WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 67
Carroll 65

Shaylee Sloan: 16 pts, 8 rebs
Lauryn Alba Garner: 13 pts, 3 stls
Sinead Molloy: 5:0 a:to
Samantha Bloom: 3:1 a:to

Katie Rossetti: 17 pts, 6 rebs
Emily Majerus: 12 pts
Brittney Wald: 10 pts, 3 stls
Mallory Olszak: 4:0 a;to

Lauryn Alba Garner banked in a runner with three seconds left to win the game for NPU. Fun, exciting, back-and-forth contest to call. Really solid defense and energy all night for NPU.

[GoPerry]

Wheaton 71
IWU    61

Hannah Frazier         21 pts, 4 rebs, 4 assts, 2 stls
Maggie Dansdill      12 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asst
Devin Kyler         11 pts, 10 rebs, 5 asst
Hannah Williams      14 pts off the bench
Jill Berg            6 blks

Rebekah Ehresman      24 pts, 8 rebs, 3 stls
Sydney Shanks         16 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls

Terrific team victory by the Wheaton Ladies tonight and all on the defensive end.  They came out with purpose, very defensively active and really made it tough for this talented IWU squad to get anything easy keeping the Titans 24 pts below their season average and ending their winning streak.  The team defense on Maddie Merritt made her pretty ineffective offensively as the visitors shot a mere 25% from the field. 

They did a much better job tonight of getting Frazier the ball in good positions down low where Merritt really had no chance except to foul.  The Thunder, despite 20 turnovers, handled the IWU pressure pretty well for the most part.  It really helps to have senior Kelly Lawson bringing the ball up with poise and able to pass out of the press.  When Jordan Myroth got in early foul trouble, Wheaton got a huge lift from freshman Hannah Williams with 14 pts on 6-9 shooting and solid minutes from Jacqui San Jule .  A key stretch came in the 3rd with Wheaton clinging to a 7 pt lead and with almost all the starters out, the Thunder were able to extend the lead and end the 3rd with a 12 pt lead.

Important to get this home win as we're sure to see this team again.  Need the win vs a RRO also.  Still an outside chance at tie for first and hosting but out of our hands.

On another note:  Despite the loss, I'm convinced that Rebekah Ehresman is the top player in the conference.  She almost single handedly kept the Titans in the game.  If she wasn't driving and going to the line, she was getting offensive rebounds or stealing the ball.  She only had 1 assist, but that had more to do with Wheaton's team D.  I hope she gets All-American recognition because she deserves it despite not having the big offensive scoring stats.  Sydney Shanks also had a terrific game.

Big win on the mens' side too - Great day to be a Thunder fan!

[Gregory Sager]

On another note:  Despite the loss, I'm convinced that Rebekah Ehresman is the top player in the conference.

I don't think Mikaela Eppard got your memo. She had 31 and 10 tonight in Elmhurst's loss at Augie.

[RogK]

Augie 93-86 over Elmhurst -- the Vikings make 32/38 FTs.
Among Vikings who did well : Alexis Jones 15 pts, 13 rebs; Victoria Allen 28 pts (13/15 FTs); Scooter Lopez 22 pts via excellent shooting - the only shots she missed were three 2FG att; Sadie Roberts 18 pts 4 rebs a block and 2 steals.
For the Bluejays, Mikaela Eppard (as Greg noted) tallied 31 pts and 10 rebs; Kaela Jones, Georgia Garvie and Lisa Logan each scored in the 12-14 range.
Hannah Henderson must've gotten injured a week ago, playing 1 minute in that game and hasn't played in the next two contests. Good luck to her; the team surely misses her energy and well-rounded skill set.

[RogK]

In regard to who may be the best player in a conference, I first ask : who is the best player on the best team? I think that answer puts Ehresman in the MOP discussion. Frazier and Eppard obviously are good choices, too. Next in line is Devin Kyler, in my view.
Anyway, there is still opportunity for players to excel as the regular season race concludes during the next few weeks.

[GoPerry]

On another note:  Despite the loss, I'm convinced that Rebekah Ehresman is the top player in the conference.

I don't think Mikaela Eppard got your memo. She had 31 and 10 tonight in Elmhurst's loss at Augie.

In regard to who may be the best player in a conference, I first ask : who is the best player on the best team? I think that answer puts Ehresman in the MOP discussion. Frazier and Eppard obviously are good choices, too. Next in line is Devin Kyler, in my view.
Anyway, there is still opportunity for players to excel as the regular season race concludes during the next few weeks.

Yes, - no doubt Mikaela Eppard is also a great player and not meaning to diminish her at all by my comment on Ehresman.   In fact, I still think Eppard is the front runner to win the MOP and nothing's changed my mind on that from my earlier post.

[Gregory Sager]

In regard to who may be the best player in a conference, I first ask : who is the best player on the best team? I think that answer puts Ehresman in the MOP discussion.

That's really an MVP criterion, not an MOP criterion. On the other hand, CCIW coaches have seemed to believe that that's a distinction without a difference, as there have been multiple occasions in which they've voted as though the MOP (the best player in the league, objectively speaking) award is actually an MVP (the player with the highest realized value; i.e., the player whose presence made the most difference in the outcome of the league) award.

[RogK]

Millikin, at long last, enjoys a CCIW victory, 73-70 over North Central.
Devin Curry was prominent in the successful Big Blue effort : 20 pts (.643 eFG%), 7 rebs, 3 assists, 3 blocks (!). Other Big Blue contributions -- Yanni Saddler 16 pts, Cassie Somers 12, Jordan Hildebrand 11. Ten rebounds each by Emily Schultz and Lauren Moses.
For the Cardinals, Mason Whipple had 20 pts, 4 assists, 2 stls. Maya Walls 18 pts (.750 eFG%) and 8 rebs, Lyndsay Brennan 15 pts, 3 assists.
Statistical peculiarities :
NCC has 5 FT att.
combined scoring by quarter - 1st 20, 2nd 32, 3rd 39, 4th 52.

[RogK]

CCIW standings and remaining schedules :
IWU 11-1   CRL        MIL   at CTG   at ELM
WHE 11-2  at NPU   at CRL    NCC   off
CTG 8-4   at ELM   NCC       IWU     CRL
ELM 8-5   CTG     at NPU       off     IWU
AUG 6-7   at MIL   off          NPU    at NCC
CRL 4-8   at IWU   WHE       MIL    at CTG
NPU 4-8   WHE     ELM      at AUG   at MIL
NCC 3-10   off    at CTG    at WHE   AUG
MIL 1-11   AUG   at IWU   at CRL     NPU

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

There is also SOS numbers to consider.

Yes.  Didn't mean to imply I was ignoring that.  But is the stronger schedule worth 3 more losses over Oshkosh(with whom they've split now) and 2 over Wheaton?  Eau Claire does have an additional RR win over St Benedict.  But they haven't gotten an ORV in the D3 Hoops poll since week 3.  And you know how much faith we have in you guys!   

In a word... yes. SOS strength could overcome the three more losses. Also remember, the vRRO doesn't come into affect until next week.

And don't worry about the D3hoops.com poll.. the RAC and national committee aren't using it, anyway.

[lmitzel]

Millikin, at long last, enjoys a CCIW victory, 73-70 over North Central.
Devin Curry was prominent in the successful Big Blue effort : 20 pts (.643 eFG%), 7 rebs, 3 assists, 3 blocks (!). Other Big Blue contributions -- Yanni Saddler 16 pts, Cassie Somers 12, Jordan Hildebrand 11. Ten rebounds each by Emily Schultz and Lauren Moses.
For the Cardinals, Mason Whipple had 20 pts, 4 assists, 2 stls. Maya Walls 18 pts (.750 eFG%) and 8 rebs, Lyndsay Brennan 15 pts, 3 assists.
Statistical peculiarities :
NCC has 5 FT att.
combined scoring by quarter - 1st 20, 2nd 32, 3rd 39, 4th 52.

I mentioned last week that I didn't think Millikin would be winless in the CCIW, simultaneously fearing this exact result being how Millikin would avoid a winless CCIW campaign.

North Central made it close late after trailing by double digits, but couldn't get over the hump. I didn't get to really look into the details during the game because I was too busy trying to will a men's comeback and see when Grey Giovanine's jacket was coming off.

CCIW standings and remaining schedules :
IWU 11-1   CRL        MIL   at CTG   at ELM
WHE 11-2  at NPU   at CRL    NCC   off
CTG 8-4   at ELM   NCC       IWU     CRL
ELM 8-5   CTG     at NPU       off     IWU
AUG 6-7   at MIL   off          NPU    at NCC
CRL 4-8   at IWU   WHE       MIL    at CTG
NPU 4-8   WHE     ELM      at AUG   at MIL
NCC 3-10   off    at CTG    at WHE   AUG
MIL 1-11   AUG   at IWU   at CRL     NPU

Wesleyan and Wheaton have both locked up CCIW Tournament berths, while NCC and Millikin are out. The Titans and Thunder can clinch top three seeds with wins this weekend and get locked into the top two if Elmhurst beats Carthage on top of that.

[duckfan41]

I'm behind on the posting because life is busy, but I was able to watch some of the Wheaton IWU game this Wednesday (I was more focused on the Men's game) and what struck me was how much IWU struggled with Wheaton's size at every position while Wheaton built their initial lead at the beginning of the game. Wheaton's front court is scary, and the guard play has seemed to catch up to the level that the front court set from almost the get-go this season. How Wheaton played last night is what I have been accustomed to from them for the last several years, and it was awesome to see them play so well. I don't think IWU will lose again, but I'd venture to say that the Wheaton team right now is a team IWU wishes they wouldn't have to compete with for the AQ. I have little doubt both Wheaton and IWU will make the big dance with one being the AQ and the other a Pool C.

[GoPerry]

I'm behind on the posting because life is busy, but I was able to watch some of the Wheaton IWU game this Wednesday (I was more focused on the Men's game cuz reasons) and what struck me was how much IWU struggled with Wheaton's size at every position while Wheaton built their initial lead at the beginning of the game. Wheaton's front court is scary, and the guard play has seemed to catch up to the level that the front court set from almost the get-go this season. How Wheaton played last night is what I have been accustomed to from them for the last several years, and it was awesome to see them play so well. I don't think IWU will lose again, but I'd venture to say that the Wheaton team right now is a team IWU wishes they wouldn't have to compete with for the AQ. I have little doubt both Wheaton and IWU will make the big dance with one being the AQ and the other a Pool C.

I think Wheaton is deserving of a Pool C but there's room for some doubt.  A RR of #8 behind 2 UAA and 3 WIAC schools is not encouraging and their SOS is going to be on the weaker end as will their vRRO record.  However, they should probably move up at least one spot, maybe two as long as they beat NPU since both Oshkosh and Eau Claire both lost Wednesday.  I'll feel more confident if the Thunder can leap one of the WIACs and jumping over both would be even better as they'd become essentially the 2nd Pool C in that region provided no conference tourney upsets in the WIAC or NACC.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU 88, Carroll 57.  Ehresman was ONE assist away from a triple-double.

[iwu70]

Yes, good bounce-back win for the Titans over Carroll, 87-58

Carroll:
Wald 18
Majerus 14

IWU:
Anderson, a career night, 22 on 5-6 from deep
McGraw 17
Merritt 10

Titans 47%, 40% from 3, forcing 25 TOs, winning the rebounding battle, 48-38.

As Ypsi has mentioned, Ehresman making her case.  Here's a line for you:

11 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 TO, and 3 steals -- coming up on a season record in steals.  She's making her case.

IWU now 19-3, 12-1, with three games to go in the CCIW regular season.

IWU'70