WBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Denison 69, Oberlin 26...Clearly, Denison is tired of losing.  The stingy DU defense allowed 15 first-half points, and then really clamped down.  On the evening, Oberlin could only make eight field goals, a measly 14%, shooting just five of 41 (12%) inside the arc, while DU hit a cool 44%.  Everyone with a red uniform played, but nobody played a lot.  Shaina Kaiser was the highest of 12 Big Red scorers with 13 points in 25 minutes.  Congratulations to Denison head coach Sara Lee, as according to DU SID Craig Hicks, this was her 300th career victory.

Wooster 52, Hiram 48...With the Wooster men winning a thriller at Allegheny, the distaff Scots provide no less of a thrill.  Kaitlin Krister gave Wooster the lead with 6:33 left, and apart from one tie, the Scots held on for the final six nailbiting minutes, never again leading by more than four.  Hiram held Kym Wenz relatively in check, as the All-American hit just four of 14 shots en route to 14 points, but the Terriers couldn't take advantage as Wooster held them to just 27% field goal shooting.  Krister had just six points, but compensated with 15 rebounds, while Hiram was led by Brittany Mayle's 11 point, 8-board game.

OWU 73, Kenyon 68...With a tie score, the game and shot clocks running out, and OWU struggling to find a shot against Kenyon's stout defense, someone missed an assignment and left Kayla Gordon wide open from the right wing.  That's something you don't do in this league, and Gordon made the Ladies pay by draining the three with 0:13 left.  After a final Kenyon turnover, two free throws sealed the big road win for the front-running Bishops.  Gordon ended up with 19, two fewer than her teammate Pam Quigney, while KC's Morgan Korinek led all scorers with 22.  Kenyon dominated the glass by a 47-30 count and kept OWU's Dany Finck on the sidelines with foul trouble (she played just nine minutes); aside from that final defensive lapse, what probably cost the Ladies most was an inability to cash in on their enormous free throw advantage, hitting just 15 of 26 (vs. five in just eight attempts for OWU.)  On the bright side for KC, they got Taylor Lenci back onto the active roster, and just in the nick of time as starting point guard Katie Adlam is down with mononucleosis.

Updated standings:
OWU 6-0 conference, 11-4 overall
Wittenberg 5-0, 7-6
Kenyon 3-2, 10-4
Denison 3-3, 11-4
Allegheny 2-3, 5-9
Wooster 2-4, 5-10
Oberlin 1-4, 2-12
Hiram 1-4, 2-12
Earlham 1-4, 2-12

[David Collinge]

Saturdaction kicks off with the Game of the Year so far:

Wittenberg (5-0) at Ohio Wesleyan (6-0), 1pm -- Live Everything including Live Tweet-chatting with the Yoder Bros. at Rickey Arena
Kenyon (3-2) at Allegheny (2-3), 1pm -- Live stats
Oberlin (1-4) at Hiram (1-4), 1pm -- Live Everything
Earlham (1-4) at Wooster (2-4), ~3pm -- Live stats and audio (hopefully) -- Game 2 of a men/women doubleheader

Denison (3-3) is idle.

[David Collinge]

Today's finals, sorry to say that I have no time for commentary:

Wittenberg 83, OWU 80
Wooster 67, Earlham 57
Allegheny 55, Kenyon 46
Oberlin 62, Hiram 53

Updated standings:
Wittenberg 6-0 conference, 8-6 overall
OWU 6-1, 11-5
Denison 3-3, 11-4
Kenyon 3-3, 10-5
Allegheny 3-3, 6-9
Wooster 3-4, 6-10
Oberlin 2-4, 3-12
Hiram 1-5, 2-13
Earlham 1-5, 2-13

[David Collinge]

Wittenberg cops the coveted Player of the Week trophy for the second consecutive week, with the hardware, tiara, and Turtle Wax this week going to senior Stephanie Boardman.  Boardman dominated the paint, scoring 33 points to lead the Tigers to an 83-80 victory over OWU in a first-place showdown.  Congratulations, Stephanie!

[David Collinge]

Today's action:
Earlham (1-5) at Denison (3-3), 6pm -- Live stats and audio -- game 1 of doubleheader (DU men vs. OWU at 8)
OWU (6-1) at Hiram (1-5), 6pm -- Live everything -- game 1 of a doubleheader (HC men vs. 'Gheny at 8)
Wooster (3-4) at Oberlin (2-4), 6pm -- Live everything -- game 1 of an OC/COW doubleheader (men's game at 8)
Kenyon (3-3) at Wittenberg (6-0), 7:30pm -- Live everything

Allegheny (3-3) is idle.

[David Collinge]

Lots of extra effort around the league tonight, but in the end it all played out according to Hoyle.

Denison 68, Earlham 38...DU used a 10-0 run midway through the first period to break open a close game, then laid the smackdown on the EC in the second as the Big Red cruised to victory.  Denison held the Quakers to 31% shooting, dominated the glass (+10), and forced 23 turnovers leading to 26 points.  Shaina Kaiser connected on 9 of 15 shots to lead all scorers with 19, while EC's Nikki Darrett was just one bucket behind with 17.

OWU 71, Hiram 68 (OT)...The Terriers pushed their guests to the limit, but came up just that short.  OWU needed the extra five minutes just to reach their season scoring average, as Hiram held OWU to just 35% shooting; at the other end, the Terriers repeatedly cashed in on their opportunities from the foul line, hitting a sizzling 19 of 21 to keep the game in doubt.  The Bishops controlled the OT period, hitting half of their shots and forcing three Hiram turnovers to escape with the win.  Brittany Mayle was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line, leading to a game-high 21 points for Hiram.  Pam Quigney hoisted up 24 shots on the evening, and enough of them (six) went in to give her a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards.

Wooster 68, Oberlin 64 (OT)...In another thriller, Wooster squandered a game-opening 23-5 run but survived to force the extra session.  Kym Wenz sank a quick three to open the OT, and Wooster never trailed again.  Wenz ended up with 25 points, but had to take 27 shots--and go 6/6 from the line--to get there.  Wenz also grabbed 10 rebounds, one of three Scots to record a double-double; Kaitlin Krister had 12 points and 16 boards, while Kristen Schwartz had 13 points and 10 boards.  At the other end, superfrosh Allison Anderson was nearly unstoppable, recording 28 points, 8 steals, 7 rebounds, and six assists in 34 highly effective minutes.  Syrea Thomas and Kelly Warlich each chipped in 14 points, with Warlich contributing 12 rebounds as well. 

Wittenberg 61, Kenyon 56 (OT)...A white knuckle game is decided by three knucklehead Kenyon turnovers in the final 30 seconds of overtime as Kenyon gift-wraps the win for the Tigers.  Wittenberg led throughout the first 30 minutes, but most of that time the margin was slight.  A fastbreak layup by Kathleen Williams gave the Ladies their first lead with 9:06 remaining, and there were five ties and two lead changes down the stretch.  In the OT, Wittenberg used their strength on the offensive glass to take and hold a lead, but still led by just one slim point prior to Kenyon's uncharacteristic self-destruction.  Carrie Dyer led four Tigers in double figures with 17, while Kenyon's Morgan Korinek contributed a 12 &12 double-double. 

Updated standings:
Wittenberg 7-0 conference, 9-6 overall
OWU 7-1, 12-5
Denison 4-3, 12-4
Allegheny 3-3, 6-9
Wooster 4-4, 7-10
Kenyon 3-4, 10-6
Oberlin 2-5, 3-13
Hiram 1-6, 2-14
Earlham 1-6, 2-14

[David Collinge]

Saturday's festivities:

Hiram (1-6) at Kenyon (3-4), 1pm -- Live everything -- game 1 of a women/men doubleheader
Allegheny (3-3) at Denison (4-3), 2pm -- Live stats and audio
Oberlin (2-5) at Wittenberg (7-0), 2pm -- Live stats and audio
OWU (7-1) at Earlham (1-6), 2pm -- Live stats and audio

Wooster (4-4) is idle.

[David Collinge]

Scores now, recaps later if I can find the time.

Kenyon 57, Hiram 44
Wittenberg 75 Oberlin 58...Congratulations to Stephanie Boardman, who reached 1,000 career points today.
Denison 57, Allegheny 55
OWU 72, Earlham 50

Updated standings:
Wittenberg 8-0 conference, 10-6 overall
OWU 8-1, 13-5
Denison 5-3, 13-4
Kenyon 4-4, 11-6
Wooster 4-4, 7-10
Allegheny 3-4, 6-10
Oberlin 2-6, 3-14
Hiram 1-7, 2-15
Earlham 1-7, 2-15

[David Collinge]

Congratulations to OWU's Tyler Cordell, this week's NCAC Player of the Week and the first two-time recipient of this season.  The junior guard averaged better than 20 ppg in two Bishop wins this week, helping keep her team just a half-game back of rampaging Wittenberg in the standings.  Between them, the Bishops (3) and Tigers (2) have captured five of the nine POTW awards this season, a situation that reflects their two-pronged dominance of the league so far this year.  Congratulations (again), Tyler!

[David Collinge]

Wednesday's action, including a key rivalry game at Livingston Gym:

Oberlin (2-6) at Allegheny (3-4), 6pm -- Live stats -- Game 1 of a women/men doubleheader
Wittenberg (8-0) at Earlham (1-7), 6pm -- Live audio (Witt) -- Game 1 of a women/men doubleheader
Wooster (4-4) at Hiram (1-7), 7:30pm -- Live everything
Kenyon (4-4) at Denison (5-3), ~8pm -- Live stats and audio -- Game 2 of a men/women doubleheader


Ohio Wesleyan (8-1) is idle

[David Collinge]

Sorry, it has been--and continues to be--a busy day for me.

Here's the finals:
Denison 75, Kenyon 69
Hiram 64, Wooster 63
Allegheny 70, Oberlin 49
Wittenberg 66, Earlham 61

Updated standings:
Wittenberg 9-0 conference, 11-6 overall
OWU 8-1, 13-5
Denison 6-3, 14-4
Allegheny 4-4, 7-10
Kenyon 4-5, 11-7
Wooster 4-5, 7-11
Oberlin 2-7, 3-15
Hiram 2-7, 3-15
Earlham 1-8, 2-16

[David Collinge]

What better way to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day* than to attend the women's basketball game nearest you?  Furthermore, anyone within 500 miles of Springfield, O. that has the least interest in NCAC hoops needs to be at The Pam at 2pm.  No excuses.  Plenty of good seats still available.  Be there.

Earlham (1-8) at Oberlin (2-7), 1pm -- Live everything -- Game 1 of a women/men doubleheader
OWU (8-1) at Wittenberg (9-0), 2pm -- Live everything -- Game 1 of a DH, men vs. Allegheny follows
Denison (6-3) at Wooster (4-5), 2pm -- Live stats and audio -- game 1 of a day/night DH (men's game at 7:30)--eat a Coccia House pizza between games!
Allegheny (4-4) at Kenyon (4-5), ~3pm -- Live everything -- Game 2 of a DH, men vs. Wabash at 1pm

Hiram (2-7) is idle.

*Officially, NGWSD is Feb. 3, but not everyone has a home game that day.  Stay Strong, Play On!

[David Collinge]

Oberlin 57, Earlham 51
Wittenberg 62, OWU 56--Tigers put the regular season title into lockdown.
Denison 68, Wooster 46
Kenyon 59, Allegheny 51 (OT)

Updated standings:
Wittenberg 10-0 conference, 12-6 overall
OWU 8-2, 13-6
Denison 7-3, 15-4
Kenyon 5-5, 12-7
Allegheny 4-5, 7-11
Wooster 4-6, 7-12
Oberlin 3-7, 4-15
Hiram 2-7, 3-15
Earlham 1-9, 2-17
   

[David Collinge]

Congratulations this week go out to Kenyon sophomore Morgan Korinek, winner of the NCAC Player of the Week award for the last week in January.  Morgan recorded her fourth and fifth consecutive double-double games this week, piling up 36 points and 23 rebounds in two games.  Congratulations, Morgan!

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Although Wednesday is the official National Girls and Women in Sports Day nationwide, it is an off day in the NCAC, as this weekend is the second of the two Big Trip weekends.  Consequently, the conference is in action three days this week: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.  Here's the slate for Tuesday's celebration of National Groundhogs in Burrows Day:

Denison (7-3) at Wittenberg (10-0), 7:30pm -- Live everything
Hiram (2-7) at Allegheny (4-5), 7:30pm -- Live stats
Oberlin (3-7) at Ohio Wesleyan (8-2), 7:30pm -- Live stats
Wooster (4-6) at Kenyon (5-5), 7:30pm -- Live everything

[David Collinge]

Wittenberg 67, Denison 63...Tigers just keep on rollin'; could we have our third (different) unbeaten champion in three seasons?
Allegheny 68, Hiram 53
Kenyon 55, Wooster 42
OWU 78, Oberlin 65

Updated standings:
Wittenberg 11-0 conference, 13-6 overall
OWU 9-2, 14-6
Denison 7-4, 15-5
Kenyon 6-5, 13-7
Allegheny 5-5, 8-11
Wooster 4-7, 7-13
Oberlin 3-8, 4-16
Hiram 2-8, 3-16
Earlham 1-9, 2-17