WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Hoosier Titan · March 07, 2009, 01:08:13 AM

Just a fantastic game for the Titans tonight. Ohio Wesleyan has some great three-point shooters, and they kept the Bishops in the game in the first half by shooting 46% on threes. However, the Bishops' starting five played 28, 34, 32, 30, and 38 minutes; only one other player played more than 10 minutes. The Titans were able to go deep into the bench; that group maintained a 25-30 point lead to the end of the game.

The margin was 39-28 at the half. After the half, the Titans went on a 16-2 run in the next four minutes and that pretty much sealed the victory. The principals in that run were Colleen Caplice, Christina Solari, Claire Sheehan, and Mallory Heydorn. Heydorn led the Titans for the game with 17 points on 5/10 shooting, Solari had 13 with 5 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, Sheehan had 12 with 3 assists and 2 blocks (including an amazing recovery on what looked to be a wide-open layup for OWU), and Caplice had 8 points and 5 boards. The entire Titan bench contributed; they chipped in 25 points and played more than 100 minutes. Sheehan played 25 minutes, and no other IWU starter played more than 20. Sarah Cotner continued to impress with 11 points in 7 minutes.

Katie Hamilton led the Battling Bishops with 15 points, while Kayla Gordon contributed 13. The Bishops got 49 of their 51 points from their starting five. The Titans won the battle of the boards 46-29.

Tomorrow night's matchup with the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds looks intriguing, with the speed of the Titans matched up against the size of the Blugolds. Can't wait!

Mr. Ypsi · March 07, 2009, 01:50:08 AM

It seems a recurring theme this season that the Titans come out of halftime absolutely blazing. What sort of magic is Mia Smith performing in the locker room?!

Hoosier Titan · March 07, 2009, 10:42:06 AM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2009, 01:50:08 AM
It seems a recurring theme this season that the Titans come out of halftime absolutely blazing. What sort of magic is Mia Smith performing in the locker room?!

I think it's called coaching

Seriously, she (assisted by her staff) does a great job of reading the game and making adjustments throughout.

I've always thought of the last few minutes leading up to halftime and those right after as especially important in a game and, although I haven't talked with her about it, it seems Mia Smith does too.

Mr. Ypsi · March 07, 2009, 08:46:26 PM

UWEC got the first 5 points of the game, and the last 7 of the first half; in between it was all IWU who leads 38-32 at the midpoint. Sheehan has 10; 7 other players have 2-6. Schulte had to sit after getting her third foul with about 5 to go; Solari and Castens each got their second in the last minute and a half; no one else with more than one.

With three minutes left it looked like IWU was going to run away and hide, but there's a reason UWEC is ranked #9. Let's see if the Titans can do one of those explosive second-half starts.

Mr. Ypsi · March 07, 2009, 09:18:00 PM

UWEC cut the margin to three with c. 13 left, but the Titans went on a 10-0 run; up 62-49 w/ 10 to go.

BUT, Solari just got her 4th foul.

Titan Q · March 07, 2009, 09:37:36 PM

The Titans are an absolute joy the watch. Talk about a team that plays hard for 40 minutes and leaves it all out there. And they just have so many weapons.

IWU did not play a perfect game tonight, but I thought they really battled vs an oustanding team. Lots of great X's and O's going on too. Eau Claire played a lot of zone in the 1st half, and then IWU played a lot of zone in the 2nd. Two very well-coached teams on display at the Shirk Center tonight.

Congrats on the regional victory, women, from a very proud Titan in Missouri. Let's keep this thing rolling.

Mr. Ypsi · March 07, 2009, 09:39:10 PM

Titans up 16 w/ 1+ to go - the hay is in the barn!

Although IWU led by (low) double-digits nearly the entire second half, this one never felt comfortable until about the 2 minute mark.

Mr. Ypsi · March 07, 2009, 09:41:55 PM

Final score: IWU 80, UWEC 63.

With, presumably, UWSP coming up next, it doesn't get any easier!

iwumichigander · March 07, 2009, 09:46:44 PM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2009, 09:41:55 PM
Final score: IWU 80, UWEC 63.

With, presumably, UWSP coming up next, it doesn't get any easier!

It doesn't get easier in this sectional. I do think if IWU can win the sectional they have a good chacne at Final Four.

Officials really changed the tempo about midway in 2nd half tonight. My notes show neither team scoring for over 2 minutes all due to fouls being called.

iwumichigander · March 07, 2009, 09:54:40 PM

Nice job on defense tonight by IWU - 26 points scored off 20 turnovers by UWEC.

And the IWU bench did a terrific job contributing 26 points.

Leading IWU:
Solari, Christina 5 Reb 6 Assists 13 Pts.
Sheehan, Claire 8 Reb 17 Pts.
Heydorn, Mallory 13 Pts.

iwu70 · March 07, 2009, 10:56:44 PM

Congrats to Coach Smith and all the Titans -- great job, 29-0. Sweet 16! And, almost 2,000 fans at Shirk supporting women's basketball. Fantastic. My Mother who always complains about the poor press coverage received by women's sports will be delighted with the outcome and the Titan nation support for this wonderful team. She's 90 and still going to all the home games! May Dad, who is also 90, is talking about a bus ride to the women's Final Four . . . Keep it going, keep in rolling Titans!

Great job tonight, too, by Wheaton in wacking the WAIC in their OT win tonight against a very good Plattville team. Go CCIW.

Titan Q · March 07, 2009, 10:58:50 PM

Quote from: iwu70 on March 07, 2009, 10:56:44 PM
Congrats to Coach Smith and all the Titans -- great job, 29-0. Sweet 16! And, almost 2,000 fans at Shirk supporting women's basketball. Fantastic. My Mother who always complains about the poor press coverage received by women's sports will be delighted with the outcome and the Titan nation support for this wonderful team. She's 90 and still going to all the home games! May Dad, who is also 90, is talking about a bus ride to the women's Final Four . . . Keep it going, keep in rolling Titans!

Great job tonight, too, by Wheaton in wacking the WAIC in their OT win tonight against a very good Plattville team. Go CCIW.

And that rowdy student section that the women have never had (the guys in yellow shirts).....the IWU men's team. Really nice to see.

Hoosier Titan · March 07, 2009, 11:04:50 PM

Great to see the support here. I'll post some thoughts later, but the St. Benedict's win over UW-Whitewater has us all thinking--will IWU still host next weekend? The schools remaining are IWU, St. Benedict's, Wash U, and UW-Stevens Point. St. Joseph, MN, is more than 500 miles from St. Louis, but Stevens Point is within 500 miles of all the other three schools. Does distance trump IWU's ranking above UWSP and Wash U in the Central Region? (St. Benedict's were not ranked first in the West region either).

Titan Q · March 07, 2009, 11:07:13 PM

Quote from: Hoosier Titan on March 07, 2009, 11:04:50 PM
Great to see the support here. I'll post some thoughts later, but the St. Benedict's win over UW-Whitewater has us all thinking--will IWU still host next weekend? The schools remaining are IWU, St. Benedict's, Wash U, and UW-Stevens Point. St. Joseph, MN, is more than 500 miles from St. Louis, but Stevens Point is within 500 miles of all the other three schools. Does distance trump IWU's ranking above UWSP and Wash U in the Central Region? (St. Benedict's were not ranked first in the West region either).

Uh oh.

Hoosier Titan · March 07, 2009, 11:08:17 PM

Drat. That sounds ominous.