WBB: Opportunity to Make a Statement Weekend @ UNI & @ Drake

[1972Shocker]

Alex was hammered and no call...

I am as big a fan of Alex as anyone but she simply made a bad decision on that play. She could of easily took a pull up mid-range jumper which she is very good at but chose instead to take into Drake's size. She may not have made the mid-range jumper but she would have had a much better chance of scoring than challenging the big girl and perhaps hoping for a call from the refs. We only need a 2-pointer to regain the lead. Alex simply did not have one of her better games today.

[1972Shocker]

Valley Standings at the Halfway Point:

DU 9-0
WSU 8-1
UNI 7-2
EVN 5-4
MSU 5-4
INS 4-5
SIU 4-5
BU 2-7
ILS 1-8
LUC 0-9

I suppose the regular season is primarily for pride and positioning in the Valley Tournament. The Shocks with an RPI of 53 and Bulldogs with an RPI of 74 are the only sub-100 RPIs in the league. Both teams have games left with Bradley (322), ILS (312) and LUC (296) which will hurt those RPIs further even with wins. Hard to see an at-large bids coming out of the Valley making the Valley Tournament Championship and the auto-bid that goes with it the big prize.

BU, ILS and LOY look to pretty much be locks for a play-in game. DU, WSU and UNI look like they will be fighting for the top 3 seeds. The real battle may well be between INS, MSU, SIU and EVN to see who can avoid the last play-in spot. Those teams should be highly motivated when they play the top 3 because a win over any of those teams will go a long way towards avoiding the play-in game.

[1972Shocker]

WSU-Drake Box Score

Not hard to figure. 0-11 (all 3-point attempts) by Alie. I doubt we see that again this year. Too bad it had to be in the Drake game. I do have to give Alie credit though she contributed 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and a steal and only turned the ball over 1 time. So she was playing hard. Simply could not find the bottom of the net today.

The 9 turnovers between Jamillah (5) and Alex (4) were a little unusual as well and certainly not helpful to the cause.

Still no bench for the Shockers either. Alex played the full 40 minutes, Kelsey and Alie 38 each, Michaela 32 and Jamillah 31. I am still concerned that could be an issue at the end of the year. The Shocks have tended to flounder a little late in the season under Jody.

3 years ago the Shocks started Valley play 8-1 and then finished 4-5 in the 2nd half.
2 years ago the Shocks started Valley play 10-0 and then finished 5-3.
Last year the Shocks started Valley play at 12-0 before stumbling to a 2-4 record to close out the season.

This year's team has even less depth than those 3 teams had. Hopefully, they can buck the above trend.

[Shox1979]

Not the type of shooting performance or outcome Alie would have wanted to have on her birthday. Tough outing for the Lady Shox.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

Not the type of shooting performance or outcome Alie would have wanted to have on her birthday. Tough outing for the Lady Shox.

Though we held Lizzy to 17, she is a great player. Hit her 1000th point and hasn't finished her sophomore year. Right now she is the Valley MVP. No excuse for us being up 7 with 3 to go and choke it away.

[1972Shocker]

On her radio show tonight Jody acknowledged that the Shocks did not do a good job of defending the 3-points line against Drake as well as in the 2nd half against UNI.

I think she also more or less called out Alex for being a little too passive pointing out she only scored 11 points despite playing a full 40 minutes.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

On her radio show tonight Jody acknowledged that the Shocks did not do a good job of defending the 3-points line against Drake as well as in the 2nd half against UNI.

I think she also more or less called out Alex for being a little too passive pointing out she only scored 11 points despite playing a full 40 minutes.

We need to play with a chip on our shoulder and focus on each game and not look ahead to Drake until they arrive at Koch. I think we'll see a more offensively aggressive Alex.

[1972Shocker]

Moved by OP.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

Moved by OP.

Drake loses to SIU tonight we're back to tied for first place in the Valley. Nice gift.

[1972Shocker]

Must be a night for upsets. Loyola picked up its first conference win with a 70-58 home win over Evansville.

Northern Iowa just got by Illinois State 59-52 in Normal.

Indiana State made it back to 0.500 in Valley play with a 65-55 win over Bradley.

[1972Shocker]

Drake loses to SIU tonight we're back to tied for first place in the Valley. Nice gift.

Rashonda Napier led SIU with 30 points. She was injured and did not play when the Salukis visited Koch Arena. Looks like SIU will be a handful when the Shocks make the trip to Carbondale.

Actually Drake at 9-1 still has a 1/2 game lead over the Shocks who sit at 8-1 but at least the Shocks are back in control of their own destiny at this point.

Drake should take care of Illinois State on Sunday while the Shocks have a much tougher task on Sunday dealing with MSU. An MSU win would go a long, long ways toward helping MSU avoid the #6 seed and spot in the play-in round in the Valley Tournament. They will be motivated.

Northern Iowa, currently only 1/2 game behind the Shocks at 8-2, will have its hands full at SIU on Sunday.

[oldtimewomen's hoopcoach]

Rashonda Napier led SIU with 30 points. She was injured and did not play when the Salukis visited Koch Arena. Looks like SIU will be a handful when the Shocks make the trip to Carbondale.

Actually Drake at 9-1 still has a 1/2 game lead over the Shocks who sit at 8-1 but at least the Shocks are back in control of their own destiny at this point.

Good catch on the standings. We need to bring our "A" game Sunday against MSU. Heard Kelsey took a shot to the head from a men's practice player, no concussion, but is day to day. We need the "Glue" without her, we're a different team.

Drake should take care of Illinois State on Sunday while the Shocks have a much tougher task on Sunday dealing with MSU. An MSU win would go a long, long ways toward helping MSU avoid the #6 seed and spot in the play-in round in the Valley Tournament. They will be motivated.

Northern Iowa, currently only 1/2 game behind the Shocks at 8-2, will have its hands full at SIU on Sunday.