Monday's games
Liberty 57, Coastal Carolina 38: Your typical Liberty Big South rout? Not exactly. The Chanticleers led by five at halftime and by 10 early in the second half. But it was typical Lady Flames defense that eventually ground Coastal's attack to a virtual halt - the Chanticleers scored just two points over the final 7:14. Liberty's offense wasn't a whole lot better, but the Lady Flames ability to play volleyball with their own missed shots made up for it. The Lady Flames (14-4, 5-1 Big South) finished with as many offensive rebounds as the Chanticleers managed total rebounds. It all added up to Liberty's 32nd straight victory over Coastal and a sweep of their two-game "Beach trip" through South Carolina.
Charleston Southern 67, Radford 61: Meanwhile, the Highlanders (5-13, 4-3 Big South) went 0 for 2 in South Carolina after struggling with their shot (33 percent from the field, 1 of 6 from 3-point range) and spending most of the night in chase mode against the Buccaneers.
South Carolina State 74, Norfolk State 73: Heartbreaker for the Spartans, who fall to a Whitney Wiley layup with five-tenths of a second remaining. The loss spoiled a veritable offensive explosion for the Spartans (3-12, 0-6 MEAC), who finished with five players in double figures led by Raychele Payne (23 points), who apparently saves her best performances for S.C. State. Two of Payne's layups came in the final 1:02, and each one gave NSU a one-point lead. S.C. State's Wiley had the final answer, though, so despite yet another competitive effort, the Spartans must stomach their 27th straight MEAC road loss since a 69-59 win at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Jan. 3, 2007.
Hampton 67, Florida A&M 54: Quanneisha Perry strikes again. A couple of hours after being named MEAC Player of the Week, the 5-10 junior went for 19 points and 19 rebounds as the Lady Pirates dispatched the slumping Lady Rattlers. Not sure what's gotten into Perry of late. For much of this season she's been merely competent, a lefty with skills who did a lot of nice things that didn't add up to that much in the final box. But for the past five games, she's simply been the best player in the conference. "I just really realized how terrible I was playing and how I wasn't being fair to myself or my teammates," the new, improved Perry said.
Tuesday's games
Winthrop (6-12) at Longwood (4-16), 7 p.m.
Don't be misled by the Lancers' record. They're actually 3-3 at home this season; they just haven't gotten to play there since Dec. 28. Assuming they haven't been beaten down by the succession of road games, the Lancers should be quite competitive with a Winthrop club that has dropped its last five games. Longwood 62, Winthrop 60
Richmond (14-5, 3-1 Atlantic 1o) at Charlotte (11-8, 4-1 Atlantic 10), 9 p.m.
Still trying to get to the bottom of the Spiders' no-show against Dayton Saturday; we hope to have more on it later. One would think that the Spiders would be jacked up to avenge their loss to the 49ers in last year's Atlantic 10 tournament final. But after Richmond's performance Saturday, we're not sure what to think. The game will start at 9 p.m. as it is being televised by CBS College Sports. Charlotte 72, Richmond 62
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday dribble...better late than never
Monday's games
Florida A&M (10-6, 3-3 MEAC) at Hampton (7-10, 3-3 MEAC), 6 p.m.
We figured any team that could handle Florida and Alabama of the SEC would have its way in the MEAC. But so far the Lady Rattlers have been nothing special in their own conference (2-3 in their last five MEAC games). Hampton guard Jerica Jenkins is coming off a career-high 31 points in the Lady Pirates' 81-44 dismantling of Bethune-Cookman. Now Hampton can't count on the streaky Jenkins nailing 8 of 14 3-pointers again - two games ago, Jenkins was 0 of 10 from distance against Norfolk State. But Quanneisha Perry seems to be getting it done every night, as she's averaging 22.7 points and 11.5 rebounds over her last four games. Hampton 61, Florida A&M 55
Liberty (13-4, 4-1 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (12-5, 3-2 Big South), 7 p.m.
After vanquishing Radford Saturday, the Chanticleers are 8-0 at home. On the other hand, Liberty has won 31 straight meetings in this series, including victories of 25 and 33 points in the two head-to-head matchups last season. Nothing's a given, of course, but like several other Big South teams, the Chanticleers are going to have to prove they can compete with Liberty, let alone actually beat the Lady Flames. Liberty 68, Coastal Carolina 53
Norfolk St. (3-11, 0-5 MEAC) at South Carolina St. (5-12, 0-5 MEAC), 5:30 p.m.
Game should bring back pleasant memories for Raychele Payne and the Spartans. In fact, it was the only pleasant memory for NSU during the 2008-09 season, a 23-point spanking of State at Echols Arena for the Spartans' only victory of the season. Payne had a career-high 36 points in that game. Down to just nine players, these Spartans aren't equipped to blow anyone out. But this is a great opportunity to collect their first MEAC victory. Norfolk State 52, South Carolina St. 50
Radford (5-12, 4-2 Big South) at Charleston Southern (9-9, 1-4 Big South), 7 p.m.
Big spot for the Highlanders, who came up small in Saturday's loss at Coastal Carolina. Good teams rebound after tough outings; let's see how these Highlanders measure up. Radford 62, Charleston Southern 60
Florida A&M (10-6, 3-3 MEAC) at Hampton (7-10, 3-3 MEAC), 6 p.m.
We figured any team that could handle Florida and Alabama of the SEC would have its way in the MEAC. But so far the Lady Rattlers have been nothing special in their own conference (2-3 in their last five MEAC games). Hampton guard Jerica Jenkins is coming off a career-high 31 points in the Lady Pirates' 81-44 dismantling of Bethune-Cookman. Now Hampton can't count on the streaky Jenkins nailing 8 of 14 3-pointers again - two games ago, Jenkins was 0 of 10 from distance against Norfolk State. But Quanneisha Perry seems to be getting it done every night, as she's averaging 22.7 points and 11.5 rebounds over her last four games. Hampton 61, Florida A&M 55
Liberty (13-4, 4-1 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (12-5, 3-2 Big South), 7 p.m.
After vanquishing Radford Saturday, the Chanticleers are 8-0 at home. On the other hand, Liberty has won 31 straight meetings in this series, including victories of 25 and 33 points in the two head-to-head matchups last season. Nothing's a given, of course, but like several other Big South teams, the Chanticleers are going to have to prove they can compete with Liberty, let alone actually beat the Lady Flames. Liberty 68, Coastal Carolina 53
Norfolk St. (3-11, 0-5 MEAC) at South Carolina St. (5-12, 0-5 MEAC), 5:30 p.m.
Game should bring back pleasant memories for Raychele Payne and the Spartans. In fact, it was the only pleasant memory for NSU during the 2008-09 season, a 23-point spanking of State at Echols Arena for the Spartans' only victory of the season. Payne had a career-high 36 points in that game. Down to just nine players, these Spartans aren't equipped to blow anyone out. But this is a great opportunity to collect their first MEAC victory. Norfolk State 52, South Carolina St. 50
Radford (5-12, 4-2 Big South) at Charleston Southern (9-9, 1-4 Big South), 7 p.m.
Big spot for the Highlanders, who came up small in Saturday's loss at Coastal Carolina. Good teams rebound after tough outings; let's see how these Highlanders measure up. Radford 62, Charleston Southern 60
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday dribble: Logjam atop CAA with VCU, ODU, Drexel
Game of the day was Drexel/VCU, and this battle lived up to it, coming down to the final wire (seems that's happened a lot in the CAA of late). VCU's seven-game win streak ends, but the Rams remain in first, only they've got some company.
The state schools also won a pair of ACC games today, making it a super Sunday two weeks before the big day.
Sunday's results:
Drexel 57, Virginia Commonwealth 55
You win one buzzer beater, you lose another. Tied at 55 with 8 seconds left, Gabriela Marginean (who else would it be?) produced the gamewinning 14-foot jump shot and the Rams (12-6, 6-1 CAA) were unable to connect on a desperation 3. Four days ago, VCU (13-6, 6-1 CAA) eeked past Delaware on D'Andra Moss' 3 at the buzzer. Much like Dawn Evans, Marginean has a way of putting the ball in the net with the pressure on. Now the pressure is on in a CAA race that gets better every week. Drexel, VCU and Old Dominion are on top in a three-way tie, but who would overlook Delaware? Delle Donne and the Hens have lost to all three teams, two at the buzzer and one (Drexel) in OT. Pat on the back to us: We called it a two-point game in the Dragons' favor.
Old Dominion 57, Towson 50
Down 13, it looked as if ODU was going to suffer its first-ever loss to the Tigers. But the final eight minutes belonged to the Lady Monarchs (8-9, 6-1 CAA), who share their place atop the league with Drexel and VCU. One more time, you have to admire the resilance of this ODU team, which continues to make big plays down the stretch. Jasmine Parker had a personal 8-0 run, part of her 22 points, and Jackie Cook came up with a huge trey to keep these Lady Monarchs very much in the hunt.
Virginia 57, Georgia State 55
Cavaliers (14-5, 3-2 ACC) hold on despite not much preparation for one of the better teams in the ACC. Noted coach Debbie Ryan: "We only had one day to prepare for this game and you can see that it’s a tough team to prepare for in one day. We had to take a day off on Friday. We hadn’t gotten home until two in the morning because we got diverted to Richmond after the Boston College game, so it was our day of the week to take a day off. Because of all we have crammed in here, one of these games had to suffer in terms of preparation." Nonetheless, it was business as usual for Monica Wright, who scored 23. Tech (16-5, 2-3) mounted a comeback from 13 down, but never got closer than three and leaves Charlottesville yet again without a win.
Virginia Tech 73, Miami 69
Great win for the Hokies (12-7, 2-3 ACC) and scrapbook game for Nikki Davis, who had career highs in points (29), 3-pointers made (5) and free-throws (14-of-18, most made and attempted by a Hokie in an ACC game). Road wins are tough to come by in the ACC, and Tech, which had some underwhelming scores during nonconference, has announced itself as a threat in conference. Game-telling stat comes from long range: Tech was 6-of-11, Miami was 2-of-16.
William and Mary 69, George Mason 55
Most importantly, our sympathy goes to GMU's Ashleigh Braxton, who took a finger to the eye in the game and was taken to the hospital for precaution. As for the Tribe (10-8, 3-4 CAA), go figure. W&M dominated the Patriots (8-10, 1-6) in their own gym, placing four starters in double figures including Taysha Pye's 20. No league team would envy playing W&M, whose record isn't as daunting as its tall, lanky athletes, all of whom can shoot the ball and rebound. GMU got crushed on the boards 54-35 and is still seeking CAA win No. 2.
James Madison 67, Georgia State 61
How often have your heard this? Dawn Evans goes crazy for 30 points? Actually you've heard it 13 times before today, Evans' 14th 30-point game. This one was wilder than ever as Evans drained nine of 14 three-point attempts to rally the Dukes (15-3, 5-2 CAA) back from a three-point halftime deficit. Evans' day included six treys and 21 points in the second half. JMU also got some punch from its post game behind Sarah Williams (16) and Lauren Jimenez (10). Bad news is it was another anemic start for the JMU offense, which shot 29 percent in the first 20 minutes. Good news is, of course, Evans playing hero again.
The state schools also won a pair of ACC games today, making it a super Sunday two weeks before the big day.
Sunday's results:
Drexel 57, Virginia Commonwealth 55
You win one buzzer beater, you lose another. Tied at 55 with 8 seconds left, Gabriela Marginean (who else would it be?) produced the gamewinning 14-foot jump shot and the Rams (12-6, 6-1 CAA) were unable to connect on a desperation 3. Four days ago, VCU (13-6, 6-1 CAA) eeked past Delaware on D'Andra Moss' 3 at the buzzer. Much like Dawn Evans, Marginean has a way of putting the ball in the net with the pressure on. Now the pressure is on in a CAA race that gets better every week. Drexel, VCU and Old Dominion are on top in a three-way tie, but who would overlook Delaware? Delle Donne and the Hens have lost to all three teams, two at the buzzer and one (Drexel) in OT. Pat on the back to us: We called it a two-point game in the Dragons' favor.
Old Dominion 57, Towson 50
Down 13, it looked as if ODU was going to suffer its first-ever loss to the Tigers. But the final eight minutes belonged to the Lady Monarchs (8-9, 6-1 CAA), who share their place atop the league with Drexel and VCU. One more time, you have to admire the resilance of this ODU team, which continues to make big plays down the stretch. Jasmine Parker had a personal 8-0 run, part of her 22 points, and Jackie Cook came up with a huge trey to keep these Lady Monarchs very much in the hunt.
Virginia 57, Georgia State 55
Cavaliers (14-5, 3-2 ACC) hold on despite not much preparation for one of the better teams in the ACC. Noted coach Debbie Ryan: "We only had one day to prepare for this game and you can see that it’s a tough team to prepare for in one day. We had to take a day off on Friday. We hadn’t gotten home until two in the morning because we got diverted to Richmond after the Boston College game, so it was our day of the week to take a day off. Because of all we have crammed in here, one of these games had to suffer in terms of preparation." Nonetheless, it was business as usual for Monica Wright, who scored 23. Tech (16-5, 2-3) mounted a comeback from 13 down, but never got closer than three and leaves Charlottesville yet again without a win.
Virginia Tech 73, Miami 69
Great win for the Hokies (12-7, 2-3 ACC) and scrapbook game for Nikki Davis, who had career highs in points (29), 3-pointers made (5) and free-throws (14-of-18, most made and attempted by a Hokie in an ACC game). Road wins are tough to come by in the ACC, and Tech, which had some underwhelming scores during nonconference, has announced itself as a threat in conference. Game-telling stat comes from long range: Tech was 6-of-11, Miami was 2-of-16.
William and Mary 69, George Mason 55
Most importantly, our sympathy goes to GMU's Ashleigh Braxton, who took a finger to the eye in the game and was taken to the hospital for precaution. As for the Tribe (10-8, 3-4 CAA), go figure. W&M dominated the Patriots (8-10, 1-6) in their own gym, placing four starters in double figures including Taysha Pye's 20. No league team would envy playing W&M, whose record isn't as daunting as its tall, lanky athletes, all of whom can shoot the ball and rebound. GMU got crushed on the boards 54-35 and is still seeking CAA win No. 2.
James Madison 67, Georgia State 61
How often have your heard this? Dawn Evans goes crazy for 30 points? Actually you've heard it 13 times before today, Evans' 14th 30-point game. This one was wilder than ever as Evans drained nine of 14 three-point attempts to rally the Dukes (15-3, 5-2 CAA) back from a three-point halftime deficit. Evans' day included six treys and 21 points in the second half. JMU also got some punch from its post game behind Sarah Williams (16) and Lauren Jimenez (10). Bad news is it was another anemic start for the JMU offense, which shot 29 percent in the first 20 minutes. Good news is, of course, Evans playing hero again.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Big win for Norfolk state; big loss for Richmond
Lots of action to dip into with two MEAC schools coming up with victories. We congratulate NSU and Hampton but are still trying to figure out what went wrong in Dayton for Richmond.
Saturday's results:
We picked Richmond to win this A-10 showdown but the Spiders didn't compete. The 52-point walloping was the second largest margin of victory in Dayton history. The Spiders (14-5, 3-1) never showed a semblance of the team they are, outscored 52-16 at the break. They shot 18.6 percent to Dayton's 51 percent. This was a chance to make a statement. This isn't the one Richmond wanted to make.
Coach Debra Clark must be ecstatic that when her youthful Spartans needed to make a play, they got it done, and with it, their third victory of the season. With the score tied at 56, freshman Ricca Trice banked in an off-balance jumper and free throws secured it for NSU. Another freshman, Batavia Owen put together a double-double 20 points and 22 rebounds. NSU (3-11, 0-5) dominated the paint 42-18 and rallied from a four-point halftime deficit.
Coastal Carolina 62, Radford 49
This was an opportunity for Radford, which led 36-32 early in the second half, but the Highlanders (5-12, 4-2 Big South) fail to capitalize on the road as Coastal benefits from 18 straight made free throws. Victory keeps the Chanticleers perfect at home (8-0) and snaps Radford's three-game win streak. Highlanders, meanwhile, are 1-8 on the road.
Hampton 81, Bethune-Cookman 44
Jericka Jenkins could have almost beaten the Wildcats singlehandedly, scoring 31 with six assists, but get this. Twenty-four of those points came from 3-point land, where she was 8 of 14 (might the Wildcats have decided to guard her at some point?). Said the humble Jenkins, “I usually take a lot of 3-point shots in games; this game I just made more than I missed." Another eye-catching stat: a mere 6 turnovers for HU (7-10. 3-3 MEAC), the fewest since '92.
Liberty 65, Charleston-Southern 52:
The Buccaneers (thought they were in Tampa) might lead the Big South in scoring, but they were no match for a Flames team that shot 50 percent and owned the paint (48-6). Coach Carey Green won No. 250 in his bare feet, part of a charity effort by Samaritan's Feet to collect shoes. Kudos to coach Julie Goodenough and her staff for also participating. It's the sixth straight win for Liberty and we'd guess the Bucs are a bit tired of them, having been beaten by the Flames 26 straight times.
Sunday's games:
VCU (13-5, 6-0 CAA) at Drexel,(11-6, 5-1 CAA) noonNow, shall we say, it gets interesting. A victory by VCU keeps the Rams undefeated in the league. A loss pushes them into a possible three-way tie for first if Old Dominion wins at Towson. The Rams are no doubt riding high after an exhilarating buzzer beaten by D'Andra Moss lifted them to a one-point victory over Delaware on Thursday. All the buzz around this one, by the way, makes you forget the NFL playoffs today; this is a TV game (Comcast). Consider the streaks: VCU has won eight straight; Drexel was won 16 straight on its home court. Last time they met, the Dragons pulled out an OT victory. Moss is the big name for VCU, but we know Courtney Hurt (12.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg) can hurt you. Rams lead the series 9-5. As hard as it is to pick VCU, we give the Dragons and their excellent ability at the free-throw line the nod at home. Drexel 66, VCU 64
Georgia Tech (16-4, 2-2 ACC) (16-4, 2-2 ACC) at Virginia (13-5, 2-2 ACC), 1 p.m.
The Cavaliers have won 26 of their 27 meetings in Charlottesville against Georgia Tech. Monica Wright is fresh off a career-high 39 points that lifted the Cavs over Boston College 70-68. Georgia Tech has been holding opponents to 56.3 ppg, so we expect a nailbiter. But it's awful hard to beat Virginia in JPJ. For extra incentive, they're celebrating National Women and Sports Day in Charlottesville and specifically honoring gold medalist Lindsay Shoop, an All-American rower for the Cavaliers. Virginia 70, Georgia Tech 67
JMU (14-3. 4-2 CAA) at Georgia St. (11-6, 2-4 CAA), 2 p.m.
Frankly, we don't know what to make of either team. JMU has made a habit of sluggish starts that Dawn Evans continues to pull them out of. Georgia State nearly upset the Dukes in the first meeting before JMU prevailed 68-60. JMU has won all five meetings, but a jacked up GSU team at home can make life difficult for an opponent. Panthers nearly upset ODU on Thursday before Shadasia Green's jump shot broke the final tie with 21 seconds left. GSU nearly beat JMU in Atlanta last season, falling 63-62, but Dukes played without Evans. High octane transition game and a quick-handed defense (allowing a CAA-best 55.6 ppg) will make it close. As tempted as we are to pick the upset, we don't think Evans will let it happen. James Madison 60, Georgia State 54
Virginia Tech (11-7, 1-3 ACC) at Miami (14-4, 2-2 ACC), 2 p.m.
Make what you will of this. The Hurricanes have won 6 of 9 in this series; Hokies have won two of the last three. Miami is fresh off an upset of Maryland on its home court, while Tech is hurting, having dropped its last two to ranked foes Virginia and Duke. Hurricanes dominate every offensive category, but Tech has a hand up on defense, limiting opponents to 58 ppg and 29 percent FG from long range. This one looks winnable for the Hokies, but earning an ACC road win is no easy feat. Miami 69, Virginia Tech 60
Tigers are the lone CAA team that has never beaten ODU. They have come a long way from the team that could break 30 points when the teams first played in 2004, but remain 0-13. Tigers have been up in a season that included their first-ever Top 25 win (Maryland) and taking James Madison to OT. They only average 59 ppg and they shoot the 3 worst than ODU (26 percent). But their Dawn Evans is the Tigers' all-time leading scorer Shanae Baker-Brice, a 5-6 engine-that-could guard that dumped a game-high 32 on JMU. ODU has showed its resolve in the league this far, surviving Georgia State and walloping Drexel. They had trouble finding their shooting touch against the Panthers and this game is hardly a cakewalk, but we think ODU will win its fifth straight. Old Dominion 67, Towson 58
William and Mary (9-8, 2-4 CAA) at George Mason (8-9, 1-5 CAA), 2 p.m.
Fun matchup today as Tribe tries to snap a two-game slide and pick up its first CAA road win. If they win, we suspect sizzling Katherine DeHenzel will have something to do with it; the sophomore shoots better from behind the arc (53 percent) than from the field (52 percent) in six league games. Tribe battled VCU well a week ago before laying an egg against Hofstra on Thursday. Patriots have dropped four of their last five to W&M, but with an 8-1 mark at home this season, we like them in this matchup. Either way Patriot Center will sparkle as it's Princess Day (young girls are encouraged to wear their favorite princess outfit). The first 300 receiving a green tiara and Mason students get a chance to win a flat screen TV. George Mason 59, William and Mary 56
Friday, January 22, 2010
Saturday dribble: Richmond vs. Dayton
A few days ago, we dubbed Richmond the state's best team. Now the Spiders can back that up, as well as pick up a little love from the voters in the next AP and ESPN/USA Today national polls.
Saturday's games
Richmond (14-4, 3-0 Atlantic 10) at Dayton (14-4, 2-1 Atlantic 10), 2 p.m.
The timing seems ideal for the Spiders to make this Ohio trip. The Spiders are rested (haven't played since Tuesday's romp over undermanned George Washington) and are playing their best ball of the season (six-game winning streak). In addition, Richmond's ballhawking defense has given the Flyers fits of late. When these teams met in the A-10 semifinals last season, Richmond used 11 second-half steals to erase a 19-point deficit over the final 16:16 to claim a 54-48 decision. And in last year's lone regular-season meeting, the Spiders scored 23 points off Dayton turnovers in a 60-51 victory. Dayton star Kendel Ross (9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) has been particularly spooked at the sight of Spiders. In the two meetings with the Spiders a year ago, the Flyers second-leading scorer scored a combined 6 points on 2 of 14 shooting with 10 turnovers. Getting any conference victory on the road is tough, particularly against a team receiving votes in the AP poll. But under the present conditions, we love Richmond's chances here. Richmond 63, Dayton 55
Radford (5-11, 4-1 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (11-5, 2-2 Big South), 2 p.m.
We saw Radford in its season opener against William and Mary, and frankly we left unsure if the Highlanders were an organized team or a bunch of kids who just met each other 10 minutes before tipoff. We're not confused any more. Major props to coach Tajama Ngongba for pulling it all together. The Chanticleers - the Big South sure does have some unique nicknames, doesn't it? - are 7-0 at home, and Radford hasn't played off campus since Jan. 4. But as they proved that day by blasting Gardner-Webb, these new and improved Highlanders don't mind taking their show on the road. Radford will begin play in a three-way tie for the Big South lead with Gardner-Webb and High Point. Radford 61, Coastal Carolina 58
Bethune-Cookman (6-9, 3-2 MEAC) at Hampton (6-10, 2-3 MEAC), 4 p.m.
The Lady Wildcats must find someway to slow down Hampton forward Quanneisha Perry. No one else has of late - the junior has three straight double-doubles and is averaging 25 points a game over that span. She went for 20 and 10 in the last meeting between these teams, a 67-59 Hampton victory over Bethune last season in Daytona Beach. Hampton 68, Bethune-Cookman 57
Norfolk St. (2-11) at Winston-Salem St. (2-15), 2 p.m.
The pressure is actually on the Spartans here because frankly, this is a team they should beat. Heck, last year NSU had the worst team in Division I and still almost beat these guys before falling 69-67 in overtime. The Lady Rams have lost 13 straight since beating Presbyterian by one point on Nov. 22. The Spartans have lost six in a row themselves, but have been very competitive against much tougher foes than they'll be facing today. Again, NSU should beat this team. The Lady Rams are led by junior guard MaLisa Bumpus, a former Norfolk Collegiate School star who began her college career at James Madison. Norfolk State 56, Winston-Salem State 52
Liberty (12-4, 3-1 Big South) at Charleston Southern (9-8, 1-3 Big South), 5 p.m.
The Buccaneers rank third in the country in 3-pointers made and drained 17 of them in a nine-point loss to powerhouse North Carolina back in November. The problem for the Bucs is that Liberty ranks first in the nation in 3-point defense. Assuming the Lady Flames can take away the long ball, we're not sure what else Charleston Southern can do. And did we mention that Liberty has won 25 straight in this series, by an average of 24.3 points? Liberty 60, Charleston Southern 45
Saturday's games
Richmond (14-4, 3-0 Atlantic 10) at Dayton (14-4, 2-1 Atlantic 10), 2 p.m.
The timing seems ideal for the Spiders to make this Ohio trip. The Spiders are rested (haven't played since Tuesday's romp over undermanned George Washington) and are playing their best ball of the season (six-game winning streak). In addition, Richmond's ballhawking defense has given the Flyers fits of late. When these teams met in the A-10 semifinals last season, Richmond used 11 second-half steals to erase a 19-point deficit over the final 16:16 to claim a 54-48 decision. And in last year's lone regular-season meeting, the Spiders scored 23 points off Dayton turnovers in a 60-51 victory. Dayton star Kendel Ross (9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) has been particularly spooked at the sight of Spiders. In the two meetings with the Spiders a year ago, the Flyers second-leading scorer scored a combined 6 points on 2 of 14 shooting with 10 turnovers. Getting any conference victory on the road is tough, particularly against a team receiving votes in the AP poll. But under the present conditions, we love Richmond's chances here. Richmond 63, Dayton 55
Radford (5-11, 4-1 Big South) at Coastal Carolina (11-5, 2-2 Big South), 2 p.m.
We saw Radford in its season opener against William and Mary, and frankly we left unsure if the Highlanders were an organized team or a bunch of kids who just met each other 10 minutes before tipoff. We're not confused any more. Major props to coach Tajama Ngongba for pulling it all together. The Chanticleers - the Big South sure does have some unique nicknames, doesn't it? - are 7-0 at home, and Radford hasn't played off campus since Jan. 4. But as they proved that day by blasting Gardner-Webb, these new and improved Highlanders don't mind taking their show on the road. Radford will begin play in a three-way tie for the Big South lead with Gardner-Webb and High Point. Radford 61, Coastal Carolina 58
Bethune-Cookman (6-9, 3-2 MEAC) at Hampton (6-10, 2-3 MEAC), 4 p.m.
The Lady Wildcats must find someway to slow down Hampton forward Quanneisha Perry. No one else has of late - the junior has three straight double-doubles and is averaging 25 points a game over that span. She went for 20 and 10 in the last meeting between these teams, a 67-59 Hampton victory over Bethune last season in Daytona Beach. Hampton 68, Bethune-Cookman 57
Norfolk St. (2-11) at Winston-Salem St. (2-15), 2 p.m.
The pressure is actually on the Spartans here because frankly, this is a team they should beat. Heck, last year NSU had the worst team in Division I and still almost beat these guys before falling 69-67 in overtime. The Lady Rams have lost 13 straight since beating Presbyterian by one point on Nov. 22. The Spartans have lost six in a row themselves, but have been very competitive against much tougher foes than they'll be facing today. Again, NSU should beat this team. The Lady Rams are led by junior guard MaLisa Bumpus, a former Norfolk Collegiate School star who began her college career at James Madison. Norfolk State 56, Winston-Salem State 52
Liberty (12-4, 3-1 Big South) at Charleston Southern (9-8, 1-3 Big South), 5 p.m.
The Buccaneers rank third in the country in 3-pointers made and drained 17 of them in a nine-point loss to powerhouse North Carolina back in November. The problem for the Bucs is that Liberty ranks first in the nation in 3-point defense. Assuming the Lady Flames can take away the long ball, we're not sure what else Charleston Southern can do. And did we mention that Liberty has won 25 straight in this series, by an average of 24.3 points? Liberty 60, Charleston Southern 45
Nothing wrong with ODU's defense
ODU may be erratic on offense, but there's been little to complain about the Lady Monarchs on defense in CAA play, particularly against teams focused around one elite player. The Lady Monarchs' philosophy seems to be make it tough on the superstar and shut down everyone else. So far, ODU has executed this style to a T (everywhere except in Boston):
Delaware - Elena Delle Donne gets 28, but second-leading scorer Tesia Harris (12.2 ppg) managed just 9 on 4-of-12 shooting. The Blue Hens' other three starters combined for 5 points.
Drexel - Gabriela Marginean goes for 33 but needs 24 shots. Meanwhile, third-leading scorer Jasmina Rosseel gets her average (11) but shoots just 2 of 12 from the field. Drexel's other three starters combine for 8 points. (Drexel's second-leading scorer, Kamile Nacickaite, sat out the game with an injury).
JMU - Dawn Evans scores 22 points but takes 28 shots. Tarik Hislop and Sarah Williams come in averaging a combined 21 points and get that exactly against ODU. But the duo made just 8 of 26 shots. And JMU dished out just 6 assists, about half their average.
Georgia State - Danyiell McKeller scores 22 points but takes 23 shots. Second-leading scorer Angelique Burtts (10.2 ppg) finishes with just 6. Crystal Johnson, the CAA's assist leader, has two assists and seven turnovers.
Naturally, ODU players deserve most of the credit for shutting people down. But it's also a tribute to the ODU coaching staff, which seems to be doing an excellent job of breaking down CAA foes, instructing the players on how to take away much of what these teams like to do and forcing the superstars outside of their comfort zone while trying to take matters into their own hands.
* Georgia State took on ODU without sophomore guard Jylisa Williams, who was dismissed from the team on Wednesday, according to the Panthers' official web site. No reason was given for the move. A CAA All-Rookie team selection last year, Williams was the Panthers' fourth-leading scorer (7.3 ppg) but had averaged 17.5 points in her last two games and was less than a week removed from a season-high 20-point effort against VCU. The dismissal ended a rocky sophomore season for Williams, who sat out the first semester and wound up appearing in just 11 games. By the way, Williams led all CAA freshman in scoring last season with 314 points in 32 games. In 15 games this season, Delaware's Delle Donne already has 379 points.
* Speaking of Delle Donne, check out this video of the game-winning shot by VCU's D'Andra Moss. Doesn't it look like Delle Donne is the one who gets caught in the wash and allows Moss a clean look at the basket? This much is for certain - somebody blew it and left VCU's best player all alone with the game on the line. "I believe in these young kids. We just need to get our heads on straight and follow instructions at the end of games and we wouldn't have heartbreaking losses like this," Delaware coach Tina Martin told the News-Journal's Kevin Tresolini. "We had the breakdown at the worst time." Perhaps the Blue Hens simply assumed a 3 from Moss would be the last thing on VCU's mind. After all, the Rams only needed a two to tie and Moss hadn't exactly been feeling it (6 of 24 from the field, 1 of 7 from 3) all night.
* Taysha Pye and Tiffany Benson combined to hit just 4 of 16 free throws against Hofstra and, since they make the most trips to the line, are clearly the two biggest reasons why the Tribe has spent the season ranked among the 10 worst free-throw shooting teams in Division I. But W&M's problems at the line extend beyond those two. If Pye and Benson had never attempted a free throw this season, the Tribe would still be averaging a below-average 64.3 percent, a figure which would place them in the 250s among the 325 D-I teams.
Delaware - Elena Delle Donne gets 28, but second-leading scorer Tesia Harris (12.2 ppg) managed just 9 on 4-of-12 shooting. The Blue Hens' other three starters combined for 5 points.
Drexel - Gabriela Marginean goes for 33 but needs 24 shots. Meanwhile, third-leading scorer Jasmina Rosseel gets her average (11) but shoots just 2 of 12 from the field. Drexel's other three starters combine for 8 points. (Drexel's second-leading scorer, Kamile Nacickaite, sat out the game with an injury).
JMU - Dawn Evans scores 22 points but takes 28 shots. Tarik Hislop and Sarah Williams come in averaging a combined 21 points and get that exactly against ODU. But the duo made just 8 of 26 shots. And JMU dished out just 6 assists, about half their average.
Georgia State - Danyiell McKeller scores 22 points but takes 23 shots. Second-leading scorer Angelique Burtts (10.2 ppg) finishes with just 6. Crystal Johnson, the CAA's assist leader, has two assists and seven turnovers.
Naturally, ODU players deserve most of the credit for shutting people down. But it's also a tribute to the ODU coaching staff, which seems to be doing an excellent job of breaking down CAA foes, instructing the players on how to take away much of what these teams like to do and forcing the superstars outside of their comfort zone while trying to take matters into their own hands.
* Georgia State took on ODU without sophomore guard Jylisa Williams, who was dismissed from the team on Wednesday, according to the Panthers' official web site. No reason was given for the move. A CAA All-Rookie team selection last year, Williams was the Panthers' fourth-leading scorer (7.3 ppg) but had averaged 17.5 points in her last two games and was less than a week removed from a season-high 20-point effort against VCU. The dismissal ended a rocky sophomore season for Williams, who sat out the first semester and wound up appearing in just 11 games. By the way, Williams led all CAA freshman in scoring last season with 314 points in 32 games. In 15 games this season, Delaware's Delle Donne already has 379 points.
* Speaking of Delle Donne, check out this video of the game-winning shot by VCU's D'Andra Moss. Doesn't it look like Delle Donne is the one who gets caught in the wash and allows Moss a clean look at the basket? This much is for certain - somebody blew it and left VCU's best player all alone with the game on the line. "I believe in these young kids. We just need to get our heads on straight and follow instructions at the end of games and we wouldn't have heartbreaking losses like this," Delaware coach Tina Martin told the News-Journal's Kevin Tresolini. "We had the breakdown at the worst time." Perhaps the Blue Hens simply assumed a 3 from Moss would be the last thing on VCU's mind. After all, the Rams only needed a two to tie and Moss hadn't exactly been feeling it (6 of 24 from the field, 1 of 7 from 3) all night.
* Taysha Pye and Tiffany Benson combined to hit just 4 of 16 free throws against Hofstra and, since they make the most trips to the line, are clearly the two biggest reasons why the Tribe has spent the season ranked among the 10 worst free-throw shooting teams in Division I. But W&M's problems at the line extend beyond those two. If Pye and Benson had never attempted a free throw this season, the Tribe would still be averaging a below-average 64.3 percent, a figure which would place them in the 250s among the 325 D-I teams.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday dribble: CAA thrillers and the Wright stuff
One buzzer-beating game-winner, one rally from a 16-point deficit and the team picked to finish last staying within a 3-pointer on the road against the defending champion until the final minute. A night for the ages? Not really. Just life in the new, anything-can-happen CAA.
Nor is there anything particularly unique about Virginia's Monica Wright leading her team to another victory. But on Thursday, the fabulous Wright outdid even herself, blitzing Boston College's Eagles with the best scoring night of her career.
Thursday's games
Virginia Commonwealth 60, Delaware 59: Hope they played "Thriller" at the buzzer because that's what it was. D'Andra Moss knocked down a 3 as time expired to keep VCU (13-5, 6-0) perfect in the CAA. Check out the box and you'll see another tantilizing performance by Elena Delle Donne (27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals). But that wasn't enough to overcome 20 turnovers by the Blue Hens compared to VCU's eight. Moss, Courtney Hurt and Kita Waller scored 19, 16 and 14, respectively and it's beginning to look like the Rams are for real, despite a fan base (492 at the Siegel Center) that fails to appreciate it. As for Delaware, the Hens could easily be in that top spot in the league, having dropped three conference games by a total of five points.
Old Dominion 58, Georgia State 54: We told Lady Monarch fans it was going to be a bumpy ride. The days of the Lady Monarchs (7-9, 5-1 CAA) routing foe after foe are over in favor of a much wider open CAA where wins should be celebrated instead of bemoaned because they aren't routs. ODU had a miserable night from beyond the arc and struggled to score at times, but dug in to win its fourth straight and stay in second place in the CAA alongside Drexel. Shadasia Green's jumper just inside the foul line broke a tie with 21 seconds left to secure a victory over one of the more athletic teams in the league that came in with confidence after denying ODU in Atlanta last year. Another good sign: Jessica Canady's 15 points, 14 points and 34 minutes. ODU is very much in the league race when many counted them out, but the Lady Monarchs are no longer the runaway favorites.
James Madison 64, Northeastern 57: The Dukes (14-2, 4-2 CAA) can't seem to get their feet under them early. They got in a hole on Sunday against ODU and trailed by as many as 16 here before Sarah Williams' lone 3 of the game tilted it back their way. In the end, JMU needed Dawn Evans, and as usual the junior point guard delivered, scoring seven of the final nine points. Strange to see Evans without an assist, but good to see the Dukes get 10 from Lauren Jimenez, who had disappeared as an offensive threat for a pair of games.
Hofstra 68, William and Mary 51: We haven't picked on the dismal Tribe free-throwing lately, but 6-of-21 is hard to explain. Senior Tiffany Benson had her usual struggles (2-of-11), a night that won't improve her 28 percent FT statistic. W&M (9-8, 2-4) has yet to prove itself on the road in the conference at 0-3. The Trive has dropped four of its last five and has another road date, at George Mason, on tap for Sunday.
Drexel 59, George Mason 51: Another sign that the league is no gimme for anyone as the Patriots fall just short of the Dragons in Philadelphia. GMU trailed by just 3 in the final minute, but Gabriela Marginean rang up six of her 26 to finish the game. Foul trouble also played a role as 6-2 center Angelee LaTouche, who matched up well with Marginean, fouled out in 26 minutes. "I like our resolve," said GMU coach Jeri Porter. "I like how we battled to the end and we were still in it."
No. 25 Virginia 70, Boston College 68: Suggested slogan for this year's Cavaliers: "Virginia basketball. It's all Wright." To be fair, full credit to Paulisha Kellum for flipping in the game-winning layup - her only field goal of the game - with 2.3 seconds to play. Chelsea Shine (13 points, 8 rebounds) was pretty fine, too. But once again, the night belonged to Monica Wright, who delivered a career-high 39 points, the second-highest total in Cavaliers history. None of these were garbage-time points, either, as clearly the Cavaliers (13-5, 2-2 ACC) needed every one of them to get out of Chestnut Hill, Mass. with a W. No disrespect to the rest of the Cavaliers, but does any one player carry more of a responsibility for their team's success? Every now and then, the burden is too great for even Wright to haul along. But more often than not, the spectacular senior comes up with whatever the Cavaliers need, even if what's called for is the most productive night of her college career.
No. 6 Duke 69, Virginia Tech 38: With three games in the past seven days - along with the need to give the players a day off during that span - the Hokies (11-7, 1-3 ACC) could spend only one day preparing for the myriad of problems posed by the Duke defense. Clearly, that wasn't enough. The Blue Devils made 19 steals and scored 28 points off a season-high 26 Hokies turnovers while holding Tech to its lowest point total since joining the ACC in 2004. As bad as it was, though, there's no shame in losing at the No. 6 team in the country, a team still seething over being taken to the woodshed itself by UConn Monday night. And Tech center Brittany Gordon distinguished herself in the rout with 14 points and 8 rebounds. But the Hokies still need to find a way to get Lindsay Biggs untracked. After struggling against Virginia Monday, Biggs followed by hitting just two of 11 shots for 5 points with two turnovers and no assists against the Blue Devils.
Seattle 60, Longwood 51: Another down-on-its-luck team gets well at the Lancers' expense - the Redhawks snapped an eight-game losing streak four nights after Utah Valley St. beat Longwood to end a 10-game slide. But the bright side is the Lancers (4-16) are finally coming home, and they're actually going to stay there for a while as Tuesday's game against Winthrop will kick off a much-needed four-game homestand.
Nor is there anything particularly unique about Virginia's Monica Wright leading her team to another victory. But on Thursday, the fabulous Wright outdid even herself, blitzing Boston College's Eagles with the best scoring night of her career.
Thursday's games
Virginia Commonwealth 60, Delaware 59: Hope they played "Thriller" at the buzzer because that's what it was. D'Andra Moss knocked down a 3 as time expired to keep VCU (13-5, 6-0) perfect in the CAA. Check out the box and you'll see another tantilizing performance by Elena Delle Donne (27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals). But that wasn't enough to overcome 20 turnovers by the Blue Hens compared to VCU's eight. Moss, Courtney Hurt and Kita Waller scored 19, 16 and 14, respectively and it's beginning to look like the Rams are for real, despite a fan base (492 at the Siegel Center) that fails to appreciate it. As for Delaware, the Hens could easily be in that top spot in the league, having dropped three conference games by a total of five points.
Old Dominion 58, Georgia State 54: We told Lady Monarch fans it was going to be a bumpy ride. The days of the Lady Monarchs (7-9, 5-1 CAA) routing foe after foe are over in favor of a much wider open CAA where wins should be celebrated instead of bemoaned because they aren't routs. ODU had a miserable night from beyond the arc and struggled to score at times, but dug in to win its fourth straight and stay in second place in the CAA alongside Drexel. Shadasia Green's jumper just inside the foul line broke a tie with 21 seconds left to secure a victory over one of the more athletic teams in the league that came in with confidence after denying ODU in Atlanta last year. Another good sign: Jessica Canady's 15 points, 14 points and 34 minutes. ODU is very much in the league race when many counted them out, but the Lady Monarchs are no longer the runaway favorites.
James Madison 64, Northeastern 57: The Dukes (14-2, 4-2 CAA) can't seem to get their feet under them early. They got in a hole on Sunday against ODU and trailed by as many as 16 here before Sarah Williams' lone 3 of the game tilted it back their way. In the end, JMU needed Dawn Evans, and as usual the junior point guard delivered, scoring seven of the final nine points. Strange to see Evans without an assist, but good to see the Dukes get 10 from Lauren Jimenez, who had disappeared as an offensive threat for a pair of games.
Hofstra 68, William and Mary 51: We haven't picked on the dismal Tribe free-throwing lately, but 6-of-21 is hard to explain. Senior Tiffany Benson had her usual struggles (2-of-11), a night that won't improve her 28 percent FT statistic. W&M (9-8, 2-4) has yet to prove itself on the road in the conference at 0-3. The Trive has dropped four of its last five and has another road date, at George Mason, on tap for Sunday.
Drexel 59, George Mason 51: Another sign that the league is no gimme for anyone as the Patriots fall just short of the Dragons in Philadelphia. GMU trailed by just 3 in the final minute, but Gabriela Marginean rang up six of her 26 to finish the game. Foul trouble also played a role as 6-2 center Angelee LaTouche, who matched up well with Marginean, fouled out in 26 minutes. "I like our resolve," said GMU coach Jeri Porter. "I like how we battled to the end and we were still in it."
No. 25 Virginia 70, Boston College 68: Suggested slogan for this year's Cavaliers: "Virginia basketball. It's all Wright." To be fair, full credit to Paulisha Kellum for flipping in the game-winning layup - her only field goal of the game - with 2.3 seconds to play. Chelsea Shine (13 points, 8 rebounds) was pretty fine, too. But once again, the night belonged to Monica Wright, who delivered a career-high 39 points, the second-highest total in Cavaliers history. None of these were garbage-time points, either, as clearly the Cavaliers (13-5, 2-2 ACC) needed every one of them to get out of Chestnut Hill, Mass. with a W. No disrespect to the rest of the Cavaliers, but does any one player carry more of a responsibility for their team's success? Every now and then, the burden is too great for even Wright to haul along. But more often than not, the spectacular senior comes up with whatever the Cavaliers need, even if what's called for is the most productive night of her college career.
No. 6 Duke 69, Virginia Tech 38: With three games in the past seven days - along with the need to give the players a day off during that span - the Hokies (11-7, 1-3 ACC) could spend only one day preparing for the myriad of problems posed by the Duke defense. Clearly, that wasn't enough. The Blue Devils made 19 steals and scored 28 points off a season-high 26 Hokies turnovers while holding Tech to its lowest point total since joining the ACC in 2004. As bad as it was, though, there's no shame in losing at the No. 6 team in the country, a team still seething over being taken to the woodshed itself by UConn Monday night. And Tech center Brittany Gordon distinguished herself in the rout with 14 points and 8 rebounds. But the Hokies still need to find a way to get Lindsay Biggs untracked. After struggling against Virginia Monday, Biggs followed by hitting just two of 11 shots for 5 points with two turnovers and no assists against the Blue Devils.
Seattle 60, Longwood 51: Another down-on-its-luck team gets well at the Lancers' expense - the Redhawks snapped an eight-game losing streak four nights after Utah Valley St. beat Longwood to end a 10-game slide. But the bright side is the Lancers (4-16) are finally coming home, and they're actually going to stay there for a while as Tuesday's game against Winthrop will kick off a much-needed four-game homestand.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thursday dribble: CAA, ACC back at it again
An already interesting CAA race could get a whole lot more interesting after the league's sixth set of games tonight. VCU continues to lead the pack with a 5-0 record, but in Delaware the Rams will be hosting their toughest league foe yet. The Rams have been virtually unbeatable at their Verizon Arena. But if the Blue Hens can spring the upset while Old Dominion and Drexel defend their home courts, we'll be looking at a three-way tie for the conference lead.
Meanwhile in ACC play a Virginia team still hanging on by fingernails to its national ranking will navigate the tough trip to Boston College and Virginia Tech will try to spring another major upset at No. 6 Duke.
Finally, in national news it took a little longer than we thought necessary, but the Big East has finally pronounced sentence - sort of - on the pre-game fight that marred Saturday's Louisville-Georgetown game. We say "sort of" because while the league announced that three players will be suspended for one game, the conference and the schools are declining to identify the players. A release on Georgetown's official site simply states that the Hoyas will sit two players for Saturday's home game against DePaul. That leaves one suspended player for Louisville.
Of course, not revealing the players is silly. Seems to us that if you get into a fight in a public gym in front of hundreds of people with the word "Georgetown" in giant letters on your chest, you've pretty much forfeited your right to anonymity. Besides, won't it be pretty clear who these players are once Saturday's game starts and they're not a part of it?
Thursday's games
No. 25 Virginia (12-5, 1-2 ACC) at Boston College (11-7, 2-1 ACC), 7 p.m.
The Eagles come in off a 26-point rout of nationally ranked Georgia Tech. The first order of business for the Cavaliers is find a way to keep the ball away from Eagles 6-6 center Carolyn Swords, the nation's leader in field-goal percentage. When these teams met in Charlottesville last year, Swords had 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting - and that was with Aisha Mohammed banging on her. The Cavaliers still won that game by 20, though, and they again have the kind of defense that can create an uptempo pace that doesn't flatter the Eagles. Like most teams, however, BC tends to play its best at home - just ask Georgia Tech. Virginia 72, Boston College 70
Virginia Tech (11-6, 1-2 ACC) at No. 6 Duke (15-3, 3-0 ACC), 7 p.m.
The Hokies did a terrific job of handling North Carolina's vaunted pressure, but this will be an even more difficult assignment. For starters, instead of a supportive Cassell Coliseum crowd, they'll be dealing with the famed Cameron Crazies. Then there are the Blue Devils themselves, who rank fourth nationally in steals and score nearly 35 percent of their points off opponents' turnovers. Duke has won the last 11 meetings in this series and clearly the odds are stacked against Tech again, especially if the Blue Devils can render Lindsay Biggs virtually invisible the way Virginia did Monday. But if the North Carolina game taught us anything, it's to never say never with these Hokies - especially if they can hang onto the ball. Duke 75, Virginia Tech 62
Delaware (11-5, 3-2 CAA) at Virginia Commonwealth (12-5, 5-0), 7 p.m.
We're intrigued by the 5-0 Rams and have high expectations for the matchup with Delaware. Behind Elena Delle Donne, the Blue Hens had won three straight and nine of 10 before dropping a double OT game to Drexel on Sunday. The Blue Hens freshman has scored 39 percent of her team's points. VCU has lost La'Tavia Rorie to an ACL tear, but continues to run through the league behind D'Andra Moss (21.5 ppg) and has won three straight over Delaware. But that was without EDD. Delaware 69, VCU 65
James Madison (13-3, 3-2 CAA) at Northeastern (6-10, 1-4 CAA)
The Huskies have never beaten James Madison, but then again their lone CAA win is over the Lady Monarchs, whom they never defeated before that historic triple overtime victory. JMU is looking to rebound from a loss to the Lady Monarchs in Harrisonburg in a game where the Dukes offense accounted for a season-low 58 points. NCAA scoring leader Dawn Evans (26.7 ppg) is getting hers albeit on inefficient shooting. Evans is 17-of-62 from the field in her last three games. Post Lauren Jimenez, who looked promising after returning from a knee injury, has taken one shot in the last two games, scoring four. Northeastern could trouble the Dukes from behind the arc. The Lady Monarchs drained six treys on Sunday; NE averages a league-high 6.9 per game. James Madison 79, Northeastern 60
Georgia State (11-5, 2-3 CAA) at Old Dominion (6-9, 4-1 CAA), 7 p.m.
These Lady Monarchs are flying high after dismissing Drexel, routing George Mason and cruising past James Madison in Dukeland. A big reason behind ODU's resurgence is the play of senior Jessica Canady, who finally looks healthy and leads the CAA in field-goal percentage (57.6 percent). The Panthers finally scored their first-ever win over ODU in Atlanta last year, 75-62. GSU loves to steal the ball (11 spg) and coasted through the nonconference season at 9-2. Their results have been less than glowing in CAA play however, where they have lost their last three of four (JMU, Hofstra, VCU). Point guard Crystal Johnson is the most efficient in the league and for the second straight year, leads the CAA in assists. We think the Lady Monarchs are ready to win their fourth straight. Old Dominion 71, Georgia State 59
William and Mary (9-7, 2-3, CAA) at Hofstra (9-8, 2-3 CAA), 7 p.m.
Isn't it a little early to talking about sweeping a team? Maybe, but with a win in the Big Apple, the Tribe can sweep the Pride. W&M won 55-48 win the teams played on Jan. 3 when Taysha Pye scored 20. The generous Tribe, with four players averaging at least four assists, continue to benefit from the hot hand of sophomore captain Katherine DeHenzel, (50 percent FG). William and Mary 58, Hofstra 54
George Mason (8-8, 1-4 CAA) at Drexel, (10-6, 4-1 CAA) 7 p.m.
Road win anyone? Or should we say anywhere? The Patriots have yet to record a victory away from the Patriot Center. Sunday's win over Northeastern was their first conference victory. We don't think they'll be getting their second against defending league champ Drexel. Drexel 75, George Mason 59
Meanwhile in ACC play a Virginia team still hanging on by fingernails to its national ranking will navigate the tough trip to Boston College and Virginia Tech will try to spring another major upset at No. 6 Duke.
Finally, in national news it took a little longer than we thought necessary, but the Big East has finally pronounced sentence - sort of - on the pre-game fight that marred Saturday's Louisville-Georgetown game. We say "sort of" because while the league announced that three players will be suspended for one game, the conference and the schools are declining to identify the players. A release on Georgetown's official site simply states that the Hoyas will sit two players for Saturday's home game against DePaul. That leaves one suspended player for Louisville.
Of course, not revealing the players is silly. Seems to us that if you get into a fight in a public gym in front of hundreds of people with the word "Georgetown" in giant letters on your chest, you've pretty much forfeited your right to anonymity. Besides, won't it be pretty clear who these players are once Saturday's game starts and they're not a part of it?
Thursday's games
No. 25 Virginia (12-5, 1-2 ACC) at Boston College (11-7, 2-1 ACC), 7 p.m.
The Eagles come in off a 26-point rout of nationally ranked Georgia Tech. The first order of business for the Cavaliers is find a way to keep the ball away from Eagles 6-6 center Carolyn Swords, the nation's leader in field-goal percentage. When these teams met in Charlottesville last year, Swords had 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting - and that was with Aisha Mohammed banging on her. The Cavaliers still won that game by 20, though, and they again have the kind of defense that can create an uptempo pace that doesn't flatter the Eagles. Like most teams, however, BC tends to play its best at home - just ask Georgia Tech. Virginia 72, Boston College 70
Virginia Tech (11-6, 1-2 ACC) at No. 6 Duke (15-3, 3-0 ACC), 7 p.m.
The Hokies did a terrific job of handling North Carolina's vaunted pressure, but this will be an even more difficult assignment. For starters, instead of a supportive Cassell Coliseum crowd, they'll be dealing with the famed Cameron Crazies. Then there are the Blue Devils themselves, who rank fourth nationally in steals and score nearly 35 percent of their points off opponents' turnovers. Duke has won the last 11 meetings in this series and clearly the odds are stacked against Tech again, especially if the Blue Devils can render Lindsay Biggs virtually invisible the way Virginia did Monday. But if the North Carolina game taught us anything, it's to never say never with these Hokies - especially if they can hang onto the ball. Duke 75, Virginia Tech 62
Delaware (11-5, 3-2 CAA) at Virginia Commonwealth (12-5, 5-0), 7 p.m.
We're intrigued by the 5-0 Rams and have high expectations for the matchup with Delaware. Behind Elena Delle Donne, the Blue Hens had won three straight and nine of 10 before dropping a double OT game to Drexel on Sunday. The Blue Hens freshman has scored 39 percent of her team's points. VCU has lost La'Tavia Rorie to an ACL tear, but continues to run through the league behind D'Andra Moss (21.5 ppg) and has won three straight over Delaware. But that was without EDD. Delaware 69, VCU 65
James Madison (13-3, 3-2 CAA) at Northeastern (6-10, 1-4 CAA)
The Huskies have never beaten James Madison, but then again their lone CAA win is over the Lady Monarchs, whom they never defeated before that historic triple overtime victory. JMU is looking to rebound from a loss to the Lady Monarchs in Harrisonburg in a game where the Dukes offense accounted for a season-low 58 points. NCAA scoring leader Dawn Evans (26.7 ppg) is getting hers albeit on inefficient shooting. Evans is 17-of-62 from the field in her last three games. Post Lauren Jimenez, who looked promising after returning from a knee injury, has taken one shot in the last two games, scoring four. Northeastern could trouble the Dukes from behind the arc. The Lady Monarchs drained six treys on Sunday; NE averages a league-high 6.9 per game. James Madison 79, Northeastern 60
Georgia State (11-5, 2-3 CAA) at Old Dominion (6-9, 4-1 CAA), 7 p.m.
These Lady Monarchs are flying high after dismissing Drexel, routing George Mason and cruising past James Madison in Dukeland. A big reason behind ODU's resurgence is the play of senior Jessica Canady, who finally looks healthy and leads the CAA in field-goal percentage (57.6 percent). The Panthers finally scored their first-ever win over ODU in Atlanta last year, 75-62. GSU loves to steal the ball (11 spg) and coasted through the nonconference season at 9-2. Their results have been less than glowing in CAA play however, where they have lost their last three of four (JMU, Hofstra, VCU). Point guard Crystal Johnson is the most efficient in the league and for the second straight year, leads the CAA in assists. We think the Lady Monarchs are ready to win their fourth straight. Old Dominion 71, Georgia State 59
William and Mary (9-7, 2-3, CAA) at Hofstra (9-8, 2-3 CAA), 7 p.m.
Isn't it a little early to talking about sweeping a team? Maybe, but with a win in the Big Apple, the Tribe can sweep the Pride. W&M won 55-48 win the teams played on Jan. 3 when Taysha Pye scored 20. The generous Tribe, with four players averaging at least four assists, continue to benefit from the hot hand of sophomore captain Katherine DeHenzel, (50 percent FG). William and Mary 58, Hofstra 54
George Mason (8-8, 1-4 CAA) at Drexel, (10-6, 4-1 CAA) 7 p.m.
Road win anyone? Or should we say anywhere? The Patriots have yet to record a victory away from the Patriot Center. Sunday's win over Northeastern was their first conference victory. We don't think they'll be getting their second against defending league champ Drexel. Drexel 75, George Mason 59
Longwood (4-15) at Seattle (3-18), 8:30 p.m.
This marks the Lancers' 13th game since Nov. 30. All but two of them have been on the road, and the relentless travel seems to be taking its toll as on Monday, the Lancers lost by 15 points to a Utah Valley they beat by 22 back in November and was on a 10-game losing streak. Seattle is another women's hoops lightweight, as the Redhawks have dropped eight in a row. But Longwood has lost seven straight itself - all by double digits - and are performing as though they're simply sick of spending so much time in someone else's gym. Longwood 63, Seattle 62
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday dribble: Spiders win 6th straight
Just one game to weigh in on, so we'll flesh out this report with a tip of the fedora to:
Virginia Tech's Lindsay Biggs, who spearheaded the Hokies' stunning rout of No. 10 North Carolina and claimed the ACC Player of the Week award;
Hampton's Breanna Jones, who hauled in 24 rebounds in two games to snag MEAC Rookie of the Week honors;
Radford's Denay Wood, who shot her way out of the considerable shadow of senior teammate Kymesha Alston to earn the Big South Player of the Week award;
Liberty's Jelena Antic, who was nearly perfect in copping her second straight Big South Freshman of the Week title. Antic went into Monday's game against UNC Asheville having made 10 straight field goals. She promptly missed her first two shots, then hit her final three in the Lady Flames' 82-40 victory. So Antic has now hit 13 of her last 15 shots. Like we said, nearly perfect.
The CAA Player of the Week was Drexel star Gabriela Marginean. CAA Rookie of the Week honors went to (surprise!) Delaware's Elena Delle Donne.
Tuesday's game
Richmond 76, George Washington 47: The Colonials were wounded animals, as injuries have reduced their roster to a not-so-magnificent seven. But the Spiders showed no mercy and delivered one of their cleanest performances of the season - 50.7 percent shooting, a season-high 24 assists against just 11 turnovers, a 41-32 rebounding advantage and 14 steals. "The way we played tonight was really special," coach Michael Shafer said after his Spiders (14-4, 3-0 Atlantic 10) won their sixth straight. Now let's see if they can take this kind of play on the road Saturday at Dayton - a feat that would be even more special.
Virginia Tech's Lindsay Biggs, who spearheaded the Hokies' stunning rout of No. 10 North Carolina and claimed the ACC Player of the Week award;
Hampton's Breanna Jones, who hauled in 24 rebounds in two games to snag MEAC Rookie of the Week honors;
Radford's Denay Wood, who shot her way out of the considerable shadow of senior teammate Kymesha Alston to earn the Big South Player of the Week award;
Liberty's Jelena Antic, who was nearly perfect in copping her second straight Big South Freshman of the Week title. Antic went into Monday's game against UNC Asheville having made 10 straight field goals. She promptly missed her first two shots, then hit her final three in the Lady Flames' 82-40 victory. So Antic has now hit 13 of her last 15 shots. Like we said, nearly perfect.
The CAA Player of the Week was Drexel star Gabriela Marginean. CAA Rookie of the Week honors went to (surprise!) Delaware's Elena Delle Donne.
Tuesday's game
Richmond 76, George Washington 47: The Colonials were wounded animals, as injuries have reduced their roster to a not-so-magnificent seven. But the Spiders showed no mercy and delivered one of their cleanest performances of the season - 50.7 percent shooting, a season-high 24 assists against just 11 turnovers, a 41-32 rebounding advantage and 14 steals. "The way we played tonight was really special," coach Michael Shafer said after his Spiders (14-4, 3-0 Atlantic 10) won their sixth straight. Now let's see if they can take this kind of play on the road Saturday at Dayton - a feat that would be even more special.
Ladyswish state rankings
1. Richmond (13-4, 2-0 Atlantic 10) Last week: 2
RPI: 48
We're not emotionally committed to the idea of the Spiders as the state's best team. But while several of the teams below are still trying to figure out roles and develop youngsters, the Spiders seem to know exactly who they are and are playing to their strengths more consistently than anyone else. Next: Tonight vs. George Washington, Saturday at Dayton
2. Virginia (12-5, 1-2 ACC) Last week: 3
RPI: 19
Nice bounceback victory for the Cavaliers Monday, as they smothered Virginia Tech defensively and made them pay for the lack of a player capable of creating off the dribble. The Cavaliers also made much more efficient use of superstar Monica Wright, who scored 27 points on 11 of 17 shooting. It was Wright's best shooting performance since she hit 12 of 14 shots for 31 points against Manhattan on Nov. 15. Next: Thursday at Boston College
3. VCU (12-5, 5-0 CAA) Last week: 4
RPI: 103
The only thing better than the Rams' play of late (seven straight wins) is this idea by the VCU athletics department - a silent auction of Rams-related items with all proceeds to benefit victims of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The auction begins Wednesday and will continue through the Rams' showdown against Elena Delle Donne and Delaware Thursday night before concluding Friday at 5 p.m. Next: Thursday vs. Delaware
4. Old Dominion (6-9, 4-1 CAA) Last week: 4
RPI: 76
A key in ODU's resurgence has been the improved form of forward Jessica Canady, who struggled with an arthritic knee through most of the non-conference season. In CAA-only play, Canady leads the entire conference in field-goal percentage (57.6 percent). In fact, the Lady Monarchs have three of the top five most accurate shooters, as Tia Lewis (2nd at 56.3 percent) and Shadasia Green (5th, 51.1) are also making better than half their shots. Next: Thursday vs. Georgia State
5. James Madison (13-3, 3-2 CAA) Last week: 1
RPI: 40
The Dukes' offense has been in a state of dysfunction ever since CAA play began, and Old Dominion finally made them pay for it Sunday by decisively snapping JMU's nine-game home winning streak. Simply put, through five conference games no CAA team shoots it more than these Dukes (341 attempts) but no one shoots it less accurately, either (33.1 percent from the field, tied with Towson for the lowest FG percentage in the league). Next: Thursday at Northeastern
6. Virginia Tech (11-6, 1-2 ACC) Last week: 7
RPI: 82
Hokies coach Beth Dunkenberger said after Tech's 70-56 loss to Virginia that her team came out "flat on several fronts." Let's see. The Hokies were coming off the biggest victory of their lives and were at home against their nationally ranked archrival. And they came out flat? College kids. Who can figure 'em out? Next: Thursday at No. 6 Duke
7. Liberty (12-4, 3-1 Big South) Last week: 5
RPI: 113
Defense-first Lady Flames continued to feast on the soft underbelly of the Big South in home routs over Presbyterian and UNC Asheville. It's not totally fair to drop Liberty two spots after the team blows out two opponents, but we're still waiting for a Liberty win over an upper echelon opponent. The Lady Flames have beaten only one Top 100 team this season, and that was back on Nov. 20 (Tulane). Next: Saturday at Charleston Southern
8. Hampton (6-10, 2-3 MEAC) Last week: 8
RPI: 197
Saturday's overtime victory over last-place Norfolk State and Monday's 82-81 loss at MEAC favorite North Carolina A&T perfectly captured the personality of these Lady Pirates - they tend to play to the level of their competition. Next: Saturday vs. Bethune-Cookman
9. William and Mary (9-7, 2-3 CAA) Last week: 9
RPI: 182
Pleasant developments with the Tribe offense - after shooting 38 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line through its first 13 games, William and Mary is at 45.6 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from deep in its last three games. Katherine DeHenzel in particular has been an offensive revelation. Next: Thursday at Hofstra
10. Radford (4-11, 3-1 Big South) Last week: 10
RPI: 220
Congratulations to junior Denay Wood, who on Tuesday was named the Big South Player of the Week. Wood averaged 14 points in two victories and continued to scorch the nets from behind the 3-point line. In five Big South games, Wood is shooting an unconscious 67 percent from long distance. Next: Saturday at Coastal Carolina
11. George Mason (8-8, 1-4 CAA) Last week: 11
RPI: 185
Amazing what a little offense can do. The 72 points the Patriots scoring in beating Northeastern Sunday were 22 more than they'd scored in any previous CAA game and 10 more than they'd managed in any game since Dec. 4. Next: Thursday at Drexel
12. Longwood (4-15) Last week: 12
RPI: 227
Career highs in points (22) and rebounds (11) from sophomore Brittanni Billups couldn't prevent the Lancers from dropping their seventh straight Monday night at Utah Valley State. Longwood hasn't won since Dec. 18 against High Point, but opportunity looms Thursday when the Lancers conclude their trip out West at 3-18 Seattle. Next: Thursday at Seattle
13. Norfolk State (2-11, 0-5 MEAC) Last week: 13
RPI: 340
The Spartans are clearly outmanned, particularly in the post, against even most MEAC teams. But credit coach Debra Clark and the players themselves for continuing to battle against the odds every night. We still think a handful of MEAC victories are in this team's future. Next: Saturday at Winston-Salem State
RPI: 48
We're not emotionally committed to the idea of the Spiders as the state's best team. But while several of the teams below are still trying to figure out roles and develop youngsters, the Spiders seem to know exactly who they are and are playing to their strengths more consistently than anyone else. Next: Tonight vs. George Washington, Saturday at Dayton
2. Virginia (12-5, 1-2 ACC) Last week: 3
RPI: 19
Nice bounceback victory for the Cavaliers Monday, as they smothered Virginia Tech defensively and made them pay for the lack of a player capable of creating off the dribble. The Cavaliers also made much more efficient use of superstar Monica Wright, who scored 27 points on 11 of 17 shooting. It was Wright's best shooting performance since she hit 12 of 14 shots for 31 points against Manhattan on Nov. 15. Next: Thursday at Boston College
3. VCU (12-5, 5-0 CAA) Last week: 4
RPI: 103
The only thing better than the Rams' play of late (seven straight wins) is this idea by the VCU athletics department - a silent auction of Rams-related items with all proceeds to benefit victims of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The auction begins Wednesday and will continue through the Rams' showdown against Elena Delle Donne and Delaware Thursday night before concluding Friday at 5 p.m. Next: Thursday vs. Delaware
4. Old Dominion (6-9, 4-1 CAA) Last week: 4
RPI: 76
A key in ODU's resurgence has been the improved form of forward Jessica Canady, who struggled with an arthritic knee through most of the non-conference season. In CAA-only play, Canady leads the entire conference in field-goal percentage (57.6 percent). In fact, the Lady Monarchs have three of the top five most accurate shooters, as Tia Lewis (2nd at 56.3 percent) and Shadasia Green (5th, 51.1) are also making better than half their shots. Next: Thursday vs. Georgia State
5. James Madison (13-3, 3-2 CAA) Last week: 1
RPI: 40
The Dukes' offense has been in a state of dysfunction ever since CAA play began, and Old Dominion finally made them pay for it Sunday by decisively snapping JMU's nine-game home winning streak. Simply put, through five conference games no CAA team shoots it more than these Dukes (341 attempts) but no one shoots it less accurately, either (33.1 percent from the field, tied with Towson for the lowest FG percentage in the league). Next: Thursday at Northeastern
6. Virginia Tech (11-6, 1-2 ACC) Last week: 7
RPI: 82
Hokies coach Beth Dunkenberger said after Tech's 70-56 loss to Virginia that her team came out "flat on several fronts." Let's see. The Hokies were coming off the biggest victory of their lives and were at home against their nationally ranked archrival. And they came out flat? College kids. Who can figure 'em out? Next: Thursday at No. 6 Duke
7. Liberty (12-4, 3-1 Big South) Last week: 5
RPI: 113
Defense-first Lady Flames continued to feast on the soft underbelly of the Big South in home routs over Presbyterian and UNC Asheville. It's not totally fair to drop Liberty two spots after the team blows out two opponents, but we're still waiting for a Liberty win over an upper echelon opponent. The Lady Flames have beaten only one Top 100 team this season, and that was back on Nov. 20 (Tulane). Next: Saturday at Charleston Southern
8. Hampton (6-10, 2-3 MEAC) Last week: 8
RPI: 197
Saturday's overtime victory over last-place Norfolk State and Monday's 82-81 loss at MEAC favorite North Carolina A&T perfectly captured the personality of these Lady Pirates - they tend to play to the level of their competition. Next: Saturday vs. Bethune-Cookman
9. William and Mary (9-7, 2-3 CAA) Last week: 9
RPI: 182
Pleasant developments with the Tribe offense - after shooting 38 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line through its first 13 games, William and Mary is at 45.6 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from deep in its last three games. Katherine DeHenzel in particular has been an offensive revelation. Next: Thursday at Hofstra
10. Radford (4-11, 3-1 Big South) Last week: 10
RPI: 220
Congratulations to junior Denay Wood, who on Tuesday was named the Big South Player of the Week. Wood averaged 14 points in two victories and continued to scorch the nets from behind the 3-point line. In five Big South games, Wood is shooting an unconscious 67 percent from long distance. Next: Saturday at Coastal Carolina
11. George Mason (8-8, 1-4 CAA) Last week: 11
RPI: 185
Amazing what a little offense can do. The 72 points the Patriots scoring in beating Northeastern Sunday were 22 more than they'd scored in any previous CAA game and 10 more than they'd managed in any game since Dec. 4. Next: Thursday at Drexel
12. Longwood (4-15) Last week: 12
RPI: 227
Career highs in points (22) and rebounds (11) from sophomore Brittanni Billups couldn't prevent the Lancers from dropping their seventh straight Monday night at Utah Valley State. Longwood hasn't won since Dec. 18 against High Point, but opportunity looms Thursday when the Lancers conclude their trip out West at 3-18 Seattle. Next: Thursday at Seattle
13. Norfolk State (2-11, 0-5 MEAC) Last week: 13
RPI: 340
The Spartans are clearly outmanned, particularly in the post, against even most MEAC teams. But credit coach Debra Clark and the players themselves for continuing to battle against the odds every night. We still think a handful of MEAC victories are in this team's future. Next: Saturday at Winston-Salem State
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