Looking At Tonight's NCAA Tournament Game - Ohio Wesleyan vs GAC 3-3-23

 So GAC made it safely over to Whitewater, WI the other night to get ready for this evening's first round NCAA Tournament Game at the UW-Whitewater pod where the Gusties will take on Ohio Wesleyan out of the North Coast Athletic Conference where the Battling Bishops knocked off Oberlin in the NCAC Championship Game last weekend.  Ohio Wesleyan doesn't bring what you would call an impressive record into the Dance - 18-10 overall - but at this time of the year, we know all too well that overall records really don't mean diddly.  You have to win the game on the floor.  

The thing that caught my eye right off the bat when I first looked at the Ohio Wesleyan roster is how incredibly young this team is.  This is a roster dominated by freshmen and sophomores, with three juniors and no seniors.  So it's probably safe to say that the best is yet to come for this Ohio Wesleyan program over the next few years.  Still, this Ohio Wesleyan team has been in good hands under Head Coach Stacey Ungashick Lobdell in her twelve years at the helm as the Battling Bishops have appeared in more than one NCAC Championship Game.  Ohio Wesleyan is led by junior guard Kasey Schipfer with her 18.2 ppg and lanky fellow junior guard Lauren Denison (11.8 ppg) along with  6'0" sophomore post Alyssa Griner (11.1 ppg) are solid complimentary pieces.  However, I also notice that this Ohio Wesleyan team has been out-rebounded this year 940-926 and that number alone could be a dicey proposition going up against a solid GAC front line of senior Grace Benz, sophomore Rachel Kawiecki and fellow sophomore Morgan Kelly.  Given the way the Gusties have performed this season - and especially down the stretch, I give GAC the big edge in this one and the experience from last season will also be huge for them as well.  

The starting time for this game tonight is at 5:15 P.M. (Central time) and here's the link to watch this and other games     https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/women/2022-23/ncaa-tournament?date=2023-03-03

The nightcap at the UW-Whitewater pod on this Friday evening will feature host UW-Whitewater taking on Webster with the two winners on this night facing off in the second-round game Saturday evening for the right to advance to the Sweet 16.

LET'S GO GUSTIES!!!!!