WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Gregory Sager · January 21, 2016, 04:59:38 PM

Elmhurst 61
North Park 55

Soly Román: 13 pts, 15 rebs
Liz Rehberger: 13 pts
Nicole Kruckman: 10 pts

Mikaela Eppard: 12 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls
Kaela Jones: 11 pts

NPU flat-out tanked this one. The Vikings were up by twelve, 26-14, with five minutes to go in the first half when they just plain hit the wall. Elmhurst caught fire and scored the final 16 points of the half to go into the locker room with a 30-26 lead. And when they came out again, it was as if halftime had never happened. After Amani Davis hit a jumper to close the lead down to two, EC went on an 8-0 run to take a ten-point lead at 38-28, a lead that they later built up to 14 in the third quarter. All told, the 'jays bracketed halftime with a 24-2 run over a ten-minute period in which the offense of the Vikings looked absolutely helpless.

NPU did whittle down the lead late in the fourth quarter to three points, but the Vikes never got any closer than that, as the 'jays got three offensive rebounds through sheer hustle to keep possession from the 1:48 mark down to the :22 mark, at which point Nicole Kruckman was forced to foul because there was only a one-second difference between shot clock and game clock. Of course, there was a blown call in there, as EC clearly failed to hit the rim and should've been called for a shot-clock violation -- not to mention the fact that one official was signaling a three-second call when the whistle blew -- but after a lengthy conference, they collectively made the utterly unfathomable decision to award Elmhurst the ball with a fresh shot clock. (Alas, it wasn't reviewable, although those at the table who watched it later reiterated that the 'jays never hit the rim with either of the shots that they took during that sequence.) Nevertheless, this isn't a game that can be blamed upon poor reffing. The Vikes just plain blew it, fair and square. And give credit to the 'jays, too; they really bulldogged the Vikings on defense, as Hannah Henderson in particular did a really good job of limiting Liz Rehberger, and the post-entry denial of EC was superb.

The Vikings had first place all to themselves, and they gagged it away in the space of a week. Now it's suck-it-up time, as they have the chance to get it back on Saturday against the Greenies. But they're going to have to play much, much better basketball than they played last night.

It's a wide-open race now as we come to the end of the first round-robin.

(Good to see RogK in the crackerbox last night, BTW.)

RogK · January 21, 2016, 10:08:23 PM

Surprisingly, my password still works following a year and a half of dormancy. If anyone might wonder, I attended only 5 WBB games in the 2014-15 season, 4 were NAIA and I saw Carthage vs Chicago. This season, just 4 games so far, including last night at NP. In earlier years, I would have attended 20 games by late January, so my addiction to WBB is pretty much gone.
Gregory, nice to chat with you last evening, too. To follow up on something we discussed : it seemed to me that North Central was committing an excess of turnovers this season, and we briefly considered if this was a predictable by-product of playing the hurried System offense.
I decided to check their points scored / TO ratio, which seems a fair way to judge whether an offense blows an inordinate amount of possessions via turnovers.
Here are the Pts/TOs ratios for the league so far : Augustana (1122/252) 4.5, Carthage 3.8, Elmhurst 4.2, Illinois Wesleyan 3.7, Millikin 3.0, North Central 4.6, North Park 4.6, Wheaton 4.8.
Looks like Wheaton is the most efficient with the ball so far, scoring 4.8 pts for every turnover that they commit. NC, at 4.6, isn't doing too bad. While they may commit TOs because of haste, many other teams commit proportionally more, often in time-consuming efforts to get the ball into the low post.
Now, I know many readers would be disappointed, if not agitated and upset, if I neglected to mention the ultimate standard of System WBB, Olivet Nazarene (NAIA); through 20 games, they've scored 2250 and committed 362 TOs for a rather excellent 6.2 ratio.

Titan Q · January 23, 2016, 10:02:05 AM

Obviously a big game at North Park tonight between the Titans (5-1, 1st place) and Vikings (4-2, 2nd place) to complete the first half of conference play.

I have watched 3 of IWU's game in CCIW play and am really impressed with the Titans' young nucleus:

(CCIW only stats)

* Rebekah Ehresman, 5-7 So. PG (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.3 apg)
* Molly McGraw, 5-8 So. G/F (22.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
* Maddie Merritt, 6-0 Fr. F/C (11.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Ehresman makes the team go - she is steady and smart and just seems to make good basketball plays all of the time. McGraw, who is a Track All-American at IWU (4th in Division III Indoor high jump last year), is sort of more pure athlete than pure basketball player, but she does so many things well on the floor. She's good off the dribble, has a nice pull-up mid-range game, and is perfect in IWU's run & jump press. 6-0 Merritt, a 1st Team all-stater last year at Tri-Valley, gives IWU a strong low post presence and is really starting to figure it out.

Also really impressed by the damage IWU is able to do with its press. The Titans are forcing 27 turnovers per game in CCIW play. IWU's CCIW opponents have 74 assists and 163 turnovers (0.45) - that's about as good as you'll see in that stat.

I'm looking forward to watching this group develop...they are very talented.

iwumichigander · January 23, 2016, 08:24:39 PM

Titans by 1 in OT over North Park yes!

Mr. Ypsi · January 23, 2016, 08:51:09 PM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 01, 2015, 07:40:05 PM
Quote from: iwu70 on December 01, 2015, 11:17:35 AM
Ypsi, I think for the IWU women to return to the top tier of the CCIW will depend on the fast development of the two freshmen bigs that IWU has now. And, it seems the team needs more diverse scoring with greater help from Holness and Ellsworth. So far, depending quite a lot on Ehresman and McGraw, the two very good sophomores. This team is very young and will take time to develop, learn how to win and put teams away. Not there yet. But, I think later in the year or surely next year, things will look much better for Mia and the TITANS.

IWU70

Relying on freshmen and sophomores can be very frustrating in the short term, but is VERY encouraging for the long term!

I'm still gonna predict at least fourth for this year, and first or second for next year.

Mark, O ye of little faith! 6-1!!

Still a long way to go, but even I may have been too pessimistic about THIS year. IF they continue on and finish first (or even second or third) with THIS young a team, it would be an absolute travesty if Mia was not COY. (Or is the CCIW one of those backwards conferences that just automatically gives that award to the coach of the first place team - I can't recall.)

Titan Q · January 24, 2016, 09:03:14 AM

IWU 72
North Park 71 (OT)

http://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=3504&path=wbball

* Rebekah Ehresman: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
* Maddie Merritt: 15 points, 10 rebounds

* Liz Rehberger: 27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
* Soly Roman: 14 points, 8 rebounds
* Nicole Kruckman: 13 points, 7 rebounds

IWU trailed by 6 at the half and by 5 after the 3rd Q. In the 4th Q, NPU led by 5 with 1:42 to go and 4 with 0:12. Quite a comeback by the Titans.

Sophomore Rebekah Ehresman had 13 points in the final 5 minutes of regulation plus OT. This included 2 FTs with 0:06 in regulation to tie the game at 63, and the game winning FT with 0:06 in OT. She's a great player.

Freshman Maddie Merritt had her first career double-double (15 & 10) and made a number of big baskets down the stretch.

I think this young IWU group will keep getting better as they gain experience and confidence.

RogK · January 24, 2016, 09:19:42 PM

We are at the halfway point of CCIW conference play, so this is a good time to look at numbers fairly (all teams having played the others once).
What follows are per game averages for each team's offense, conference games only. Yes, offense is only half the story.
TEAM FTs made FTs missed 2FGs made 2FGs missed 3FGs made 3FGs missed TOs
A 13.0 6.9 19.3 26.9 4.1 10.4 17.1
C 14.6 4.0 14.7 20.1 7.3 12.7 19.3
E 15.6 5.7 19.9 23.0 5.0 10.3 18.3
IW 15.7 7.6 23.7 28.3 4.0 10.9 17.9
M 13.4 4.1 18.6 25.4 3.9 9.3 22.1
NC 17.3 8.6 18.4 22.3 11.7 29.9 21.9
NP 15.4 5.7 20.4 31.9 5.0 7.1 14.6
W 11.1 5.4 18.0 26.7 5.4 12.7 15.9
Thought it would be interesting to see bulk numbers instead of PCTs.

RogK · January 25, 2016, 05:37:23 PM

Here is the defensive side of the story, per-game averages for opponents in 7 conference games.
TEAM oppFTs made oppFTs missed opp2FGs made opp2FGs missed opp3FGs made opp3FGs missed oppTOs
A 15.0 4.7 18.0 29.4 5.6 11.9 14.4
C 14.6 5.9 18.7 25.3 6.4 15.9 13.3
E 13.1 7.1 20.1 22.6 6.1 10.6 16.3
IW 16.7 5.6 18.3 20.6 4.1 13.3 25.9
M 13.0 5.7 20.9 23.0 6.1 14.4 14.9
NC 14.3 6.1 26.7 33.7 6.3 10.0 27.1
NP 14.9 7.9 15.7 25.1 6.4 13.3 18.6
W 14.6 5.0 14.6 24.9 5.3 14.0 16.6
-

iwu70 · January 26, 2016, 02:46:22 AM

Ypsi, I have faith -- always thought this group would develop, be good with Mia as Coach, and also baring injuries. So far the sophomores and the freshmen are developing well, perhaps a bit ahead of schedule. Titans actually need more contributions from Ellsworth and Holness -- the upperclasspeople. Time will tell -- surely a good first half at 6-1 after the tough non-CCIW schedule earlier. Defense telling the tale. Hope they can finish strong and win the regular season crown.

IWU'70

GoPerry · January 27, 2016, 11:11:35 AM

Once again a very big game for both IWU and Wheaton at Shirk tonight. A victory for the Titans can just about lock up 1st place with a 2 game lead and a favorable schedule. A win for the Thunder pulls them into virtual first with the double win tie-breaker(but with still a lot of work to be done).

The lady Thunder will need to shoot a pretty high percentage to come out with the W. If they can shoot over 40% or so from the field and close to 40% from the arc while not getting hurt badly on the boards, that might be the recipe for the road upset. Katie McDaniels will get hers as always, but they'll need a good game from Chantal Meachem to have a chance. <12 turnovers and defense, defense, defense . . .

iwu70 · January 27, 2016, 07:22:56 PM

GoPerry, I agree that the game at The Shirk is a big one. I'm pretty sure the Titans felt they let one slip away up at Wheaton. They have improved step by step all season and have a much better offensive identity now, to go along with their pressure defense. My sense is that they will come out strong tonight and get the win, pretty well locking up the regular season CCIW crown, at least being in the driver's seat. We're all surprised they went 6-1 in the first half, esp. after the struggles of the pre-CCIW schedule, which was as usual a pretty tough one. Mia always has the team well prepared, so I'm sure that will be the case tonight. We'll see how well WC handles the "run and jump" full-court pressure. If the Titans get good contributions from Ellsworth and Holness and the other key players -- Merritt, McGraw and Ehersman -- play like they have been playing, I feel pretty optimistic about a home-court win for the Titans. IWU has improved on rebounding and on paint defense. We'll see.

Go TITANS! A somewhat surprising, surely improving season so far.

IWU'70

iwu70 · January 27, 2016, 08:40:06 PM

Titans down 29-13 at the half -- well, about the worst I've seen the Titans play all year. McGraw with 3 PF, 0-6 shooting. Ehersman also scoreless. Seems their heads are not in the game. Hoping for a big second half comeback.

IWU'70

iwu70 · January 27, 2016, 09:19:47 PM

Well, I couldn't have been more wrong about the Titans being ready for this big game. Being blown out by Wheaton at home. Not playing well at all. Tough loss, but still a good chance to win or share the CCIW crown.

'70

GoPerry · January 27, 2016, 10:07:40 PM

WC 69 IWU 53

And not really that close. Nope - I was not really expecting that runaway. Not sure where to begin on how the Thunder dominated just about every category. Wheaton played well but it seems IWU had one of those untimely nights where they just simply could not make a basket despite plenty of open looks. Wheaton handled the press rather easily from the 1st quarter on and I was somewhat surprised that Coach Smith stayed with it the whole game since Wheaton was getting so many uncontested layups, and I mean of the not-a-green-jersey-within-10-feet variety. It took pressure off of Wheaton's half-court game which has been their weakness of late.

This was an important road win for the Thunder-not just for pulling into 1st with the head to head tie-breaker but also to get a head of steam and confidence with 3 straight wins now with 2 tough games looming @NCC and @ NPU. They absolutely cannot let up but have to protect what they did tonight. I think the #1 seed and hosting the conf tourney will be key.

iwu70 · January 27, 2016, 10:11:58 PM

I give credit to WC on their win, but the Titans really played poorly. Ehresman and McGraw a combined 3 - 22. Can't win when your key scorers have a night like that -- no one else really picking up the slack. Only Holness tonight. Very poor percentage shooting again. Sad to lose one like that on your home court.

Gotta let it go and move on -- win out and hope WC has another slip up down the road.

IWU'70