After leaving St. Peter on a somewhat dejected note considering how the Gusties were "manhandled" by UST, I hustled back to the Twin Cities and over to Minneapolis South High School as they were playing host to #1 ranked Eden Prairie in one of the most important regular season games of the year. I got over there and inside the gym right before halftime with Eden Prairie up 25-18. I had seen Eden Prairie play a couple times already this season but had yet to see South in action.
True, South is a much different team in the post-Tayler Hill era but they are still winning and came into this game ranked #4 and were undefeated. But I really wasn't sure what to expect. In any event, the visiting Eagles started off the the second half strong. Senior Claire Willeck scored inside at the 16:47 mark and fellow senior Morgan Van Riper-Rose put down two freebies at the 15:49 mark. Then, senior Aubrey Davis drove inside hard (her specialty) and scored and was fouled in the process. Although she missed the subsequent charity-strip shot, junior post Jackie Johnson hit a layup at the 15:02 mark to expand Eden Prairie's lead to 33-18 and put the host Tigers behind the 8-ball. But South senior guard Sattoria Rule had different ideas. This South team is a squad that seemingly lives off nothing but three-point shooting and Rule showed the crowd what they would be in store for as she hit two "3's" at both the 14:44 and 13:25 marks to cut Eden Prairie's lead to a somewhat more manageable 35-24 count. Rule would hit another "3" from the right corner at the 11:19 mark that again cut the Eagles lead to 11.
A real scary moment for Eden Prairie took place just before the 9-minute mark as they saw two players go down with injuries back-to-back: Junior Rebecca Sparkman and Davis who suffered knee and ankle injuries, respectively. Still, the Eagles were able to maintain the roughly ten-point cushion for the next few minutes - that is, until Rule decided it was time to light up the scoreboard again which is exactly what she did as she two "3's" at the 5:54 and 4:44 marks that suddenly cut the Eden Prairie lead down to a scant four points at 43-39 as South appeared ready to steal the show and pull off a huge upset of the #1 ranked team in the state. But credit the Eagles and their head coach; former NBA veteran Chris Carr as they kept their compsure down the stretch as they were able to hold on despite a wild flurry of missed three-point shots by the Tigers before the horn sounded.
Although this was just a regular season game, I think this win was huge for Eden Prairie as they went into a potentially hostile road environment against a very fast, very quick and athletic Minneapolis South team which is obviously no slouch itself. Winning a game like this has to give the Eagles a lot of confidence as the section tournament slate grows nearer. South, I think, can certainly be a factor but it would help their cause if they were able to develop some semblance of an inside game.
Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, February 27, 2011
UST vs Gustavus 2-12-11
Made the trip down U.S. Highway 169 and UP's "Omaha Route" mainline to St. Peter to take in the UST - Gustavus on this Saturday. This was a huge game for both squads; particularly for GAC which was playing well at the moment and had a huge opportunity to make an upward move in the MIAC and a statement as well with the playoffs looming around the corner. Unfortunately for the Gusties, it was the visiting Tommies who did most of the talking - and pushing around as well.
The beginning of this game was particularly ominious for GAC as the Tommies quickly got out of the gate and opened up a 7-0 lead before the Gusties knew what hit them. UST senior post Rachel Booth knocked down a "3" from the top of the key to get things going and freshman sensation Taylor Young did damage down low early on as well (a sign of things to come). Eventually, the Gusties would awaken and make things interesting. Sophomore post Abby Rothenbuehler got the Gusties on the board at the 16:06 mark and slowly cut their way into the Tommie advantage. After Booth's power move and finish inside had the purple-clad Tommies up 12-4 at the 12:41 mark, the Gusties went to work. Sophomore Kelsey Florian hit two freebies after being fouled then senior post Molly Mathiowetz got a layup at the 11:32 mark. Then junior guard Ava Perry knocked down a jumper that got the home team to within two points trailing just 12-10. The Tommies would hold that slight advantage over the next few minutes but Gustavus would even things up at 17 a piece on Rothenbuehler's layup at the 6:44 mark. The game would be tied again at 21 on another score by Rothenbuehler at the 4:47 mark. The Gusties finally took their first (and only) lead of the contest when junior Molly Geske drained a "3" from the right wing at the 4:20 mark and it looked like - at that point anyway - that the Gusties were ready to seize the moment.
But, as Lee Corso from ESPN's College Gameday would say, "Not so fast my friend." Freshman Maggie Weiers got the Tommies to within one when she scored off the glass at the 4:02 mark and junior forward Sarah Smith was able to score inside at the 3:37 mark to help UST regain the lead. Smith then scored again at the 2:59 mark and was fouled in the process that, with the obligatory FT shot, put the Tommies back up by four at 28-24. Despite Perry's second three-pointer at the 2:08 mark, the real telling point in this game came right before the buzzer when junior PG Carolyn Dienhart stole the ball from the Gusties and went coast to coast for the finish with just :02 left on the clock before the intermission and a 32-27 UST lead that really gave the Tommies a breath of fresh air going into the locker room and quite likely burst whatever momentum GAC THOUGHT they had.
Still, early on in the second half the Gusties would remain right in the thick of things. Despite senior post Rachel Booth's finish inside to start things and up the Tommie ante to 34-27, Mathiowetz got two scores inside then Florian hit a "3" from the left wing to cut the Tommie advantage to 36-34. But from that point on the Tommies would grab on to the momentum and simply not let go. Young, who would go on a TEAR in the second half, finished inside at the 15:07 mark and also sank a free throw a bit later. Then Smith (perhaps one of the more underrated and under-appreciated players in the MIAC) piled through the porous Gustie "D" twice in a one minute span to finish inside to bulge the UST lead back up to nine points that really set the tone for the rest of the game. The Gusties would whittle down the UST lead to four points twice and got it down to three points at the 5:07 mark when Rothenbuehler hit a "3" to make the score 51-48 in favor of the purple. But each time the Gusties threatened, UST responded. Senior forward Jazmin Townsend, who has had a marvelous career as a Tommie, nailed a "3" from the left corner (eerily similar to the one she sank in the playoff semifinal last year that did in the Gusties) and sophomore guard Kellie Ring sank two pairs of charity stripe shots that once again pushed the lead back up to nine and gave UST the cushion it needed to close things out 65-58.
There was no doubt in my mind after this one that UST had clearly established itself as the best team in the conference. Although there obviously were games left on the schedule plus the playoffs as well UST made a statement that they would be very, very tough to beat and had the ability to get physical and overpower opponents in order to do so. And Young showed why she's probably the Freshman of the Year as she had a monster second half. The one thing that really left me scratching my head from a GAC standpoint is why in the HELL did the Gusties seem so hell-bent on trying to work it inside against a bigger, stronger team. It didn't work and, worse yet, they didn't seem to be able to kick it out to the open shooters on the perimeter when the Tommies sagged down low on them. Then, when they did - late in the game - it was too late.
The beginning of this game was particularly ominious for GAC as the Tommies quickly got out of the gate and opened up a 7-0 lead before the Gusties knew what hit them. UST senior post Rachel Booth knocked down a "3" from the top of the key to get things going and freshman sensation Taylor Young did damage down low early on as well (a sign of things to come). Eventually, the Gusties would awaken and make things interesting. Sophomore post Abby Rothenbuehler got the Gusties on the board at the 16:06 mark and slowly cut their way into the Tommie advantage. After Booth's power move and finish inside had the purple-clad Tommies up 12-4 at the 12:41 mark, the Gusties went to work. Sophomore Kelsey Florian hit two freebies after being fouled then senior post Molly Mathiowetz got a layup at the 11:32 mark. Then junior guard Ava Perry knocked down a jumper that got the home team to within two points trailing just 12-10. The Tommies would hold that slight advantage over the next few minutes but Gustavus would even things up at 17 a piece on Rothenbuehler's layup at the 6:44 mark. The game would be tied again at 21 on another score by Rothenbuehler at the 4:47 mark. The Gusties finally took their first (and only) lead of the contest when junior Molly Geske drained a "3" from the right wing at the 4:20 mark and it looked like - at that point anyway - that the Gusties were ready to seize the moment.
But, as Lee Corso from ESPN's College Gameday would say, "Not so fast my friend." Freshman Maggie Weiers got the Tommies to within one when she scored off the glass at the 4:02 mark and junior forward Sarah Smith was able to score inside at the 3:37 mark to help UST regain the lead. Smith then scored again at the 2:59 mark and was fouled in the process that, with the obligatory FT shot, put the Tommies back up by four at 28-24. Despite Perry's second three-pointer at the 2:08 mark, the real telling point in this game came right before the buzzer when junior PG Carolyn Dienhart stole the ball from the Gusties and went coast to coast for the finish with just :02 left on the clock before the intermission and a 32-27 UST lead that really gave the Tommies a breath of fresh air going into the locker room and quite likely burst whatever momentum GAC THOUGHT they had.
Still, early on in the second half the Gusties would remain right in the thick of things. Despite senior post Rachel Booth's finish inside to start things and up the Tommie ante to 34-27, Mathiowetz got two scores inside then Florian hit a "3" from the left wing to cut the Tommie advantage to 36-34. But from that point on the Tommies would grab on to the momentum and simply not let go. Young, who would go on a TEAR in the second half, finished inside at the 15:07 mark and also sank a free throw a bit later. Then Smith (perhaps one of the more underrated and under-appreciated players in the MIAC) piled through the porous Gustie "D" twice in a one minute span to finish inside to bulge the UST lead back up to nine points that really set the tone for the rest of the game. The Gusties would whittle down the UST lead to four points twice and got it down to three points at the 5:07 mark when Rothenbuehler hit a "3" to make the score 51-48 in favor of the purple. But each time the Gusties threatened, UST responded. Senior forward Jazmin Townsend, who has had a marvelous career as a Tommie, nailed a "3" from the left corner (eerily similar to the one she sank in the playoff semifinal last year that did in the Gusties) and sophomore guard Kellie Ring sank two pairs of charity stripe shots that once again pushed the lead back up to nine and gave UST the cushion it needed to close things out 65-58.
There was no doubt in my mind after this one that UST had clearly established itself as the best team in the conference. Although there obviously were games left on the schedule plus the playoffs as well UST made a statement that they would be very, very tough to beat and had the ability to get physical and overpower opponents in order to do so. And Young showed why she's probably the Freshman of the Year as she had a monster second half. The one thing that really left me scratching my head from a GAC standpoint is why in the HELL did the Gusties seem so hell-bent on trying to work it inside against a bigger, stronger team. It didn't work and, worse yet, they didn't seem to be able to kick it out to the open shooters on the perimeter when the Tommies sagged down low on them. Then, when they did - late in the game - it was too late.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Gustavus vs St. Kate's 2-9-11
Back at a familiar spot on this Wednesday night as two of my favorite teams in the MIAC went head to head as host St. Kate's was taking on Gustavus. Despite the loss to Macalester a week ago, the Gusties had seemingly got their act together while St. Kate's was mired in a seven-game losing streak that it was desperately looking to snap. And with former Gusties Bri Radtke and Amber Steffenhagen in attendance this night the Gusties were hoping to score a resounding win.
Early on, the Gusties did indeed look hot. Senior Molly Mathiowetz, on track for an unforgettable night (more on that in a moment) got GAC on the board first at the 19:09 mark. A bit later, junior Colleen Ruane scored in transition and junior Molly Geske knocked down a short jumper and GAC was quickly up 6-0 before St. Kate's knew what them. Wildcat senior Sonja Ellingson replied with two quick baskets that narrowed the gap back to two points and would score again at the 15:29 mark. Then junior guard Megan Zillmer snared the ball away from the Gusties and went coast to coast to score at the 14:58 mark to cut GAC's lead down to 10-8. Still, the Gusties; deeper, stronger and fresher would get on something of a run beginning at the 12:35 mark when sophomore post Abby Rothenbuehler used her long arms to grab a rebound and finish. Mathiowetz did more damage for the Gusties twice around the midway point of the first half and then Geske hit "3's" at the 8:36 and 7:38 marks that helped GAC open up a 32-19 lead. Despite heroics from Ellingson and fellow senior Laura Kalbfell, the Cats were unable to make much of a dent in the Gustie cushion as GAC went into the locker room at the half up 40-31.
The big moment of the game came in the second half when Mathiowetz scored her 1,000th point as a Gustie. Friends and family of Mathiowetz; all clad in "Whoops, she did it again!" shirts (she also scored 1,000 points during her high school career at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's) all broke out their kazoos and paid tribute to the heroine of the evening for GAC. After the stoppage in play, GAC methodically controlled the tempo and maintained the double-digit lead that allowed head coach Mickey Haller to unload her bench as GAC coasted to a 77-63 win; thus setting the stage for their big game coming up at home in St. Peter against UST on Saturday.
Early on, the Gusties did indeed look hot. Senior Molly Mathiowetz, on track for an unforgettable night (more on that in a moment) got GAC on the board first at the 19:09 mark. A bit later, junior Colleen Ruane scored in transition and junior Molly Geske knocked down a short jumper and GAC was quickly up 6-0 before St. Kate's knew what them. Wildcat senior Sonja Ellingson replied with two quick baskets that narrowed the gap back to two points and would score again at the 15:29 mark. Then junior guard Megan Zillmer snared the ball away from the Gusties and went coast to coast to score at the 14:58 mark to cut GAC's lead down to 10-8. Still, the Gusties; deeper, stronger and fresher would get on something of a run beginning at the 12:35 mark when sophomore post Abby Rothenbuehler used her long arms to grab a rebound and finish. Mathiowetz did more damage for the Gusties twice around the midway point of the first half and then Geske hit "3's" at the 8:36 and 7:38 marks that helped GAC open up a 32-19 lead. Despite heroics from Ellingson and fellow senior Laura Kalbfell, the Cats were unable to make much of a dent in the Gustie cushion as GAC went into the locker room at the half up 40-31.
The big moment of the game came in the second half when Mathiowetz scored her 1,000th point as a Gustie. Friends and family of Mathiowetz; all clad in "Whoops, she did it again!" shirts (she also scored 1,000 points during her high school career at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's) all broke out their kazoos and paid tribute to the heroine of the evening for GAC. After the stoppage in play, GAC methodically controlled the tempo and maintained the double-digit lead that allowed head coach Mickey Haller to unload her bench as GAC coasted to a 77-63 win; thus setting the stage for their big game coming up at home in St. Peter against UST on Saturday.
Riverland CC vs Anoka-Ramsey
Found myself up in Coon Rapids on this Wednesday night to take in the game between visiting Riverland Community College and host Anoka-Ramsey. There was no question about whether or not ARCC would be able to take care of business. And this time, they didn't waste any time putting their opponent away.
Actually, RCC's Krista Viehauser got the road team going first as she scored inside but ARCC quickly answered as Stephanie Pilgrim hit two quick "3's". On this night, Pilgrim would not be the only three-point bomber for the Golden Rams either as sophomore post Marie Hanson was finally able to snare the spotlight. She canned FOUR "3's" in the span of just under three minutes She would nail two more "3's" at the 9:12 and 8:49 marks that helped ARCC build an immense 56-19 lead at the half. It would simply be more of the same in the second half as both Pilgrim and Hanson rained threes on their hapless opponent. In a total rout, Anoka-Ramsey just missed out hitting a "C" note as they buried Riverland CC 98-37.
Actually, RCC's Krista Viehauser got the road team going first as she scored inside but ARCC quickly answered as Stephanie Pilgrim hit two quick "3's". On this night, Pilgrim would not be the only three-point bomber for the Golden Rams either as sophomore post Marie Hanson was finally able to snare the spotlight. She canned FOUR "3's" in the span of just under three minutes She would nail two more "3's" at the 9:12 and 8:49 marks that helped ARCC build an immense 56-19 lead at the half. It would simply be more of the same in the second half as both Pilgrim and Hanson rained threes on their hapless opponent. In a total rout, Anoka-Ramsey just missed out hitting a "C" note as they buried Riverland CC 98-37.
Concordia vs Macalester 2-2-11
Was over at the Macalester's Leonard Center for this night's clash between host Macalester and Concordia which made yet another long trek down from the Fargo-Moorhead metro area down to the Cities. This would be another big test for the Scots against an upper echelon MIAC team and, after knocking off GAC a couple of days ago, Macalester obviously wanted to keep the beat going.
Early on, Macalester looked like they might do just that as the Scots raced to a 7-0 lead in the first five minutes as Concordia looked a bit out of synch and rythm. Junior Shannon Rene drew first blood as she hit a "3" from the left wing at the 18:03 mark and then senior Majra Mucic beat the shot clock on a short shot at the 17:26 mark. Junior Holly Schiedermayer then hit a layup at the 15:03 mark that made the home crowd feel good about things. But the Cobbers would slowly get back in the contest and were able to forge a 10-10 tie when senior Maggie Bauernfeind nailed a "3" at the 10:12 mark.
Still, Shannon Rene held a very hot hand in this 1st half and she again would set the tone as she nailed "3s" at the 9:55 and 9:26 mark that would give the Scots another little cushion. This cushion would last a bit longer as fellow junior Maggie Wood canned a "3" at the 4:52 mark and a 21-14 lead. But, once again, the Cobbers would find a way to erase the deficit. Senior Lindsey Schultz hit a long two pointer from the right corner and then freshman post Kelsey Walloch followed with a short jumper. Then, fellow freshman post Alexandra Lippert narrowed the Macalester lead to 21-20 with just 2:05 left. The Cobbers would get their first lead when Bauernfeind made a layup and was fouled in the process with just 1:36 left. Although Macalester would get the lead back at the half at 25-23; the tone of this game had changed significantly as Macalester had trouble going inside after Concordia toughened their perimeter "D".
Macalester did their best in the second half to get out to a good start. Sophomore PG Kyanna Jones hit a jumper along the baseline at the 19:26 mark and then Mucic scored off the glass a minute later. Schiedermayer then scored around Lippert at the 17:59 mark and then Shannon Rene hit one of her trademark "3's" at the 17:10 mark for a 34-29 lead. Slowy, but surely Concordia would battle back. Senior PG Erica Nord finished underneath at the 16:08 mark then Lippert grabbed a rebound and finished at the 14:50 mark. Then reserve sophomore Emily Thesing knocked down a "3" from the top of the key at the 13:39 mark to narrow Macalester's lead to 36-35. Things would stay very close; very tight over the course of the next few minutes. But, at the 9:54 mark, this experienced, senior-laden Concordia team made its move. Lippert scored inside and was fouled in the process and the resulting free throw gave the Cobbers a lead that it would never relinquish. The crucial sequences came at the 8:36 and 7:54 marks respectively when Macalester, trying to keep it a one-possession game, was burned by Cobber senior sharp-shooter Brittany Jossart as she nailed key three-pointers that would not only give Concordia a 50-45 lead but also gave them a real shot in the arm as well as their trademark defense shut down not only Macalester's 1-2 inside punch of Mucic and Schiedermayer but also the Rene Sisters out on the perimeter as well. Coming down the home stretch, Concordia was able to snuff out any wisps of hope Macalester may have had as they carved out a 66-57 victory at the horn.
Early on, Macalester looked like they might do just that as the Scots raced to a 7-0 lead in the first five minutes as Concordia looked a bit out of synch and rythm. Junior Shannon Rene drew first blood as she hit a "3" from the left wing at the 18:03 mark and then senior Majra Mucic beat the shot clock on a short shot at the 17:26 mark. Junior Holly Schiedermayer then hit a layup at the 15:03 mark that made the home crowd feel good about things. But the Cobbers would slowly get back in the contest and were able to forge a 10-10 tie when senior Maggie Bauernfeind nailed a "3" at the 10:12 mark.
Still, Shannon Rene held a very hot hand in this 1st half and she again would set the tone as she nailed "3s" at the 9:55 and 9:26 mark that would give the Scots another little cushion. This cushion would last a bit longer as fellow junior Maggie Wood canned a "3" at the 4:52 mark and a 21-14 lead. But, once again, the Cobbers would find a way to erase the deficit. Senior Lindsey Schultz hit a long two pointer from the right corner and then freshman post Kelsey Walloch followed with a short jumper. Then, fellow freshman post Alexandra Lippert narrowed the Macalester lead to 21-20 with just 2:05 left. The Cobbers would get their first lead when Bauernfeind made a layup and was fouled in the process with just 1:36 left. Although Macalester would get the lead back at the half at 25-23; the tone of this game had changed significantly as Macalester had trouble going inside after Concordia toughened their perimeter "D".
Macalester did their best in the second half to get out to a good start. Sophomore PG Kyanna Jones hit a jumper along the baseline at the 19:26 mark and then Mucic scored off the glass a minute later. Schiedermayer then scored around Lippert at the 17:59 mark and then Shannon Rene hit one of her trademark "3's" at the 17:10 mark for a 34-29 lead. Slowy, but surely Concordia would battle back. Senior PG Erica Nord finished underneath at the 16:08 mark then Lippert grabbed a rebound and finished at the 14:50 mark. Then reserve sophomore Emily Thesing knocked down a "3" from the top of the key at the 13:39 mark to narrow Macalester's lead to 36-35. Things would stay very close; very tight over the course of the next few minutes. But, at the 9:54 mark, this experienced, senior-laden Concordia team made its move. Lippert scored inside and was fouled in the process and the resulting free throw gave the Cobbers a lead that it would never relinquish. The crucial sequences came at the 8:36 and 7:54 marks respectively when Macalester, trying to keep it a one-possession game, was burned by Cobber senior sharp-shooter Brittany Jossart as she nailed key three-pointers that would not only give Concordia a 50-45 lead but also gave them a real shot in the arm as well as their trademark defense shut down not only Macalester's 1-2 inside punch of Mucic and Schiedermayer but also the Rene Sisters out on the perimeter as well. Coming down the home stretch, Concordia was able to snuff out any wisps of hope Macalester may have had as they carved out a 66-57 victory at the horn.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
GAC vs Macalester 1-31-11
Was over at Macalester's Leonard Center to watch visiting Gustavus take on always dangerous Macalester on this cold winter evening, Got over there early to catch most of the JV game that Mac won but with former Gustie great Angie Peterson in attendance again I was hopeful that the Gusties would prevail in the main event.
Although GAC junior Molly Geske got the Gusties on the board first with two FT's after being fouled on a drive inside, the host Scots quickly gave a preview of things to come. Perhaps the most foreboding sign came on the Scots first possession when junior forward Holly Schiedermayer got the ball down low and scored easily - too easily in fact as the Gustie defense, instead of converging on Schiedermayer mysteriously back off, giving the lanky blonde plenty of room to finish. GAC would quickly find themselves down 7-2 when Macalester's duo of Rene sisters - Jessica and Shannon - nailed consecutive "3's". Then it was senior Majra Mucic's turn as her two consecutive baskets inside put the Gusties down 12-4.
GAC would make a bit of a run just before the 8:00 mark when sophomore Kelsey Florian scored off the glass to trim the Scot lead to 18-14 and once again at the 6:06 mark when freshman Eli Benz hit a turnaround jumper to cut the Macalester lead to 22-18 but the Scots would soon hit the pedal again; getting the lead back up to nine points thanks to another "3" by Jessica Rene at the 3:22 mark. The Gusties, however, would make a push right before the half. Junior Ava Perry and Florian both were able to score inside and sophomore post Abby Rothenbuehler hit a "3" from the top of the key at the 1:42 mark. Finally, Florian once again was able to score down low that brought the Gusties to within one point of Macalester at the break trailing 29-28. Certainly the Gusties had to be feeling much better about themselves than they were at the midway point of the first half when the Scots were controlling the tempo.
The early part of the second half saw the lead bob back and forth. Junior PG Colleen Ruane was able to finish down low to put the Gusties back in front 30-29 but then Mucic answered right back for the home team when she hit a long "3" from the top and Schiedermayer expanded the lead back to four points when she scored down low at the 16:41 mark. But the Gusties would then make a move of their own. After Ruane hit a jumper, Geske would demostrate her scoring prowess with a "3" from the left wing at the 14:44 mark and a 35-34 Gustie lead. Benz then upped the ante when she scored inside and was subsequently fouled in the process. She cashed in on the charity stripe shot for a 38-34 GAC lead. Here, perhaps, was the turning point of the game. It looked like GAC was ever so slowly starting to take control at this point. Unfortunately for the Gusties, they were never able to build on this lead over the next few minutes as they squandered several scoring opportunites in this critical stretch. Sensing an opportunity, Macalester eventually pounced on the chance. After nailing two free throws at the 10:10 mark, Mucic again showed her versatility when she hit a "3" from the left wing at the 9:25 mark that put the Scots back in the lead at 39-38. Despite the lead changing hands on a couple of occasions, the Gustie momentum had been effectively thwarted and the host Scots seized the moment.
Macalester took the lead for good on Jessica Rene's two free throws at the 7:24 mark and then freshman Taylor Pike got inside on the suddenly porous Gustie defense to finish for a 45-42 lead. Jessica Rene hit another "3" from the right wing at the 4:50 mark. The Scots would be able to hold a six-to-seven point cushion coming down the stretch thanks to both Mucic and Schiedermayer doing work down low and drawing fouls. GAC was simply flustered on this night and had a horrible time trying to get their three-point shooters open and numerous turnovers didn't help the cause either. When the dust had settled, Macalester had slayed another top-tier team, this time by a final score of 59-47.
Needless to say, this was a costly loss for the Gusties as it appeared going in they were on an upward swing with a chance to solidify their hold on fourth place in the conference. But you've got to give a helluva lot of credit to Macalester head coach Ellen Thompson who can simply FLAT OUT coach. She's taken a Macalester squad that lost two of the best players in the conference last year and has got her team in the unlikely position of qualifying for that coveted sixth (or even fifth if things work out right) playoff spot. Her team isn't the most talented by a long shot but they play incredibly smart and work probably even harder. This is a team I would HATE to go up against if they are able to nail down a playoff spot.
Although GAC junior Molly Geske got the Gusties on the board first with two FT's after being fouled on a drive inside, the host Scots quickly gave a preview of things to come. Perhaps the most foreboding sign came on the Scots first possession when junior forward Holly Schiedermayer got the ball down low and scored easily - too easily in fact as the Gustie defense, instead of converging on Schiedermayer mysteriously back off, giving the lanky blonde plenty of room to finish. GAC would quickly find themselves down 7-2 when Macalester's duo of Rene sisters - Jessica and Shannon - nailed consecutive "3's". Then it was senior Majra Mucic's turn as her two consecutive baskets inside put the Gusties down 12-4.
GAC would make a bit of a run just before the 8:00 mark when sophomore Kelsey Florian scored off the glass to trim the Scot lead to 18-14 and once again at the 6:06 mark when freshman Eli Benz hit a turnaround jumper to cut the Macalester lead to 22-18 but the Scots would soon hit the pedal again; getting the lead back up to nine points thanks to another "3" by Jessica Rene at the 3:22 mark. The Gusties, however, would make a push right before the half. Junior Ava Perry and Florian both were able to score inside and sophomore post Abby Rothenbuehler hit a "3" from the top of the key at the 1:42 mark. Finally, Florian once again was able to score down low that brought the Gusties to within one point of Macalester at the break trailing 29-28. Certainly the Gusties had to be feeling much better about themselves than they were at the midway point of the first half when the Scots were controlling the tempo.
The early part of the second half saw the lead bob back and forth. Junior PG Colleen Ruane was able to finish down low to put the Gusties back in front 30-29 but then Mucic answered right back for the home team when she hit a long "3" from the top and Schiedermayer expanded the lead back to four points when she scored down low at the 16:41 mark. But the Gusties would then make a move of their own. After Ruane hit a jumper, Geske would demostrate her scoring prowess with a "3" from the left wing at the 14:44 mark and a 35-34 Gustie lead. Benz then upped the ante when she scored inside and was subsequently fouled in the process. She cashed in on the charity stripe shot for a 38-34 GAC lead. Here, perhaps, was the turning point of the game. It looked like GAC was ever so slowly starting to take control at this point. Unfortunately for the Gusties, they were never able to build on this lead over the next few minutes as they squandered several scoring opportunites in this critical stretch. Sensing an opportunity, Macalester eventually pounced on the chance. After nailing two free throws at the 10:10 mark, Mucic again showed her versatility when she hit a "3" from the left wing at the 9:25 mark that put the Scots back in the lead at 39-38. Despite the lead changing hands on a couple of occasions, the Gustie momentum had been effectively thwarted and the host Scots seized the moment.
Macalester took the lead for good on Jessica Rene's two free throws at the 7:24 mark and then freshman Taylor Pike got inside on the suddenly porous Gustie defense to finish for a 45-42 lead. Jessica Rene hit another "3" from the right wing at the 4:50 mark. The Scots would be able to hold a six-to-seven point cushion coming down the stretch thanks to both Mucic and Schiedermayer doing work down low and drawing fouls. GAC was simply flustered on this night and had a horrible time trying to get their three-point shooters open and numerous turnovers didn't help the cause either. When the dust had settled, Macalester had slayed another top-tier team, this time by a final score of 59-47.
Needless to say, this was a costly loss for the Gusties as it appeared going in they were on an upward swing with a chance to solidify their hold on fourth place in the conference. But you've got to give a helluva lot of credit to Macalester head coach Ellen Thompson who can simply FLAT OUT coach. She's taken a Macalester squad that lost two of the best players in the conference last year and has got her team in the unlikely position of qualifying for that coveted sixth (or even fifth if things work out right) playoff spot. Her team isn't the most talented by a long shot but they play incredibly smart and work probably even harder. This is a team I would HATE to go up against if they are able to nail down a playoff spot.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Hamline vs St. Kate's 1-29-11
A return trip to the Butler Center on Saturday found the host St. Kate's Wildcats going up against another hard-charging team trying to make a late run in the form of the Hamline Pipers. And, just like in their last game with Macalester, the 'Cats would be neck-and-neck with their opponents only to fade in the end.
St. Kate's would get off to a pretty decent start in this one. Senior PG Quinn Halverson knocked down a "3" from the right wing to start things off and after senior Sonja Ellingson's short jumper off the glass freshman Kristen Lee put down a "3" at the 16:25 mark for an 8-4 Wildcat lead. But Hamline would hold strong and despite trailing 15-10 at the 13:56 mark they eventually tied the game at 16-all when junior guard Stephanie Robinson knocked down a "3" from the right wing. Things would stay tight the rest of the first half and Hamline would take a slim 34-32 lead into the locker room at the half thanks to sophomore Kara Poirer's "3" from the left wing before the buzzer.
The Pipers would get off to a good start in the second half with seniors Nikki Klinck and Mary Wilkowski scoring early for a 38-34 Hamline lead. But Wildcat senior stud Laura Kalbfell would drain a "3" from the top of the key cutting the Pipers lead to one at the 16:14 mark. St. Kate's would regain the lead at 44-43 when Ellingson drained a "3" at the 13:34 mark and would lead by as many as six points when junior guard Megan Zillmer finished a drive inside and a 51-45 score at the 11:28 mark. Then both teams decided to show off their three-point shooting skills as Poirer and freshman Lauren Turrito knocked down "3's" that tied it at 54-all and then it was Lee and Ellingson with "3's" that got St. Kate's back to a 60-54 lead at the 8:13 mark.
Just when it looked like the Wildcats had enough sizzle to perhaps close one out they predictably started running out of gas. Robinson hit a "3" at the 7:48 mark that sliced the 'Cats lead down to 60-57 and after another Robinson "3" at the 6:16 mark the Pipers took the lead on more of Robinson's heroics as she finished in transition for a 63-62 lead at the 5:25 mark. A little more than a minute later Wilkowski expanded the lead when she finished inside and the real dagger came at the 2:24 mark when Robinson hit a long two-pointer and a 68-62 lead. And, just like their last game, the Wildcats watched helplessly as their opponent was able to salt things away from the charity strip and, when the dust had settled, Hamline had claimed a 76-67 victory.
Many (including me) were not expecting much from this Hamline squad this year after Melissa Young-Kruse's forced resignation last year and the subsequent mass defections that took place afterwards. Even more astounding is that Hamline is doing this without senior Jackie Kelly and freshman Brianna Blackhawk who both quit on their team and coaches recently. While I don't have any inside information wrt the situation, a Hamline fan sitting next to me confirmed it was chemistry problems between the two players and coaches. I just think it's really unfortunate (and unnecessary) for a thing like this to happen. While Blackhawk was new to the program and could probably go elsewhere if she really wants to, this is really bad when I look at the Jackie Kelly situation. Here, you had one of the best three-point shooters in the conference AND a senior and leader on the team. How can you quit on your teammates when you've got so incredibly much to play for? Even more so when you're a senior and this is it for you. You can't tough it out? This is something that she is REALLY, really going to regret five or ten years down the road when she looks back. And the coaches can't be entirely blame-free in this situation, either. Also, where in the HELL was the Hamline AD when this was all going down? In a case like this, both sides have to be brought to the table to get a tense situation settled and resolved. Instead, a senior cut short her career of her own volition which is just damn sad and unfortunate, IMHO.
St. Kate's would get off to a pretty decent start in this one. Senior PG Quinn Halverson knocked down a "3" from the right wing to start things off and after senior Sonja Ellingson's short jumper off the glass freshman Kristen Lee put down a "3" at the 16:25 mark for an 8-4 Wildcat lead. But Hamline would hold strong and despite trailing 15-10 at the 13:56 mark they eventually tied the game at 16-all when junior guard Stephanie Robinson knocked down a "3" from the right wing. Things would stay tight the rest of the first half and Hamline would take a slim 34-32 lead into the locker room at the half thanks to sophomore Kara Poirer's "3" from the left wing before the buzzer.
The Pipers would get off to a good start in the second half with seniors Nikki Klinck and Mary Wilkowski scoring early for a 38-34 Hamline lead. But Wildcat senior stud Laura Kalbfell would drain a "3" from the top of the key cutting the Pipers lead to one at the 16:14 mark. St. Kate's would regain the lead at 44-43 when Ellingson drained a "3" at the 13:34 mark and would lead by as many as six points when junior guard Megan Zillmer finished a drive inside and a 51-45 score at the 11:28 mark. Then both teams decided to show off their three-point shooting skills as Poirer and freshman Lauren Turrito knocked down "3's" that tied it at 54-all and then it was Lee and Ellingson with "3's" that got St. Kate's back to a 60-54 lead at the 8:13 mark.
Just when it looked like the Wildcats had enough sizzle to perhaps close one out they predictably started running out of gas. Robinson hit a "3" at the 7:48 mark that sliced the 'Cats lead down to 60-57 and after another Robinson "3" at the 6:16 mark the Pipers took the lead on more of Robinson's heroics as she finished in transition for a 63-62 lead at the 5:25 mark. A little more than a minute later Wilkowski expanded the lead when she finished inside and the real dagger came at the 2:24 mark when Robinson hit a long two-pointer and a 68-62 lead. And, just like their last game, the Wildcats watched helplessly as their opponent was able to salt things away from the charity strip and, when the dust had settled, Hamline had claimed a 76-67 victory.
Many (including me) were not expecting much from this Hamline squad this year after Melissa Young-Kruse's forced resignation last year and the subsequent mass defections that took place afterwards. Even more astounding is that Hamline is doing this without senior Jackie Kelly and freshman Brianna Blackhawk who both quit on their team and coaches recently. While I don't have any inside information wrt the situation, a Hamline fan sitting next to me confirmed it was chemistry problems between the two players and coaches. I just think it's really unfortunate (and unnecessary) for a thing like this to happen. While Blackhawk was new to the program and could probably go elsewhere if she really wants to, this is really bad when I look at the Jackie Kelly situation. Here, you had one of the best three-point shooters in the conference AND a senior and leader on the team. How can you quit on your teammates when you've got so incredibly much to play for? Even more so when you're a senior and this is it for you. You can't tough it out? This is something that she is REALLY, really going to regret five or ten years down the road when she looks back. And the coaches can't be entirely blame-free in this situation, either. Also, where in the HELL was the Hamline AD when this was all going down? In a case like this, both sides have to be brought to the table to get a tense situation settled and resolved. Instead, a senior cut short her career of her own volition which is just damn sad and unfortunate, IMHO.
Macalester vs St. Kate's 1-26-11
Was at St. Kate's Butler Center for a Wednesday night matchup between visiting Macalester and the host Wildcats. Despite the Wildcats recent struggles this looked like a very competitive game and I would not be let down in that aspect.
Macalester drew first blood on this night with a signature "3" from Shannone Rene in the left corner for a quick 3-0 Scot lead but the Wildcats would quickly respond. Senior Sonja Ellingson finished a tough drive inside and a bit later freshman Kristen Lee drained a "3" from the top of the key for a 5-3 St. Kate's lead. Things would stay very close for the next several minutes and after Ellingson hit another "3" from the right corner to tie the issue at 13-all at the 10:57 mark, Macalester got a bit of a lift from unheralded freshman Erin Bloomfield-Bortz out of Carmel, Indiana. She knocked down two quick buckets that gave Macalester a four point advantage but the 'Cats would soon battle back. With the score tied at 21, Wildcat sophomore Adele Simerson-Wallfred hit a long two-pointer at the 4:42 mark and after Ellingson hit a turnaround jumper Simerson-Wallfred would get inside on a drive and finish off the glass and suddenly it looked like St. Kate's had some real momentum leading 27-21. Now it was the Scots turn to respond. Juniors Holly Schiedermayer and Audrey Mills each scored inside and then Shannon Rene let loose with a "3" from the right wing at the 1:10 mark. Sophomore guard Kyanna Jones sliced St. Kate's lead to a mere one point when she hit a two pointer from the left corner and that's how the teams went into the locker room with St. Kate's clinging to a 31-30 lead.
The first 5 to 6 minutes of the second half seemed to be a replay of the tightly contested first half. Then, at the 15:35 mark Macalester slowly but surely began to take control. Jessica Rene drove inside and finished to tie things once again at 36-all. Then sister Shannon Rene put down two free throws after being fouled that gave the Scots the lead that they would never relinquish. The 'Cats would keep things close but each time they threatened to either tie the game or perhaps re-take the lead the Scots always had a better answer. With the lead teetering between three and five points, Macalester pushed it to seven points on senior post Majra Mucic's finish inside. The scrappy Wildcats would claw back and cut Macalester's lead down to four points once again but just when you thought they might bring it back all the way Shannon Rene put a dagger in the heart of the home team with her three-point bomb at exactly the 3:00 minute mark that would give the Scots the cushion that allowed them to milk the clock and finish things off from the charity stripe and earn a 71-58 victory.
The Wildcats did a good job of keeping things very close for the most part but simply couldn't get the key defensive stops when they really, really needed them. And credit head coach Ellen Thompson and her team for making an unlikely push to get themselves in the mix for a playoff spot. This is a program that obviously is not the most talented in the conference but they play very smart and very well together and if the Rene sisters are on from the perimeter, LOOK OUT!!
Macalester drew first blood on this night with a signature "3" from Shannone Rene in the left corner for a quick 3-0 Scot lead but the Wildcats would quickly respond. Senior Sonja Ellingson finished a tough drive inside and a bit later freshman Kristen Lee drained a "3" from the top of the key for a 5-3 St. Kate's lead. Things would stay very close for the next several minutes and after Ellingson hit another "3" from the right corner to tie the issue at 13-all at the 10:57 mark, Macalester got a bit of a lift from unheralded freshman Erin Bloomfield-Bortz out of Carmel, Indiana. She knocked down two quick buckets that gave Macalester a four point advantage but the 'Cats would soon battle back. With the score tied at 21, Wildcat sophomore Adele Simerson-Wallfred hit a long two-pointer at the 4:42 mark and after Ellingson hit a turnaround jumper Simerson-Wallfred would get inside on a drive and finish off the glass and suddenly it looked like St. Kate's had some real momentum leading 27-21. Now it was the Scots turn to respond. Juniors Holly Schiedermayer and Audrey Mills each scored inside and then Shannon Rene let loose with a "3" from the right wing at the 1:10 mark. Sophomore guard Kyanna Jones sliced St. Kate's lead to a mere one point when she hit a two pointer from the left corner and that's how the teams went into the locker room with St. Kate's clinging to a 31-30 lead.
The first 5 to 6 minutes of the second half seemed to be a replay of the tightly contested first half. Then, at the 15:35 mark Macalester slowly but surely began to take control. Jessica Rene drove inside and finished to tie things once again at 36-all. Then sister Shannon Rene put down two free throws after being fouled that gave the Scots the lead that they would never relinquish. The 'Cats would keep things close but each time they threatened to either tie the game or perhaps re-take the lead the Scots always had a better answer. With the lead teetering between three and five points, Macalester pushed it to seven points on senior post Majra Mucic's finish inside. The scrappy Wildcats would claw back and cut Macalester's lead down to four points once again but just when you thought they might bring it back all the way Shannon Rene put a dagger in the heart of the home team with her three-point bomb at exactly the 3:00 minute mark that would give the Scots the cushion that allowed them to milk the clock and finish things off from the charity stripe and earn a 71-58 victory.
The Wildcats did a good job of keeping things very close for the most part but simply couldn't get the key defensive stops when they really, really needed them. And credit head coach Ellen Thompson and her team for making an unlikely push to get themselves in the mix for a playoff spot. This is a program that obviously is not the most talented in the conference but they play very smart and very well together and if the Rene sisters are on from the perimeter, LOOK OUT!!
Concordia vs UST 1-24-11
Took in the Monday night game between host UST and Concordia; a make-up game that was postponed back on December 11th due to the snownami that hit the Twin Cities on that fateful Saturday. This figured to be a good one and with the Cobbers having enjoyed success at UST for the last two season you had to wonder if the Tommies would be able to break the Cobber jinx.
The first half sure made it seem like the Tommies were more than up to the task. Despite Cobber senior Brittany Jossart's racing with the opening tip and finishing for a quick 2-0 Concordia lead, the Tommies would soon get the burst they were looking for. With UST holding a 7-6 lead at the 16:51 mark, Tommie junior PG Carolyn Dienhart converted on a lay-up and then freshman phenom Taylor Young finished inside a bit later that put the Tommies up 11-6. After fellow freshman Maggie Weiers scored inside, sophomore guard Kellie Ring drained a "3" from the top of the key at the 12:49 mark for a 17-6 Tommie lead. Freshman Kelly Brandenburg finished the 14-0 UST run when she finished in transition and the Cobbers looked like they had been clubbed. Concordia freshman Kelsey Walloch finally stopped the bleeding when she was able to score inside at the 10:43 mark but this looked like a night that UST would put an end to their misery with Concordia.
Or so it SEEMED. One thing about this senior-laden Concordia team is that they are incredibly resilient and mentally tough and they believe they can win any game they're in no matter what the situation or score. Maggie Bauernfeind was able to make it a 23-13 game when she hit a long "3" as the shot clock expired at the 8:51 mark. Sophomore reserve Tricia Sorenson cut the Tommie lead to single digits with a "3" of her own at the 7:42 mark. The Tommie lead was trimmed to a mere six points on two occasions when 6'4" freshman Alexandra Lippert scored on a turnaround jumper at the 6:53 mark and then again at the 5:48 mark when sophomore Emily Thesing scored on a jumper. UST would wake up from its slumber soon enough to get its lead back up to double digits when junior reserve post Sarah Smith scored to make it a 34-22 game and Concordia went a little cold down the stretch save for Jossart's "3" with :24 left before intermission. Even though UST was up at the half 36-27, this game suddenly had a much different complexion to it than what it did early on.
UST looked like it had it going again early on in the second half when senior forward Jazmin Townsend hit a "3" from the right wing for a 42-29 Tommie lead. Slowly, the Cobbers would whittle and chip away at the Tommie advantage. Senior Lindsey Schultz nailed a "3" from the right wing at the 13:54 mark and then Thesing drilled a "3" of her own from the left corner some 30 seconds later. After Sorenson connected with a long two- pointer at the 12:36 mark, the Tommie lead had been cut to a 44-39 count and perhaps this is where panic began to set in with the home team. Schultz then scored off the glass at the 11:52 mark and then Jossart tied it 44-all when she hit a "3" from the right wing.
Concordia's 2-3 zone in the second half also was causing UST a ton of trouble. Strangely quiet on this night, willowy three-point queen Ali Johnson finally got untracked when she hit a "3" from the right top at the 6:19 mark that would put the Tommies back out in front 50-49. Alas, it would be the last lead the Tommies would enjoy in this contest. Lippert put the Corn in front for good when she was able to snare a rebound and get a putback and after senior Erica Nord's jumper Jossart burned the Tommies again with a "3" from the right wing at the 4:10 mark for a 56-50 Concordia lead. Lippert's shot off the glass at the 3:30 mark increased it to 58-50 and despite Townsend's short shot at the 2:38 mark the Tommies were once again doomed against their rivals from Moorhead. Concordia was able to ice the game from the charity stripe for a 63-55 Cobber win.
It was an exhubarant Concordia team that was celebrating yet another win in St. Paul against the Tommies. Head Coach Jessica Rahman praised her senior leadership comprised of Schultz, Nord and Jossart who helped show the way for the young ones in this one. They just seem like a team that knows what it has to do to come up with big wins on the road and that experience and ability could be huge for this team once playoff time rolls around.
The first half sure made it seem like the Tommies were more than up to the task. Despite Cobber senior Brittany Jossart's racing with the opening tip and finishing for a quick 2-0 Concordia lead, the Tommies would soon get the burst they were looking for. With UST holding a 7-6 lead at the 16:51 mark, Tommie junior PG Carolyn Dienhart converted on a lay-up and then freshman phenom Taylor Young finished inside a bit later that put the Tommies up 11-6. After fellow freshman Maggie Weiers scored inside, sophomore guard Kellie Ring drained a "3" from the top of the key at the 12:49 mark for a 17-6 Tommie lead. Freshman Kelly Brandenburg finished the 14-0 UST run when she finished in transition and the Cobbers looked like they had been clubbed. Concordia freshman Kelsey Walloch finally stopped the bleeding when she was able to score inside at the 10:43 mark but this looked like a night that UST would put an end to their misery with Concordia.
Or so it SEEMED. One thing about this senior-laden Concordia team is that they are incredibly resilient and mentally tough and they believe they can win any game they're in no matter what the situation or score. Maggie Bauernfeind was able to make it a 23-13 game when she hit a long "3" as the shot clock expired at the 8:51 mark. Sophomore reserve Tricia Sorenson cut the Tommie lead to single digits with a "3" of her own at the 7:42 mark. The Tommie lead was trimmed to a mere six points on two occasions when 6'4" freshman Alexandra Lippert scored on a turnaround jumper at the 6:53 mark and then again at the 5:48 mark when sophomore Emily Thesing scored on a jumper. UST would wake up from its slumber soon enough to get its lead back up to double digits when junior reserve post Sarah Smith scored to make it a 34-22 game and Concordia went a little cold down the stretch save for Jossart's "3" with :24 left before intermission. Even though UST was up at the half 36-27, this game suddenly had a much different complexion to it than what it did early on.
UST looked like it had it going again early on in the second half when senior forward Jazmin Townsend hit a "3" from the right wing for a 42-29 Tommie lead. Slowly, the Cobbers would whittle and chip away at the Tommie advantage. Senior Lindsey Schultz nailed a "3" from the right wing at the 13:54 mark and then Thesing drilled a "3" of her own from the left corner some 30 seconds later. After Sorenson connected with a long two- pointer at the 12:36 mark, the Tommie lead had been cut to a 44-39 count and perhaps this is where panic began to set in with the home team. Schultz then scored off the glass at the 11:52 mark and then Jossart tied it 44-all when she hit a "3" from the right wing.
Concordia's 2-3 zone in the second half also was causing UST a ton of trouble. Strangely quiet on this night, willowy three-point queen Ali Johnson finally got untracked when she hit a "3" from the right top at the 6:19 mark that would put the Tommies back out in front 50-49. Alas, it would be the last lead the Tommies would enjoy in this contest. Lippert put the Corn in front for good when she was able to snare a rebound and get a putback and after senior Erica Nord's jumper Jossart burned the Tommies again with a "3" from the right wing at the 4:10 mark for a 56-50 Concordia lead. Lippert's shot off the glass at the 3:30 mark increased it to 58-50 and despite Townsend's short shot at the 2:38 mark the Tommies were once again doomed against their rivals from Moorhead. Concordia was able to ice the game from the charity stripe for a 63-55 Cobber win.
It was an exhubarant Concordia team that was celebrating yet another win in St. Paul against the Tommies. Head Coach Jessica Rahman praised her senior leadership comprised of Schultz, Nord and Jossart who helped show the way for the young ones in this one. They just seem like a team that knows what it has to do to come up with big wins on the road and that experience and ability could be huge for this team once playoff time rolls around.
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