WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Interesting stat comparison of Crabtree and Lett.  Olivia has at least 3-4 more games to play, and let's hope up to 9 more games! 

She also got the single season FTs made record last night, surpassing a record held by Christina Solari in I think about 30 games.  Getting to the line, making 88%, a major part of her all-round game this year.

Tremendous season.

IWU70

[RogK]

iwu70, Shelby Jackson is making .321 of her 3FG att. If you don't want her to shoot threes, then you shouldn't want Lett (.306) to shoot them either.

[RogK]

I hope Gardner is OK, as well. It could just be that Millikin (and Carthage before that) played some good defense on her. She has attained the level of performance that warrants a lot of defensive attention.

[Hoosier Titan]

I haven't been able to post much this season, but I wanted to give an eyewitness account of the IWU at Millikin game.  It was a live, combative atmosphere; the Big Blue were having Faculty Appreciation Night and lots of families were in attendance. 

As many here no doubt saw, the Big Blue started off well and the Titans not so much.  Olivia Lett is everything everyone else here has said.  Last night she came through in spades, jumping the tip and then later on running the point.  The defense on her was physical, to say the least.  Mia Smith acknowledged the Titans' second half surge as due to moving Lett to the point and having Britt Hasselbring go to the 2 position, where she poured in 17 points.  Great contribution from the usual point guard.  Coach Smith uses the long bench extremely well, moving people in and out in order to find what's working.  Michelle Bilek is looking very confident on the floor and in her shot; that game-winner against Carthage was not a one-off.  For those who noticed that Karen Solari was charged with a technical foul:  it came after she'd played tight D on a ball handler (I forget who) and there was some slight contact.  Karen was called for a foul, although she (and everyone else wearing green ) thought the defender had pushed off with an extended arm.  Karen reacted a little too much, waving an arm to show the ref what had happened, and he seemed to think she'd made a gesture.  Nothing to it, really.

With regard to Shelby Jackson shooting threes--I usually cringe when a post player throws up a three.  If they've got that shot, in my mind I allow them one per half.  Doug Sexauer, for the IWU men, hit that shot so often that he got an exception from Coach HT , and Olivia Lett can shoot from wherever she likes.  But Shelby probably saved the Titans at Carthage with threes; she gets my approval to shoot it when it's there, for what that's worth.

If Olivia Lett is not a First-Team All American, then I don't know what one looks like.

Good tough game, and both teams were really well coached.

[RogK]

A few notes on the Carthage 72-56 win at Elmhurst.
Before the game, Bluejay seniors Megan Ney and Meghan Merklein were honored for their very fine careers. Each got a well-earned ovation; even a few of the Carthage fans applauded.
The 1st half (20-19) was extraordinarily bleak. Both teams' defenses knew exactly what the opposing offenses were trying to do, but there was also a surplus of crummy shooting and turnovers. Carthage's superiority became evident early in the 2nd half and they put together an impressive 53-36 20 minutes to win fairly comfortably.
Cailee Corcoran had a career high 24 pts and Diana Jacklin did her thing : 20 pts, 7 rebs, 6 steals, 4 assists and just 2 TOs.
Merk led the Jays with 14 pts and Ney had 11 and 11.
Best wishes to Elmhurst coach Tethnie Carrillo, who is off on maternity leave. I heard that she really wanted to be there for Merk and Ney's Senior Day, but the doctor said "no way."

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 61
North Central 57

Last year's NCC @ NPU game was a barnburner, with the Cards winning by two in overtime, but I didn't expect this year's version to be close. Foolish me! North Central head coach Michelle Roof and her players clearly had this game circled on the calendar as their optimal chance to break their goose-egg in the CCIW win column, and they played with the sort of spirit and abandon that showed that they truly believed that they could win this game. North Park, on the other hand, seemed to have a hard time getting engaged with the task at hand, and was clearly outplayed for much of the game.

NPU didn't do a good job of defending early on -- North Central's slow initial scoring pace was more a matter of Cards ineptitude than anything else -- and when both Sarah Peterson and Roxie Jones went to the bench with two fouls apiece with more than eight minutes remaining in the half and the Park clinging to a 20-17 lead, it looked like gut-check time for NPU. That's a long time to have to play without your two best players. But when the half ended, the Vikings had actually built upon their lead, as they went into the locker room up, 34-29. I figured that the crisis had passed, and that NPU had torpedoed NCC's best opportunity to make it a ballgame.

Again, foolish me! The Cards came out storming in the second half, working the ball inside effectively again and again to Larynn Shumaker and Emily Collins, while Helen Muleya played havoc with the Vikings in transition and Jenny Swanson hit some key three-pointers. The Cards caught up and then went ahead by seven, 51-44, with 8:25 left. It was still a seven-point Cards lead at 57-50 with just over three minutes to go when NPU finally went to work. Dana Christensen hit a 12-foot pullup, Roxie Jones knocked down an eighteen-footer following a Bridgette Gray steal, and after a Jones defensive rebound Gray hit a triple from the left elbow to knot the score at 57-all with 1:24 left.

NCC missed two close-in shots on the ensuing possession before Gray rebounded the ball. Jones hit a six-foot jumper from straight on with 25 ticks remaining to put NPU back in front, 59-57, and then Sarah Peterson, who had had a very quiet night due to foul trouble, took over the game. Despite the fact that she was playing with four fouls, she took it upon herself to rip the ball out of the hands of Emily Collins on the NCC inbounds play following Roxie's basket, and she got the ball into the hands of Kamauria Acree before the Cards were finally able to stop the clock by fouling with :16 left. It was Sarah's fourth steal of the game. Acree missed the front end of the one-and-one, but Peterson pulled in the offensive rebound off of Kamauria's miss and was fouled. Sarah then made both FTs, giving NPU a four-point lead with :13 left, and the Cards were unable to get any shots to fall in their final possession.

It was a little more exciting than I think anyone on the North Park side had envisioned, or would have liked, but the Vikes showed enough moxie at the end to come from behind and outscore NCC, 9-0, in the final 3:22 of the game to pull out the victory. Give the Cards credit for a terrific effort, but give NPU the credit for doing what it needed to do to complete the season sweep over the Napervillains.

Roxie Jones, who had a great crackerbox swan song with 16 points and 9 rebounds, went out with a bang. NCC did a great job of keeping her out of good position in the low post, and the Cards constantly double- and triple-teamed her throughout the game. Therefore, Roxie became a jump-shooter for much of the night -- and the fact that she was knocking down 15-to-18-footers is testimony to what a serious offensive force she is. There just aren't a lot of women at this level who are as dangerous as Roxie around the basket who can still go outside and beat you with the jumpshot if you deny her position. NPU will miss her badly next season. Anti Collman, the other senior honored last night, had a very solid final home game herself, scoring nine points and recording five assists. Dana Christensen also contributed nine points, and Kamauria Acree, who is finally beginning to look like the player she was freshman year prior to her ACL tear -- it usually takes an entire season before an ACL-tear victim has his or her full game back -- had a solid eight-point effort.

Larynn Shumaker led the Cards with 14 points and 9 boards, as she was joined in double figures by Jenny Swanson's 13 and Helen Muleya's 11, and Emily Collins contributed a strong 10 and 7 as well.

This has been a disappointing year for NPU, as expectations were higher than a sixth-place finish. The program is making progress, but it's coming more slowly than I think either the coaches or the players would like. The Vikes have beating North Central and Augustana down pat; now they need to figure out how to get over the hump against the likes of Elmhurst, Wheaton, and Millikin, and how to even compete against IWU and Carthage. Slow progress means painful progress, but it sure beats going backwards.

Many thanks to Roxie and Anti for their hard work and their accomplishments as Vikings!

[iwu70]

RogK, yes, I hear what you say about the stats, the numbers on Jackson shooting treys.  But, like some others, I just cringe, especially at key moments in a game, when a post player not normally a trey shooter, starts putting them up like that.  Would feel the same way if Karen Solari or Amy Burton started to discover the arc.  But, in the Carthage game, Jackson did come thru with those three treys, no doubt.  I pointed this out in my post at that time.  Just makes me wonder whether Mia and the others are accepting of that shot selection or not.  During games, I always say under my breath, "not really the shot we wanted."  But, there it is.  She hit one last night too.  Jackson is a fast developing post area player and very key to the successes of the Titans esp. for the next two seasons.  Like Nick Anderson on the men's side, Shelby Jackson has a tremendous upside, IMHO.   But, I don't think standing at the arc she is quite yet a Doug Sexaurer, Andrew Ziemnik, or Parker Musselman when it comes to shooting threes.  I'd like to see Baltes, Gardner, or Bilek taking that shot. 

On Lett shooting threes or anything else, of course, she's carried the team offensively, and in almost every which way all year, she can do what she jolly well pleases.  Though, it must be said when Olivia gets doubled, tripled and frustrated maneuvering through the lane, she can take some pretty unorthodox, off-balanced, even ill-advised shots.  We've seen this too, and regularly, she defies defenses and makes them.  Some uncanny makes, and some misses and turnovers, too.   One can't argue with the outcomes, in most cases, though as an ardent fan, I do sometimes wonder about some of those shots, sometimes some turnovers.  Against really tough Ds, and bigger teams in the post area, this is not going to cut it -- look at the play against Whitewater, to see what I mean.  Some games like that are coming down the pike, and I hope that's when Olivia and others kick it out to our perimeter shooters for a three attempt, or reset to get the ball on the block in a better position, with Olivia balanced and squared up, able to operate again.  Just a thought. 

Yes, I hope Gardner is OK too.  Could be the defenses, could be a cold, could be an injury.  I just don't know.  But, I did notice the last two games, she was having a rougher time getting into the offensive flow more than usual. 

Senior night should be fun . . . especially with a game of no particular consequence, though I know the Titans, as always this year, will be very ready to play and send the seniors out with a win.

A superb season and my congratulations to Coach Smith and all those involved, team members, assistant coaches, staff, and trainers.  The IWU fans really enjoy supporting this team . . . especially given the special circumstances of Coach Smith during the past 3-4 month period.

IWU70

[thunder38]

Well the field and matchups are set for the tourney since Millikin joins the field despite losing to North Central

Semi-final 1- #2 Wheaton vs. #3 Carthage
Semi-final 2- #1 Illinois Wesleyan vs. #4 Millikin

[iwu70]

I think the tourney games Friday are at 5 and 7 p.m. respectively.  I'm sure IWU will be putting up a CCIW tournament website, weblink soon.  Should be a great weekend of women's DIII hoops.

Lovely senior night @Shirk last eve -- with well-deserved recognition for Burton, Solari, Hasselbring and Lett.  As the crowd was chanting at the end of the men's game, "Thank you Seniors, Thank you Seniors . . .  "  Indeed. 

Strange injury to Solari last night, with a EC rebouder going over her top, crunching down on her neck, flattening her to the floor.  Foul called on Solari as I recall.  She stayed down in pain for quite a time, then was attended to, tested, then walked off under her own power.  Hope she's OK, though I'm pretty sure she has a very sore neck today.

Any take here on who you'all think will win the WC vs. CC game in the semis?  Seems if WC's outside game is working, they have a very good chance of beating Carthage on a neutral floor.  IMHO.  MU gave our Titans a very good game in the first half at Decatur, but on our home floor, I have to go with our Titans.  Should be two very good semis.

Michelle Bilek continues to play very well, put up solid numbers with her very "scrappy" style of play, high energy, excellent D, and running of the floor.  And, Britt Hasselbring seems to know when extra scoring is needed from the PG position.  Melissa Gardner pretty much seemed back to her normal, fine self in the game against EC.  Good to see.  Godhart of EC is going to be HUGE next year.  She had a monster game Saturday evening.

Lett surely deserves another Player of the Week award this week, her sixth, but I doubt they will give it too her.  Just say'in.  She had two huge games again, and last night made some shots and passes that just defied belief.  Q is right, we are very privileged to watch her play this season and to put up the numbers and the consistent high-level of excellence in her play she has achieved all season long.

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

Tough way for NPU to go out last night, as the Vikings lost at King to Wheaton, 63-52. The Vikings essentially played Wheaton even for the whole game, except for about a three- or four-minute span in the middle of the second half in which they turned the ball over repeatedly or got off bad shots, while Wheaton never really had a bad dip in performance at all. It seemed as though every shot Wheaton put up was good, even though the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance actually only shot 37% for the game. The one big statistical difference was fouls, and therefore FTs as well. NPU committed 16 fouls to Wheaton's nine, many in the act of shooting -- mostly because the Vikings had a tough time handling the dive play down the lane that Wheaton ran like clockwork on every possession. Wheaton shot a very impressive 16-18 from the line; NPU shot 80% from the line, which isn't too shabby, either, but the Vikings only got to the line ten times.

Roxie Jones closed out her North Park career with a double-double, finishing with 16 and 10. Anti Collman (7 and 6, with four assists and four steals as well) also finished her career on a personal high note, and Sarah Peterson had an 8 and 6 game. Wheaton had three players in double figures; Lindsey Brenneman with 17, Elisabeth Potts with 13, and Laura Karsten with 10.

And thus ends a year that was disappointing for North Park in that it fell well short of expectations, but was still a step in the right direction. Now Amanda Reese and her assistants have to hit the high school gyms, the juco gyms, and the AAU circuit, and recruit, recruit, recruit!

[Backseat Driver]

Any take here on who you'all think will win the WC vs. CC game in the semis?  Seems if WC's outside game is working, they have a very good chance of beating Carthage on a neutral floor.  IMHO.  MU gave our Titans a very good game in the first half at Decatur, but on our home floor, I have to go with our Titans.  Should be two very good semis.

Hopefully Wheaton heads into the tournament with a strong performance against Augie on Tuesday. You always want to be peaking this time of year.

The Wheaton/Carthage game should be a good one. Wheaton won by 15 at home and by 2 on the road, and I would expect this to be a single-digit game coming down to the wire. Wheaton has not really shot that well at the Shirk Center of late, regardless of the opponent, so hopefully that changes this time. As they say, "it's tough to beat a good team three times." I expect a physical, low-scoring game.

[iwu70]

Chicago wins their league, receives the AQ, as no league tournament.  Better Pool C prospects, as needed, for IWU, Carthage, perhaps Wheaton?  Chicago is one of the programs still undefeated, I think 24-0 now with one game to play.  IWU lost earlier to UC on their floor by 3 points.  Hope we get another shot at them.

Looking forward to the CCIW tournament @ The Shirk next weekend.

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

Chicago wins their league, receives the AQ, as no league tournament.  Better Pool C prospects, as needed, for IWU, Carthage, perhaps Wheaton?  Chicago is one of the programs still undefeated, I think 24-0 now with one game to play.  IWU lost earlier to UC on their floor by 3 points.  Hope we get another shot at them.

Looking forward to the CCIW tournament @ The Shirk next weekend.

IWU70

Carthage is 0-4 vs. IWU and Wheaton...I don't think Pool C is realistic. Same goes for Wheaton b/c of the non-conference losses.

[iwu70]

BackSeat, that sounds about right for the WC-Carthage game on Friday.  I'll pick Carthage this time, as they played very very well at Shirk last time vs. IWU, and in some ways deserved to win that road game.  IWU won on the "shot of the year," a last second trey by Michelle Bilek.  That was probably the best game I've seen all year, men or women.  (though IWU's big win over Wash U on the men's side, perhaps a close second).  Of course, any men's win over Augie is right up there too.

I'd expect Wheaton to beat Augie in the women's game this week pretty handily. 

All-Conference Teams probably out on Thursday or Friday this week, right?   

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

BackSeat, that sounds about right for the WC-Carthage game on Friday.  I'll pick Carthage this time, as they played very very well at Shirk last time vs. IWU, and in some ways deserved to win that road game.  IWU won on the "shot of the year," a last second trey by Michelle Bilek.  That was probably the best game I've seen all year, men or women.  (though IWU's big win over Wash U on the men's side, perhaps a close second).  Of course, any men's win over Augie is right up there too.

Sure, but that was in January. Carthage has since lost to both IWU and Wheaton at home. That tells me that IWU and Wheaton are better than Carthage, regardless of preseason polls or expectations.

Now, a third matchup is always interesting. Especially when it's a neutral site game. i am under no illusions that Carthage can't beat Wheaton. I think that if Wheaton is able to, once again, take Carthage out of its offensive rhythm, the Thunder wins. If not, and Carthage plays like they did @ Elmhurst, the Reds win. We'll see.