WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

I agree; that was an encouraging performance by the Titans, Titan Q.
I think the best news for IWU is that Olivia Lett and Sarah Cotner look like they're in very good health, with full agility.
Hope Schulte didn't play, due to a minor injury.
DePaul was without Deirdre Naughton, an excellent player.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU's roster is posted.

[RogK]

That's an abundance of players, Greg.
Now the question is, how many of them can shoot threes?
Opposing teams have been able to stifle the North Park offense by packing the lane defensively and daring the Vikes to make some threes, not many of which were made.
Having spectated this level for a while now, I've come to think it makes sense for teams to try these things defensively:
1 : put on a full court press to see if the opponent can handle it; if they can't, then use it.
2 : pack the lane defensively and force the opponent to prove they can shoot from distance; this may not work in div I, but can work in div III.
3 : man-to-man (and associated variations) if the above two options don't work.

[RogK]

North Central recently played Div I Southern Illinois - Edwardsville and lost by 39. NC was down 13-0 before getting on the board. Christine Karl did not play.
Wheaton's web site has a season preview. Coach Baker is quoted saying that they will have a new offense this year. And she will expect better defense from her team this year.

[RogK]

I was refreshing my memory of the Carthage roster and noticed the absence of six-footer Ashley Hermanson, one of their prize recruits. Not sure if she's still a possibility for the team in the future or not. A google revealed some earlier interest from Nebraska-Kearney, but that fell through, apparently. Oh well, we shall see.
I saw Elmhurst scrimmage vs Chicago. Both teams seemed to be experimenting with different things and player combinations, so no conclusions could be drawn.
Coach Werner does face some difficult decisions regarding how to distribute minutes among the guards. Some are better ball-handlers than others, while some are superior defensively.
It looked like the whole team worked on its shooting during the summer, which good, since there's no Lyndsie Long to fill the hoop this season.

[RogK]

question for RogK : "which good", Rog?
What kind of deficient grammar is that?
answer : Oh, sorry. I promise not to make that exact mistake again.

[RogK]

My predictions for CCIW statistical leaders :
Scoring - Julia Robert, Millikin
Rebounding - Elise Wildman, Millikin
Assists - Britt Hasselbring, IWU
Technical fouls - Greg Sager, North Park

[iwu70]

My predictions for the CCIW season:

Leader in TOs caused:  IWU
Leader in fast break / points off turnovers:  IWU
Leader in chaos caused by pressing defense:  IWU
Leader in Scoring Differential:  IWU
Leader in number of players used in the rotation off the bench:  IWU
Leader in consecutive CCIW regular season and tourney championships:  IWU
Leader in the team most fun to watch . . .

Let the mayhem begin.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU began the year with a 84-71 loss to Roosevelt. The Vikings played the Lakers close in the first half, trailing only 46-42 at the intermission, but a 7-0 run to start the second half by the visitors led to Roosevelt opening up an 18-point margin, 63-45, at the 15:35 mark of the second half. North Park battled back and actually had a chance to cut the lead to four with under four minutes left, but an Emily Viernesial trey attempt rimmed out, Roosevelt grabbed the long rebound and got a quick deuce on a runout, and the threat was abated.

For a program that is in its first year, the Lakers are very good. There's some serious scholarship talent on that team. They're much quicker than your typical D3 squad; most of Roosevelt's points came on dribble penetration that NPU just wasn't quick enough to stop. Still, it would've been nice if North Park's best defender (Sarah Peterson) was healthy enough to play last night. She's out with a concussion -- seems like North Park's women's basketball players are more concussion-prone than NFL quarterbacks -- and will miss this coming weekend's tourney at Adrian as well.

The silver lining was junior transfer forward Roxxanne Jones. She scored 34 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in her debut as a Viking, and went a perfect 9-9 from the field in the first half. She's quite a player. I've only seen her play one game and one scrimmage, but I'm still fairly certain that she's the most electrifying inside talent that NPU has had in recent memory. Rog, you're going to enjoy watching her play.

[RogK]

Quite a debut for Roxxanne. I may have to revise my scoring leader forecast.
Not a good first night overall for the conference : 0-3.
I saw North Central lose by 25 at the U of Chicago. They did well early, but then the offense sputtered badly (some credit to the Chicago defense, of course). Jackie Errico tallied 13, 11 rebs, 3 steals.
Elmhurst lost at Edgewood, 64-58. Looks like it was a plodding game, as neither team made it to 50 FG attempts.

[Gregory Sager]

Quite a debut for Roxxanne. I may have to revise my scoring leader forecast.

I don't foresee Roxxanne scoring 34 ppg this year, especially once Sarah Peterson and Antoinette Collman are healthy and in the lineup. Still, it's nice to know that the Vikings have a player who can fill up the basket like that.

[RogK]

Not wanting to upstage EC NC and NP, Wheaton and Augustana lost last night.
The Thunder fell to Saint Mary's of Indiana, whose six-footer Kelley Murphy scored 21 (8/11, 5/5) and grabbed 18 rebounds. Wheaton made 8 of 33 2FGs and 5 of 22 3FGS. Unless you get a massive amount of offensive rebounds, those shooting pcts will decide the game.
Augie had three players in double figures, but Coe was a little better, topping the Vikings by 8.
Carthage had a good first game of the season, rolling past Conc-Wisc, 86-51.
Cailee Corcoran tallied 20 in 25:00, Heather Gilmore had 5 steals in 17:00, Diana Jacklin contributed 9 pts, 7 reb, 3 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks in her 23:00. Dani Ripkey scored 11 pts on just 5 shots. The other starter, Taylor Tondelli, directed all of this success with timely encouragement, but retained the threatened use of severe criticism if anyone screwed up (so no one did).

[RogK]

Millikin gained an 88-82 OT win at Carroll.
Beth Wellbaum made a layup with :11 left in regulation to tie it and sank a three to open the OT.
Elise Wildman had 27 pts, 16 reb and 4 steals.

[Just Bill]

NPU began the year with a 84-71 loss to Roosevelt. The Vikings played the Lakers close in the first half, trailing only 46-42 at the intermission, but a 7-0 run to start the second half by the visitors led to Roosevelt opening up an 18-point margin, 63-45, at the 15:35 mark of the second half. North Park battled back and actually had a chance to cut the lead to four with under four minutes left, but an Emily Viernesial trey attempt rimmed out, Roosevelt grabbed the long rebound and got a quick deuce on a runout, and the threat was abated.

For a program that is in its first year, the Lakers are very good. There's some serious scholarship talent on that team. They're much quicker than your typical D3 squad; most of Roosevelt's points came on dribble penetration that NPU just wasn't quick enough to stop. Still, it would've been nice if North Park's best defender (Sarah Peterson) was healthy enough to play last night. She's out with a concussion -- seems like North Park's women's basketball players are more concussion-prone than NFL quarterbacks -- and will miss this coming weekend's tourney at Adrian as well.

The silver lining was junior transfer forward Roxxanne Jones. She scored 34 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in her debut as a Viking, and went a perfect 9-9 from the field in the first half. She's quite a player. I've only seen her play one game and one scrimmage, but I'm still fairly certain that she's the most electrifying inside talent that NPU has had in recent memory. Rog, you're going to enjoy watching her play.

Sager,

So if Rossevelt's intention is to start in the NAIA and eventually transition to NCAA D-III, why did they declare for NAIA D-I in basketball?  It would seem to me NAIA D-II, which is completely non-scholarship like NCAA D-III, would have made more sense. Are they giving out or planning to give out scholarship money while in the NAIA?

[Titan Q]

So if Rossevelt's intention is to start in the NAIA and eventually transition to NCAA D-III, why did they declare for NAIA D-I in basketball?  It would seem to me NAIA D-II, which is completely non-scholarship like NCAA D-III, would have made more sense. Are they giving out or planning to give out scholarship money while in the NAIA?

NAIA II basketball gives scholarships, right?  Just less than NAIA I.