WBB: NESCAC

[Roundball999]

Massey has Amherst winning 64-55 with a 77% win probability for Amherst.  I'd guess it to be closer than that, I think Amherst is much diminished without Robertson, but still give the Jeffs the edge.  Ithaca has had a very favorable draw into the Sweet 16... then again so has Amherst.

[nescacbbrules]

Having watched at least a couple of Amherst games annually over many years, I believe this year's team is slightly down from the recent Gromacki era squads. They are still an excellent by any measure, but, as several posts have noted, they may rely too much on their 3-pt production to win consistently against the best defenses. On the other hand, without significant size or production inside, particularly with Robertson's absence, they almost have to get a large percentage from behind the arc or off their excellent defense. They beat a fine Hartwick club with lights out shooting--15 for 27 on 3's. (The LJ's take 21 3's per game, making just over 7.3. This 34% marksmanship represents nearly 32% of their total point production, an increase of 7% over last year's total of 25%. I believe that Voigt's absence is more a factor than Robertson's injury here. This season against Tufts with both contests at Cousens, they have shot a total of 9 for 33 from beyond the arc. Coincidentally, that is exactly what they shot last year combined,9 for 33, in the two games at LeFrak--27 %. Not bad shooting against tough D.) Ithaca is a physically strong, solid defensive squad by any metric. Clogging the middle against dribble penetration and chasing the LJ's off the 3-pt arc could well be critical if they are to succeed. And Mary Kate Tierney will have to produce like she did against Haverford.

[amh63]

FYI...The Amherst website has a preview of the teams at the Tufts sectional on its athletic section.

[nescacbbrules]

When you try to assess these NCAA tournament match-ups with top teams from vastly different conferences, the experience factor weighs heavily. Looking at the Tufts/Castleton State game, it is clear that the Jumbos' strength of schedule makes them a distinct favorite. Having beaten Rochester, Baldwin-Wallace, Brandeis, Colby-Sawyer, Emmanuel, and Harwick in pre-conference, and then sweeping the NESCAC, it is easy to place them well above the commensurate schedule of Castleton State. The Spartans went 2-1 against Colby-Sawyer this season, but their loss was at home by 10 to the Chargers while Tufts beat Colby-Sawyer (early in the season) by 41. Castleton's other losses were also at home by 7 to Williams and Westfield State; Tufts beat Williams by 19 in Williamstown.

These comparables are instructive but hardly definitive. Castleton beat Bowdoin and Plattsburg, two favorites on the road last weekend with gutsy performances, defying the "expectations." If Tufts is not overly subject to the weight of expectations, they should make it to Saturday to play the Amherst/Ithaca winner. But, as we all know too well, there is a reason they actually play the games, and the heart possessed by this Spartans team is not in doubt. I am looking forward to visiting Cousens again for several great games.

[d3wbbfan]

Ithaca beats Amherst in OT, 74-71 at Cousens. LJs went 7-9 from 3 in the first half, and had about a 7-pt halftime lead (live stats already erased, preparing for Tufts-Castleton). Ithaca lost by 20 in preseason at LeFrak, before Robertson got hurt. Fun game to watch. The SR-laden Bombers vs. Marley and the FYs. Giddens got a rare start. Think she ended up with 22. Played fantastic, as always. Ithaca stormed back to tie early in the 2nd - then went back and forth. Ithaca threw a few careless, over-the-head passes to teammates there for a stretch, but are a disciplined, very good passing team who executes on O very well. DI transfer Mary Kate Tierney (Bryant) is their glue player, and the SR had a very solid game. LJs had the last possession in regulation, but couldn't get a shot off.

Amherst was 4 down late, but two late, clutch 3s by Ali Doswell got them back in it. Those who've been claiming an LJ over-reliance on 3's were proven right in this contest, despite the high # of them made. Their flow on O was not really there. Looked choppy. Each of their last 15 possessions, it seemed, found the shot clock at under 5 seconds, forcing "must shoot" shots. Both Pritchard (2 quick 3-pt misses in a row) and Holness (an ill-fated power move) took late, key shots, that probably weren't the ones Gromacki would choose. In their defense, though, quality options were few. The Bombers stayed on Giddens like glue, especially in the final minutes, minimizing her late damage. Marley was their #1 option on O, by a mile, and Ithaca knew it.

The "more minutes for Haley Zwecker" fans will be disappointed. Played just two minutes, as GP instead went with Giddens, the 4 FYs, with just Holness and Pritchard off the bench. Just as I had seen him do in other 13-14 big games. Second-guessers could surely make another case for more Haley here.

To me, the better team won today. Ithaca played an inspired game. I remember seeing at least 5 10-12 ft jumpers by the Bombers swish through, with LJ defenders all over them. A clutch Bomber performance. Those seniors badly wanted their season to continue. I don't think Ithaca made a 3 the entire game. Took very few. They pounded the paint for the full 40. To me, it was by far the game where Robertson's loss and overall lack of quality post defense hurt the LJs the most.

It's now up to the Jumbos to represent the NESCAC. Should the Jumbos beat Castleton, Tufts are gonna have their hands full with Ithaca on Saturday, though.

[Maine 1]

good summary by d3wbbfan.  I would agree that the better team won.  I thought Ithaca played an excellent game from beginning to end, other than some sloppy passes in one stretch of the second half.  The only reason Amherst was ahead at the half was 7-9 shooting on threes in the first half.  In the second half they were 4-17, and many of those were very quick and not good shots.  Amherst was hurting Ithaca going to Giddens down low, but got away from it.  The Ithaca senior (Bryant transfer) is an excellent player--great passer, and Ithaca was very disciplined in their offense and got a lot of good shots. Tufts will likely blow out Castleton state, leading to a good game tomorrow to see who goes to the final four-

[Bombers798891]

good summary by d3wbbfan.  I would agree that the better team won.  I thought Ithaca played an excellent game from beginning to end, other than some sloppy passes in one stretch of the second half.  The only reason Amherst was ahead at the half was 7-9 shooting on threes in the first half.  In the second half they were 4-17, and many of those were very quick and not good shots.  Amherst was hurting Ithaca going to Giddens down low, but got away from it.  The Ithaca senior (Bryant transfer) is an excellent player--great passer, and Ithaca was very disciplined in their offense and got a lot of good shots. Tufts will likely blow out Castleton state, leading to a good game tomorrow to see who goes to the final four-

So proud of the Bombers. I admit, I did not think they were going to win the game, but they're just getting it done. A triple-double from Mary Kate Tierney. The key was the 8-0 run to start the second half which prevented the game from becoming a blowout. The Bombers are in the elite 8 for the first time

[d3wbbfan]

Congrats, Bombers798891. Making history is always special, and your team deserved it. Good luck tomorrow against Tufts.

And Maine1 was correct, as Tufts ended Castleton's Cinderella run easily, 55-35. Hannah Foley did not play, and I thought I saw her in street clothes at the end of the bench. Anyone know if she's done for any remaining 13-14 games?

North lead the way with 14 points and 7 boards, in 20 minutes. Kanner had 12, as did Rocchi, which I'm guessing is a season-high for her. Especially happy to see it for Ali, given her knee woes.   

Desroches had just 5 for Castleton. Douglass' 11 was their only player in double-figures.

Castleton was an arctic 2-15 from 3 (13%), but Tufts was even worse, at 2-16. Moynihan still not quite herself from bonus range. Given Ithaca's non-emphasis on 3's in the first game, it looks like it'll be a battle for points in the paint. Should be a great battle, especially with the winner's first trip to the Final Four as the prize!

[NE Jeffs Fan]

Congrats to Tufts!  Represent the NESCAC well, and enjoy the ride.  It's an trip of a lifetime.

[d3wbbfan]

Tufts on to the final 4, 61-59. What a game! So much for me thinking Ithaca wasn't a team that shot 3's. Shot 10-18 for the game, including what must've been 7 of them converted inside of the last 4 minutes, to keep it close. Man, that Kathryn Campbell - just one clutch late 3 made after another. Then Tierney makes an impossible 3, shot between top of the key and half court, with about 10 seconds left. And shaky FT shooting at the end for the Jumbos didn't help the cause any. It took a back-door cut layup rimming out for the Bombers at the buzzer to preserve the hard-fought Tufts win. Kanner led Tufts with 18; Morehead 14; North 11; Moynihan 10. For Ithaca, Campbell had 21, and Tierney 16. A very high-quality game. Both teams did themselves proud.

[nescacbbrules]

This game was a classic. As has been noted, both teams played at a high level under great pressure when the stakes were high. As expected, Tierney was a tough match-up, but Roberson, whose playing time was stretched to 30 min due to Foley's injury, did an excellent job in her time guarding the Ithaca senior. Campbell's performance was simply outstanding. While she didn't knock down NBA range 3's like Tierney, she took and made virtually every clutch shot throughout the contest. Ithaca's ball movement in the first half, consistently hitting the open teammate against Tufts' defensive rotations in help, created so many open looks and was the best I have seen this season. But despite hitting a high percentage and playing a great half, the Bombers were down 2 to the Jumbos at the break.

Tufts shored up its defense in the 2nd half, and Ithaca was less patient, so their glitzy first half shooting percentage dropped. Tufts took advantage of their front line, effectively pounding the ball inside to their forwards who took 32 of the team's game total of 51 shots and made 50%. Michela North was isolated on smaller defenders for the buckets that gave Tufts some breathing space in the second half, and the first year's hustle plays, for example, diving for loose balls at mid-court, inspired her teammates. Coming off the bench but playing crunch time minutes, North has averaged 9.5 point and 7 rebounds in the tournament. Haley Kanner, playing with poise, displayed her ability to dribble her way to the rim or stop for an open lane jumpshot. Haley's 18 blocks in the 4 NCAA games have been huge, and she has averaged a double-double, 15 points with 10 rebounds, in the tournament. Kelsey Morehead's performances in the NESCAC and NCAA tournament games have been superb, and the diminutive pointguard's reputation for playing big in the BIG games has been reaffirmed. Offensively, she has doubled her regular season scoring output from 7 to 14 per game while maintaining a 2.5 assist to turnover ratio against the best defenses. Her defensive energy is so impressive, and her knack for hitting those big shots, whether 3's or sprints to the rim, is clear. The Jumbo seniors have stepped up as well, with Caitlin McClure, Ali Rocchi and Liz Moynihan helping to offset the absence of Hannah Foley this past weekend.

I believe that the better team, by a nose, won this game. Ithaca's late heroics once again highlighted the talent and heart of a team led by senior champions. Down ten with time running out, the well-coached Bombers lived up to their name, draining one improbable 3 after another and having a great shot to tie or even win the game at the buzzer. A truly memorable, gutsy performance for all lucky enough to see it.

Great to see the NESCAC champions going to their first Final Four. I know their growing fanbase appreciates the heart, skill, and commitment to the game and their teammates that they display. Tufts' great season rolls on to Wisconsin. All the best, Jumbos. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Tonight on Hoopsville we will recap the sectional weekend of basketball action and start previewing the championship weekend in Salem, Vir. and Stevens Point, Wis. Here are the guests you will hear from tonight:

- Williams head coach Mike Maker and senior center Mike Mayer
- Illinois Wesleyan head coach Ron Rose
- UW-Whitewater siblings Alex and Mary Merg
- Tufts senior forward Liz Moynihan

Pat Coleman will also join us to talk about what he saw this weekend and the tournament so far and we will announce the All-Region teams!

Show starts at 7 PM ET and will run until about 9:00 tonight.

You can tune in here: www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2013-14/mar16

Don't forget you can ask us or our guests questions via social media:
- Twitter (@d3hoopsville and #Hoopsville)
- Facebook (www.facebook.com/Hoopsville)
- Email (hoopsville@d3hoops.com)

Thanks and enjoy the show!

[nescacbbrules]

Congratulations to the each of the outstanding performers on the All-Northeast Region team selections. The NESCAC is appropriately represented on the four teams by 6 players, including Player of the Year, Haley Kanner, of Tufts, and two other first teamers, Meredith Kelly of Bates and Hannah Brickley of Trinity. Kelsey Morehead, Tufts' anchor at the point, made the second team, and sharpshooter Hannah Foley of Tufts and Ellen Cook of Williams were third team selections. Well done, student athletes. And while we're recognizing excellence, congratulations to Tufts' Head Coach, Carla Berube, for another well-deserved accolade as regional Coach of the Year.

[Hoopsinfo]

Congratulations to the NESCAC for having representatives from 4 teams as well as the Coach of the year and the player of the year.  Curious why there were no players from Amherst after finishing second in the conference and several players being amongst the statistical leaders in the conference.  I can certainly think of 1 or 2 players who deserved recognition.  Thought the Amherst players pulled through the season well.  Watched the Ithaca game online and was disappointed that the coach did not adjust strategy in the 2nd half when three point shots were not falling - after falling behind, they took the ball inside to retake the lead and then returned to 3 point shots that were not falling.  Seems like GP has one strategy and has trouble adjusting to what is working during the game.

[nescac1]

I'd say GP has earned the benefit of the doubt after five straight Final Fours and bringing a team that had no business being there (lost best player to injury, no seniors, only one junior who played by the end of the year, no interior presence) to the Sweet 16.  Honestly, it may have been his best coaching job in years, considering that after the Robertson injury, he had one player from last year's team who averaged over 5 ppg, and she only averaged 7 ppg, to work with.  But if you are dissatisfied, I guarantee you that every Division 3 program in the country would happily take him off your hands!