WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 77
Lawrence 63

Lauren Lee: 19 pts, 7 rebs, 4 stls
Sinead Molloy: 13 pts
Zakiya Newsome: 12 pts
Jayla Johnson: 10 pts

NPU used 9-0 and 7-0 runs in the fourth quarter to gain separation and finally pull away in what had been a contest that kept seesawing between a tie and a one-possession NPU lead. The first run in particular was sparked by a torrid four minutes from Sinead Molloy in which she scored 11 points. Lauren Lee had career highs in points, rebounds, and steals today; the sophomore out of Glenbard North is really starting to come into her own. I especially like how the Park never lost its composure after starting the game down 10-0, after turning the ball over three times and blowing a layup on its first four possessions. In fact, NPU even built up a six-point lead in the second quarter before LU came back to make it only a one-point margin in favor of NPU at halftime. Despite North Park's inability to build a cushion until the two big runs in the fourth quarter, and in spite of the frequent ties before that, the Park never trailed in the second half.

Loras reneged upon its promise to webstream the game, so I had to follow it on live stats.

[Gregory Sager]

Other scores:

Carthage 41, Adrian 32
Carroll 58, Hamilton 54

[RogK]

Another Sunday game -- Elmhurst has their veteran players back from injury and topped Beloit 73-42.
Marissa Urso was among the Bluejays who did well; she had 15 pts and 6 rebs. Lauren Goff had 4 rebs, 5 steals and 11 pts, while Kween Jean tallied 11 pts and 5 rebs. A bunch of their teammates helped in a variety of ways.

[RogK]

Monday results for the W portion of the CCIW :
Carroll 58, Hamilton 54 --
Sierra Grubor had 15 pts, 9 rebs.
Carthage 41, Adrian 32 (that's a decent halftime score) :
Kelsey Coshun did a lot for the Lady Reds : 17 rebs, 3 blocks, 4 steals. Sammie Woodward scored 14. Maggie Berigan helped with 2 steals, 2 blocks, 8 rebs, 10 pts.

[Gregory Sager]

Whittier 67, North Central 47
Augustana 84, Coe 78

[RogK]

Augustana scored in the 80s for the 5th straight consecutive game in a row. (a good opportunity to use that line)
They got 21 pts and 3 steals by Alexis Jones. Lauren Hall hit 7 of 8 2FGs and added 5 rebs. Mia Lambert made 4 of 5 threes. Jeni Crain had 4 steals.
Both teams shot very well from the field, so there weren't a lot of rebounds to be had; in fact Augie got only 20 but won anyway.
Justice Edell got injured while being fouled on a 3FG attempt, then was seen (on the webcast) later using crutches. Good luck to her for a quick recovery.
The North Central game saw Haydn Braun score 16, thanks to her .577 eFG%. Maya Walls helped with 7 rebs and 5 assists.
NC coach McCloskey-Bax couldn't have been much amused by the 20 point loss, even if it was to a Whittier opponent! (a good opportunity to use that line)

[Gregory Sager]

NPU took a hit to its record from playing Hope and Loras after the end of the semester, but at least it's helped get the strength of schedule of the Vikings up to a somewhat respectable level. Here's the latest Massey ratings for CCIW teams, along with their Massey SoS numbers:

team	MR	MSoS
Illinois Wesleyan	28	6
North Park	40	70
Augustana	55	13
Wheaton	57	49
Carthage	82	54
Millikin	93	159
Carroll	112	26
North Central	172	82
Elmhurst	189	103

[iwu70]

I guess we'll see in the next few days if NPU and MU have risen into the top tier of CCIW basketball.  Then, some great games between IWU and WC.  Olivia Lett surely knows how IWU plays.  And, we'll see if the TITANS can handle NPU's speed.

'70

[Gregory Sager]

I guess we'll see in the next few days if NPU and MU have risen into the top tier of CCIW basketball.

It's a long conference season, Mark. It's going to take sixteen games to sort it out ... not "the next few days", whatever that means.

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

Great game, IWU and MU. Titans down two starters, and Big Blue down one. Several lead changes, but IWU ends up on top.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Kendall Sosa rebounded nicely from what was probably her worst game as a Titan (1-13 from the field, 2 points) in the loss to UMHB.  Today she scored 26 points in a 86-81 win over Millikin.  The Titan starters (2 of whom do not normally start, replacing the injured regular starters) scored 84 of their 86 points!  Brooke Lansford added 20, and Catie Eck had 18, depite being knocked around by the Big Blue - geez is she skinny!  I suspect the announcers were exaggerating for effect, but they speculated that she may not weigh 100 pounds!

[iwu70]

Strange game with key players missing.  IWU bench -- esp. Eck and Lowis -- rose the the occasion.

IWU 86  MU 81

Sosa 26, a strong rebound
Lansford, 20
Eck 18
Brovelli, another double double, 10 and 10, having a great, consistent season.
Lowis, the unsung MVP of this one, 10 and 14

MU:
Staton 24
Snyder 14
Coffman13
Anthony 10

Eck and Bowen both pretty thin, need to put on some pounds, some muscle for the next two seasons.  Both good players, always ready to go. 

MU much improved, on the rise. 

What's the situation with Shanks and Munroe?   Those are two serious losses for the TITANS, which are not terribly deep to begin with.  Eck and Lowis surely came through today.  Kudos to them.

IWU now 9-4, 3-1. 

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Great game, IWU and MU. Titans down two starters, and Big Blue down one.

Aubrey Magro hasn't played for Millikin since the December 1 game against Illinois College.

[iwu70]

Riley Brovelli playing at a great, consistent level.  All-conference level, IMHO. 

Her line today vs. MU:  10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 blocks, 4 steals, 1 TO. 

Let's hope Shanks and Munroe are back soon.  Some flu about it seems.  Munroe injured in the game in TX. -- likely back Wednesday. 

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Marissa Urso made a layup with two seconds left to give Elmhurst a 56-55 win on the road at Carroll.