WBB: Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference

mamadukes · January 20, 2009, 10:05:30 PM

After 24 hours, I still have no words for the UMW/Marynount game. So unlike me

Bravo, Eagles, Bravo!

bbald eagle · January 21, 2009, 11:37:47 AM

MMT and UMW were close all the way for the whole game. Hard played as always between these 2 teams. UMW's Larson set the tone for her team in OT. MMT's White hit a very tough 3 to send it to OT and another in OT. MMT hosts York Saturday which will establish whether there is a clear leader in the CAC at the halfway mark or a jumble of three at the top.

MWCSID: Thanks for the video feed for home games this season. Quite nice.

HighestThreadCount · January 22, 2009, 08:23:07 AM

I hope nobody counts out UMW come tournament time...a couple losses in the conference doesn't mean much when it comes time for one and done--and while the bulk of the team may be freshman the eagles have some strong leaders who know how to win in the tournament.

mamadukes · January 22, 2009, 09:54:11 AM

What's that they say about adversity?

It'll either kill you or make you stronger.

Nobody should count the Eagles out. They have struggled along the way during the first half of the season. Have they learned? FROM EVERY OPPONENT!

Glad to see some new blood on the CAC board!

HighestThreadCount · January 23, 2009, 10:04:13 AM

Is it too early to start speculating who the POY will be??

I think the top choices would have to be Keli Ward-York or Ashton Mitchell-UMW.
Both players post strong numbers, and even stronger numbers in big games. The obvious advantage Ward has is her team record and current ranking. One thing to consider with Mitchell is that produces big numbers in limited minutes. Kathleen Brown is another play that could be in the mix as well. The final decision may come down to who leads their team best in the conference tournament.

Jenna McRae-UMW should be a lock for Rookie of the Year.

bbald eagle · January 26, 2009, 11:23:31 AM

There are a lot more games to play but right now the strength of the league is definitely north of where it's been for some time in the CAC. At the half way mark, York's got a two game lead and beat both UMW and Marymount on the road.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · January 26, 2009, 03:42:38 PM

I saw York on Saturday against Marymount and was impressed with York. I expected to see some roughness in their game and maybe some struggling under pressure, especially when MU came back in the first half and briefly took the lead. There was nothing of the sort. The more experienced and disciplined team of York, far and away.

To quote by color-commentator for the game, Gen Schmitt, York had the higher basketball IQ. They made the extra pass(es), made better adjustments, stuck to the game plan, and played better on both sides of the ball for nearly the entire game. York certainly has a lot of upper classmen, but I was really impressed with some of the underclassmen, including Sophomore April Sparkman. It is too bad that Kelli Ward and Sparkman only have until the end of this season to play with one another. Along with Amanda Andrews, the duo/trio is a dangerous group. They play so well with one another and have so many more in the support characters role it is tough to stop them on offense. And when you have a squad that is so disciplined along with unselfish, you have a team that is going to be tough to stop.

Marymount was more ordinary then I expected. Terell White tried far too hard to take the game over and drag her team back into the game. That isn't her game, from what I could tell. She needed to pick up what Kelli Ward does so well and that is set up the rest of the team and be there when that bailout is needed. Also, Kathryn Wilson was obviously not ready after missing the Salisbury game due to injury. She couldn't stay on the court for long periods of time and simply wasn't a factor when she was playing. That left a lot on the load probably on players who don't normally have the pressure on them. And when you play against a defense as fundementally solid as York, that is too much to overcome. Also, I was surprised how much Coach Finney and the team seemed to stick to their game plan from the beginning of the game, despite the fact it didn't seem to be working on either side of the court. Not sure how well it would have mattered, but I would have love to have seen York have to deal with a solid zone defense once in awhile.

York now has a 2 1/2 game lead on the conference and has the luxury of being in the cat bird seat with both Marymount and Mary Washington having to come to York knowing they HAVE to win if they want a shot of having home-court advantage in the tournament.

bbald eagle · January 27, 2009, 10:18:13 AM

York is very impressive, moves the ball very well, and plays disciplined and hard. The underclassmen look good but Ward is still the key. The hole was a lack of a post game and a post defender, which they overcome by the style they play, and the only "roughness" was unforced errors at game end when they tried to sit on a lead. York played confidently, like they expected to win, even on the road against a ranked team. If Ward stays healthy, this may be their season.

HighestThreadCount · February 02, 2009, 08:38:04 AM

Big game tonight at York! Should be a great one...look for Mary Washington to avenge the Jan 7th loss.

bbald eagle · February 02, 2009, 10:53:30 AM

If York wins this one, even Marymount will have a hard time catching it. Ashton Mitchell should hit the 1,000 point mark soon. She had a career high at UMW in the loss to York. She'll need to be on the top of her game again tonight.

bbald eagle · February 05, 2009, 11:37:50 AM

Ward, Figenshu transform York into Division III power:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/04/sports/local/doc4989939d88994587063597.txt

mamadukes · February 05, 2009, 01:00:23 PM

York has had a phenomenal season and the success of this year's team is due, in large part, to the ability of Keli Ward. They will surely miss her next year.

Monday's game with UMW was incredibly exciting and neither team dominated. When they meet in the CAC tournament it will be a "must see". The 3 pointer at the end of the game was reminiscent of a Clarkin 3 pointer at the horn that had the W going the other way. I believe that game was in 2005, the freshman year for UMW's Clarkin, Larson and Mitchell and York's Ward, Andrews, Perez, Figenshu, Garlock and Fry.

I look forward to the future of this young UMW squad. They've learned some very valuable lessons this year. Lost a few games, sure, but a record of 16-4 is one to be proud of. They certainly are still in the running! UMW needs to take care of business for the rest of the regular season. There are more than two teams in the CAC! ALL the others will be playing for that Banner as well!

Finish strong Eagles!

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 10, 2009, 05:17:20 AM

So York is now in the Top 10 and UMW is back in the Top 25... and NOTHING from ANYONE in this board! WOW! CAC is having a good season and there is a very outside chance of three teams in the tourney... and no one is chatting. Anyone out there?

mamadukes · February 10, 2009, 09:48:13 AM

I'm here d-mac, but what is there to say? The remainder of the season will determine seeding in the CAC tournament, but York has sewn up the regular season title. If York loses the tournament could I see 2 teams in the NCAA.

You really think three CAC teams could make it to the tournament? Marymount? Wesley?

Thanks for trying to drum up activity on the board, but it's been quiet this season.

Go Eagles!!

bbald eagle · February 10, 2009, 11:54:51 AM

Yeah, it's been pretty lonely and quiet on the CAC board this season. Mostly UMW folks and not many of them.
UMW may have got back into the Top 25 this week at 25 but it is still behind Marymount in the CAC rankings. They play Saturday with the winner probably a lock on being seeded second in the league tournament even though UMW later hosts Wesley which beat it and Marymount has to go to York to end the regular season. I can see 2 CAC teams making the NCAA tournament but I think 3 is probably a stretch.