SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

jdoug, I'll try to give you a run down of the Fontbonne-Webster game tonight. It won't be until after the men have completed their 8 pm game -- and I still have to get home. So you might not see a post until 10:30 or so.

[fcnews]

jdoug - We're still checking, but it is beleived that the combined 27 3's is a women's NCAA record.

[jdoug2]

Jack, I would greatly appreciate your insight on tonight's game. Have to make sure my niece is pulling her weight. 

And the Texas contingent will be there for this weekend's games. Hope y'all can keep the temperature in a decent range for us.

[y_jack_lok]

Observations on Fontbonne's 67-61 win over Webster.

First, I didn't see anything that would suggest either team can compete with Maryville, unless Maryville is not nearly as good as last year. Since I haven't seen Maryville play I don't know. But their 20 point win over Westminster tonight suggests they can't have lost much, if any, ground.

Tonight's game was pretty sloppy by both teams. If Webster hadn't fouled so much they might have had a shot at winning. No complaints about the officiating. I agreed with at least 90% of the fouls called against Webster. It was a pretty low scoring affair in the early going. Webster was having trouble with Fontbonne's zone defense. They kept the game close, though. Then Fontbonne went man-to-man, the pace of the game picked up, and so did their lead, which was 10 points at halftime. It would have been 13 but Webster hit a buzzer beating 3-pointer as time expired.

Webster's tight man-to-man defense seemed to give Fontbonne trouble at times and they picked up the defensive intensity in the second half trying to get steals or turnovers with traps. It worked at times, but it also resulted in some easy buckets for Fontbonne. Fontbonne reverted to its zone for most of the second half.

Fontbonne has the better team. Their #22, a senior whose name I forget, had a great game. Lauren, unfortunately didn't contribute a lot. I don't know how many minutes she played, but I can only remember one basket, a nice little penetration jumper in the lane from about 10 feet out. She took other shots, but as far as I can recall none of them went in. I haven't looked for a box score, so I can't be sure.

Hope your travels are safe this weekend, jdoug. I believe the weather forecast is favorable and you shouldn't have any trouble on this end.

[fcnews]

Good observations by Yjak:
#22 was Heather McCallister who had 12 pts. and 9 boards. My bright spot of the night was the return of the true Michelle Reale (#15) 17 pts. and 13 boards. Lauren was not on from the field (1-7 0-3) in 24 mins., but she led the team with 6 (I beleive) assists. Lauren got some good looks but the shots are just not falling for her. I'm sure seeing the family in the stands will help bunches.

Safe travels to you all. I guess the Vazzi's will be at this weekends games too.

[jdoug2]

Jack, I appreciate your views on the game. I'm still hoping Fontbonne will be able to compete with Maryville.

FCNews, thanks for your input as well. Shame her shot wasn't falling, but sometimes they don't. They still have to cut WAY down on the turnovers. Good grief.

[y_jack_lok]

Congratulations to EC's Nicole Fisher for setting EC's single game women's rebounding record. Excellent press release submitted to d3hoops by Eureka_SID.

[jdoug2]

Headed to Illinois in the morning. Will catch Fontbonne vs Illinois College and then vs Millikin. 

Need to get Fontbonne started on nice win streak.

[y_jack_lok]

Tough loss for the Griffins against Illinois College. From looking at the box score it seems like a pretty even game and one that was definitely winnable for Fontbonne.

The Webster-Lincoln Christian game was interesting to watch. Started out very slow for both teams, just like Wednesday's Webster-Fontbonne game. But as Webster ratcheted up the defensive pressure they forced 45 LC turnovers and only allowed them 28 shots from the field. LC only managed 28 points, half on free throws.

[sully309]

y_jak, in your expert opinion, how much improved is Webster this year? Let's say there's a scale of 1 to 10 and Maryville is a 10 and last year's Webster team a 1...where would you put them this year?

[fcnews]

I'll venture in on that EC_SID. I spoke with WU's Coach Callahan following the men's game wwednesday nite. I complimented her on the teams progress. Very bright young coaching talent. She's got the numbers up and a couple of shooters and they play hard. On a scale of 1-10 WU is a 4.5-5 this season. A big step in the right direction.

[y_jack_lok]

I've only seen two games, but in my opinion (not "expert" by any stretch of the imagination) on a scale of 1-10, at this point I wouldn't go any higher than fcnews' 4.5-5. Webster has 13 players compared to about 8 last year. Some of the new faces improve the talent level measurably, from last year. They are in good physical condition so they make an opponent really work hard and can wear out a team less well conditioned as they did yesterday with Lincoln Christian. They play as a team, and appear to be learning the coach's system. They will surely improve over the course of the season. Based on the scores I've seen in conference play after two games I see Maryville, Fontbonne, and Greenville as the top three teams. The fourth spot is up for grabs and I think Webster can contend for it.

[fcnews]

Millikin 77 Fontbonne 62

FU was down 50-27 @ Half
Better performance in second half by Reale and Crain. Collier has a good weekend for a freshmen. She still has alot to learn. FU needs to do a better job at the line. Chamberlin was 0-8 and didn't score.

[y_jack_lok]

Just curious, fcnews, if you have any feel for why, with an 18 point lead and 2:27 to go, Millikin's coach didn't put in a few more subs. They have 19 on the roster and only 9 got in the game. Even more surprising to me is that All-American Lindsay Ippel played the entire 40 minutes. The next highest for a Millikin player was 28 minutes. The closest Fontbonne got in the 2nd half was the 15 points at the end of the game. Seems like some more subbing would have been possible.

I know Lindsay Ippel is a great player and probably has a shot at being D3 Player of the Year if Millikin has a really good season. I just hope the coach isn't choosing to leave her in games (she's averaging 38.4 minutes a game) just to boost her stats.

[fcnews]

Good observation Y_Jak. A little history between these two and I do think that, other then Ippel, FU was getting alot of space in the paint. Chamberlin was 0-8 and Reale had a good game. She is a better free throw shooter then she is showing.

Up by 23 at half, Millikin allowed FU to open the second half with ( I beleive) a 12-2 run. Millikin staff was not going to take any chances. With that many players on the squad, if you don't get in that game, then when.

Bigger Reason - MU JV. played FU JV. in the opening game.