WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

Some other CCIW highlights from recent days :
On Friday, Millikin beat Wisc Lutheran 81-57. Kayla Pembrook had 23 pts, 9 reb and 4 assists.
The Big Blue also won Saturday, 70-62 over Maryville in OT. Elise Wildman contributed 21 pts and 10 reb.
Augustana had a double OT win over Peace 85-76. Natalie Runge scored 27 and grabbed 15 rebounds. Sarah Rachwalski had 6 assists, 11 reb and 13 pts.
Augie forward Lani Kasten had 16 pts and 11 reb the next day vs. Lynchburg, but the Vikings lost 71-63.
Carthage remains winless at home (ha ha) but will finally get to play there. Originally, all eleven of their nonconference games were to be on the road, but Clarke has kindly consented to switch the upcoming game from their home gym to the Lady Reds' new digs in Kenosha.

[RogK]

IWU has ascended to #2 in the nation. They will next play in damp Tacoma this weekend.
Congratulations also for Kayla Pembrook on being CCIW player of the week.
Over her last four games, she rang up 74 points, 44 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals, while shooting 60% (15/25) on 2s, 47% (9/19) on 3s and 17/24 FTs. Plus, we know she plays very good general defense.

[Hoosier Titan]

Illinois Wesleyan made it to Tacoma and fought off a second-half rally by Linfield to win 75-62.  I was only able to follow on live stats.  Some of the highlights:  Christina Solari had what's become her usual double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Kylie Castans had 10 points and 9 boards, and Holly Harvey, starting at point guard, had 12.  Claire Sheehan and Stacey Arlis each had 9, Nikki Preston 8, and Hope Schulte 7 for the Titans.  Although Sheehan's point total was below her average, they were key points, as she twice helped stop Linfield scoring runs.  Sheehan and Hope Schulte each had 4 assists.  Looks as though Whitney Honn was nearly unstoppable for the Wildcats with 8/10 shooting in 25 minutes.  She had 18 points and Nadra Evans 17.

Tomorrow the Titans play Puget Sound, who have just beaten Luther 69-59. 

[Hoosier Titan]

Here's the Pantagraph story on the IWU game:

IWU Women Fight Off Linfield

[jshoops]

Pantagraph story: IWU women cruise past Loggers in tourney play http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/12/29/usports/doc49584f84a329b319866916.txt

I kept up with the game on LiveStats.  The Loggers tried to keep up for 40 minutes but IWU put their foot down and took control late in 2nd half.

[RogK]

Writing from the 5th floor of the fabulous new Seattle Public Library, a few notes on IWU's games in Tacoma :
Last night, they beat host U of Puget Sound, 73-54. Tournament MVP Christina Solari was quite good -- 5 steals, 8 assists, 14 rebounds and 15 pts (5/7, 5/8).
Claire Sheehan also had an excellent game, scoring 23, hitting 6/8 twos, 2/3 threes and all 5 FTs.
Nikki Preston had a productive 21:00, tallying 11 pts via just 6 shots.
The rest of the bunch contributed very well, as well, in both games.
My sister and I also had the pleasure of meeting the Holly Harvey parents while riding the #16 Pierce Co Transit bus before and after the games. Any visitors who dive into the local public transit get a good grade from me.
Kylie Castans missed the 2nd game due to a gurgling stomach.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I can't let this board stay 'dead' for an entire week!

#3 and #4 both lost these past two weeks, so #1 is clearly between Rochester and IWU.  UR led by only 6 points in the prior poll, and has been idle while the Titans have won three games (albeit none of them particularly impressive).  So -- who's #1 this week?

[jshoops]

Well, for 38:42 minutes IWU was behind St. Francis(D-II) and IWU pulled it off.  Nothing too unusual, game totals all within the IWU averages, 4-5 fewer rebounds and Solari picked up 3 fouls in 2 minutes in the first half.  So on the other hand, at the end of 40 minutes,  good teams figure out a way to win regards of the circumstances.

[Hoosier Titan]

I posted my reply on the Top 25 board.  I didn't summarize the game here because 1) I wasn't there (although that hasn't stopped me before ), and 2) I wasn't there because I was on my way to California for a conference, getting settled in, and doing this week's "How They Fared".  Was anybody here at St. Francis?  It would be good to have an eyewitness account.  Rog or anyone?

I think the Titans would be a worthy #1, but a place or two doesn't really matter as much as finding a way to win.

[RogK]

I was at NAIA Olivet Nazarene vs. Millikin, Hoosier Titan. I see that Claire Sheehan had another nice game in the IWU win over NAIA St Francis, 20 pts, 5 steals.
Millikin had trouble with ONU's continuous, all over the floor, tight pressing and trapping. The Big Blue had 25 first half turnovers, 44 for the game, which was won by ONU, 104-79.
Millikin will not face a defense quite like that in the CCIW.
I sat near the Millikin bench and was impressed to hear Coach Kerans continually encouraging and teaching her players.
Freshmen Bethany Wellbaum and Julia Robert each played 13 minutes in the 2nd half, giving them valuable experience facing a highly energetic opposition. It looks to me that both of 'em will be able to add depth for the Big Blue this season and can be prominent in Millikin's upcoming years.
Jacquie Larson provided 8 pts, 4 rebs, a couple of assists and a steal in her 15:00.
Tracie Yantis led with 16 pts and 5 assists.
ONU (11-3) was led by 27 pts from Courtney Hehn, who made 8 of 18 threes in 18:00. I like that thinking : if you have someone who can shoot, let her shoot! Of course, the other ONU players took a combined 75 shots, so they weren't looking to Hehn (20 FG att total) every time, obviously.
Eight ONU players had 2 or more steals.
IWU will face ONU in February. Try to fit that one into your schedule, HT.
Elsewhere, Augie lost, NP lost and won. Wheaton won in OT, thanks in part to Annie Bowen's 18 pts, 16 rebs.
In a few hours, Carthage finally has its first home game.

[Old Hoosier Baller]

Elmhurst jumps back into action tomorrow night against non-conference Vassar College.  I believe that Vassar goes on to play North Park on Wednesday evening as the second leg of their trip.  The Jays will still be without the services of starters Kelsey Monroe and Megan Ney due to injury.  Hopefully, both will be back within the next game or two as conference action ramps up.

[Mr. Ypsi]

#3 and #4 both lost these past two weeks, so #1 is clearly between Rochester and IWU.  UR led by only 6 points in the prior poll, and has been idle while the Titans have won three games (albeit none of them particularly impressive).  So -- who's #1 this week?

Rochester remains #1, but the gap is down to 4.

[Hoosier Titan]

Titans are #1 in that other poll!
http://www.wbca.org/DIIICoachesPoll.asp

[RogK]

And congratulations to CCIW player of the week, the Titans' Claire Sheehan.
From yesterday: Wheaton topped Schreiner Univ, 77-67 behind Kathleen Fidelia's 21 pts, 6 steals, 7 rebs, 7 assists and 2 blocks.
Carthage crunched Clarke, 84-55. Katherine Burshiem scored 13 (5/7, 3/3) and grabbed 5 rebounds in 15:00 of action.

[mr_b]

North Park picked up a win against visiting Vassar, 59-45.  Here is the box score.  Amanda Phillips scored 17 and Larisa Coldabella added 10 for the Vikings. Newcomer Bonnie Nge (a transfer from Judson) scored 4 in her Viking debut.