University Athletic Association

[sandman]

Well I haven't been here in a while, but I got to see the games at Case yesterday when I traveled to Cleveland for the weekend.  This was the first time I had seen the Lady Spartans play under new coach Jennifer Reimer.  Any time Case plays NYU, the game will always be entertaining, intense, and physical, and I did all I could to cheer my alma mater on to victory.  (The fact that I'm originally from the New York area-- how about those Giants?-- and that I applied to NYU for grad school but wasn't offered any financial support only intensified the situation.)

The game went back and forth for most of the first half, with lots of fouls and turnovers, until the visiting Violets scored 10 straight points to open up an 11-point lead.  In years past, I've seen quite a few games that would turn into blowouts at this point, but the Lady Spartans were able to get some momentum and cut the deficit to six at halftime, 35-29.

Just before halftime, the SID at Case must have recognized me from my time there (plus I was wearing my silver throwback jersey that I bought from the athletic department's clearance sale in '04), and he selected me, as well as a current student, to compete in the halftime shooting contest.  I won, with members of the NYU men's team cheering me on; the prize was a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

The intensity resumed quickly in the second half, as Case pulled even with 21st-ranked NYU.  After the lead changed hands a few times, the Lady Spartans went on a 26-7 run to open up the largest lead they have ever held on NYU, at 68-50.  Case's three-point shooting, which had been absent in the first half, turned on; this year's team has even more outside threats than before.  The home team held on for a 70-58 victory-- Case's first ever against NYU at home (the only previous win was in New York, during the dream season of '01-'02).

Sophomore guard Ashleigh Tondo had a double-double, 18 points and 12 rebounds for CWRU; senior Mary Herendeen and freshman Caitlin Henry added 16 and 14 respectively, and senior Ashley Horton pulle down 13 rebounds to move into second place on the all-time list at Case.  NYU's Jessica McEntee led all scorers with 25 points.

Case improves to 10-8 on the season, 3-4 in the UAA, while NYU lost their fourth straight to fall to 13-5, 2-5.  If Case can win four of seven games during the second round of conference play, they could have their best record in the UAA since 2002.  The team has looked promising, even with a smaller roster, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Coach Reimer continues to build the team in the near future.

[SiteMan]

Question for Pat Coleman

From your live blog last weekend:
"Wash U just got called for what would be called illegal touching in football. Coach Fahey objects but official says it was a rule put in two years ago."
What was that all about?  What was the foul?  Sounds like something you would get called for at a high school dance, not a basketball game.

[Pat Coleman]

I haven't had a chance to look through the rule book, but basically the official said it had to do with someone touching the ball after coming from out of bounds.

It didn't make much sense to me in a basketball context, which is why I compared it to the illegal touching penalty in football.

[newtonnancy]

JUST NOTICED FROMER BRANDEIS ASSISTANT MAKES GOOD

Lebanon Valley Raises Over $3,400 On Think Pink Night
Feb 06, 2008
Press Release posted by Lebanon Valley
ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley College's first-ever "Think Pink" women's basketball game Tuesday night raised more than $3,400 for the American Cancer Society of Lebanon to help in the fight against breast cancer.

LVC's match-up against Lycoming College drew a program-record 1,310 fans, and the two teams gave those in attendance a fantastic show as the Dutchmen pulled out a 76-75 win in overtime. In addition to a $1,000 check from LVC presented to the ACS before the game, fan contributions added another $2,400 to the total.

The "Think Pink" initiative was started by the Women's Basketball Coaches of America (WBCA) as a way to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Each year, more than 700 colleges and universities around the country participate in "Think Pink" games to show their support. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game, and LVC asked attendees to make a donation in lieu of an admission charge.

"What a wonderful event it was around such a difficult subject as cancer," said LVC Head Coach Todd Goclowski. "We talked about our challenges on the court and how they pale in comparison to someone experiencing that battle."

The night was full of raffle prizes and giveaways thanks to dozens of local businesses that supported the event, and local youth league teams from ELCO and Annville Elementary played at pre-game and halftime. The event also encouraged prevention and early detection of breast cancer with educational materials from the American Cancer Society.

"It was an amazing college basketball atmosphere and it was wonderful to have a game like that for such a great cause," Goclowski said. "It was a perfect night."

[ILive4This]

When exactly does Think Pink week run from/till, I know that Brandeis is having a "think pink" game against Rochester on friday the 15th.

[Pat Coleman]

It actually runs from Feb. 8-17, if I read correctly elsewhere.

[bbald eagle]

Question for Pat Coleman

From your live blog last weekend:
"Wash U just got called for what would be called illegal touching in football. Coach Fahey objects but official says it was a rule put in two years ago."
What was that all about?  What was the foul?  Sounds like something you would get called for at a high school dance, not a basketball game.

I haven't had a chance to look through the rule book, but basically the official said it had to do with someone touching the ball after coming from out of bounds.

It didn't make much sense to me in a basketball context, which is why I compared it to the illegal touching penalty in football.

Rule 9. Section 4. Player Out of Bounds
Art. 1. A player who steps out of bounds under his/her own volition and
then becomes the first player to touch the ball after returning to the playing
court has committed a violation.

[Pat Coleman]

Wow, so it's just like the football rule.

[deiscanton]

I am at the Auerbach Arena watching the women's game, and Brandeis played horribly tonight after taking a 20 point lead.  No excuse letting Emory have their way after that, no excuse....

Emory just won, 75-63-- after Brandeis was up 20 in the first half! 

A baby just started crying in the hall-- must be one of Scott Foulis's kids.

[sandman]

Case just beat NYU at Coles, 73-63, completing the season sweep!  In the past 21 years, the Lady Spartans had only beaten NYU once.  This year, they did it twice, and both games involved second-half comebacks.  The home Violets led by 13 early in the second half, but Case outscored them, 38-15, in the last 15 minutes, including an 11-0 run to end the game.  The telling stat of the game was CWRU's 57.4% field goal shooting (27/47).

Brandeis is next on Sunday.  Last week, Case showed that they're capable of knocking them off, though they fell short-- can they get it done this time?

[Pat Coleman]

BTW, NYU WTH? SOL.

[nobody]

What is going on at NYU???  Anyone have any insight???

I think Wash, Chicago, and Rochester will finish in the top 3 spots in the conference, but I'm unsure of the order.    Who knows what will happen!  Further, I think those 3 will be the only UAA schools in the NCAA's.

[David Collinge]

I saw NYU play at Case last weekend.  It's not news to anyone that they are a one-woman team.  Aside from Jessica McEntee, nobody was very impressive; collectively they shot 25.5% and were just 2/16 from the arc. Thus, whenever McEntee got the entry pass, the Case defenders collapsed on her en masse.  More often than not, she was fouled, and she racked up an impressive total from the line (12 of 14, total of 25 points), but it sure is hard to build any momentum that way.  Case dictated the pace of play at both ends for the entire second half, outscoring the visitors by 18 and running away with the relatively easy win.

When the game was over, a man sitting near me first noticed in the program that NYU was ranked #21 and expressed his surprise to his companion (Kenyon's point guard Alisha Moreno).  I turned to them and pointed out that the Violets had been #3 two weeks before that, and he was flabbergasted.  And frankly, so was I.

[deiscanton]

As to what is going on with NYU, the story that I heard was that NYU co-captain Chelsea Trout quit the team just before UAA play began due to personal issues with coach Quinn.  Chelsea Trout was NYU's 2nd leading scorer on the team before she left, and the absence of Trout's leadership may be part of the reason why NYU will probably finish below .500 in UAA play for the first time ever.

[atn alum]

deiscanton

good to see you're up and kicking...was worried when I read the result of Brandeis women's game, and saw men's game went OT. (and if you're a Pats fan, I'm sorry  )

You hit nail on head a few yrs ago with prediction that wesleyan women would win the NCAAs Pool C math battle and make ncaas. will be curious for your take when regional ranks come out this coming week