WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

RogK · February 04, 2009, 01:38:19 PM

It was an exciting game, OHB, as you say. Lyndsie Long really carried the load for Elmhurst, scoring 33 via very good shooting (14/22 -- 3/5 threes, 2/4 FT) and grabbing 12 rebounds, doing some of the point guard dribbling, playing hard in all aspects. She was stopped only in the final EC possession, when Wheaton stuck Kathleen Fidelia on her and denied her the ball, when I'm sure she was to be the 1st option.
Fidelia (21 pts, 9 rebs, 4 steals, 6 assists) and Long both reinforced their status as first team all-conference stars, in my view.
Lisa Ballenger's quick 10 pts (5/5 FG in 11:00) also helped Wheaton, as did a solid all-around game from Lindsey Brenneman.
It had to be a very disappointing loss for Elmhurst, although I didn't observe the aftermath, as I made a dash and caught the 9:13 Metra.
Thunder Dutch, regarding an at-large bid for the Thunder, wait and see what happens in the CCIW tournament. Wheaton could end up having to beat Carthage and IWU in less than 24 hours there, which wouldn't be easy.

Hoosier Titan · February 04, 2009, 01:47:55 PM

I'd say that Wheaton's chances would be better for the Pool A bid--winning the conference tournament--than for a pool C. I haven't looked to be sure how many of their seven losses are in-region, but that's a lot for a pool C candidate.

Thanks for the updates on the Elmhurst-Wheaton game. Sounds like a good old-fashioned barn burner!

RogK · February 04, 2009, 02:10:31 PM

I also include IWU's Christina Solari and Claire Sheehan on my current 1st team all-conference, with Fidelia and Long.

RogK · February 04, 2009, 07:19:36 PM

More Tuesday results :
Carthage outscored Millikin 26-17 over the last nine minutes to win 66-57. It had been knotted at 40. Katie Jarger shot well for the Lady Reds, 5/7 FG and 4/4 FT. Millikin had just 3 offensive rebs. Kayla Pembrook did have 8 total rebounds for the Big Blue.
North Central recovered from its close loss to IWU Saturday by beating Augustana 72-62.
NC had a 39-18 lead late in the 1st half and a 43-25 lead later. Augie fought back and got the deficit to 3 at 61-58. But NC took over with a strong finish.
Jessica Davis led the Cardinals with 21 pts, mostly from making 5 of 9 threes.
Kristen Fox tallied 15 for Augustana.
NC's Jackie Errico topped everyone with 11 rebounds, which raises her average to 7.9 in CCIW play, tied for #2 with teammate Meghan McGuire and W's Annie Bowen. Christina Solari is at 9.6.
Brianne Parra missed a free throw and is now at .966 in CCIW play. Katie Jarger is at .926 and J Errico is at .913. All excellent.
North Park's Larisa Coldebella tops the CCIW in 3 point pct at .444, just ahead of Carthage's Dani Ripkey's .429.
IWU's Stacey Arlis leads the overall FG pct at a remarkable .727. C Solari is next at .677, also pretty darn good.

Mr. Ypsi · February 04, 2009, 08:28:13 PM

Quote from: RogK on February 04, 2009, 02:10:31 PM
I also include IWU's Christina Solari and Claire Sheehan on my current 1st team all-conference, with Fidelia and Long.

Just from stats, I'd agree with these four. Whose your fifth? (Despite 'mediocre' stats, I'd go with Mallory Heydorn, unless I'm overlooking someone.)

RogK · February 05, 2009, 11:37:26 AM

If not Mallory, it might be Katie Jarger, a major part of Carthage's fine defense and an efficient, mistake-free offensive player.
Mallory and teammate Claire Sheehan may be the best 4 year backcourt pair in the history of the conference. Getting them together on the 1st team in their senior year would be nice.
Christina Solari is the best player in the CCIW to this point, so she must be 1st team, too. I don't know if Mia Smith can persuade the other coaches to vote three Titans to 1st team.
There will be excellent players on the 2nd team all-CCIW no matter who gets 1st team honors. Millikin's Tracie Yantis and Carthage's Carlie Janowiak could be found there.
Any number of players still have the opportunity to play extraordinarily well to finish the season, not to make all-conference, but to help their teams win more games (and hopefully have fun along the way).

Titan Q · February 05, 2009, 06:40:23 PM

An article on IWU's Claire Sheehan from the Daily Herald...

http://basketball.dailyherald.com/story/?id=269733

Hoosier Titan · February 05, 2009, 08:19:29 PM

Thanks, Bob! Very nice story with good quotes from her and from Mia Smith.

Hoosier Titan · February 06, 2009, 07:58:52 AM

Congratulations to Christina Solari and Claire Sheehan for being named to the college division all-District V academic squad on the ESPN: The Magazine Academic All-America national ballots. Christina is on the first team and Claire on the third team. Well done, ladies!

Here is a link to a brief story on the IWU web site:

Solari, Sheehan earn Academic All-District Honors

RogK · February 07, 2009, 05:31:53 PM

As I sit here in the Carthage library, having just seen the locals fall to Illinois Wesleyan, 62-46, my first reaction is: both sides played way too much defense.
I would've liked a 104-103 final myself.
It was a scrappy hard-fought contest, in which IWU opened up a bit of a lead some time in the 3rd quarter and Carthage couldn't dent it that much.
Christina Solari had 18 pts and 12 rebs to lead everyone. There were hardly any easy shots for either team, obviously due to unrelenting smart defense by both teams.
IWU again showed that it can win any sort of game, fast or slow, smooth or grinding.
Elmhurst tripped up Augustana 61-51 as Lyndsie Long scored 20. Meghan Merklein added 13.

RogK · February 07, 2009, 05:48:25 PM

North Central beat Wheaton 71-64, thanks to Meghan McGuire's 15 pts and 6 rebs, as well as good play by teammates.
For Wheaton, K Fidelia had 19 pts, 5 steals and 9 rebs, while Whitney Edgecombe (7/11, 2/2) scored 16 in 20:00.
Millikin toppled North Park 77-44. Crystal Zeigler scored 18 (6/7, 6/8), Ricki Dorsett made 5 of 7 threes and finished with 17 pts. Tracie Yantis had 8 rebs and 4 assists. NP's Hilary Kuhl scored 11.

Hoosier Titan · February 09, 2009, 09:52:29 AM

Here's a nice story about IWU's Hope Schulte from her hometown newspaper:
Hope Springs Eternal

RogK · February 09, 2009, 01:35:08 PM

Congratulations to Kayla Pembrook for making the academic all-district team, the same honor that was mentioned earlier for C Solari and C Sheehan. All three would be most welcome on any basketball roster, in addition to being excellent in the classroom.

RogK · February 09, 2009, 02:10:35 PM

Lyndsie Long is the CCIW Player of the Week. Congratulations to her!

RogK · February 11, 2009, 01:21:09 PM

IWU continued its perfect record, taking a 67-45 decision over Millikin.
Four Titans scored 11 or 13. Hope Schulte, C Solari and Mallory Heydorn combined for 10 steals and 14 assists.
Twenty-seven turnovers hampered Millikin.
The Big Blue are now even with Elmhurst and North Central at 5-5, tied for the last playoff spot. EC edged NC 58-55. Lyndsie Long led the Jays with 22 pts and 10 rebs. NC's Brianne Parra had 18 pts, 10 rebs. Meghan McGuire blocked 5 shots.
Carthage topped North Park 67-49 to retain 3rd place.
Katie Jarger put together 16 pts, 9 rebs and 5 steals in 23:00. Lisa Gartelos scored 11 in 16:00. An even dozen Lady Reds scored 2 or more pts.
Heather Gilmore, as quick a defender as we have in the CCIW, had 4 steals in 16:00.
Amanda Phillips led NP with 15 pts, while LaRae Kostreva had 13, 9 rebs and 3 blocks.