SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

jdoug, I saw the Webster-Wash U game tonight. Dee Dee played the last five minutes. She's quick, pesky, energetic, fun to watch. Didn't score but got a couple of steals and one foul. Coach Fahey was gracious enough to sub liberally throughout the game to  keep the score from getting even worse. Even when they got shots, Webster couldn't make them.

[jdoug2]

Thanks for the update Jack. I'm happy to hear DeeDee is getting a little run. She has a pretty sound game and I'm sure she'll get more time in the next few years. I know Wash U has a deep team.

[mark_reichert]

Thanks for the update Jack. I'm happy to hear DeeDee is getting a little run. She has a pretty sound game and I'm sure she'll get more time in the next few years. I know Wash U has a deep team.

Not nearly as deep as it used to be.

Odd note: the team this year has no juniors.  Senior day ceremonies won't take place next season unless they get an unexpected transfer or someone graduates early

Here's the box score for the game:

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/womensbball/GAME11.HTM

[jdoug2]

That's odd. How do you miss having an entire class of players.

Glad the break is ending and the games are soon to begin. And I'll be in STL next weekend.  8)

[jdoug2]

Fontbonne defeats Blackburn 71-45. I haven't found a box score yet.

[jdoug2]

Looks like Maryville continues to roll.

I also noted Webster and MacMurray are both 3-1 in conference. Has anyone seen either of these teams play? I was wondering because I'll be watching Fontbonne play MacMurray this Saturday.

[y_jack_lok]

jdoug, I have seen all of Webster's home games, including their win over MacMurray (which of course is MacMurray's only conference loss -- and also the only time I've seen MacMurray).

Not to worry when it comes to Fontbonne vs MacMurray. It would be a real upset for MacMurray to win. They have 2 seniors and the rest freshmen.

And as I've posted earlier, Webster basically has an entire new team of players recruited over the summer. One player, who saw very limited action, is left over from last year's team.  Another player would have suited up last year but was injured. Still, she would not have seen much action, either.

I think you will see the sad state of SLIAC women's basketball this weekend as you watch MacMurray play and wonder how they can be 3-1 in the conference. Only Maryville and Fontbonne have anything remotely resembling a solid team.

[sully309]

y_jack_lok, have you seen Greenville play? They looked much improved in a non-conference game at Eureka in early December and held a 4 point lead at Maryville with 10 minutes to play Tuesday. I would consider Greenville a solid team as well. That said, they already lost at home to Fontbonne. Eureka kind of did the same thing at Fontbonne earlier. EC stayed in the game into the second half before falling way behind and then coming back to lose by 8. Eureka has added some players and have had a few holdovers step up recently, so hopefully I'll see some improved play from the Red Devils in the 2nd half.

[y_jack_lok]

Haven't seen Greenville or Eureka play, but I know Greenville has been relatively competitive in the past, so your observations don't surprise me. Also, I  hope Eureka's new players help the team. It's no fun when one or two teams dominate a conference (except maybe for the dominant teams), so it will be good if anybody can make Maryville and Fontbonne work for their victories, or even pull an upset. Principia had last year's conference scoring leader, who was a freshman, so I would expect them to compete for a playoff spot. Still, the strength of the women's side of the conference isn't all that good.

[jdoug2]

I appreciate the breakdown on the conference. I know it appears as though Maryville and Fontbonne are the teams to beat, but there is always the opportunity for an upset. That's the great thing about sports. You can have that one player that has goes nuts and can't miss, or the superior team can just take it for granted and give it away.

Totally agree that a stronger overall conference is in everyone's best interest. For one thing it helps when you head into the tournament. I think it always helps to play tough competition. I think most people and most teams play to the level of the competition, whether it be D3 or pro teams.

[pantherpride06]

Greenville Breakdown:

Greenville is having a great season compared to that of last season.  The Panthers ended last season 7-18.  This season they are 6-4 and should supass last seasons win-loss record.  The team also has some talented freshman to go along with the upperclassman.  As I listen to them practice right now, I feel that they will  be a tough team to deal with.  Obviously Maryville and Fontbonne will be the top two teams.  Greenville has to be mentioned in the top for.  Greenville held SLIAC scoring leader Christina Speer (Principia) to seven points and lost to Maryville by 14ish.  Maryville's margin of victory over SLIAC teams is near 36 a game and Greenville fought with them to a 14 pt loss (5 pt lead for GC w/ 10 minutes to go.)

[jdoug2]

I'm sure there will be plenty of good games throughout  conference play.

And here I am getting excited to fly into STL tomorrow morning and they're expecting freezing rain.  What the heck is up with that? No offense to STL but I have to fly in and fly out tomorrow. I sure hope the weather holds up reasonable well.

[y_jack_lok]

Ouch! Tough loss for Fontbonne against Principia. I expect things will eventually shape with Maryville, Fontbonne, Greenville and Principia at the top of the coonference.

Webster played Eureka surprisingly close. Eureka's Nicole Fisher is very good, but her supporting cast is a couple of rungs down the ladder from her talent level. Nevertheless, they are well coached and run their offense nicely.

[y_jack_lok]

An observation about yesterday's Webster-Blackburn game. Blackburn started out well and looked pretty good. Webster made a comeback and took a 4 point lead into halftime as Blackburn went cold. Webster extend the lead in the second half to about 12 or 13 points a couple of times. During this stretch Blackburn's coach looked and acted very unhappy with his team, but did not call a time out to get them back in synch. Very late in the game Blackburn made a little run to get the deficit under 10. Their coach did then call a couple of time outs, but Blackburn couldn't even the score.

I am not a coach, so perhaps I'm overstepping my bounds here. If so I apologize. Nevertheless, I think their coach did his team a disservice by displaying such obvious, almost cynical, dissatisfaction with his team's play. If he had called at least one earlier time out and tried to pump up his troops, give them a positive message, etc. then Blackburn certainly has good enough players to respond and beat a team like Webster. Meghan Polston is a talented player, and with a little help and positive reinforcement, she and her team might have been able to change the outcome.

[y_jack_lok]

jdoug, did you get to St. Louis to see Lauren play, or did the weather prevent you from coming? If you made it, I'd love to get your thoughts and observations.