WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GoPerry]

Big Blue over the Thunder 68-48

Give the Wheaton ladies credit for making a great effort to stick with the Big Blue for 2/3 of the game.  Wheaton actually had the lead at 36-34 with about 6 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.  But a MU timeout got them back on track and Wheaton couldn't stay with them.  Even without Ratsch and missing Aubrey Staton (Covid protocol) MU is just a better team all around with multiple scoring weapons. 

Wheaton's Annika Richardson,  21 pts 5 rebs, is clearly legit offensively as she was basically the only scoring threat tonight.  She can shoot the three, has some decent post moves and is able to finish in traffic.  21 turnovers for the Thunder – their fourth straight at 20+.  Annie Tate made the trip but was still in the boot.

Knudsen led all scorers with 25 pts, 7 rebs.  Jordan Hildebrand had 13 and 11; Bailey Coffman 10 and 8. 

[Gregory Sager]

Yeah, that was a 14-1 run by MU to close out the third quarter. It appeared to be a back-breaker, as Wheaton continued to fade into the fourth.

As you said, Richardson is definitely the real deal. She got those 21 points by going 8-13 from the field and 4-6 from downtown. She is a very impressive freshman. Ellie Cassel managed to score ten as well. The problem for Wheaton, aside from the huge turnover disparity, is that the portion of the WC squad that isn't named Richardson or Cassell went 6-35 (.171) from the field.

Knudsen wasn't efficient from the field this evening, but she was effective. She also had seven rebounds, three steals, and posted a 5:2 a:to ratio. She does it all.

In Rock Island, Augie had a little more trouble with the Bluejays than I thought they would -- the 'jays got as close as three early in the final quarter -- but the hosts gradually managed to gain separation as the quarter went on. Gabby Loiz had a very nice 21 and 8 effort, while Macy Beinborn added 14, Lauren Hall posted 12 and 6, Emily Brenneisen had 10 and 7, and Emma Berg chipped in 10, while Erin Morrissey led Augie in rebounds with 11. The 'jays were paced by a nice 22 and 11 performance from Kate Matthews, while Morgan Collar scored 11 and Katie Matrise tossed in 10 in the losing cause.

[RogK]

updated CCIW standings :
6-0 MIL
5-0 IWU
3-2 NPU
3-3 CTG
2-3 CRL
1-2 NCC
2-4 WHE
1-3 AUG
0-6 ELM
no identical W-L records, although some ties in winning pct and in "games under .500"

[Gregory Sager]

The IWU @ NPU makeup date is Monday, January 24, at 7 pm in Chicago.

First things first, though. Carroll comes to town on Saturday, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the resurgent Pioneers bring to the table.

[iwu70]

IWU finally returning home for some games -- Saturday afternoon 2 p.m. hosting Augie . . . the game where some awards will be passed out for last year's women's squad . . . including several key plaudits for Kendall Sosa. 

IWU hosting MU on Wednesday the 19th, which could be the battle of the undefeated CCIW teams . . . a game for top spot in the CCIW race at this half-way point in the season, about 1/3 through the CCIW race.  I'm glad the IWU team gets some home games now after a difficult run of road contests.

Greg, thanks for the info on the re-scheduling of the IWU women @NPU. 

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Because Carroll's had so many players in and out of the lineup since mid-December, I've been trying to get a bead on which Pioneers I'm likely to see and which ones I won't in their game against North Park that I'll be calling tomorrow afternoon. It appears to me that the two remaining question marks are Katie Rohner and Olivia Rangel. The last game in which either one played was on December 21 against Centre. Neither played in the overtime win over Carthage nine days ago, and neither played in the big win over UWW on New Year's Day. That seems like a long time for a Covid quarantine, so I'm wondering if one or both of them is injured.

Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Greg, thanks for the info on the re-scheduling of the IWU women @NPU. 

You're mistaken, Mark. I gave you the info on the re-scheduling of the NPU women at home versus IWU.

[iwu70]

Ah yes, a difference without a distinction . . .

IWU first hosting Augie on Saturday, 2 p.m., needing to take care of business, not look ahead to the MU game the following Wednesday.  Need to win again, go into the game with MU undefeated and ready to try to upset MU at home.  A tall order . . . slowing down Ms. Knudsen and all the other good MU scorers.  Mia Smith vs. Olivia Lett . . . a great coaching match-up. 

Greg, I'm thinking of driving up to NPU for the game on the 24th.  Do you have spectator restrictions in place now at NPU?   And, more importantly, is Charcoal Delights open and operating as usual? 

IWU'70 

[Gregory Sager]

Greg, I'm thinking of driving up to NPU for the game on the 24th.  Do you have spectator restrictions in place now at NPU?   And, more importantly, is Charcoal Delights open and operating as usual? 

IWU'70

1) Here's NPU's current spectator policy.
2) Heck, yeah.

[iwu70]

Thanks, Greg, it looks like I could attend games at NPU.  I'm fully vaccinated and boosted . . . and a burger following!

IWU hosting Augie today, at 2 p.m.   A special ceremony honoring Kendall Sosa, in person, will be held ten minutes prior to the men's game at 4 p.m.  Looking forward to welcoming many former IWU players back to The Shirk today.

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Carroll 104
North Park 48

Emily Czuhajewski: 18 pts (3-7 trey)

Natalie Palzkill: 12 pts, 8 rebs, 4 stls
Chloe Halvorson: 11 pts, 12 rebs
Lauren Soyke: 11 pts
Elizabeth Behrndt: 11 pts
Katie Evans: 10 pts
Kate Christian: 10 pts, 4:0 a:to
Brooke Foster: 7 rebs, 3:0 a:to

The Vikings were without Jayla Johnson, Lauren Lee, Chantel Hairston, and Olivia Reed due to Covid quarantine protocol, and Esther Miller also didn't dress due to an undisclosed illness, so this result was to be expected.

[RogK]

Attended the Carroll at NP game, which I expected (ignorant of all the covid absences) to be a very good contest between talented teams.
As Greg noted, NP was missing a massive chunk of its offense/defense and couldn't compete well with the Pios.
Carroll was missing top scorer Rohner and distance specialist Wichser, but others used their minutes quite well.
Good to see senior Kayla Stefka make her season debut for Carroll. I'm not sure what sort of injury she was sidelined by.
Her career 509 points and 245 rebounds coming into this season remind us that she has been both good and reliable.

[RogK]

Millikin (without Bailey Coffman) stunned Carthage with a 21-1 1st quarter and won 62-42.
Elyce Knudsen had 16 pts and 5 rebs, while Jordan Hildebrand tallied 12 pts and 4 steals.
Millikin also got 8 pts each from Emily White and Sarah Ness.
Bridget Barrett led Carthage with 8 pts and 5 rebs.

[WLCALUM83]

Millikin (without Bailey Coffman) stunned Carthage with a 21-1 1st quarter and won 62-42.
Elyce Knudsen had 16 pts and 5 rebs, while Jordan Hildebrand tallied 12 pts and 4 steals.
Millikin also got 8 pts each from Emily White and Sarah Ness.
Bridget Barrett led Carthage with 8 pts and 5 rebs.

Carthage isn't alone in that "1-pt 1st Qrtr" club. Earlier, in the NACC, Concordia-Chicago held Dominican to 1 1st Qrtr pt. in a rout.  However, earlier today, that same Star squad led WLC 9-8 after 1 Quarter before the Warriors pulled away late in the 2nd half to get a road win and keep their record unblemished.

[Gregory Sager]

Attended the Carroll at NP game, which I expected (ignorant of all the covid absences) to be a very good contest between talented teams.
As Greg noted, NP was missing a massive chunk of its offense/defense and couldn't compete well with the Pios.

"Massive chunk" is putting it mildly. NPU was missing 65% of its points, 60% of its rebounds, and 61% of its minutes this afternoon.

I told North Park SID Tyler Woolbright after the game that Emily Czuhajewski deserves to be named CCIW POW for somehow managing to score 18 points with that lineup around her.

[GoPerry]

Wheaton 67
NCC 54

Wheaton led by as many as 17 in the first half but credit the Lady Cards who were finally able to make some shots and close to within 3 pts early in the 4th Q.  But Wheaton was able to hold on and extend in a game not really well-played by either team.

Annika Richardson had another terrific all around game with 28 pts, 10 rebs, 3 stls.  The freshman from Minnesota is carrying the Thunder lately and showing lots of athleticism and offensive variety, scoring with right or left hand.

NCC was led by Jessica Kowalczyk with 19 pts.