WBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

This is probably the sport that I'm most excited about in this move, honestly.  DePauw has run into Denison a handful of times and Witt once over the past five or six years with a great deal of success. 

It's definitely a dynamic changer in the scope of the NCAC.  I wonder where the Witt's and OWU's of the world fit in compared to where Trinity and Oglethorpe have been and where Centre is going.  Very interesting stuff to chew on...

[David Collinge]

Welcome to new Oberlin assistant coach Jody Burrows, who comes to the Yeowomen from her alma mater, Northeastern, where she was a standout player and most recently an assistant coach.  Congratulations and good luck, Coach Burrows!

[David Collinge]

The DePauw, the student newspaper, interviews four Tiger student-athletes on their perception of DPU's impending move to the NCAC.  One of the interviewees is junior forward Katie Aldrich.  It's a good read.

[David Collinge]

Tired of the offseason yet?  Yeah, me too.  Take a moment to check out the Wittenberg Women's Basketball Blog (or "Wittenblog"), with recent entries including a list (but no discussion) of the eight frosh on the pre-season roster and Katherine Hueter's thoughts as she enters her final year at Springfield. 

[David Collinge]

The pre-season coaches' poll has been tabulated and released.  Defending tournament champion Denison sits atop the ranking, barely outpolling Ohio Wesleyan, with defending champion Wittenberg and Kenyon following closely behind.   

1. Denison (4) 58
2. OWU (2) 56
3. Wittenberg (1) 46
4. Kenyon (1) 45
5. Allegheny 32
6. Oberlin 20
7. Wooster 17
8. Hiram 14
(reminder that Earlham is now in the HCAC, and DePauw doesn't join us until next season.)

I haven't done any research yet for this season, and by the look of this poll, perhaps I should.  Because while OWU looks strong and Witt and Kenyon are always a threat, the Big Red looks like a juggernaut to me, and the top of this poll is much more tightly bunched than I expected.  I hope the coaches are right and that we have a well-played, hotly-contested conference race.  Good luck to all eight squads!

[fantastic50]

Wooster will be in rebuilding mode this year, having lost their two leading scorers to graduation, including All-American Kym Wenz.  Ashley Reid, formerly a Wooster assistant coach, is taking over the helm from Lisa Campanell Komara, who will be leading Wooster's new women's golf program. 

Additionally, Samantha Justice, last year's starting point guard, will not be returning to the team, by her own choice.  She is a junior pursuing a demanding double major, in biochemistry and mathematics, and has chosen to put more time toward preparation for grad school.  Sam is a strong student who has already been involved in on-campus laboratory research, and will likely be headed directly into a PhD program after graduation.

My guess is that Keshia Butler (also a junior math major) will be the starting point guard, unless one of the newcomers has made an impressive showing in pre-season practice.

[David Collinge]

Thanks for that update, Professor.  Good luck to Sam and Keshia.  I was a junior math major once upon a time, but I flamed out of that rugged discipline--and I didn't have the added pressure of varsity basketball, to say nothing of a biochem double major! 

New-look Wooster is the only NCAC squad opening up on Opening Day, as they will travel to University Heights to take on John Carroll on Monday.  Four more squads hit the hardwood on Tuesday, three of them against our friends from the OAC:
* Defending champion Wittenberg hosts Baldwin-Wallace
* Pre-season favorite Denison hosts Heidelberg
* Kenyon travels to Muskingum
* Ohio Wesleyan hosts Notre Dame of Ohio

Allegheny and Oberlin will open their campaigns on Friday.  Hiram is reaching the end of its fall term, and won't start play until after exams and Thanksgiving have come and gone.

Good luck to all teams! 

[David Collinge]

Tonight's Wooster/JCU game, which tips at 7:30pm, will be webcast by John Carroll University.

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Pretty inauspicious debut for the Scots, who get hammered by a count of 82-51.  Wooster turns the ball over 30 times and commits 19 fouls.  Kristen Schwartz had a big game in a losing effort, grabbing 17 rebounds to go along with 13 points.

[David Collinge]

I've had my attention drawn to the Kenyon Ladies, by virtue of the season's first Suzanne Helfant show.  One of the things she discusses is that this year's squad has less size (both in terms of tall and big players) than last year, an observation which sent me to the roster.  Sure enough, two-time all-NCAC performer and presumptive senior Kathleen Williams is not listed.  I have no idea why she's not on the squad, and Coach Helfant didn't discuss it, but it's going to be tough for the Ladies to replace Kathleen's 9.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg, both second-best on the team.  Best wishes to Kathleen, wherever she is!

[David Collinge]

Preseason top 4 teams tip it off tonight!

1. Denison hosts Heidelberg, 7:30pm -- Audio & live stats
2. OWU hosts Notre Dame of Ohio, 5:30pm -- Video & live stats
3. Wittenberg hosts Baldwin-Wallace, 7:00pm -- Audio & live stats
4. Kenyon visits Muskingum, 7:00pm -- Audio & live stats

Go Big Red, Bishops, Tigers, and Ladies!

[David Collinge]

OWU drops the opener to Notre Dame, 75-64.  Pam Quigney had 20, while Kayla Gordon added 12 points, 10 boards, and five blocks.
Wittenberg led by six at the break, but got blitzed in the second half by a 44-20 count, as B-W coasts home with a 70-52 win.  Frosh Ashanta Robinson had 18 points on 7-10 shooting, and Sarah Watson had a double-double (10-10), but an uncharacteristic 27 turnovers spelled doom for the Tigers.
Kenyon recorded a nice come-from-behind 60-53 win at Muskingum, holding the Fish to 33% shooting and outrebounding the Aquatic Critters by 7.  Morgan Korinek picked up where she left off, recording 19 points and 12 boards.  Kayla Ernst added 15 points for the Ladies.
Denison withstands a furious comeback from Heidelberg and records a 65-59 victory, giving the NCAC a 2-1 edge over their OAC counterparts on the evening.  Lucy Follansbee led a deep, balanced effort with 15 points and 10 boards.  Denison had 16 assists and just nine turnovers; how Sara Lee is that?

[David Collinge]

Everybody except Hiram is going to be in action this weekend, and that includes me, so I want to get the links posted now.

Friday:
Marietta at Allegheny, 6pm -- live stats
Denison vs. Bethany (at Washington & Jefferson), 6pm -- Live stats
Kenyon at Bluffton, 8pm -- Live stats
Oberlin vs. Spalding (at Mt. St. Joseph), 2pm -- Live stats
Ohio Wesleyan vs. St. Vincent (at Wilmington), 8pm -- Looks like no coverage, but check here or here
Wittenberg vs. Fontbonne (at Adrian), 8pm -- Live audio

Saturday:
Alfred or Waynesburg at Allegheny, 1pm or 3pm -- Live stats
Denison at Washington & Jefferson, 4pm -- Live stats
Kenyon vs. Albion or Brescia (at Bluffton), 1pm or 3pm -- Live stats
Oberlin vs. Mt. St. Joseph or St. Mary-of-the-Woods (at MSJ), 3pm or 5pm -- Live stats
Ohio Wesleyan vs. Defiance or Wilmington (at Wilmington), 1pm or 3pm -- Live audio if vs. Wilma
Wittenberg vs. Adrian or North Park (at Adrian), 1pm or 3pm -- Live audio
Thiel at Wooster, 3pm -- Live stats

Sunday:
SUNY-Geneseo or Trine at Wooster, 1pm or 3pm -- Live stats

[David Collinge]

Going off-topic for a moment to mention my favorite part of college sports: the ESPN the Magazine/COSIDA Academic All-America Teams.  Today we get to celebrate that Wittenberg defender Kelly Foley and Wooster striker Paige Piper were named Academic All-Americans, on the 2nd and 3rd teams (respectively) in the College Division for women's soccer.  Both have double majors and GPAs north of 3.9.  This is Kelly's second such award in her outstanding college career, while Paige, only a sophomore, will have two more chances for this honor.  Congratulations, ladies, you should be very proud!

[David Collinge]

Quick results:
Allegheny 80, Marietta 79
Denison 84, Bethany 62
Spalding 63, Oberlin 54
Kenyon 67, Bluffton 56
Wittenberg 70, Fontbonne 51
St. Vincent 92, OWU 53

4-2 on the evening, which is great, but  what happened to the Bishops?

[David Collinge]

Saturday (revised):
Waynesburg at Allegheny, 3pm -- Live stats
Denison at Washington & Jefferson, 4pm -- Live stats
Kenyon vs. Brescia (at Bluffton), 3pm -- Live stats
Oberlin at Mt. St. Joseph, 1pm  -- Live stats
Ohio Wesleyan vs. Defiance (at Wilmington), 1pm  -- probably no coverage
Wittenberg vs. North Park (at Adrian), 3pm -- Live audio
Thiel at Wooster, 3pm -- Live stats

---------------------

Oberlin 68, MSJ 58 -- Allison Anderson was one rebound from a triple-double (18 pts., 10 assists, 9 boards)
OWU 76, Defiance 63 -- Bishops get off the schneid behind 22 & 9 from Kayla Gordon
Waynesburg 71, Allegheny 68 -- Gators lead virtually throughout, but a 12-4 Yellow Jacket run over the final 4:38 is decisive.
Brescia 57, Kenyon 53 -- A 15-2 Brescia run early in the second period put the Ladies in a ten point hole.  Kenyon fought back, and had the ball down by just two with 0:07 left, but Brescia got a key steal to seal the game.  Morgan Korinek led the Ladies with 19 points and ten boards.
Wittenberg 70, North Park 64 -- Sarah Watson was dominant, with 26 pts. (incl. 3/5 from the arc and 9/11 from the line) to compliment 12 rebounds.
Wooster 59, Thiel 50 -- Scots are led by Karley Walker's 17 pts. (3/5 from the arc) and Kristen Schwartz' double-double (13 pts., 10 reb.)
Denison 67, Washington & Jefferson 51 -- DU scored the game's first 10 points and never looked back.  22 Big Red assists on 25 Big Red baskets.  

A solid 5-2 day, as the NCAC moves out to a somewhat surprising 11-7 non-conference record.

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Sunday:
SUNY-Geneseo at Wooster, 3pm -- Live stats