WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

I was delightfully surprised to see Olivia Lett named national POY!  Well deserved, but I didn't think she'd get it - good call, d3hoops.com!

Both teams had very low shooting percentages, but I didn't think that was primarily bad offense - both defenses were simply superb!  IMO the stat of the game was the one where defenses became irrelevant: GF made 62% of their FTs, IWU made 87%!  The final margin was a bit misleading because GF had to foul, and the Titans simply refused to miss any late FTs.

MUST IWU dig such a hole when they play GF?  Last year, 27-4, this year 9-0.  Fortunately, they dug their way out each time.  Just checked the play-by-play: IWU finished EACH half tonight with a 16-1 run!  But sometime those slow starts are going to be too much.

Just not tonight!!

[BruinFan]

It's always disappointing to have an early injury affect the game but that's one of the risks in relying so much on one player.

Munger led the team in scoring just 8 times this season prior to the tournament. Score tonight was tied under 2 minutes to go. GF held IWU to under 60 points for only the 3rd time all season even without Munger in the middle. I don't see how that is relying too much on one player.

[Mr. Ypsi]

It's always disappointing to have an early injury affect the game but that's one of the risks in relying so much on one player.

Munger led the team in scoring just 8 times this season prior to the tournament. Score tonight was tied under 2 minutes to go. GF held IWU to under 60 points for only the 3rd time all season even without Munger in the middle. I don't see how that is relying too much on one player.

Mark, gonna have to agree with BruinFan on this one.  Keisha Gordon was GF's first team AA; Hannah Munger was 'only' second team AA.  According to the announcers, when Hannah's replacement came in, she was STILL the tallest player on the floor!  You may be overreacting to Munger's game in the semi-finals, where she went for 36 and 13, and was virtually a 'one-woman-team' - after all, few of us (me included) would really follow a team so far away most of the season.

[D-3 watcher]

Great job ladies, after being on the doorstep the last couple of years, you finally get to open it, and grab the grand prize. The girls certainly have a super star, but the cast around her, is a lot better than just a supporting cast. You are a fun group to watch, easy to follow. Speaking of following, got another one next year?

[RogK]

Way to go Titans, those who played and those who supported from the bench!
I'm just back at my motel, having spent some time at the Titans' celebration at the Doubletree Hotel, along with Hoosier Titan, her husband and daughter. It was very nice, recognizing each player with applause. No bragging, just a positive time of enjoyment. Pizza, cake, beverages.
As I was heading out, the University of St Thomas team arrived to the Doubletree by bus, following supper somewhere. Special thanks to them for beating Calvin last weekend. Nothing against the Calvin team at all, but had they made the final four, the DeVos Fieldhouse would've been packed with a surplus of their fans. I liked it like it was, not completely full.
But back to IWU.
Excellent contributions from all eight who played, in what was a rugged game. Neither side allowed the other to establish anything that could be called a flow. Lexi was the top scorer early on, and played a very sharp game. Olivia ended things making several FTs, eliminating any hope GFox might've had. Melissa's 3FG was very important. Brit handled the ball superbly throughout. Colleen McMahon and Michelle Bilek provided great hustle and did many good things that aren't listed on the stat page. Shelby Jackson used her height and energy very effectively. Karen was Karen, acquiring more bruises and frustrating whomever she was assigned to guard; and she made the game-tying free throws. All eight gave all they had at both ends of the court. All told, an impressive win, capping an impressive season, all guided and inspired by Coach Mia Smith. Nicely done!
A great night for IWU and a good night for the CCIW, thanks to the Titans and to Carthage, who made the final eight.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I am hereby giving up on worrying about graduation losses.  For at least 4 years (probably more) I have bemoaned the seniors who were leaving, expecting disaster.

Cutting to only the last two years, we lost Christina Solari (among others), then reached the FF for the first time.  Last year we lost such luminaries as Stacey Arliss, Hope Schulte, etc., then went from 4th to 1st in the country!  Now we lose Olivia Lett, Britt Hasselbring, Karen Solari, Melissa Gardner, etc. - what's next: beating Baylor and UConn next year??!!

Mia Smith is a magician!!

[NCF]

I am hereby giving up on worrying about graduation losses.  For at least 4 years (probably more) I have bemoaned the seniors who were leaving, expecting disaster.

Cutting to only the last two years, we lost Christina Solari (among others), then reached the FF for the first time.  Last year we lost such luminaries as Stacey Arliss, Hope Schulte, etc., then went from 4th to 1st in the country!  Now we lose Olivia Lett, Britt Hasselbring, Karen Solari, Melissa Gardner, etc. - what's next: beating Baylor and UConn next year??!!

Mia Smith is a magician!!

With a national championship should come an increase in top recruits. I wouldn't worry about IWU womens hoops at all:)

[mactitan]

How is Mia Smith still in DIII? Bigger schools with bigger paychecks and better facilities have to be calling, right?  Has that ever been in the conversation?

[NCF]

How is Mia Smith still in DIII? Bigger schools with bigger paychecks and better facilities have to be calling, right?  Has that ever been in the conversation?

If they haven't called before, I would think they would take a close look now.

[mark_reichert]

after all, few of us (me included) would really follow a team so far away most of the season.

Actually not at all until the tournament.  I saw Fahey's 600th win, but since I see sports as an insane distraction rather than a pleasant diversion these days, I haven't been to a Bears game since.  I just figured that Munger was this year's Kristen Shielee.  Sorry I figured wrong.

How about some reinforcement on the positive things I pointed out, trite as they might be to folks here?

I just discovered the IWU Final Four Media Guide and want to add that only WashU in 2009 and 2007, Stevens Point in 2004, and Centre in 1989 had had both the men's and women's team in the Final Four in the same year, none of them having both teams win.  Only UConn has succeeded at that.

The guide also shows the IWU women's history in the tournament and some of my delight in their win might be guilt.  In 1995, 1996, 2003, 2009 and 2011 it was the Bears who knocked the Titans out of the tournament.

[Hoosier Titan]

Finally back home after a wonderful weekend for Titan fans, and I hope the other teams and fans found some positives as well.  Holland and Hope College were wonderful hosts.  The city is gorgeous, the weather was fabulous, and they even put on a parade of green for us Saturday morning!

I must agree that George Fox is far from a one-woman team.  Their gritty performance showed that last night.  Neither team was able to play beautiful basketball, thanks to the defensive efforts of the other.  Keisha Gordon was superb, all but matching Olivia Lett, and the cast of supporting characters was great:  for the Titans, Lexi Baltes's ballhandling down the stretch and Melissa Gardner's key 3 after a lot of misses jump to mind. 

I really felt for Hannah Munger; it was obvious that she was seriously hurting immediately.  The Bruins did a great job of re-grouping and, presumably, seriously restructuring their game plan on the fly.

All the teams were at the Doubletree and had celebrations, but having been at previous ones when we didn't win, I think it's safe to say that IWU's was the largest and most joyous.  The team, families, band members and fans enjoyed themselves immensely; I'm sure the party was going long after we headed back to our hotel.

If anyone in the B-N area isn't aware, there is talk of a celebration for both Final Four teams on Tuesday night.  I'll post more information as it becomes available.

[RogK]

It occurred to me that I should delete part of my previous post, since it was a bit of an inappropriate observation on my part. I hope no offense was taken.
Here's something basketball-related I'd like to point out: The two teams in the final and the team that won the consolation game all pressed full-court for the whole game. While there weren't a whole lot of turnovers induced (credit excellent ball-handling), those coaches stuck with it, apparently finding value in eating time off the other sides' shot clock and just causing stress on the opposing offense. Is this the start of a wider trend of more pressing, or just a one year abberation?

[Mr. Ypsi]

after all, few of us (me included) would really follow a team so far away most of the season.

Actually not at all until the tournament.  I saw Fahey's 600th win, but since I see sports as an insane distraction rather than a pleasant diversion these days, I haven't been to a Bears game since.  I just figured that Munger was this year's Kristen Shielee.  Sorry I figured wrong.

How about some reinforcement on the positive things I pointed out, trite as they might be to folks here?

I just discovered the IWU Final Four Media Guide and want to add that only WashU in 2009 and 2007, Stevens Point in 2004, and Centre in 1989 had had both the men's and women's team in the Final Four in the same year, none of them having both teams win.  Only UConn has succeeded at that.

The guide also shows the IWU women's history in the tournament and some of my delight in their win might be guilt.  In 1995, 1996, 2003, 2009 and 2011 it was the Bears who knocked the Titans out of the tournament.

Sorry, I hadn't really meant the post as criticism of you - after her game against Amherst, I, too, was focusing all day on 'how can we possibly stop Hannah Munger?'  Only after a bit of research (and seeing GF after HM went down) did I realize that the team was definitely NOT 'Hannah and four of her little friends'!

I had been getting a bit of a complex about WashU - especially since several of those years we had won the regular season game!

[Mr. Ypsi]

How is Mia Smith still in DIII? Bigger schools with bigger paychecks and better facilities have to be calling, right?  Has that ever been in the conversation?

I'm sure Dennie Bridges got plenty of offers too (and such coaches as Larry Kehres and John Gagliardi are well know to have been courted).  Many coaches simply prefer the atmosphere, comraderie, and lower pressure of d3; you won't get filthy rich, but you'll be paid adequately and the quality of life is better (for those who prefer that sort of life).

(And, no, I have absolutely NO insider knowledge about Mia Smith's situation or goals.)

[iwu70]

HT, let us know for sure about the celebration Tuesday.  I'd love to attend.

Sounds like a great trip, surely a happy outcome.  I watched the entire game with my 93 year old parents, all loyal Titan fans, too.  We were whooping it up in the retirement home!   

Great season, fitting ending for this tough team and our even tougher coach.  Sounds like the post-game was lots of fun.

See you later this week.

IWU70