Ladies Post Game Article
03/08/07
By ADAM FISHER, Chronicle
Tribune
acfisher@marion.gannett.com
SIOUX CITY, Iowa Indiana Wesleyan performed like a No. 1 seed is expected to against the lowest-rated team in the 32-team field Wednesday at the NAIA Division II womens basketball tournament.
The Wildcats, the top-ranked team in the national polls, scored the games first 11 points on their way to a 69-25 rout of St. Joseph (Vt.) in the first round of the national tournament. Indiana Wesleyan plays Tabor (Kan.) at noon Friday in the second round.
IWUs defense set a Division II tournament record by holding the Saints to the lowest point total in the 16-year history of the event. The previous was set in 2005 when Cedarville (Ohio) held Lyndon State (Vt.) to 33 points.
The Wildcats defense helped out an offense that shot 40 percent from the field. IWU (34-0) forced 26 turnovers and held the Saints (16-15) to 18 percent shooting and eight field goals.
It was a good start for us, Wildcats forward Sarah McGill said. We wanted to come out, pick up the intensity and set the stage for the rest of the tournament.
McGill and Liz Howerth each scored 13 points to lead IWU. Howerth added a three steals, three assists and a team-high nine rebounds.
St. Josephs 25 points is the fewest for an IWU opponent since the Wildcats beat Goshen 52-28 on Nov. 21. Indiana Wesleyans best defensive game was Nov. 11 when the Wildcats beat St. Gregorys 55-15.
Were not going to blow people out its not our style of play, Wildcats coach Steve Brooks said. If we blow somebody out, its kind of like this game where were just decidedly better.
Eleven players scored for Indiana Wesleyan, and 14 players saw action Wednesday. Brooke Amstutz came off the bench to score 10 points, all in the second half, and grab seven rebounds.
The Saints had one field goal in the first 15 minutes as IWU got out to a 24-3 lead. The Wildcats led 30-9 at halftime. St. Joseph didnt reach double figures scoring until five minutes into the second half.
I wish the game would have been a better game, Brooks said. I just felt like we didnt play with (enough) enthusiasm or emotion. Of course, in a (blowout) like that, its hard to get people excited. Its hard to get people cheering.
St. Joseph entered the tournament with the worst record at 16-14. The Saints made the field by winning the Sunrise Conference tourney.
The Saints, who also made the national tournament in 2000 and 2001, were playing with just eight active players and a first-year coach. Three of the team members werent basketball players at the start of the season. Coach Robert Larson brought them in from other sports to fill out St. Josephs roster.
Weve been in transition for some years, Larson said. Keeping some continuity and building the program is what weve been looking to do.
Tabor advanced to Fridays second-round matchup by beating No. 5 seed Cardinal Stritch 46-41 in the first game of the tournament Wednesday. The Blue Jays are 26-5 and earned an at-large bid to the national tournament from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
acfisher@marion.gannett.com
SIOUX CITY, Iowa Indiana Wesleyan performed like a No. 1 seed is expected to against the lowest-rated team in the 32-team field Wednesday at the NAIA Division II womens basketball tournament.
The Wildcats, the top-ranked team in the national polls, scored the games first 11 points on their way to a 69-25 rout of St. Joseph (Vt.) in the first round of the national tournament. Indiana Wesleyan plays Tabor (Kan.) at noon Friday in the second round.
IWUs defense set a Division II tournament record by holding the Saints to the lowest point total in the 16-year history of the event. The previous was set in 2005 when Cedarville (Ohio) held Lyndon State (Vt.) to 33 points.
The Wildcats defense helped out an offense that shot 40 percent from the field. IWU (34-0) forced 26 turnovers and held the Saints (16-15) to 18 percent shooting and eight field goals.
It was a good start for us, Wildcats forward Sarah McGill said. We wanted to come out, pick up the intensity and set the stage for the rest of the tournament.
McGill and Liz Howerth each scored 13 points to lead IWU. Howerth added a three steals, three assists and a team-high nine rebounds.
St. Josephs 25 points is the fewest for an IWU opponent since the Wildcats beat Goshen 52-28 on Nov. 21. Indiana Wesleyans best defensive game was Nov. 11 when the Wildcats beat St. Gregorys 55-15.
Were not going to blow people out its not our style of play, Wildcats coach Steve Brooks said. If we blow somebody out, its kind of like this game where were just decidedly better.
Eleven players scored for Indiana Wesleyan, and 14 players saw action Wednesday. Brooke Amstutz came off the bench to score 10 points, all in the second half, and grab seven rebounds.
The Saints had one field goal in the first 15 minutes as IWU got out to a 24-3 lead. The Wildcats led 30-9 at halftime. St. Joseph didnt reach double figures scoring until five minutes into the second half.
I wish the game would have been a better game, Brooks said. I just felt like we didnt play with (enough) enthusiasm or emotion. Of course, in a (blowout) like that, its hard to get people excited. Its hard to get people cheering.
St. Joseph entered the tournament with the worst record at 16-14. The Saints made the field by winning the Sunrise Conference tourney.
The Saints, who also made the national tournament in 2000 and 2001, were playing with just eight active players and a first-year coach. Three of the team members werent basketball players at the start of the season. Coach Robert Larson brought them in from other sports to fill out St. Josephs roster.
Weve been in transition for some years, Larson said. Keeping some continuity and building the program is what weve been looking to do.
Tabor advanced to Fridays second-round matchup by beating No. 5 seed Cardinal Stritch 46-41 in the first game of the tournament Wednesday. The Blue Jays are 26-5 and earned an at-large bid to the national tournament from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.