University Athletic Association

[deiscanton]

Carnegie Mellon just picked up their 2nd win of the season by beating Penn State-Altoona, 90-72.   I would not read too much into it, however.   Penn State Altoona is undersized and only played 8 players.   While CMU led throughout, I was disappointed that the Tartans did not win by at least 30 points considering that CMU dominated Penn State Altoona on the glass.

Penn State Altoona is a team that the Tartans should have beaten-- at least CMU got the job done despite giving up too many points on defense today.  CMU led throughout the game.

[deiscanton]

This morning,  I'm trying to find what to say about Conn College's overtime win over NYU yesterday at Coles Center.   It is a huge upset win and a big win for the Camels--  NYU rallied from 10 down in the second half and forced overtime, but despite taking a 7 pt lead in the overtime period, NYU was unable to hold on and lost by 1 point.

Before yesterday, the only quality win that the Camels had was a 6 pt win over Springfield in the consolation game of the Brandeis Classic.   Conn College had lost to Wellesley, W. Connecticut, RI College, Roger Williams, and St. Joseph (CT).  

4 of the 5 NYU starters (Loughney, Blake, Storts, and Ely) played more than 25 minutes yesterday, with the other starter, Chrissy Kilmurray, playing 17 minutes.

On the NYU bench, only NYU frosh Alexis Doherty played more than 10 minutes-- she played 25 minutes yesterday, but she broke through with a double-double performance.  

NYU frosh Kelly Loughney also picked up her first double-double of the season as well.

NYU reserve players MacKenzie Hirz and Cara Bonito played fewer than 10 minutes of game time each in yesterday's loss.

NYU center Chrissy Kilmurray had 9 pts and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

For Conn College,  the players of the day were CT College senior Jennifer Shinall and CT College freshman Tara Gabelman.    Gabelman had a double-double for the Camels, and as a result, she was named to the NYU All-Classic Team along with NYU frosh Kelly Loughney.

As for Brandeis yesterday,  I felt that the Judges met their game-time goals in the win over Lasell.   Strodthoff picked up a double-double, and every Brandeis player on the active roster got in the game and got a rebound.  Brandeis almost got a team positive assist/turnover ratio in the game, but missed by 1 assist.  As a caveat, though, Lasell only dressed 7 players for the game.

I'm looking forward to watching Emory take on Brescia (Ky) today.   Brescia is currently 10-4 coming into the game, and was ranked #16 in NAIA-2 in the most recent coaches poll that was taken on Dec. 13 when Brescia was 9-1.

Against NCAA DIII teams this season, Brescia is 2-1, having defeated Albion and Kenyon and having lost to Defiance.  

Of interest to me is seeing how Emory will defend against Brescia's star combo guard Brittany Bird, a 5-3 senior who has stats that, at first glance, makes me think that she plays a game similar to Amherst's Shannon Finucane.   Bird also reminds me somewhat of former NYU player Adrienne Rochetti in the way that she plays the game.  I'm not sure, though, that Bird is as strong as Finucane or Rochetti, however.

Brittany Bird averages 22.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg.   She shoots 39.8% from the floor (84-211), 34.6% from 3pt range (23-66), and 86.9% from the charity stripe (126-145)  She has 92 assists, 57 turnovers, and 59 steals on the season.  In her first 14 games so far, she has scored 317 points on the season.

Other Brescia players to watch:

5-9 Sr G/F  Clarrissa Houston  13.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg.   Brescia's top 3 pt shooter with 47 made 3's on the season-- she shoots 39.2% from 3 pt land.

Amelia Keller--  Brescia's top rebounder with 6.4 rpg

Bresica frosh Olivia Moore-- 9.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg   50% FG on the season (shooting 46 of 92), and 73.4% from the charity stripe  (47 of 64).

Brescia's current Massey ratings, as of Jan. 2, put them in the range of NESCAC teams Middlebury and Trinity (CT), and are pretty close to fellow NAIA-2 team Roberts Wesleyan, which Rochester regularly plays.

Note-- More info updated for clarification.

[deiscanton]

My picks for the first UAA weekend of competition:

Wash U wins at Chicago--  The top game of the day in the UAA, it will be very close.

Brandeis wins over NYU--  I have to go with this pick now after reading about NYU's 2 games vs Swarthmore and Conn College.

Case wins over Carnegie Mellon--  That one could be a huge blowout win for the Spartans at Skibo Gym.

Rochester wins over Emory--  This game is at the Palestra; Emory got the upset win last year down at the WoodPEC.

[deiscanton]

Emory defeated NAIA-2 team Brescia (Ky) today at the WoodPEC, 90-79.

Emory did a great job on the offensive side of the game, shooting 52.8% for the game, but could have done a better job defensively on Brescia's top 3 players.

For Emory, Hannah Lilly scored 17 pts, had 4 rbs, 6 assists, and 4 turnovers.

Savannah Morgan for Emory scored 13 pts, had 5 rbs, 5 assists and 2 turnovers.

Misha Jackson for Emory fell 1 rebound shy of a double-double with 14 pts and 9 rebounds.

For Brescia--

Brittany Bird had 24 pts, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 10 turnovers.

Clarissa Houston had 19 pts on 5-12 shooting from 3 pt range.

Olivia Moore had 17 pts of 7-11 shooting from the field and 3-5 shooting from the charity stripe.

Emory improves to 7-4 on the season, while Brescia drops to 10-5 with a 2-2 mark vs NCAA Division III teams.

[Pat Coleman]

This morning,  I'm trying to find what to say about Conn College's overtime win over NYU yesterday at Coles Center.   It is a huge upset win and a big win for the Camels--  NYU rallied from 10 down in the second half and forced overtime, but despite taking a 7 pt lead in the overtime period, NYU was unable to hold on and lost by 1 point.

What in the world is going on with NYU?

[Wydown Blvd.]

Don't know. I had said in my preview that this was Trompeo's year to prove his coaching creds. He had mainly inherited his previous teams, and the cupboard was certainly not bare with McEntee and the others. This year is basically all of his recruits and "his system" (which is obviously based on Coach Quinn's). This Brandeis/NYU game is going to be very telling.

[ADL70]

Twins from the DC area will be on the court in Pittsbugh today.  Fr F Lauren Elkin has played in three games for the Spartans.  While her twin Jennifer, a G for the Tartans, has also been in three games.

[WUPHF]

Viewing minutes here and there of Chicago/Washington University at the all-maroon Ratner Center.  Chicago leads WUSTL 63-56 with 4:37 left in the game.

[WUPHF]

WUSTL needs every point they can get, including the free throws.  Cusworth misses on a 1-1.  Bears are 7-12 from the line, Maroons are 10-13.  18 turnovers for the Bears.

66-56 back to a ten point game.

[WUPHF]

66-62, Dani Hoover with the big three!

[WUPHF]

Two rushed possessions for the Bears and four free throws by the Maroons gives Chicago an eight point lead with 1:17 left.  Chicago in good position for the upset.

[deiscanton]

My reaction to the Brandeis-NYU game can primarily be summed up like this:

There were two teams.   One team shot very well from the charity stripe.  One team did not.   The one that shot well from the charity stripe was victorious.

There were some other factors as well, but NYU played well enough to win yesterday's game.

Note:  I have just updated this post to include Coach Stefano Trompeo's post game comments on the NYU victory at Brandeis. 

[jumphigh]

My reaction to the Brandeis-NYU game can primarily be summed up like this:

surpised at the outcome of this game, due to NYU's early season struggles.  But I guess you can throw out the records in a rivalry game!

[deiscanton]

NYU is preparing for their Great Lakes road trip this weekend in a big way.

NYU is leading Hunter, 49-16, at the half in their traditional "Martin Luther King" game.  (Albeit a week early).

NYU's defense limited Hunter to 18% shooting in the half (6 of 34),  2-12 from 3 pt range, 2-2 from the FT line.

NYU shot 19 of 39 in the half (49%), 4 of 7 from 3 pt land, and 7 of 9 from the charity stripe.

NYU should have no problem getting this victory.

[deiscanton]

Post game comments from NYU coach Stefano Trompeo on the game vs Hunter last night can be seen here.