WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

GREAT day to be a Titan in Kenosha!

Carthage women enter 11-0, leave 11-1.  IWU men enter 11-0, leave 12-0!

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst 71
North Park 68

Sarah Peterson: 15 pts
Dana Christensen: 15 pts
Dominikque Williams: 10 pts

Fiona McMahon: 14 pts
Devin Vaughn: 12 pts
Katie Swanson: 11 pts

I don't know what to say at this point. The Vikings simply cannot seem to win close games, and at this point it's basically killed their season. There's some indefinable quality, some ability to execute at a higher level with the game on the line in the final minute or so, that good teams have and that NPU simply does not have. One would expect to see it in a team that has eight seniors, but it's just not there for the Vikings.

NPU blew a 12-point lead that it had established with some superb play early in the second half, and with Fiona McMahon in foul trouble it looked as though NPU would have a stranglehold on this game. It was not to be. EC did a great job of attacking the basket, and of knocking down FTs in the wake of their drives (25-29 from the line today for 86% as a team), while the Park faltered at both ends of the floor down the stretch. Once again the Vikings had a chance to tie with a trey at the end of the game (shades of the CC @ NPU game) with the ball in the hands of the right player, but Dana Christensen, who had made three of her first four trey attempts, was unable to connect this time.

I don't know if NPU is still mathematically alive or not, but I'm almost willing to say that it doesn't matter. The Vikings just don't have that extra something that allows them to prevail in a tight contest, sad to say. It was a really tough way for those eight seniors to close out their home careers on Senior Day.

[iwu70]

Backseat, if WC can chase down CC and tie for the conference, get to host for the CCIW Tourney, I'll tip my hat to them.  I just don't see it happening.  Glad my Titans pinned at least one loss on the Redpeople.  Titans are playing well, but basically have to win the CCIW tournament, it would appear, to get into the Dance.   Carthage is a really good team.  WC will have to play very well, shoot a high percentage from treyville, to win.  IWU would probably rather play in Wheaton.   We'll see.

All-conference selections will be interesting to see. 

Great game tonight by Colleen McMahon.  Her best as a Titan, ever.  Good timing.

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

Backseat, if WC can chase down CC and tie for the conference, get to host for the CCIW Tourney, I'll tip my hat to them.  I just don't see it happening.  Glad my Titans pinned at least one loss on the Redpeople.  Titans are playing well, but basically have to win the CCIW tournament, it would appear, to get into the Dance.   Carthage is a really good team.  WC will have to play very well, shoot a high percentage from treyville, to win.  IWU would probably rather play in Wheaton.   We'll see.

All-conference selections will be interesting to see. 

Great game tonight by Colleen McMahon.  Her best as a Titan, ever.  Good timing.

IWU70

Well, there's not much "chasing down" that has to happen, just one head-to-head game. Wheaton did get pretty thoroughly steamrolled by the Lady Reds in Kenosha, but I just don't see that happening again.

Wheaton did just beat IWU in Bloomington, the same IWU team that just beat Carthage, so I don't think a Wheaton victory is unfathomable.

Now you're right, it will take a good all-around performance from the Thunder. Carthage is a very dangerous team that can beat you inside and outside, and can lock you down defensively. I think the biggest thing for Wheaton will be defending Stephanie Kuzmanic, she makes the Lady Reds "go."

And keep in mind that Wheaton is typically a much stronger team at home, having won 18-straight at King Arena. Wheaton is 29-5 at home under Kent Madsen. Carthage will definitely be the best team to visit this season, however.

[Backseat Driver]

There's not much to go off of in predicting the outcome of Wheaton's game against Robert Morris on Tuesday. Both teams faced Clarke early in the season. RMU won two games against the Crusaders (76-63 on Nov. 4; 79-74 in OT on Nov. 29), and Wheaton defeated Clarke 60-47 on Dec. 4. The two schools haven't played each other since 2009.

[iwu70]

Backseat, good luck to WC vs. Carthage.  I agree with you totally about Kuzmanic.  She's the key to stopping CC.  Carthage does have a strong post game too.  IWU really hung in, with the monster game from McMahon, to beat them.  Seibring also had an excellent, tenacious game.  We'll know the CCIW tournament line-up and location soon enough.

IWU70

[RogK]

The Elmhurst/North Park game was entertaining and hard-fought, as expected. Both sides gave full effort and deserved to win. Both sides also made several ill-advised mistakes and thereby couldn't blame anyone else for a loss. That said, they are both still in it (at 4-8) for the 4th playoff slot.
The only team out of it now is Augie (2-10), having been upended 87-67 by North Central (5-7).
For NC, Maryssa Cladis scored 14 and had 3 steals, Kelsey Cooling had 14 pts and 4 steals, Sophie Newson had 12 pts, 6 rebs. Callie Rezin had a productive 15:00 : 9 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists, 4 steals.
Augie got 14 pts and 10 rebs by Molly Etheridge while Gianna Pecora tallied 13 pts.
Millikin at 3-9 needs to beat IWU, needs North Park to beat North Central and then would need to beat North Central. They'd also need Elmhurst to go 1-1 or 0-2 and North Park to lose at Carthage. Then we'd have a bunch of teams tied at 5-9. Trying to figure the tie-breakers would give me a headache. We may not need to worry about that anyway.

[RogK]

North Central set a couple of records for CCIW play Saturday. They hit 17 threes (tried 65), erasing the prior record of 16 by IWU in 2007. They also moved past IWU's record (121) for threes made in the 14-game conference season with 123 at the moment (through 12 games).
NC's leading scorer, however, is Larynn Shumaker (14.1 in CCIW play, 12.7 overall) who has not even attempted a three.

[RogK]

Congratulations to Colleen McMahon, new CCIW player of the week!

[keith45]

The Elmhurst/North Park game was entertaining and hard-fought, as expected. Both sides gave full effort and deserved to win. Both sides also made several ill-advised mistakes and thereby couldn't blame anyone else for a loss. That said, they are both still in it (at 4-8) for the 4th playoff slot.
The only team out of it now is Augie (2-10), having been upended 87-67 by North Central (5-7).
For NC, Maryssa Cladis scored 14 and had 3 steals, Kelsey Cooling had 14 pts and 4 steals, Sophie Newson had 12 pts, 6 rebs. Callie Rezin had a productive 15:00 : 9 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists, 4 steals.
Augie got 14 pts and 10 rebs by Molly Etheridge while Gianna Pecora tallied 13 pts.
Millikin at 3-9 needs to beat IWU, needs North Park to beat North Central and then would need to beat North Central. They'd also need Elmhurst to go 1-1 or 0-2 and North Park to lose at Carthage. Then we'd have a bunch of teams tied at 5-9. Trying to figure the tie-breakers would give me a headache. We may not need to worry about that anyway.

not trying to jinx NCC at all, but if NCC and EC both go 1-1 or 2-0 (both scenarios are likely, although I am not sold on EC beating WC @ WC but...) who gets in? As I typed this I realize its not only about the record the last 2 games but who they beat too..and then I got the aforementioned headache. My guess is that NCC goes 2-0 (they should be healthy in a week) and EC goes 1-1 and that gets NCC in. But if NCC goes 1-1 and loses to NP and EC goes 1-1 losing to WC....ok nevermind

[Mr. Ypsi]

Unsurprisingly, Carthage fell back out of the Top 25, losing 33 of their previous 51 points to fall to a tie for 32nd.  Wheaton finally received some votes (possibly former Carthage voters), finishing with 13 points (36th).

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not even going to bother sorting out the tiebreakers, because I just don't think it's possible for NPU to get in. The Vikings have to end their season in the airplane hangar against North Central and in the Toolshed facing the Lady Reds, and I simply don't have the confidence that they can pull off both wins. This is very tough for me to say, but NPU just hasn't shown that it can close out a tight game -- and the Vikes would no doubt have to close out not one, but two tight games in order to finish the season 6-8 and in good shape to garner the fourth and final CCIW tourney slot.

[iwu70]

Congrats to Colleen McMahon, CCIW Player of the Week.  Much deserved!

IWU70

[iwu70]

If I were voting today, Kuzmanic would be the season MOP, IMHO.  Carthage Coach gets Coach of the Year? (unless Wheaton catches, ties CC this coming weekend?).

For all-CCIW, for our Titans, I'd say Seibring 1st team, McMahon 2nd, and Gardner 2nd or 3rd.  Lots of good players out there.  Kuzmanic and Olson clearly 1st team.

Nice to know the Titans have Seibring and McMahon coming back and another group, nice core of players with lots of experience, = Baltes, Scurlock, both Reabers, Beoletto, hopefully a healthy Mullarkey.  Would love to see Shelby Jackson return, of course.  Coach Mia will need to recruit some strong newbies, especially post players, rebounders.  Baltes, Seibring and McMahon are a very nice core to build on for next season.  Top assist person, very solid PG, and the two top scorers from this season.  Looks like Seibring might win the Conference scoring title, with two games to go.  McMahon has really come on strong as the season reaches the stretch run.

Seniors Gardner and Bilek. both with superb Titan careers.  Senior night coming up to honor them.   Gardner one of the best trey shooters in the history of the IWU program, hitting the key trey in the national championship game last year . . .  and Bilek, well, just a work-horse, tenacious defender, giving it her all, all the time.  Love her game.  It ain't always pretty, but she gets the job done.  Such a hard-worker, good team citizen.  She has hit some of the biggest treys in recent years for IWU, esp. the one last year at home vs. Carthage, to send the Titans on their way to the national championship run. I've seen her make more shots falling down than about any player in recent years.     Both players will be greatly missed.

Opinions on All-Conference selections? 

WC-CC game this weekend should be a real good one.  Olson guarding Kuzmanic?

IWU70

[RogK]

OK, iwu70, since you're forcing us to :
1st team : Kuzmanic and Corcoran from Carthage, Olson (Wheaton), Seibring (IWU), Fiona McMahon (Elmhurst);
MOP - probably Kuzmanic, but Olson is very close.
For the other ten honorees, I'll go team-by-team.
Augie, Millikin and North Park : not sure who.
Carthage : leaning toward Wenzel (hopefully she'll catch me if I fall over!);
Elmhurst : Karen Senette if they get 2; Tess G not far behind, but the Jays won't get 3;
IWU : Colleen McMahon; they may get a 3rd, but I can't decide among some good choices;
NC : Larynn Shumaker plus maybe Bobbi Johns or ?
W : two of these three - Bohlen, Hovee, Considine.
Since the standings are still unsettled, someone else could still dazzle us.