2017 MVC Women's Basketball Championship

[1972Shocker]

The #5 seeded Lady Shocks proved the old bromide that it is hard to beat a team 3 times in one year as they outscored #4 seed SIU 73-60. The Shocks outscored SIU 48-32 in the 2nd half after a very pedestrian 1st half where SIU led 28-25.

Rangie Bessard justified her All-Conference honors pumping in 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds as the Shocks overcame a big SIU advantage from the 3-point line. SIU was 9-19 while the Shocks were 3-13. The Shocks also had to overcome a bad shooting day from Sr. guard, TaQuandra Mike, who was only 3-16 from the field.

The Shocks outrebounded SIU 43-37 and had only 10 turnovers to 15 for SIU. The 10 turnover level is one of the better games that Shocks have had in that regard (if not the best).

[1972Shocker]

Up next for the Shockers, as expected, is #1 seed Drake who defeated #9 seed Illinois State 64-40. At first glance this score might give Shocker fans a ray of hope, especially considering that the Shocks scored 78 and 89 points in their 2 regular season losses to Drake.

However, upon further inspection that ray of hope may only be a sliver.

In the 1st half of today Drake shot 8-29 from the field, which is very unusual for them, and lead by what had to be a very ugly 20-18 score at the half. However, Drake figured it out in the 2nd half and double up the Redbirds 44-22 while hitting 18-27 shots from the field. However, for the game Drake only made 6-23 treys after knocking down a school record 19-31 in their previous game vs the Shocks. In that game, the Shocks allowed Drake to fire away with impunity. If the Shocks can figure out a way to defend Drake on the perimeter or if Drake simply doesn't shoot it well then maybe the Shocks have a chance. Not betting on it though.

[1972Shocker]

Lady Shocks hanging tough against Drake leading 16-15 at the end of the 1st quarter.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks leading Drake 33-27. They are playing okay defense but so far Drake's poor shooting is also a big factor. Drake is 12-36 from the floor and has missed all 7 of their 3-point attempt and they are a 3-10 from the line.

The Shocks have only hit 12 shots in 35 attempts but they are uncharacteristically 6-10 from behind the arc. The Shocks are only 1-4 from the line.

So this has not been a particularly pretty game.

The Shocks have been lead by Jeliah Preston with 13 points and Rangie Bessard with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Jeliah is 3-4 from behind the arc and Rangie hit her only 3-point attempt.

Hurting the Shocks are Angiee Tompkins who is 0-5 but has grabbed 8 rebounds. Taquandra Mike is 0-3 and has 4 turnovers.

Most likely things will return to form in the 2nd half. However, I will say Drake does seem to be a bit frustrated.

[Play Angry]

Keep it rolling, Ladies!

[1972Shocker]

And revert to form it is. Drake leads 64-52 at the end of the 3rd quarter lead by Wichitan Sammie Bachrodt and some porous Shocker defense.

Angiee Tompkins has some great physical tool but she is severely lacking in BBIQ. Taquandra Mike continues to struggle as well.

Also I think the Shocks look a bit gassed.

[1972Shocker]

Drake pulls away to an 86-68 win outscoring the Shocks 59-35 in the second half.

Rangie tried like hell scoring 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds but she had pretty much no help in the 2nd half and she was totally gassed when she left the game late in the 4th quarter.

[1972Shocker]

UNI blew out Evansville 82-58 and will face Drake in the Championship game as it should be. Clearly the 2 best teams in the conference and probably the only two that would not be embarrassed in the NCAA Tournament.

Might actually be an interesting game. Certainly a contrast in styles between far and away the best two coaches in the league.

[1972Shocker]

As I suggested when the finals was set that the Drake-UNI championship game set that it might be a good game. I did not watch it but the result, a 74-69 overtime win for Drake, seems to indicate that was exactly the case.

As they have throughout the Valley tournament Drake played poorly in the 1st half, trailing 29-39, before rallying in the 2nd half to tie the score at 63 when Drake's outstanding senior point guard Caitlin Ingle hit a jumper at the buzzer to force the overtime period that Drake won 11-6.

Drake finishes MVC play (regulars season & tournament play) with a perfect 21-0 season (27-4 overall) and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Drake is currently ranked 19th in the nation. More impressive is that Drake did that after losing their best inside player, Sara Rhine, to injury 8 games into the season. Admittedly, the Valley outside of Drake and UNI was pretty bad this year.

No question that the Valley, as with the men, have place their best possible representative in the NCAA Tournament. With an RPI of 26 and an NPI of 13 Drake hopefully will receive a higher seeding than what the Valley champ has typically received. I think the Shocks were around a 14 seed in Alex Harden's final year. With a decent seed I could see Drake winning a game in the NCAA Tournament although I do not think they are playing their best basketball of the season at this point. Congratulations to the Bulldogs and to Wichitan Sammie Bachrodt on an excellent season.

UNI should get a WNIT invitation and they could win a game or two in that tournament as well. UNI has a RPI of 52 and a NPI of 41.