WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

Having attended the twin bill last evening, I think both Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan are playing quite well, peaking at an opportune time of the season.
By the way, when Carthage coach Bernero took his three seniors ( Rachel Szydlowski, Micala Giammarino, Bailey Gilbert ) out of the game with 25 seconds to go, the IWU bench joined in the nice ovation that was given. Carthage wouldn't have seen that, so I mention it here.
Incidentally, sometimes we also see opposing players applaud at pre-game Senior Day ceremonies. I like that sportsmanship, too. Even if a few minutes later they may exchange elbows to the ribs!

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU and Wheaton tied at 20 at end of Q1.  Helluva game so far!

[duckfan41]

After a back and forth first half, Wheaton on top 37-34 in King Arena. This game is crazy and only going to get better!

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half, Wheaton 37, IWU 34.  IWU made a shot a split second after the buzzer or it would be even closer!

[Mr. Ypsi]

After 3Q, Wheaton 54, IWU 51.  WHAT A GAME!!!

[UWPSUPERFAN77]

Who Won? Thank You!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Titans win!!  69-68!

[lmitzel]

Crazy stat: this is only the second time a #2 seed has won the CCIW Tournament (Wheaton in 2004); every other year the #1 seed has pulled it off.

Congrats to Illinois Wesleyan, and good luck to them (and presumably Wheaton) in the NCAA Tournament.

[iwu70]

Bravo TITANS, great win.  IWU over WC 69-68.

Two great teams trading punches.  Both very worthy CCIW tournament champions.  For sure.

Difference the Titans defensive effort in the 2nd half, especially the 4th Q.   I knew if the score was closer to 70 than 50s, IWU would have a chance.

For IWU:
Merritt 15
Sosa, perhaps the difference tonight, 12
Schneider 16
Shanks and Hughes making key contributions.
Lansford quality minutes

For WC:
Frazier, no doubt the CCIW MOP, 25
Williams 12
Demski 12

Great game,  IWU goes to 23-4, and the AQ.  Why not?

WC will surely get a bid as well, most deserved.

Congrats to the Titans, Coach Smith and all the Staff on the CCIW Tournament Championship.

Great basketball by both teams.  Congrats to Wheaton for their outstanding season to date.

IWU'70

[shepherd]

Illinois Wesleyan coach had a strategy to smash and bump into the Wheaton players.  That's not basketball. 
If you watch good women's basketball it doesn't look like the SPASZZ FEST this game was.

You don't see University of Connecticut women's players purposely smashing into players as a strategy.
This did not look like an athletic event.

Someone needs to get the Wheaton football players under control as they were riding the one bad ref that looked like FREDO from the godfather.  He was not calling an even game like the other refs were.  Look at his facial expression and body language on this guy he is one wound up person.
Illinois Wesleyan won this spazz fest.

Anyone who thinks that was a great game is nuts.  Championship teams do not play like that.

[Mr. Ypsi]

WOW, just WOW!  Talk about sour grapes!!

Wheaton was called for MORE fouls than IWU, and that was NOT due to poor officiating.  You need to get a new prescription for your orange lenses.

And it WAS a great game.

[shepherd]

WOW, just WOW!  Talk about sour grapes!!

Wheaton was called for MORE fouls than IWU, and that was NOT due to poor officiating.  You need to get a new prescription for your orange lenses.

And it WAS a great game.

Your crazy.
Tell me about these great athletic plays please.
A clip for sports center?
It was a spazz fest.  A football game maybe but athletic basketball.
No sir your nuts!

[Gregory Sager]

Hannah Frazier is the best player in the league, but someone has to ask: What was going through her head in the final few seconds? Her team was down by three, she had the ball in the lane, and she ... chose to drive to the basket and hit a meaningless deuce rather than kick it out to a teammate for a last-chance attempt at a trey that would've sent the game into overtime if it went in.

[lmitzel]

I'm assuming panic? Yeah, you should know the situation, and from watching the end there, it looked to me at least like she knew she goofed.

If I had any skill at Photoshop I'd be tempted to turn it into the D3 women's basketball version of the JR Smith meme, but I also don't want to be mean-spirited about anything after a tough loss.

[GoPerry]

Credit where it's due – Congratulations to the Titans for taking the tournament title at King tonight.  There's no question in my mind that they absolutely did not want to lose to the Thunder for a third time and they played like it.  The IWU coaches came with a game plan(Wheaton coaches, not so much) and executed it well.  They put a lot of pressure on Hannah Frazier and despite her 25 pts, very few came easily.  They took the ball out of her hands in the late minutes with defensive intensity and double teaming any time she received the ball in her comfort zone down low.

IWU's full court pressure gave Wheaton fits tonight, forcing 20 turnovers.  This resulted in IWU getting 56 shot attempts to Wheaton's 47 and 29 free throws with only 16 for Wheaton.  Can't overcome those #s. It was surprising that the Thunder seemed totally unprepared for the press as if they've not seen it before?  It caused numerous losses of composure all game.  It didn't help that Jordan Myroth had early foul trouble.

Hot 3 pt shooting in the first half helped spot Wheaton a first half lead.  Third quarter was pretty even but I thought IWU very much outplayed Wheaton in the 4th quarter.  Only uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting by IWU kept them from extending until Maddie Merritt and Raven Hughes made a couple key baskets.  The last 2 aforementioned turnovers by Wheaton in the last 2 minutes doomed them.

For IWU, I thought Ashley Schneider totally bounced back from her 2 previous very poor performances and played an outstanding game with 16 pts to lead her team.  She got left off the All Con team this year but played like a first teamer tonight.  Freshman Brooke Lansford gave her team a lift with 2 critical treys and some outstanding play.  Slick dish to Hughes.

A win tonight with Chicago's earlier loss might've meant a hosting opportunity for Wheaton.  Too bad.  The only possible upside is if the Thunder coaches and players realize that when playing teams of this caliber, like they undoubtedly will in their next game wherever it is, they need to play with a higher level of intensity.  Otherwise, yet another first round exit.