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The Valley's top 4 teams Wichita State (16-3, 7-0, RPI 57), Drake (11-6, 7-0, RPI 82), Northern Iowa (10-8, 6-1, RPI 112) and Missouri State (8-10, 5-2, RPI 186) match up this weekend each with a chance to make a statement and perhaps stake a claim to the role of league favorite. OTOH, we could come out of this weekend with a traffic jam at the top of the league and a lot of uncertainly heading into the 2nd half of conference play. It is very difficult to predict how this weekend will play out. Suffice it to say that the road swing through Cedar Falls and Des Moines appears to be the toughest in the league this year.
The Shocks take on UNI Friday at 7:00 pm while travel partner Missouri State tangles with co-leader Drake in Des Moines. On Sunday they swap opponents with Missouri State @ UNI and the Shocks @ Drake.
UNI who was picked 2nd in the preseason behind the Shocks have done quite well considering they have overcome injuries to 2 of their best players. 6-2 Jr. F Hannah Schonhardt was injured before the season started and will miss the entire year and 6-3 Jr. F/C Jen Keitel tore her ACL 7 games into the season and is also out for the remainder of the season.
Tanya Warren is one of the better women's coaches in the league and UNI had pretty solid depth. UNI is a pretty perimeter oriented team taking 43.2% of their shots from 3-point range compared to the Shocks who take 28.5% of their shots from behind the arc. Controlling UNI's perimeter game will be a key for the Shocks. UNI is also a solid defensive team.
Drake was picked to finish 3rd in the league but they also suffered a key injury to 2013-14 Valley POY Kyndall Clark. However, Shocker assistant Kirk Crawford thinks Drake maybe tougher to deal with without Clark because they have become more team oriented and diversified in their attack. Drake is far and away the highest scoring team in the conference at 77.3 PPG and Shocks have by far and away the best scoring defense only allowing 49.4 PPG. So this is clearly a clash of contrasting styles.
Without Clark Drake is indeed a young team but they are talented. Drake is led by super-soph Lizzy Wendell, a 6-0 Forward, who is averaging 22.6 PPG and 4.9 RPG. Joining Wendell in double figure scoring is 6-2 Fr F/C Becca Jonas at 13.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG, 5-9 Fr G Maddy Dean at 12.3 PPG and 6.8 RPG and 5-8 So. G Caitlin Ingle at 11.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG.
I am expecting 2 very tough games. The Shocks are capable of winning both these games but they could easily lose both as well if they do not play well or UNI and/or Drake catch fire with their shooting. I would say the Shockers trump card (if they indeed have such a thing) is that UNI and Drake probably have not faced anyone this year with the defensive pressure and intensity that the Shocks will bring to bear.
Should be a very interesting weekend.
:poster_shocks:
The Shocks take on UNI Friday at 7:00 pm while travel partner Missouri State tangles with co-leader Drake in Des Moines. On Sunday they swap opponents with Missouri State @ UNI and the Shocks @ Drake.
UNI who was picked 2nd in the preseason behind the Shocks have done quite well considering they have overcome injuries to 2 of their best players. 6-2 Jr. F Hannah Schonhardt was injured before the season started and will miss the entire year and 6-3 Jr. F/C Jen Keitel tore her ACL 7 games into the season and is also out for the remainder of the season.
Tanya Warren is one of the better women's coaches in the league and UNI had pretty solid depth. UNI is a pretty perimeter oriented team taking 43.2% of their shots from 3-point range compared to the Shocks who take 28.5% of their shots from behind the arc. Controlling UNI's perimeter game will be a key for the Shocks. UNI is also a solid defensive team.
Drake was picked to finish 3rd in the league but they also suffered a key injury to 2013-14 Valley POY Kyndall Clark. However, Shocker assistant Kirk Crawford thinks Drake maybe tougher to deal with without Clark because they have become more team oriented and diversified in their attack. Drake is far and away the highest scoring team in the conference at 77.3 PPG and Shocks have by far and away the best scoring defense only allowing 49.4 PPG. So this is clearly a clash of contrasting styles.
Without Clark Drake is indeed a young team but they are talented. Drake is led by super-soph Lizzy Wendell, a 6-0 Forward, who is averaging 22.6 PPG and 4.9 RPG. Joining Wendell in double figure scoring is 6-2 Fr F/C Becca Jonas at 13.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG, 5-9 Fr G Maddy Dean at 12.3 PPG and 6.8 RPG and 5-8 So. G Caitlin Ingle at 11.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG.
I am expecting 2 very tough games. The Shocks are capable of winning both these games but they could easily lose both as well if they do not play well or UNI and/or Drake catch fire with their shooting. I would say the Shockers trump card (if they indeed have such a thing) is that UNI and Drake probably have not faced anyone this year with the defensive pressure and intensity that the Shocks will bring to bear.
Should be a very interesting weekend.
:poster_shocks:
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