WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[lmitzel]

Carthage 63
NCC 60 (OT)

The Cardinals scored 24 in the opening quarter and led by as many as 13 early in the second half, but couldn't put the game away. Alyssa Orozco hit a three with 4.6 ticks left for the final margin.

Marianna Morrissey: 15 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast
Emma Thistle: 10 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast
Elena Knebel: 6 pts, 9 reb

Josylin Simmons-Doxie: 12 pts, 4 ast, 3 stl
Megan McClure: 11 pts, 5 reb, 4 stl
Jocelyn Trotter: 11 pts, 12 reb
Grace Keiffer: 11 pts, 3 stl

NCC shot 22/66 for the game, but just 11/50 after the opening 10 minutes. Rough one for Biz Daly (3-15 shooting).

[iwu70]

In an awesome display of team play, IWU over Wheaton tonight @ The Shirk, 93-57.  IWU goes to 18-0, 8-0.

For WC:

Only player in double figures, Richardson 12

Wheaton at 32%, 38% from three, and 10-10 from the line.

The lead was 24 at the half.

For IWU:

Bardic 19
Powers, another great game, 17 and 6 with 7 assists, 5-9 from three
Huber 12 and 8, getting ever closer to the all-time career scoring lead in the IWU program.
Knutson 10
My friend from HK, Luigi Lam, a career high 8

Everyone plays and 12 of 13 Titans scored.  The 3rd unit did a nice job for much of the 4 Q.

IWU at 54%, 44% from three, 82% FTs.

The Titans win all the key lines:

TOs 15-26
Steals 14-7
Rebounds 38-32
Assists 25-13

Some really beautiful basketball, seeing the entire floor, making great passes.  There were several times when the ball didn't hit the floor, two passes and a basket.  Great stuff.  One of the most well-played games I've ever seen in D3 women's hoops.

IWU now with a bye this week, up next on the following Saturday, @ Elmhurst. 

IWU now 18-0, 8-0.  A special season so far.

'70

[iwu70]

The injury bug has hit IWU a bit, with Mahlum and Feeney out tonight.  Not sure what the issue is or how long they will be sidelined.  Coach Smith mainly used a 7-player rotation tonight, through the first three quarters.  Martha Lipic and Luigi Lam had good minutes later in the game.

Pink Zone game tonight, with all cancer survivors honored, including Coach Smith.  Always an important event at IWU, with many former players back for this one, too.  Great to see them all.

IWU'70

[lmitzel]

Elmhurst 69
NCC 65

Another one slips away. Cardinals shot better compared to Wednesday night (26-71 for 36.6%), but went just 8-14 at the charity stripe. Another rough one for Biz Daly (4 pts on 1-10 shooting, 2-6 at the line). And yet despite all that we were in line for a photo finish after Jocelyn Trotter somehow knocked down an off balance three off an inbounds pass to tie the game at 63. But the Jays immediately broke the press and got an easy layup, then the Cardinals immediately turned it over to effectively ice the game.

Cierra Steemer: 19 pts, 17 reb, 3 blk
Kristin Bukata: 15 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast
Sierra Gibson: 11 pts, 6 reb, 3 stl
Lindsay Novak: 10 pts

Jocelyn Trotter: 21 pts, 10 reb, 2 blk, 3 stl
Reilly Boyer: 14 pts, 6 reb
Josylin Simmons-Doxie: 13 pts

It is kind of maddening to me that each of the last three seasons, the Cardinals have gone into R.A. Faganel Hall and easily taken care of business against the Blue Jays, then proceed to find ways to lose when the scene shifts to Naperville. I know that's how the game goes sometimes, but still.

[Green Beer]

To echo iwu70, Mahlum had a noticeable limp. Sure hope she's better by tournament time. On the recruitment front, Mia has eight commitments so far, one being Ashley Muhlum. That's gotta be Laura's sister.

[iwu70]

Yes, Mahlum being evaluated.   Not sure what's going on there, or how serious.  Feeney will be back soon, just some illness.  Good to have this Wednesday off for everyone to rest and ready for the last seven games of the regular season.  I think the Titans have a real shot at 25-0. 

IWU plays @ Elmhurst on February 1st.

'70

[iwu70]

Congrats to Mallory Powers CCIW Player of the Week.

An outstanding performance these last two games.   

IWU'70

[iwu70]

IWU remains at #2 in the new poll, with one 1st place vote. 

Only four undefeated teams on the season now.

'70

[iwu70]

Congrats again to Mallory Powers for making D3hoops' Team of the Week as well.  Well-deserved.

The Titans hitting on all cylinders these past few games.

Key game vs. Carroll @Shirk coming up soon. 

'70

[iwu70]

Green Beer, what do you know about the IWU recruitment class?   

I've been pressing my Godson coach in Hong Kong to send us more good players like Luigi Lam.  I'm looking for a female Chinese Yao Ming, about 6'4" with good passing and rebounding skills.  Wouldn't that be nice?    It would be a new day for IWU and Coach Smith to have a true big. Of course, unlikely, but it's a nice thought.   

'70

[Green Beer]

iwu 70. Q has posted 7 recruits so far, but I have eight on my list (but Q being Q, maybe he's heard of one dropping out already). For bigs, there's Madison Sears from Libertyville, 6'3" avg 6-9 points a game, but has a high of 20 points this year. Not exactly a speedy player for the R and J, but then again, Olivia Lett wasn't a speed demon either.

[lmitzel]

With 6:44 left in the third quarter, NCC led Millikin 48-31.

And then it all went to hell.

10 missed layups (12, if you add tip-in's) later, Millikin completes a comeback for a 76-69 road win.

Nikkel Johnson: 24 pts, 7 reb
Bella Dudley: 19 pts, 5 reb
Emily Brenneisen: 15 pts, 5 ast

Biz Daly: 19 pts, 6 reb
Josylin Simmons-Doxie: 14 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast
Jocelyn Trotter: 8 pts, 9 reb, 6 stl

[iwu70]

Green Beer, thanks for the info on the IWU recruitment class.  I'll have a look.  I don't follow Q as closely as I used to.  Hope it's a good class.  IWU will need to reload when the four key players from this year's team graduate.  A big change coming . . . hard to replace Huber, Palmer, Powers, and Knutson.

Next year will still be strong, but probably needs some help from these newbies.  IWU will still have White, Balli, Bardic and Mahlum -- a good core to build on.  Some of these folks will need to step up on becoming scorers.  Bardic and Balli already there.  Some of the pine-sitters will need to step up,too.  To me, looks like Lipic and Lam could be a part of the new mix.  Glad to hear a rather big recruitment class is coming in . . .IWU could surely use some size if the newbie you mentioned is pretty good.  With R and J, of course, fitness and speed are always an issue.  This year's group is just superb on this level.

IWU'70

[iwu70]

For IWU, Feeney likely back pretty soon.  Not sure on Mahlum.  Apparently not a tear or serious injury, likely a strain, so out 2+ weeks.  She could be back by CCIW tournament time. 

We'll see..  Stay tuned.

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

Sitting in 5th place, the Wheaton Ladies (5-5) are in good position to make the CCIW tournament.  They are a game ahead of Elmhurst (6th) and a game behind Carthage and Millikin (tied for 3rd).  With 5 out of the last 6 games at King Arena, it's reasonable to think they could move up and at least secure a 1st rd home game.  With an upset or two, third place would avoid having to presumably face IWU @ Shirk in the semis, if they advance.  Beating Elmhurst on Wed will be particularly important.

They will need to play well and get some contributions from their less experienced young players.  For some reason, Kate Oliver only played 18 mins in the last game @ NPU. She wasn't in foul trouble that I could see and I tuned in late and saw her on the floor as usual.  I hope it is not injury related because they desperately need her scoring on a team that is challenged in that area.  That and taking care of the ball – TOs killing them.