.  Her presence there and other bigs gives the starters rest.  In short, Amherst is deep and playing well together.
I reported on the MBB board that I checked in on the Williams game in LeFrak on Friday.  Williams is a strong team on paper and the addition of a FY guard from Newton North gives them gives the Ephs two high scoring guards.  The score near the end of the 2nd period was 48- 16 Amherst.  Amherst had five bench players on the floor at the time and the half ended 50-19.  Amherst won handily.  Amherst will score whoever is on the floor and play good defense. 

[ronk]

  Just watched(2nd & 4th quarters) Amherst dismantle a good Albright squad to see how my 4(Eck, Fox, Hendricks, Nardella) former prospects were doing as FY college players. Amherst stifled Albright with their man-to-man defense and there were a number of good inside moves for layups on offense. Looking forward to the meeting(s) with Tufts.

[amh63]

ronk.....your prospects...FYs...are doing fine and contributing.  Eck was starting a number of games before the D1 transfer adjusted to the other starters.  Fox does get a lot of playing time and will compete with the other guards when Renner graduates.  Has a fine outside shot and will even go for RBs despite her size.  The front court player from Syracuse was out for the early part of the season with an injury and returned when Nagle returned.  The fourth  prospect is playing with more confidence now and blends well with the other younger players when she gets on the floor.  All allows the starters to get more rest during gamess
See your team is just behind Amherst now in 3rd.  Have corrected my earlier posts to make it more readable...spelling errors,etc.   Need to catch Scranton online soon.

[ronk]

Vandy,
  I've recently learned that 1 of my 2017 prospects has committed to Middlebury. She's a nice PG from upstate NY.

[Vandy74]

Vandy,
  I've recently learned that 1 of my 2017 prospects has committed to Middlebury. She's a nice PG from upstate NY.

ronk......Thanks for the info.  That's the positional need now.  Alex Huffman played the full 40 against Conn Coll.  I've been remiss in posting lately.   The Panthers are off to a great start at 10-2.  The only losses are a 50-47 decision to host RPI and a 64-48 loss at Smith that included a 4-17 2nd Q.  Middlebury defeated Wesleyan and Conn Coll last weekend.  I did watch the second half of the latter.  The Panthers had maintained a single digit lead throughout most of the game when they finally opened up a 10 point advantage with 6:49 minutes remaining.  Over the next 6:48 they would add only a Catherine Harrison lay up and a Maya Davis FT and at :15 Mairead Hynes tied the game at 56 all with a clutch trey.  Hynes' 20 points led all scorers.  Sarah Kaufman, whose 18 tallies led the Panthers calmly put a short jumper through the net at :01 to decide the outcome.  

But this is the NESCAC with Tufts and Amherst ranked #s 1 & 2 in DIII and Bowdoin sitting in at #19 as well.  Middlebury tests itself against the elite when they host Tufts this Friday night.   Bates comes in on Saturday.