WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Titans with one more game up at Carroll.  Likely they will finish 21-4 for regular season too -- a great year. Congrats to Coach Smith and all the Titans.  20+ wins always good.

Seems Merritt and Shanks likely on All-CCIW.  Personally, I hope Raven Hughes also gets honored, second team. 

WC and IWU get some rest, a week for prep for the CCIW tournament as the lower seeds fight it out for the trip to Carver and the last four.  If WC and IWU get to the tournament championship game for the AQ, let's hope the Titans can finally solve how to beat Wheaton this year.  Third time's the charm? 

IWU'70

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst nips North Central, 61-59, in a ragged but hugely exciting game. With the 'jays up by two with under nine seconds remaining, Lauren Goff stole an NCC inbounds bass at halfcourt, was fouled, and made two FTs with :07 left to give the 'jays what looked like an insurmountable four-point lead. But Page Desenberg was fouled while shooting from beyond the arc -- a huge defensive no-no in that situation -- with a second left on the clock. She made the first two FTs, deliberately missed the third, and the ball was knocked out of bounds by Elmhurst with two-tenths of a second remaining. Unable to catch and shoot in that situation, the Cardinals had to tip the ball in off of the inbound pass, and the tip fell short.

EC put itself into the nailbiting predicament not only by committing that final dangerous foul but by missing five out of six FT attempts in the final 32 seconds prior to Goff's two makes. The keys to the game, I thought, were Becca Gerke's ten points off of the bench in the second half after not even getting into the game in the first half (taking advantage in part of NCC being shorthanded inside after Natali Dimitrova hurt her ankle in the first half), as well as the quick hands of Kelly Weyhrich, who had three steals in the final four minutes of the game (including a huge one in the final minute that helped EC assemble that four-point lead) and a big tie-up of Lyndsay Brennan after the NCC forward had put herself in position to tally an easy putback near the end of the game.

Elmhurst clinches a tourney berth, although we don't know which seed the 'jays will have yet. That's all up to the NPU @ MU game scheduled to tip off in the Griz in an hour.

[Gregory Sager]

The other game looked like it was on its way to becoming a humongous blowout, but Carroll came all the way back from a 29-point deficit to Illinois Wesleyan to cut the lead to a dozen with a minute left before the miracle dried up at Van Male. Illinois Wesleyan won, 63-48.

[GoPerry]

Elmhurst nips North Central, 61-59, in a ragged but hugely exciting game. With the 'jays up by two with under nine seconds remaining, Lauren Goff stole an NCC inbounds bass at halfcourt, was fouled, and made two FTs with :07 left to give the 'jays what looked like an insurmountable four-point lead. But Page Desenberg was fouled while shooting from beyond the arc -- a huge defensive no-no in that situation -- with a second left on the clock. She made the first two FTs, deliberately missed the third, and the ball was knocked out of bounds by Elmhurst with two-tenths of a second remaining. Unable to catch and shoot in that situation, the Cardinals had to tip the ball in off of the inbound pass, and the tip fell short.

EC put itself into the nailbiting predicament not only by committing that final dangerous foul but by missing five out of six FT attempts in the final 32 seconds prior to Goff's two makes. The keys to the game, I thought, were Becca Gerke's ten points off of the bench in the second half after not even getting into the game in the first half (taking advantage in part of NCC being shorthanded inside after Natali Dimitrova hurt her ankle in the first half), as well as the quick hands of Kelly Weyhrich, who had three steals in the final four minutes of the game (including a huge one in the final minute that helped EC assemble that four-point lead) and a big tie-up of Lyndsay Brennan after the NCC forward had put herself in position to tally an easy putback near the end of the game.

Elmhurst clinches a tourney berth, although we don't know which seed the 'jays will have yet. That's all up to the NPU @ MU game scheduled to tip off in the Griz in an hour.

Yeah - what a game and an exciting finish.  Congratulations to the Lady 'Jays.  All credit to NCC who was down by as much as 9 in the 4th Q but hung in and fought back (yes, the EC missed FTs certainly helped) and had a bunch of chances to tie or take the lead late but couldn't get it done.  Lyndsay Brennan had a 16 pt 11 reb performance but couldn't convert a game tying layup with 20 secs remaining.  Unfortunately, the Cardinals season ends at 5-11, 7-18. 

I'm not sure it will matter but it's probably been a while since Millikin or North Park has played a game of this much consequence?  Winner moves on, loser goes home.  Will be a fun game to watch.

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not sure it will matter but it's probably been a while since Millikin or North Park has played a game of this much consequence?

Dunno about the Big Blue, but NPU was in an identical win-or-clean-out-your-lockers season finale three seasons ago at home against North Central. Unfortunately, NCC prevailed in that one, 105-100, ending the NPU season.

Winner moves on, loser goes home.  Will be a fun game to watch.

Right now I sense that it'll be more nerve-wracking than fun on my end.

[RogK]

In the first Carroll - IWU matchup, the Pios' Theresa Wichser made 8 threes, a level of productivity that Carroll obviously would've enjoyed today. She and Alyssa Cruz ended the season injured (I assume), hopefully no longterm issues. The Pios went with 7 players today.
Celina Schwantes shot 4/4 FGs while the rest of the squad made a bleak 12 of 54, including only three 3FGs.
Ball movement / passing is something Carroll has room to improve upon.
I also viewed a chunk of that Elmhurst win. North Central blew several possessions due to careless ballhandling.

[GoPerry]

I'm not sure it will matter but it's probably been a while since Millikin or North Park has played a game of this much consequence?

Dunno about the Big Blue, but NPU was in an identical win-or-clean-out-your-lockers season finale three seasons ago at home against North Central. Unfortunately, NCC prevailed in that one, 105-100, ending the NPU season.

Winner moves on, loser goes home.  Will be a fun game to watch.

Right now I sense that it'll be more nerve-wracking than fun on my end.

I'm sure NPU wouldn't have minded an NCC victory to secure their spot, win or lose, as the #6.  But the opportunity now is for NPU to get in as #5 which is a big difference this year( playing @ Augie vs playing @ Carthage).

[Gregory Sager]

NPU leads at the half in the Griz, 44-33. Jayla Johnson and Sinead Molloy have ten apiece for the Park, while Jordan Hildebrand paces the Big Blue with ten.

The Vikes are dominating the boards, 23-14. Keep it up, ladies!

[GoPerry]

NPU leads at the half in the Griz, 44-33. Jayla Johnson and Sinead Molloy have ten apiece for the Park, while Jordan Hildebrand paces the Big Blue with ten.

The Vikes are dominating the boards, 23-14. Keep it up, ladies!

The Big Blue are actually playing pretty well but the Lady Vikes came out with purpose and played an excellent half.  Hitting lots of outside shots and getting contributions across the lineup.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 77
Millikin 66

NPU claims the fifth seed of the tourney. Congrats, Vikes!

[Gregory Sager]

NPU 77, MU 66

Jayla Johnson: 19 pts, 12 rebs, 5 stls
Lauryn Alba Garner: 15 pts
Sinead Molloy: 13 pts, 6 rebs, 5:2 a:to
Josie Summerville: 10 pts, 10 rebs
Zakiya Newsome: 10 pts, 3:1 a:to

Yanni Saddler: 26 pts
Jordan Hildebrand: 15 pts, 6 rebs
Briana Anthony: 12 pts, 5:1 a:to
Faith Smith: 6 rebs

Aside from a brief 2-2 tie a minute into the ballgame, the Vikings led from wire to wire. Their 46-32 dominance on the boards, including 14-4 on the offensive glass, was really the story in this game. The fourth quarter was a bit difficult to watch, as NPU's chronic inability to make free throws kept Millikin hanging around at a distance, but other than that the Vikings really played a game that was beyond reproach. It's been a very, very long time since I've seen the NPU women put five players in double figures in a ballgame. Excellent games all around, but the money player was Jayla Johnson. She was snakebit at the FT line, but other than that she staked a strong claim for the CCIW's Newcomer of the Year award.

Yanni Saddler certainly went down fighting, as she closed out her fine career with a big game today for MU. She was about the only player who kept MU in it in the fourth quarter after Jordan Hildebrand was charged with her fourth foul.

NPU will head to Rock Island on Tuesday to face Augustana, which beat Carthage today, 61-55, in Tarble Arena. NPU beat Augie by a dozen in the Quad Cities two Saturdays ago, so this is not an insurmountable hill to climb as far as #5 @ #4 games go.

[GoPerry]

Congratulations to North Park.  They played a very impressive game I thought.  Even when Millikin started to close a little of the gap, the Vikes would make a big shot and extend back out.  I haven't watched them enough this year to know if this was one of their better games.  But if they play like this on Tuesday, they will be a very tough out in Rock Island.

Congratulations to MU's Yanni Sadler on the conclusion of her basketball career at Millikin. 

[iwu70]

Solid win for the Titans, four players in double figures.  Usually winning big in the 3Q, though tonight it was the first Q -- Titans led 39-15 at the half.  Great first half defense. 

Regular season in the books at 21-4. Congrats to Coach Smith, all the other coaches and training staff, and all the players, especially the seniors.  Congrats on a great regular season record!.  Much more basketball to be played.  Let's go get the AQ.

Congrats to the other teams making the CCIW tournament. 

IWU'70

[Gregory Sager]

Tuesday, Carver P.E. Center & Tarble Arena
#5 North Park @ #4 Augustana, 7 pm
#6 Elmhusrt @ #3 Carthage, 7 pm

Friday, King Arena
highest remaining seed vs. #2 Illinois Wesleyan, 5 pm
lowest remaining seed @ #1 Wheaton, 7 pm

Saturday, King Arena
Championship game, 7 pm

[RogK]

Augustana 61, Carthage 55;
Alexis Jones led AUG with 23 pts (highly efficient .909 eFG%). She won* the overall CCIW rebounding crown and tied Hannah Frazier in conference play.
Scooter Lopez added 11 pts for the Vikings.
Autumn Kalis topped CTG with 15 pts, while Woodward, Kaelber and Gilbert were each in the 10-11 range.
Carthage's starting five combined for 0 FT att.
Augustana committed 18 turnovers in a slow-paced game, but offset that by winning the rebounding 35-27.
* oops, not quite yet, as postseason play is included in the overall stat category