WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

RogK · December 06, 2008, 05:33:40 PM

Just saw Elmhurst get beaten 61-48 by the U of Chicago. It was close for a big chunk of the game, but the visiting urbanites scored 18 of the final 22 points to ease away.
The U of C did not allow many open shots in the 2nd half, restricting Elmhurst to 8/33 FG shooting.
Next Saturday, U of C hosts Illinois Wesleyan.

RogK · December 06, 2008, 05:45:35 PM

Trinity International, which earlier lost in OT to Millikin, won at North Park this afternoon, 77-65, overcoming a huge effort by NP's LaRae Kostreva : 26 pts (9/16, 8/9), 15 rebs, 3 blks, 2 steals.

Hoosier Titan · December 06, 2008, 09:38:58 PM

All five starters for Illinois Wesleyan scored in double figures as the Titans defeated Maryville 92-82 in St. Louis Saturday afternoon. Mallory Heydorn had not had a big scoring game this season; she broke out for 28 points, including 8 3's and 4 assists (although it seems like more). Christina Solari scored 21 and added a game-high 17 rebounds. Hope Schulte scored 13, Claire Sheehan 14, and Colleen Caplice 10.

The game was a much closer affair than the last meeting between these two teams, in the first round of the NCAA playoffs last March, when the Titans rolled to a 30-point margin. The Saints played with a lot of spirit and made the most of their height advantage in the post on offense. Allie Wilhelm went 7/8 and scored 17, while 6'4" Rachel Viehmann chipped in 9. When those two got the ball on the block they were unstoppable. (A big part of that is that they never put the ball on the floor when they get it in that spot--excellent play!) The Titans led by 8 at halftime, 47-39. In the second half the Saints went on a scoring run and took the lead twice at around 10:00 to play. Then a pair of Titan threes from Heydorn and Schulte gave the Titans a lead they would never relinquish.

RogK · December 07, 2008, 02:43:58 PM

More Saturday results :
Carthage got past Eureka, 61-50. Katie Jarger was red hot (or certainly very warm), making 8/12 FG (2 for 3 threes) and 9/10 FTs for 27 pts, also seizing 9 rebounds.
Millikin had a lively game (with 56 total fouls) vs Missouri Baptist but finished at the short end of an 87-79 final.
Brooke Carlson tallied 21 pts and had 5 assists.
Wheaton fell to Judson, 74-64.

Hoosier Titan · December 07, 2008, 03:00:16 PM

Rog (or anyone),

What can you tell us about the University of Chicago? Bryanne Halfhill looks to be a key player. The game scores would suggest that they favor a deliberate pace rather than running and gunning. Thanks!

RogK · December 08, 2008, 01:39:05 PM

Hoosier Titan, you are correct to deduce from the U of C's scores that they do not normally want to get into a "track meet" if they can help it.
We'll see if they can control the tempo vs IWU on Saturday.
Halfhill is an impressive freshman, for sure, shooting 44% on threes, 60% on twos and 89 on FTs. You might see a lot of Claire Sheehan similarity in her game.
Looking at various other Chicago players' FG percentages at this stage of the season will not necessarily tell you how good they are. They have a bunch of talented players. Combine that with a defense that can be outstanding for long stretches of the game and you have a difficult opponent coming up for the Titans. Of course, the U of C has a difficult opponent on Saturday, too.

Old Hoosier Baller · December 08, 2008, 02:42:19 PM

I thought Elmhurst did an excellent job with the interior defense against University of Chicago this past Saturday. The Elmhurst bigs controlled the U of C bigs, but the visitors did a nice job of kicking out to the arc on many occasions during the game. U of C knocked down several three balls with the shot clock winding down to five or six seconds. It was a well-played defensive game on both ends of the floor, and was a much closer game than the final score would indicate due to free throws at the end when Elmhurst had to foul.

RogK · December 09, 2008, 11:21:11 AM

Carthage improved to 6-2 on the road, up-ending Beloit, 66-60.
Congratulations to North Park's LaRae Kostreva, CCIW player of the week.

Hoosier Titan · December 09, 2008, 11:27:48 AM

Thanks for the info, Rog and OHB. I had seen several different names as contributors in different wins for Chicago. Nice to have different options. Looking forward to visiting the Ratner Center again!

jshoops · December 10, 2008, 10:14:49 AM

I think I've got the wife talked into going to the game(she's enamored with UofC) with the kids to see IWU/C. Solari suit it up against UofC. It should be a good game.

How's the parking around the Ratner Center and where is the main entrance to the building?

Titan Q · December 10, 2008, 01:40:03 PM

Article on IWU from Bloomington Pantagraph...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/12/10/usports/doc493f3bedd80a8286171194.txt

Hoosier Titan · December 10, 2008, 03:12:36 PM

Thanks for posting that link, Bob. It is nice to see the Titan women getting some recognition.

js-as I recall, the U. of Chicago web site has decent directions and there is parking near the entrance.

RogK · December 11, 2008, 01:19:58 PM

jshoops, the Ratner Center entrance faces east. Once inside, take the hallway on the left to the gym. Note the interesting architectural features of the structure; the building is designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli, who also did the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Catching up on recent games :
Millikin trounced Lake Forest 80-49, thanks to a 51-21 2nd half.
Wheaton lost to #7 Whitewater 88-56.
North Central lost to Robert Morris Chicago 58-54.
Augie lost to cross-river rival St Ambrose 89-62.

RogK · December 13, 2008, 01:08:34 PM

Following a game against D3 #7 Whitewater, Wheaton faced NAIA #7 St Xavier last night and played a good, energetic game. The host Cougars prevailed 80-73.
Kathleen Fidelia scored 23, missing just 7 shots. For a while, it looked like she would go off for 35 or more, but SXU got in her way more often.
Everyone else made good contributions too : 13 rebounds from Annie Bowen, 5/7 threes from Lynnea Kvam, 3 steals and 4 assists from Sarah Jones, 2/2 free throws, a steal and jubilant cheering and encouragement from Noelle Dryden. The others helped, making some shots, grabbing some rebounds, playing mostly good defense and handling the ball pretty well.

Hoosier Titan · December 13, 2008, 09:17:57 PM

The matchup between Illinois Wesleyan (#3 in this week's poll) and Chicago (#17) at U. of Chicago's Ratner Center was physical and downright ugly at times. Both teams play good defense, with the Titans preferring to run on offense and the Maroons favoring a more deliberate pace. Chicago had a small lead for the first five minutes or so, with the Titans taking their first lead on sub Nikki Preston's 3-pointer. The Titans never trailed after that, stretching their first half lead to 14 once. The score was 35-23 at the half.

In the second half, Chicago narrowed the lead to 8 several times and to 6 once with 5:48 to play. Then the Titans went on a defensive run, resulting in a pair of baskets from Claire Sheehan and a basket and two free throws from Preston. Chicago scored only one basket and two free throws in the final 5:48 of the game. The final score was 64-47.

Molly Hackney led the Maroons with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Three Titans scored in double figures. Claire Sheehan had 14, Christina Solari 13, and Nikki Preston 10. Solari also pulled in 11 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double. Mallory Heydorn had an off day on the score sheet but dished out 4 assists and played excellent defense.

The shooting percentages for both teams were low: 37% overall on FGs for the Titans (as opposed to their season average of 44%), and 31% for the Maroons, whose season average is 40%. Of course, good defense on both ends had a lot to do with those percentages (and I'm actually surprised they're not lower). All in all, a tough, hard-nosed contest that should help both teams down the road.