University Athletic Association

[newtonnancy]

Hello all.

I am hearing some great things locally about the Maroons and the excitment about this weekends games that include other "vote getters".
I see that they didn't get much support in the Association coaches poll, but I think they may be better then last year based on what I am hearing, quality of the freshmen is high and returning guard play has been I am told "awesome". Think they can Bite Rochester, NYU, Wash U and the Judges this year? Also, just noticed that Bango received ALL AMERICAN honors last year! Wow, that is hard to believe, how the heck do they vote on that?

[newtonnancy]

Hey, saw Maroons last night, they looked very good, Mofi is fun to watch. Also, saw Schell play less then a minute while starting for Wash U, hope she is ok, figure it must be an injury, any word?

Also, Noticed Brandeis and NYU had there us Tip off cream puffs. Shame on NYU for Putting up 104

[martin]

The UAA was pretty impressive this weekend - with one exception.  Seven teams are 2-0.  Congratulations to Rochester for knocking off top ranked Scranton. 

The NCAC clearly is not near the caliber of the UAA.  Denison was picked to win it - and lost to Case 69-47.  Wittenberg won the last two NCAC titles and was picked right behind Denison.  They were also blown out by the UAA, Chicago 80-58.

What happened to the Bears?  I can see losing to a tough DePauw team - ranled #3.    But then losing to Central?

The UAA will be tough.  Chicago was picked for fifth and Case for seventh.  Could a NCAC team even win a UAA game?

It would be nice if NYU would play a atronger schedule.

[mark_reichert]

What happened to the Bears?  I can see losing to a tough DePauw team - ranled #3.    But then losing to Central?

It's something my Dad and I have worried about for the last two years, particularly last year.  They don't have anybody who can score like Kelly Manning and Danielle Beehler, or any of the previous players that took up the offensive responsibilities.  The sophomores and freshmen might contain such people but they're not there yet.

BTW, does anybody know what the Karma rating is for and why I have -5?

[sandman]

What happened to the Bears?  I can see losing to a tough DePauw team - ranled #3.    But then losing to Central?

It's something my Dad and I have worried about for the last two years, particularly last year.  They don't have anybody who can score like Kelly Manning and Danielle Beehler, or any of the previous players that took up the offensive responsibilities.  The sophomores and freshmen might contain such people but they're not there yet.

BTW, does anybody know what the Karma rating is for and why I have -5?

I might as well say it now.  Is this the year that Case finally beats Wash U?

Case won a pair in Cincinnati this weekend, beating host Mt. St. Joseph in a close one (they didn't lead until the last 5 minutes) but then winning more convincingly over Denison.  Freshman guard Ashleigh Tondo had a very impressive debut with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and in the second game, senior Dana Dempsey led four Lady Spartans in double figures.  Tomorrow, Case has their rivalry game with #9 Baldwin-Wallace, a matchup that has produced many memorable games in recent years.  B-W won the last meeting by 3 in a game that literally came down to the last shot.

[mark_reichert]

I might as well say it now.  Is this the year that Case finally beats Wash U?

I wouldn't be surprised if a number of teams beat WashU this year.  One reason I'm being a bother about historical revisionism concerning the 1999-2000 team is that the present isn't likely to be pleasant.

[newtonnancy]

Seems to be turning into a very interesting season within the UAA. Based on all that has happened so far, I think the UAA title may really be up for grabs for the first time in years. I also believe that wash u will come back, Fahey will get them ready for the "real' games, so this should be fun.
I will root hard for a NEW UAA Champ...Let's say, Chicago or Emory to beat out Wash U, NYU, Brandeis and Rochester

[newtonnancy]

"WHITEWATER beat Luther convincingly on Saturday afternoon.  The final was 82-59.   After WW built a twelve point lead in the first eight minutes on an upbeat tempo and the strong inside play of Tiffany Morton and Emily Peters the Norse were able to close the gap and trailed by only three at the half 42-39.  But WW dominated the second stanza quickly building the lead back to double digits behind two quick baskets by Morton and Thrisa Thrill's three-pointer and layup.  The lead balloned after that as the WARHAWKS shot nearly 58% from the floor for the half.  Morton took scoring honors with 15 points.  She also had 7 rebounds.  Peters added 12 points and Rachel Woolever 10. "

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU....WHO ARE AWFULLY QUIET.....IN THE UAA, BUT UC IS VERY IMPRESSIVE RIGHT NOW......CASE WIN AGAINST JOHNS HOPKINS IMPRESSIVE AS WELL.....guess we really won't know about Brandeis until they start playing SOMEBODY/ANYBODY preferably somebody with a pulse, ditto NYU, and Wash U til they get it together. Rochester is only team out of the "upper tier" that has answered questions.

Let's go little sisters...UC, Emory, Case, CMU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[deiscanton]

Sorry to be late on joining the UAA women's discussion this season, but beating a six player squad by 53 points is nothing to write home about. (and neither is winning other games by 40 points, either!)  The Brandeis v. St. Lawrence game was an okay game, but I had to wait for a real test to really find out the real nature of my team.  I got it last night, in a way that I least expected.

I was fortunate to be at the game at Wheaton (MA) last night for the first tough test of the season for the Brandeis Judges.  Now, the early handicapping of the game did not seem to indicate that it would be a test---- okay, Wheaton did score over 70 points a game in their first two games, but it was against Wentworth (a Comm. Coast team), and Green Mountain (a provisional independent DIII team).  Plus, Wheaton lost to Curry by 4 their last game out-- Curry was a team that Brandeis beat so badly enough in the two meetings between the squads not so long ago that the Curry women's team no longer wanted either 'Deis or Emmanuel on their schedule. 

Wheaton did shoot over 50% in the first game of the season, but of course, that was against Wentworth-- not exactly perceived as an elite Northeast Region DIII women's basketball team.   Wheaton had shot under 40% the last two previous games.

So, how did the Wheaton Lyons shoot last night?  29 of 51 from the field, for a whopping 56.9% against the Brandeis defense-- Wheaton shot almost 61% (14-23) in the first half alone.  Brandeis shot about 36% (23 of 64).  The 'Deis D did steal the ball 13 times, and did force Wheaton to turn the ball over a total of 24 times.

In a way, Brandeis was fortunate that the refs were calling everything tonight on a consistent basis.  Initially, it did not help Brandeis, beacuse Caitlin Malcolm had to sit out most of the first half upon picking up 2 quick fouls, but the consistent calling helped Brandeis get to the free throw line 35 times.  Brandeis hit 24 of 35 from the charity stripe-- Wheaton hit 11 of 13 from the stripe for the game.

Save for the turnovers and fouls, Wheaton did practically everything else right.  The Lyons got to 70 points in their own gym, and in the previous 49 games when Wheaton scored 70 points or more in their own gym ,the Lyons had a 48-1 record in those situations. 

Brandeis built an early 12-5 lead about 4 min. into the game, but Wheaton rallied back to take a 26-15 lead with 6:59 remaining in the first half.  Brandeis rallied back to go into halftime only down 3. 

In the second half, Wheaton bulit their lead to 7 early, but Brandeis rallied back to take a 58-54 lead with 9:27 to go.  The game went nip and tuck for the rest of the second half.

Wheaton had a 72-68 lead with 27 seconds to go, and I felt ready to concede this game to the Lyons, but the game was still close enough for anything to happen.  With 21 seconds to go, Wheaton's Bri Smith fouls Brandeis's Jessica Chapin.  Chapin makes both free throws, and Brandeis is only down 2.    Jaime Capra then fouls Wheaton's Becky Atchison to put her on the line.  After a timeout, Becky Atchison of Wheaton misses the front end of a 1 and 1, and Amanda Wells grabs the rebound.  With 7 seconds to go, Jaime Capra misses the jumper, but Amanda Wells grabs the offensibe board, puts the ball back in to tie the game, and gets fouled in the process.  Wells sinks the winning free throw to complete the 3 point play.

For Brandeis, Amanda Wells scored the first four points of the game, and the last 3 points of the game.

Although Wheaton is a relatively undersized squad, I felt that when Wheaton was playing last night, the Lyons were playing a style game that I remember Emory playing in the past. 

The UAA is going to be very interesting this season-- Carnegie Mellon even seems to be better than they were last year (Yes, I read the scores on the web-sites, so it is not like I have not been paying attention!)

[newtonnancy]

ALLEN, good to hear from you, I can not believe how quiet this board has been. Hey I guess Brandeis played somebody with a pulse last night

I think the UAA is going to be very interesting this year!

[newtonnancy]

Allen you should know this, I wonder when the last time was that either (MY) Chicago or Emory had more votes in the poll then WASH U

[David Collinge]

Allen you should know this, I wonder when the last time was that either (MY) Chicago or Emory had more votes in the poll then WASH U

Excuse me for stepping in, but as I have a database with all of the poll information in its history, this was an easy question for me to answer.  Neither (your) Chicago nor Emory have ever had more votes in the poll than Wash U., until this week when they both do.  In fact, before this week, neither school has been within 255 points of Wash U. (preseason last year, when Wash U. had 266, Chicago had 11, and Emory 0).

[mark_reichert]

As I point out to my Dad, here is what they are trying to replace this year:

Points Scored
1. Alia Fischer 626 1997-98
2. Tasha Rodgers 606 2000-01
3. Kelly Manning 560 2005-06
4. Alia Fischer 540 1998-99
5. Alia Fischer 497 1999-00
6. Sarah Goldman 491 1993-94
7. Tasha Rodgers 478 1999-00
8. Amy Schweizer 476 1995-96
9. Danielle Beehler 449 2005-06
10. Karen Hermann 439 1990-91

Notice numbers 3 and 9.  1009 points graduated just with those two.

[roaring0506]

Yes, Mark... I would agree with you there.  However, I would say that the thing WashU has done so well in the past is to replace those all-americans with people who step in immediately to replace the lost - who in turn...  also become all-americans.  Not to say that Wash U won't come back and get back in the top 15... but I don't think they have the calibar of players they used to.  After Alia Fisher graduated, they relied heavily on Tasha Rodgers.  By the time Rodgers graduated, they relied on Manning and Beehler.  Last season, they relied heavily on those two players, and based off the player's returning, I'm not sure who on there team has shown they have the potential to become an all-american (granted I haven't seen this years team).  Deicany (sp?) has probably shown the most potential... but???

Obviously, WashU will be okay.  They had a good coaching staff, and players who don't like to lose.  They'll get back to they're winning ways in due time. 

[mark_reichert]

Two things the current Around the Nation:

From my recollection, as I was at the game, Lake Forest hit two long shots, not just the one everyone talks about.  First a heave by Lizzy Bauer to go from 75-71 WashU leading to 75-74.  Then Zoe Unruh hit two free throws to make it 77-74 with 2.9 seconds remaining, then Nicole Rivera hit her now talked about heave.  It might have been considerably longer than Bauer's, but Bauer's wasn't a normal length three pointer either.

So two heaves to tie the game and people wonder why I'm a negative person.  Doubly so because I shouted BZZZZZZZZZZZZ right before Rivera's heave.  Did it help her make up her mind to shoot then, or was she watching the clock and would have shot anyway?

The other thing was mentioning in the discussion about Hope's title defense that no champion has even gotten back to the tournament, much less won again since WashU in 2001.  I mentioned that in March, just like I mentioned WashU's habit of being knocked out by the eventual champion long before any article.