WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q, nice interview.  We all love Kate.  She's playing extremely well right now.  A key figure in IWU's success so far this year.

Some news:   Ripon 71 No. 13 Carroll 62.

Good luck to the Titans in St. Louis this weekend.  Wish I could be there.

IWU'70

[iwu70]

In a seemingly ragged event, with many turnovers on both sides, DePauw and IWU are tied at 32 at halftime. 

'70

[iwu70]

Titans scratch out a win in St. Louis, 65-59 over DePauw.  Not a pretty affair.

Titans out rebounded 45-28, but getting just enough done, with a nice surge to a ten point lead at the beginning of the 4Q.

For DP:
Hart 14
Hassel 8 and 12
Boras 8

For IWU:
Bardic 17
Huber 14 and 9
Powers 10
Palmer 10

Not a pretty night shooting:  41%, only 23% from three, 69% from the line.

IWU goes to 5-0, likely facing Wash U tomorrow. 

IWU'70

[lmitzel]

NCC 85
CUW 66

Cardinals came out a little flat and at one point trailed 34-24, but they fought back to a 38-all tie at halftime. Jocelyn Trotter hit a three to open the second half scoring and NCC never trailed again.

Trotter: 16 pts, 14 reb, 4 ast
Ameli Sanchez: 16 pts, 4 stl
Biz Daly: 14 pts, 5 reb
Josylin Simmons-Doxie: 13 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast
Megan McClure: 12 pts
Grace Keiffer: 10 pts, 6 stl

NCC is on the conference play bye this first round, but host Chicago on Wednesday evening (which I'm unfortunately not going to make).

[iwu70]

IWU will face Wash U for the Midwest Challenge Championship Sunday at 4 p.m. at Wash U.  #7 vs. #11.  Should be another great game.

IWU struggled to beat DePauw.  Wash U blew out Rose Hulman, scoring 105 on them. 

If IWU defends the post like they did at Whitewater and rebounds the ball better than today, they have a good shot at going 6-0, taking down another ranked team.

'70

[iwu70]

In another low-scoring defensive affair, Wash U leads IWU at the half 30-24.  IWU shooting it poorly from three, fighting on the boards with the bigger Bears.  Both teams turning it over more than usual.  Looks like a game in the 50s or low 60s, probably favoring Wash U.  Two top 15 teams fighting it out.

IWU'70

[scottiedawg]

In another low-scoring defensive affair, Wash U leads IWU at the half 30-24.  IWU shooting it poorly from three, fighting on the boards with the bigger Bears.  Both teams turning it over more than usual.  Looks like a game in the 50s or low 60s, probably favoring Wash U.  Two top 15 teams fighting it out.

IWU'70

While both teams ARE under pace for their season averages in turnovers, both are also under pace for their season rate of turning the opponent over.

Both of which I think make sense to see when you get a matchup of very good teams.

[iwu70]

As expected, DePauw won the Consolation game in St. Louis over Rose-Hulman 90-37.  A tough weekend for Rose-Hulman.

'70

[iwu70]

Agreed, Scottie . . . don't think IWU can win this game without turning over Wash U more and surely hitting some threes in the second half.  I think they were 2-13 in the first half.  Seems they've struggled with the rims at Wash U, or don't like the line of sight, or something.  Very unlike the Titans up to now.

IWU'70

[scottiedawg]

Agreed--IWU needs to win that turnover battle. Very impressive they ended the 1st half +1 on overall rebounds, including +5 on offensive.

A LOT of their shots are pretty rushed at the moment.

[iwu70]

What a great start to the season.  IWU digs deep, comes back from down 6 at the half, to take down #11 Wash U in St. Louis, the final 67-59.   

IWU won the 3Q 25-16, then the 4th Q 18-13, hitting six threes in the second half, after poor shooting in the first.

IWU battled about even on the boards, which was key to the win, 37-41, against the taller Bears.

For Wash U:
Brooks 18 and 12
Harris 11 and 6
Hughes 9

For IWU:

Huber, a monster game, 24 and 7
Bardic 20
Powers 7 and some key rebounds in the second half
Good minutes from Sarah Balli
White 7 and 7 steals. 

A great win for the Titans on the road -- along with the road win at Whitewater, what a great start to the year.  Now to the CCIW race . . . starting at NPU on Wednesday night.

IWU Champions of the 2024 Midwest Challenge, hosted this year by Washington University.

Congrats to Coach Smith and the Titans.   Keep it rolling.   A special year.

IWU'70

[Green Beer]

I think the Titans have poise. All that senior experience. They don't get rattled if they fall behind.

[iwu70]

Yes, Green Beer, you are right.  Listen to the interview with Kate Palmer on the Q-cast and you will hear that calm, that determination, that knowledge that they have been in difficult situations before and still prevailed.  Having these key seniors and the 5th year, it is very important to this team:  Huber, Powers, Knutson, and Palmer . . . a lot of experience there, a lot of games played together over these past few years.  The juniors are part of it too:  Balli, White, Bardic, and Mahlum.  It's a really experienced rotation.  The pine-sitters are watching and learning. 

'70

[scottiedawg]

Class year doesn't automatically equate to experience (In IWUs case it does), but among top 50 teams, IWU is 9th oldest. WashU is 3rd youngest.

[lmitzel]

Congratulations to Jocelyn Trotter for earning Player of the Week honors!