WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half: IWU 26, St. Thomas 25.

Pretty ugly game so far.  I've seen the Titans on the web several times now - they are not playing well, and only a relatively small part of that is the Tommie defense, IMO.  (Never having seen the Tommies play before, whether their problems are a poor game or Titan defense, I can't say.)  IWU is shooting 33%, St. Thomas 27% - that may or may not be defense.  But since EACH team is shooting 20% from the line, the scoring problems sure ain't ALL defense!

[mactitan]

A little halftime reading.  My blog about Smith and the Titans

http://fatpastor.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/looking-for-a-team-to-cheer-for-in-march-madness/

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wow - anyone catch tat play by Hasselbring?!  She tripped and maintained her dribble while flat on the floor, got up and continued the play!  Unbelievable!

Titans threatening to blow this one open.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Titans up 13 w/ 6:44 to go.

Not claiming victory just yet, but they are definitely the better team, IMO.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Titans win, 67-53.  ONE MORE!!

But I have no clue what they do with Hannah Munger (though they beat 'em last year in the Elite Eight, so who knows?!).

GO TITANS!!

[mactitan]

Wow - anyone catch tat play by Hasselbring?!  She tripped and maintained her dribble while flat on the floor, got up and continued the play!  Unbelievable!

Titans threatening to blow this one open.

That was nice, but also no the Top Ten plays that wouldn't really make a top ten list would be when the St. Thomas player was trapped on the baseline, and she tried to throw it off of a Titan's leg.  I don't remember who it was, but she lifted her leg just in time so the ball went out of bounds.  What a heads-up play.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wow - anyone catch tat play by Hasselbring?!  She tripped and maintained her dribble while flat on the floor, got up and continued the play!  Unbelievable!

Titans threatening to blow this one open.

That was nice, but also no the Top Ten plays that wouldn't really make a top ten list would be when the St. Thomas player was trapped on the baseline, and she tried to throw it off of a Titan's leg.  I don't remember who it was, but she lifted her leg just in time so the ball went out of bounds.  What a heads-up play.

Somehow I missed that one (bathroom break, perhaps, or just old, slow eyes) - sounds like great reflexes!

Once the second half was underway, that game was easier than I had feared - no way would the Tommies have had only one loss against the Titans' schedule!

[iwu70]

Wow, great stuff, great win.  TITANS in the national championship game.  Congrats to Coach Smith and all the team.  Now one more, time for giant killing (again!) . . . taking down the Bruins.  Go get one more.  We're all pulling for you. 

Congrats to the Tommies, as they fought hard and had a great season.  Ypsi, agree with you totally -- they wouldn't have had such a fat record in the CCIW or with the TITANS pre-CCIW schedule. No way.

Lett again the key -- to me, still the regional player of the year, with 24 and 10 or some such tonight.  Just all over the place even with very tough D played on her by St. Thomas.  Shelby Jackson fought hard, scored and rebounded well.  Everyone fought hard.  Gotta watch the fouling tomorrow night, and have several Titan bigs come prepared to push Munger off the block -- would expect Solari, Jackson, even Amy Burton to put some body on her, get her a step or two further from the hoop and she won't be near as effective.  Gotta defend the entry passes very well . . . keep Keisha Gordon down too.

We'll need a total team effort, a great game from Lett and better perimeter shooting and play from everyone else.  Shelby Jackson will be key, perhaps fronting Munger. 

Should be another war, another great battle.  Go for one more, TITANS!

Congrats on a great national semi-final win tonight.  Rest up, drink lots and relax -- get ready for the war tomorrow night.

IWU70

The quick leg-removal play was by Melissa Gardner -- great move!

[NCF]

Congats to the Titan ladies! way to take control in the 2nd half. Tomorrow's game should be a battle!

[Backseat Driver]

Congrats to the Titans on the big win tonight. Unfortunately I'm not able to watch any of the games this weekend, but best of luck to the Titans tomorrow night. My dad actually worked at George Fox for a while in the late 90s, during which time I went to my first DIII womens game -- at George Fox. Should be a great game. I'm sure the Bruins have not forgotten last year's Elite Eight matchup.

[RogK]

My congratulations, too, to IWU. Tomorrow's will be a tough challenge, but the Titans have what's needed.
Go get 'em, Titans.

[BruinFan]

My dad actually worked at George Fox for a while in the late 90s, during which time I went to my first DIII womens game -- at George Fox.

Backseat - did you live in Newberg during that time? I was going to GF games during those years. I think Hannah Munger was in town, but hadn't yet broke 6'.

[Backseat Driver]

My dad actually worked at George Fox for a while in the late 90s, during which time I went to my first DIII womens game -- at George Fox.

Backseat - did you live in Newberg during that time? I was going to GF games during those years. I think Hannah Munger was in town, but hadn't yet broke 6'.

We lived in Lake Oswego. I was about 10 I think when I went to the game, but I'm pretty sure it was an NCAA tournament game.

[Backseat Driver]

Just a thought on IWU, I think what has set this team apart from the Titans' other recent teams is that they are a really good halfcourt defensive team. That's not to say that they were bad in the past, but this year's team is just noticeably good. The press is still  hard to manage too, especially for the first time (like St. Thomas). George Fox will be more familiar with the press, so the Titans will need to be really solid in their halfcourt D today.

[Hoosier Titan]

Congratulations to Olivia Lett, D3hoops First Team All-American!

COY and POY to be announced later....

Holland is a sea of green for St. Paddy's day.  Off to DeVos for the consolation game.  This is a gorgeous place, including the people!