Shockers at Drake (Friday, 7pm) and Northern Iowa (Sunday, 2 pm)

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers start the back half of their conference schedule with their Iowa road swing to play two of the three Valley teams with two losses. The Shocks played these two teams on the second weekend of conference play.

Drake won the game at Koch by the score of 87-56. They continue to be led by Lizzy Wendel, the pre-season pick for Player of the Year. This past week, she received her fourth Player of the Week award, but only the first in conference play. In conference play, she averages 19.9 ppg. Next are Sara Rhine at 13.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg, and Maddy Dean at 13.7 ppg. Again in the Valley only, the Bulldogs average 80 ppg, shooting at 46.3%, with their opponents averaging 70 ppg and shoot 37%. Sammie Bachrodt, the Kapaun alumna, has started all twenty games for Drake and is averaging 5.9 ppg in Valley contests.

The Shockers continue to be led by Rangie at 14.4 ppg in the Valley and TaQuandra at 13.1. Rangie averages 8 boards per game. The Shocks average a little over 50 ppg with their opponents averaging a little less than 62 ppg, a difference of 11.5 ppg. The Shockers are shooting 35.1% while their opponents are shooting 42.4%.

The Drake RPI is 104 with the Shocks at 290.

The game write-up from the Shockers is here. The game write-up from Drake is here. The Valley on ESPN3 is here. LiveStats are here.

Of course, the other two-loss team is Missouri State, our travel partner. Having lost to both Drake and Northern Iowa at home, they need a strong weekend to have any hopes of winning the regular-season Valley title.

[flyingMoose]

Q1: Drake 25-13 Shockers

The Shocks led halfway through the quarter (9-7) until the Bulldogs took over. The 3-2 zone of Drake is slowing the Shocks down, and the transition defense of the Shockers has led to some easy baskets for Drake.

[flyingMoose]

Half: Drake 48-23 Shockers

The beat goes on, both musically and physically. The Shocks are shooting 33% v 61%, 46% from behind the arc. They have 12 turnovers v 6. Rangie has eleven at the half. The Shockers still cannot penetrate the (I guess) 2-3 zone - kind of a matchup out of a 2-3 I think. (Okay, neither the Shocks nor I can figure it out.)

[flyingMoose]

Q3: Drake 69-39 Shockers

Hannah started this quarter and played all but the last minute. Elle played a lot of the quarter and Sabrina played the last minute. In a game like this, everyone will get their chance to earn more playing time.

[flyingMoose]

Drake 81-59 Shockers

In lots-of-substitutes time, the Shockers won the fourth quarter 20-12 to make the final score almost respectable. The Shockers shot 39% from the field v 57%. The Shockers had eighteen turnovers. The Shocks had only four free throws in the game as they rarely could get the ball inside against the Drake zone. Rangie had fifteen and Diamond also had fifteen. Eight of those were in the fourth quarter including a couple of threes. Sabrina scored seven in nine minutes.

Another key stat for me: the Shocks had 9 assists on 24 field goals v 18 on 30.

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday Scores

Northern Iowa 75-78(OT) Missouri State
The Bears tied the game with a long three with twenty seconds to play. They dominated the OT period early (77-70) before the Panthers closed the gap and had an open look at a game-tying three with seconds to play. The Missouri State game at Drake on Sunday will be for the league lead.

Loyola 83-59 Southern Illinois
The battle between the two teams with three losses.

Illinois State 73-62 Indiana State

Bradley 66-52 Evansville

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers complete their Iowa swing with a game against the Panthers on Sunday.

Northern Iowa won the game in Wichita 55-44. In conference play, they are led by guard Madison Weekly who averages 18.7 ppg. She is followed by Amber Sorensen at 13.0 ppg who is the other primary threat from beyond the arc. Jen Keitel is the inside threat at 10.7 ppg and 7.3 rpg. The Panthers average 63 ppg with their opponents at 57.5 ppg. The shoot 38.6% from the floor while the opposition shoots 38%.

For the Shocks, Rangie now averages 14.5 ppg in the Valley. TaQuandra, who only scored two points and only played sixteen minutes (coach's decision?) on Friday, now averages 12.0 ppg. Diamond's outburst raised her average to 8.3ppg.

The Northern Iowa game writeup is here. The Valley on ESPN3 is here. LiveStats are here.

[flyingMoose]

Half: Northern Iowa 35-23 Shockers

This was close until early in the second quarter. The Shocks led 19-15, but UNI went on a 14-0 run to take control. Rangie has nine. The Shockers are shooting 42% v 32% for the Panthers. However, the Shocks have eleven turnovers and are -5 on offensive rebounds. The Panthers have made ten free throws, and the Shockers have yet to go to the line.

[flyingMoose]

Northern Iowa 69-48 Shockers

An eleven point Panther advantage in the third quarter essentially ended this game. Rangie had nineteen, but no one else had more than six.

Not much to be said. The Shockers host Bradley and Loyola next weekend with a good chance for a home win on Friday.

[flyingMoose]

Other Sunday Scores

Drake 95-72 Missouri State
The Bulldogs now have the league lead.

Loyola 67-54 Evansville
The Ramblers trailed by two after three quarters before blowing the game wide open in the fourth.

Bradley 51-65 Southern Illinois

Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Loyola all trail Drake by one game.

[1972Shocker]

I didn't really expect the Shocks to win either one of these games this weekend but I had hoped they would be little more competitive. The games were not nearly as close as the final scores indicated and both games were over by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Today, after having jumped out to an early 8-2 lead the Shocks lead 16-15 at the end of the 1st quarter only to be outscored 39-11 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

At times they show signs they are getting it and can compete and then that seems to quickly vanish. I suppose a lot of that is their inexperience but they do not react well when things start going against them.

[flyingMoose]

... their inexperience ...

Somewhere in the second half, Sabrina set a pick and then did not roll to the basket when she had the clear opportunity. Finally, Jody or the guard got her attention, she rolled to the bucket, got the bounce pass and scored. It probably took her two seconds, but she finally got the message - a prime example for me of the lack of experience you spoke of.