WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Wheaton has been playing very well of late and I think the Titans getting a win up at King is going to be very difficult.  With Zeller and McDaniels beings so young and talented, WC is going to be good for some years now.  Perhaps they will be favored for the CCIW crown next year, given the talent they have, losing only two seniors, though Hovee is of course a huge loss to graduation.  Beating Carthage last Saturday has to give the Titans a lot of confidence going into the last two games @ Wheaton and the make-up game @The Shirk vs. NPU.

IWU70

[RogK]

I haven't learned anything about the severity of Hovee's injury. They surely won't need her vs IIT tomorrow, so her potential absence from that will box score would not tell us about Saturday.
Some of our readers may not know that at the end of each game, Wheaton's womens team asks the opposing players to join them for a midcourt prayer. Anyway, at the end of that on Saturday, I noted Maris Hovee having a chat with North Central's Lauren Hernandez, who is having knee surgery this week. By all accounts, both are very pleasant young women, so it was no surprise to see them concerned about each other's knee troubles. Good sportsmanship, I say. Not sure if the prayer included any complaints about the timing of the injuries!
iwu70, I've always felt that Emily Beoletto should be good in the IWU press. I remember being impressed by her quickness and athleticism the first time I saw her play. The roster lists her at 5'8" but it seems like she's 5'10" or so. Maybe a wide wingspan. I can see her being an important component of next year's team.

[RogK]

Lauren Hernandez, by the way, is very likely to finish number 1 in 3FG shooting pct in CCIW play at .529 (18 for 34). The conference stats pages indicate that you need at least 14 made threes (1 per team's game) to qualify.
Haley Stercic is well ahead of everybody else for the season as a whole : she has hit 70 of 145 for a superb .483 pct. That's the equivalent of shooting over 72 pct on 2FGs.

[RogK]

Congratulations to Stephanie Kuzmanic for this :
http://capitaloneacademicallamerica.com/News/Details/989
Nicely done, number 24.

[RogK]

The 4th CCIW playoff spot is still up for grabs, with Elmhurst (5-7), North Park (4-7), Millikin (4-8) and North Central (4-9) in contention.
Tomorrow, North Park hosts Carthage, while Millikin hosts Elmhurst. NC is idle.
If Elmhurst and Carthage win, Elmhurst captures the playoff spot (having defeated NP twice).
If Elmhurst and North Park win, Millikin and NC are out.
If Millikin and North Park win, NC is out (having lost to NP twice).
If Millikin and Carthage win, all four survive into Saturday.

[iwu70]

Warm congrats to Stephanie Kuzmanic on being named the Academic All-American of the Year. That is huge -- she's a great player, with a 4.0 GPA and considered the top Academic D3 athlete of the year.  Impressive! 

IWU's Lexi Baltes also was designated as an Academic All-American, with a 3.8+ GPA in double major -- English and Poly Sci -- making the Third Team Academic All-American honor.  Congrats to Lexi.

CCIW and all the institutions should be very proud of these two excellent D3 student-athletes. 

********

4th spot for the tournament really a helter-skelter grab bag here at the end.  IWU has a very very tough game at WC.  Titans have Wednesday off and a bit more time this week to prepare for Wheaton.  Of course, I'll be cheering for NPU over Carthage, too, but that's a long-shot chance.  We'll see. 

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

Considering the remaining games, a FOUR-way tie for 4th (at 5-9) looks like a real possibility.  Has anyone wrestled with the tie-breaker?

[iwu70]

As expected, Carthage over NPU tonight, 80-74.  Seems NPU gave them a good struggle, a good game, but the Redpeople come through and claim the road win and a share of the CCIW regular season crown.

Congrats to Carthage on this achievement.

Not sure about the tie-breakers, Ypsi.  Looking more and more like the tournament will require another long long ride to Kenosha.  Only MU now has a chance to pin another loss on CC.  Again, very unlikely. 

Titans have a very tough away game @ WC -- probably they are the 2 and 3 seeds for the tournament, so will face each other again right away on the following weekend, at the tournament, perhaps a neutral court.  They also have the weather-related make up game vs. NPU at home the following week.  Looks more and more like the Titans have to win the AQ to go danc'in.  I don't think 19-8 gets them in -- given where they are in the regional rankings.  We'll see.  Beating WC this Saturday is crucial as they would then likely be ahead of WC in the regional rankings, with 2-0 head to head. 

Congrats again to Lexi Baltes on Academic All-American.    I think three other CCIW women players were also honored.

IWU70

[RogK]

Mr. Ypsi, the tie-breaker scenarios are explained here :
http://www.cciw.org/sports/2014/2/19/WBB_0219145531.aspx?id=878&
I got a headache from just reading it all.
A few notes on the Carthage win that I attended last night :
While no Lady Red was fabulous, they mostly did their usual thing - Kuzmanic 17 pts, 6 a, 3 steals; Wenzel 13 pts, Schmidt 12; Stercic sharp from 3-land.
Possibly/probably for the first time in NCAA history, there was a player on each team who played exactly 20:00 and scored 11 pts while not missing a shot. This was done by Kasey Kleiner and Nikki Przybyslawski. Well done, both of ya!
North Park also got 15 pts from Rehberger, 11 and 5 assists from Torres, 10 pts 10 rebs from Williams. Brittany Pittas in 10:00 picked up 4 assists, a couple of which were really excellent passes.
The Vikings gave themselves a real shot at the win, but 4 turnovers in the final 4 minutes hurt.

[RogK]

In Millikin's season-saving 68-57 win over Elmhurst, Yip Ypya had 21 pts and 6 rebs; Brittany Czaplicki had 10 pts, 5 steals, 3 assists, 5 rebs; Bria Williams had 9 pts, 7 rebs, 3 steals.
For the 'jays, Fiona McMahon had 18 pts and 12 rebs; Melanie Schwerdtmann had 14 and 7.
Wheaton topped IIT 90-32; a dozen Thunder players scored and had rebounds, each playing 13 to 19 minutes. Katie McDaniels had 21 pts and 4 steals; Lauren Graham had 11 rebs. Hovee did not play.

[iwu70]

Thanks, RogK, for the updates, details.

Sure seems NPU gave CC a real tough game.  I don't think MU will offer as much resistance this Saturday in Kenosha.  Lots and lots of talented players in the CCIW this year. 

The Titans have two very tough games remaining == @WC and the make-up game @Shirk wth NPU the following Tuesday.  The Titans really need to win out, to be above WC in the regional rankings when they come to the table, likely on the bubble big time.  As I''ve said, I don't think 19-8 gets them in, so the AQ beckons.  We'll see.  If WC wins on Saturday, then goes 1-1 in the tournament, they'd be 21-6, in better shape for Pool C.   Or, losing vs. IWU, 0-1 in the tournament (playing IWU again!), they'd be 19-7, right?  Bubble territory, then below IWU in the final regional rankings.  Haven't run the numbers, but this game Saturday is very important to both teams.  They likely play again in the first round of the CCIW tournament, both needing another win to improve the resume. 

Last week of the season, before the D3 dance.  It's been a fun season to watch.  Sure wish the Titans hadn't slipped vs. NCC and the "system" at home.  Carthage has put together a great season, likely outright CCIW champs.  Congrats to them. 

Why does Wheaton play IIT?  Strange.   Clearly Katie McDaniels = "Newcomer of the Year," in CCIW.

IWU70

[iwu70]

Still 5 undefeated teams in D3 women's hoops.

IWU70

[iwu70]

RogK, or others -- any word on Hovee playing on Saturday night?

Should be a very competitive game with a lot on the line for both teams -- then very likely another chance, same two teams, in the first round of the CCIW tournament.

Zeller and McMahon fighting it out for the CCIW scoring title.  Shelby Jackson has had a very strong CCIW conference season, now 4th in scoring, some big games down the stretch, especially her performance vs. Carthage. 

IWU70

[RogK]

No word on Hovee, iwu70. Incidentally, after a 0-5 start in CCIW play, Millikin has gone 5-3. Carthage will not take them lightly.
I'll be attending Augie at North Park tomorrow. This will be my first time seeing Augustana and I'm confident that if I study them carefully, I'll be able to make a decent projection as to how well they'll do this season. (yeah, I'm a smar tass sometimes)

[iwu70]

Rog, better late than never in your judgement of Augie and their quality this season!

Hope MU plays their game of the year and pins one on CC.  I would be DE-lighted.  Still, very doubtful me thinks. 

Titans have a huge challenge @WC with or without Hovee.  Should be a great game -- then the big men's game to follow @King.  I'm hoping for two Titan Ws on the road.

Season coming to an end -- tournament play about to begin -- win or go home in most cases.  Sure hope WC and IWU get some consideration for the DIII dance.

It's been a great season, lots of good games, enjoyable for the fans, some really talented women players in the CCIW.  Thanks to all the dedicated coaches and players. 

GO TITANS!!!

IWU70