WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Backseat Driver]

I, too, am sorry to hear about Annie Shain's ACL. I have not seen NPU play this year, but from having been involved with the Wheaton program when players suffered the same injury I know the impact it can have not only on the player, but on the team as a whole. Coming back from an ACL is dependent on a lot of different of factors, and I hope that Annie is able to recover within the 6-8 month period that is typically prescribed.

[iwu70]

Big game for the Titans tonight at King.  Should be a very competitive one this time, with WC playing so well recently and now playing at home.  Again, Wheaton will have to match the Titans' pace and respond well to the pressures, turnovers, caused by the "run and jump."  It's not as if they won't know what's coming.  Olivia Lett, Shelby Jackson and Melissa Gardner are all playing very very well.  Hope Karen Solari and all the other Titans are healthy and at full strength.  Let's see who surprises us tonight and steps up and has a big big game to match the wonderful season-long consistency of Lett and Gardner and Hasselbring.

GO TITANS!!!

IWU70

[iwu70]

IWU down 32-24 at half @Wheaton.  Thunder doing a good job defensively, frustrating the Titans scorers.  Very rough, tumble game, with many turnovers, tips and loose balls, on boths sides.  Titans will have to come back bigtime to get back into this one.  They played pretty loosely, poorly in the first half.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Going to OT in Wheaton, tied at 60.

Britt Hasselbring was scoreless most of the game, but hit four clutch FTs down the stretch (including the ones, with 11 seconds left) to force OT.  Laura Karsten was held to 5 most of the game, but her 3 with 19 seconds remaining was HUGE.

[Mr. Ypsi]

68-68, going to double OT!

Hope the men's game takes place before midnight!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Titans fall in double OT, 76-74.   (I got a bad feeling when Olivia Lett (24 points, 12 rebounds) fouled out with 39 seconds left.)

[iwu70]

Well, more of a race on our hands now.  76-74 WC over IWU in 2OTs.  Great game, great effort by both teams, a knock down drag-out, with big play after big play.  WC showed alot of heart tonight matching our Titans shot for shot.  IWU only one game lead over Carthage now.

Lett had 24, got her team back into it, but struggled against very tough WC defense in the first half.  Ms. Olson had a HUGE game for Wheaton.  Key to the game for WC was excellent overall rebounding, esp. offensive glass, and some very big clutch treys.  Wheaton will be hard to beat in the second half, so WC vs. Carthage also a big big game. 

Next Wednesday @ Augie.  Big game coming up in Kenosha.

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

Wheaton 76
IWU 74 (2OT)

I posted this after Wheaton lost to #2 University of Chicago earlier this season:

3. Dating back to last January's win over then #16-Carthage, Wheaton has shown that they can compete with some of the best teams in the country. Games like tonight are ones that the Thunder will need to win in conference play, and having the experience of playing a team like Chicago will help when the CCIW battles begin.

That experience paid huge dividends last night, as Wheaton was able to go toe-to-toe with IWU down the stretch of the second half and in the overtimes. It was an incredibly good game last night between two excellent basketball teams, with great performances from individuals on both sides.

Olivia Lett, once again, displayed just how good she is. She really struggled in the first half, but she put her team on her back down the stretch and into the overtimes. Saying that the Titans missed her on their final possession in 2OT would be a wild understatement. Melissa Gardner also had a fine game for the Titans. She can hit the three from just about anywhere.

Obviously, Brooke Olson was terrific last night. She hit some bigtime shots, and scored 12 straight points for the Thunder down the stretch. But Wheaton got significant contributions from every player who took the floor. It was a complete team victory.

Recap: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2012/1/28/WBB_iwu2.aspx
Box Score: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/boxscore.aspx?id=2452

As important as this win was, Wheaton doesn't have the luxury of dwelling on it too much. Wednesday's game at Millikin is another huge test, and then Wheaton hosts Elmhurst and travels to Carthage. That's a tough stretch of games.

[iwu70]

BackSeat, agree with you.  Great game at King.  Two excellent teams with alot of heart, tough play throughout and in the OTs.  Did you see the charge call on Brittany Hasselbring?  From the video stream angle is sure didn't look like one that should have been called.  Tough to lose it on that one, (as Coach Mia Smith said in the Pgraph article today), but of course there were many good plays, tough calls both ways throughout the game, which was well-fought and at times quite crazy and loose.  WC did have Lett frustrated at first, but then she just went into her higher gear, got to the line, made shot after shot.  Ms. Olson is a terrific player, with lots of will to win last night.  The way WC is playing now, esp. when hitting so many treys, I wouldn't be too too surprised to see them beat Carthage.  I think EC is actually down a notch from the other three contenders, IMHO.  Of course, gotta play tough every game now, as there are no nights off in the CCIW stretch run for teams.  But, big games for WC still at MU, EC and of course at Carthage.  Big game for the Titans will be the one in Kenosha, for sure.  Great season so far with lots of excitement and wonderful performances.  Quality of play really improving now by several of the teams.  Melissa Gardner is fun to watch, isn't she, shooting her treys from all over the place.

I'm hoping IWU gets another crack at U Chicago too -- perhaps in the tournament?  We'll see.   

IWU @Augie Wednesday night. 

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

Did you see the charge call on Brittany Hasselbring?  From the video stream angle is sure didn't look like one that should have been called.  Tough to lose it on that one, (as Coach Mia Smith said in the Pgraph article today), but of course there were many good plays, tough calls both ways throughout the game, which was well-fought and at times quite crazy and loose.

I had a pretty good look at the play and it looked as though, by rule, it was a charge. It seemed as though coach Smith was upset because of the situation and the stakes, not necessarily that the wrong call was made. Had no foul been called, Wheaton still would have had 9 seconds to win it. As it was though, Wheaton couldn't get the ball inbounds so the Titans got another chance. That's where Olivia Lett fouling out was huge.

[thunder38]

Wheaton 76
IWU 74 (2OT)

I posted this after Wheaton lost to #2 University of Chicago earlier this season:

3. Dating back to last January's win over then #16-Carthage, Wheaton has shown that they can compete with some of the best teams in the country. Games like tonight are ones that the Thunder will need to win in conference play, and having the experience of playing a team like Chicago will help when the CCIW battles begin.

That experience paid huge dividends last night, as Wheaton was able to go toe-to-toe with IWU down the stretch of the second half and in the overtimes. It was an incredibly good game last night between two excellent basketball teams, with great performances from individuals on both sides.

Olivia Lett, once again, displayed just how good she is. She really struggled in the first half, but she put her team on her back down the stretch and into the overtimes. Saying that the Titans missed her on their final possession in 2OT would be a wild understatement. Melissa Gardner also had a fine game for the Titans. She can hit the three from just about anywhere.

Obviously, Brooke Olson was terrific last night. She hit some bigtime shots, and scored 12 straight points for the Thunder down the stretch. But Wheaton got significant contributions from every player who took the floor. It was a complete team victory.

Recap: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2012/1/28/WBB_iwu2.aspx
Box Score: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/boxscore.aspx?id=2452

As important as this win was, Wheaton doesn't have the luxury of dwelling on it too much. Wednesday's game at Millikin is another huge test, and then Wheaton hosts Elmhurst and travels to Carthage. That's a tough stretch of games.

The important thing to note was that game against Chicago was while Karsten and Lee were still with the soccer team in their postseason run.  I do certainly think that games like that one, the early loss vs. UW-L, and the loss to Simpson have really helped this team in conference play.  Similar to last year though, Wheaton may have killed their Pool C bid chances before the conference season started.  I would think they would almost have to run the table in the conference to have a chance.

The schedule certainly is stacked right now for the Thunder starting the second circuit with the top 4 other teams in the CCIW as I can see a letdown being a realistic possibility in Decatur on Wednesday, but if they can get the win Wednesday I like their odds at home against Elmhurst with the improved post play of Hovee and Graham and then a toss up in Kenosha the following week.

[RogK]

I saw Elmhurst defeat North Park, 65-51. Megan Ney led 4 Jays in double figures with 16 pts (6/7, 4/5 FT) and had 11 rebs. Near the end of the 1st half, Meghan Merklein suffered what appeared to be a significant knee injury. I happened to be nearby during a 2nd half timeout when one of the refs asked her if she was OK; she sadly shook her head "no." I hope she can play again in this her senior year. The article on their site doesn't say anything about it, so hopefully that's a good sign.
Roxie Jones tallied 19 for NP, along with 4 steals, 6 rebs.
Millikin, down 33-22 at the break, won 63-60 at Augie. Crystal Zeigler poured in 24 pts (10/12, 4/6 FT).
Carthage trounced North Central 68-43 (42-14 at halftime!); Cailee Corcoran scored 19 in 24:00, while Diana Jacklin had 14 pts, 3 steals and 4 blocks in 22:00.

[iwu70]

RogK, thanks for the quick update and review.  So sorry to hear about Merklein and hope she is OK, able to play further this season.  She's been having a great season so far. 

I think IWU also benefitted greatly from the tough teams played earlier, the tough games lost but still quite competitive, esp. the 3 pt. loss to #2 Chicago @UC.  Also Whitewater and DePauw, etc.  Titans also have a few more pre-CCIW losses than one would want going into Pool C consideration.  Obviously, need best to win the league and go at least 1-1 in the CCIW tourney, hopefully 2-0.  We'll see.  Tough loss at WC, but I give the WC team all the kudos and credit as they played tough and hung in for a big win in 2OTs.  Great game to watch, like the very exciting IWU win over Carthage earlier @Shirk, just two outstanding teams duking it out to the final possession.  Great stuff from a fan point of view.   Really love the competitiveness and athleticism of these women's games. 

More coming . . . WC vs. Carthage, also IWU vs. Carthage, should be really great games, AGAIN.  We'll have to see if EC or MU have an upset in them yet this season.  I personally think not, but we'll see. 

IWU70

[Backer]

EC's Merklein could put no weight on the knee which is never a good sign.  MRI was done today I hear with results coming tomorrow.  She reports feeling much better so fingers are firmly crossed!

[Backseat Driver]

Hoping for the best for Meghan Merklein. It would be a real shame if she missed significant time, or worse the rest of her senior year. She's one of those players who, even though she could get by without significant improvement, has committed to improving her game every year.