WBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

The SCAC will be represented by a surprising squad as Austin (15-11) and Hendrix (17-10) defeated Texas Lutheran (53-43) and top seed Colorado College (52-42), respectively, to advance to today's championship match.  For the 'Roos, this represents the team's first championship appearance since capturing the 2020 title; for Hendrix in their first year back in the SCAC since the SAA split 13 years ago, since 2011.  Only today's winner will advance to the NCAAs - no at-large bid for either of these two.

After yesterday's loss, Colorado College (20-6) is 26th among at-large candidates, and with only 21 at-large teams will remain at home regardless of today's other results.  They *might* have been a candidate had they defeated Hendrix and then lost in the final. 

I'm very happy to see the 'Roos back on track after several years in the wilderness.  It's a shame that Coach of the Year was announced before yesterday, because with all due respect to coach Auguste, all they did in the Springs was continue a tradition of excellence they've had for years.  It's much, much harder to do what coach Hunt has done in less than a year in Sherman - not to mention AC's only had two third-team all-conference selections.  CC had a first-team and a second-team recipient (and the second-teamer was also newcomer of the year). 

[Ron Boerger]

And on a side note, Shayanne Phillips, who first said she was going to AC and then to Alabama-Huntsville, did not appear on this year's roster for UAH.  Her last post on X was the one announcing her move there, UAH did a "meet Shyanne" post on IG 5 days before the season started; I hope she is OK. 

[jekelish]

The SCAC will be represented by a surprising squad as Austin (15-11) and Hendrix (17-10) defeated Texas Lutheran (53-43) and top seed Colorado College (52-42), respectively, to advance to today's championship match.  For the 'Roos, this represents the team's first championship appearance since capturing the 2020 title; for Hendrix in their first year back in the SCAC since the SAA split 13 years ago, since 2011.  Only today's winner will advance to the NCAAs - no at-large bid for either of these two.

After yesterday's loss, Colorado College (20-6) is 26th among at-large candidates, and with only 21 at-large teams will remain at home regardless of today's other results.  They *might* have been a candidate had they defeated Hendrix and then lost in the final. 

I'm very happy to see the 'Roos back on track after several years in the wilderness.  It's a shame that Coach of the Year was announced before yesterday, because with all due respect to coach Auguste, all they did in the Springs was continue a tradition of excellence they've had for years.  It's much, much harder to do what coach Hunt has done in less than a year in Sherman - not to mention AC's only had two third-team all-conference selections.  CC had a first-team and a second-team recipient (and the second-teamer was also newcomer of the year). 

Regarding your last point with All-SCAC picks, that's where Austin College is really hurt because they're a very balanced squad without any dominant presences, so no one stands out statistically. Doesn't lend itself well to All-Conference voting, of course. AC only had one person average double figures this season, Lexi Martin, and I would wager even she would say this season was not her best overall, as well as the best defense (in terms of PPG allowed, at least) in the conference. It's honestly not dissimilar from one of Tony Bennett's classic Virginia squads in those ways.

[Ralph Turner]

Congrats Roos!