Source: https://womenshoopsblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:03:26+00:00

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Though my insides and my outsides are still trying to find a harmonious relationship. It was WINDY and ROUGH diving. But the Ambergis Divers and Amigos del Mar dive crews were amazing at getting us in, out and around the waves.
Grouper – What kind? Still trying to figure that out.
The Pac-12 Conference Tournament begins Thursday. Oregon, the preseason favorite, sits atop the bracket. Stanford and Oregon State, who each beat the Ducks in the regular season, are slotted in the opposite side. With a win in the second round, UCLA could get another crack at Oregon after those teams treated us to an overtime thriller just over a week ago.
Let’s bounce around the conference, noting one thing to watch for each team over the weekend as the tournament unfolds (unless otherwise noted, all advanced statistics obtained via Her Hoop Stats). Stay tuned until the end, where I’ll share my officially unofficial Pac-12 awards picks.
Love them, hate them or feel indifferent about them, conference tournaments are the signal that March and its madness are about to arrive. Charlie Creme will keep you updated on the daily impact on bracketology as the league tournaments play out. But here’s a quick look at five key questions going into Championship Week.
1. Will Mississippi State finish running the table in the SEC?
BTW: Kelsey Mitchell passes Brittney Griner to become third all-time scorer in NCAA history Which begs the question: Does Kelsey Mitchell have a chance to set the NCAA all-time scoring record?
For the last few years, it seems like each season Stanford has been pegged as a “rebuilding team,” yet every year the Cardinal are in the upper echelons of the competition. How are you able to consistently get so much out of what you have?
Our team is in a horse race and it’s not how the horse comes out of the gate – it’s a long race. Right now we’re going down the dark stretch, working hard. We know where we want to get to and we want to stay healthy. The team is very close; they have great camaraderie and play hard for each other. We don’t have a lot of drama; we have upper-class leaders who know and accept their roles, which is hard. (The athletes) have really good attitudes and make a good effort in practice every day. Some teams are more fun than other teams, and this year’s team is fun. Last year’s team was really fun.
But to answer your question, we expect to do well. The expectation and the goal is to win the Pac-12 and go to the Final Four. So when it happens, it’s not a big surprise.
Whaddaya think? Bracketology with Charlie Creme. Charlie asks: Which teams have the most to gain during Championship Week?
The ACC, SEC, Pac-12, Big East and Big Ten have all wrapped up their regular-season schedules and are moving on to conference tournaments. The Big 12 and American are right behind.
That means time is running out for teams to make a last big push for a NCAA tournament bid or for seeding.
As Championship Week opens, keep an especially close eye on the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis, where a number of teams’ fates will be determined.
Around the Rim closes Black History month with a special episode dedicated to dissecting the state of the Black coach in women’s college basketball. Guest moderator Felicia Hall-Allen is joined by a decorated panel including CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams, Vanderbilt assistant coach and National Champion Carolyn Peck, Syracuse head coach Quentin HIllsman and more.
Forbes: Restricting Attendance In The WNBA: Short-Run Wise, Long-Run Foolish?
The WNBA –in its 21st season — attracted 7,716 fans per game last year, the highest mark for the league since 2011. But two teams may be taking action to reduce that number significantly going forward.
Listen up: That’s What She Said w/Sarah Spain: Minnesota Lynx PG Lindsay Whalen talks about her path to the WNBA Plus, after being invited to Paisley Park by Prince..why Lindsay had to leave early!
Kondalia Montgomery stepped into the New York Knicks’ and Liberty’s training facility.
The first thing to catch her eye?
“The Gatorade,” Kondalia said. “As much Gatorade as you could drink. I was like, ‘Cool.’ And there was a pool table.
On my way, head cold or no head cold, dabnabbit!
And the weather’s looking a little stormy, so who knows how much time I’ll be spending underwater. Sigh.
BUT, teams sure sent me off with a bang, though!
Turtles overturned.overturned. Purdue put on its upset hat and, in College Park, snapped Maryland’s seven-game winning streak, 75-65.
“We own you.” Alabama made good on their claim on the Lady Vols, this time in TBA. In a see-saw battle, their fourth-quarter surge sealed #11 Tennessee’s fate, 72-63.
“Orange-you-glad I didn’t say ‘Banana.'” Syracuse gets a “big win,” taking down #17 Duke, 68-65.
“Hold on, Horizon!” Cleveland State got an early lead over #19 Green Bay, and held on for the 71-60 win.
#13 Missouri escaped Auburn, 59-51.
#24 Belmont is just stomping all comers.
Belmont has a 15-game winning streak and its first national ranking in school history but understands that won’t mean much to the NCAA Tournament selection committee if it slips up at the wrong time.
That simply comes with the territory for teams in traditional one-bid conferences.
LSU continues their winning ways.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, roughly 1,200 Yale students file into Woolsey Hall for “Psychology and the Good Life,” the most popular course in University history. Among them is Allison Guth, head coach of the Yale women’s basketball team.
As suggested by the course’s record-setting enrollment figures, the science of happiness has captivated much of the Yale community. The nuances of emotional well-being have also peaked the interest of the women’s basketball third-year head coach and her coaching staff.
“I am committed to being a lifelong learner,” Guth said. “I was motivated to audit the course by one of my players who thought I would really enjoy the material.
Not a question I thought to ask: Which D1 women’s basketball program has the most NJ alums on its roster?
In news you may have missed, AU’s women’s basketball program is currently on a 13 consecutive win streak, the second-longest winning streak in the program’s history. With head coach Megan Gebbia – recently inducted into the Frederick County’s Sports Hall of Fame – at the helm, the all-women staff and team has risen to the top of Patriot League standings. We’d like to take the time to highlight these student-athletes for their tremendous work in repping the Eagles – despite a generally apathetic student community.
Players do not enjoy the liberty of full academic breaks. They maintain full-time course loads and involved community roles while also putting the University on their backs and dribbling us all the way to the top of Patriot League standings.
The No. 1 and top-seeded Hostos Community College women’s basketball team kept its magical season going Tuesday night with an 89-39 victory against fourth-seeded Queensborough Community College in the semifinals of the 2018 CUNYAC/Army ROTC Community College Women’s Basketball Championship at BMCC.
Insta-update: Only slight puddle-jumper delays. Landed safely, as did the rest of my dive crew… internets went out, but they’re BACK!
Got to dive this morning. Keeping the cold at bay with doses of medicinal rum.
It’s the annual February school break SCUBA trip, and I’m psyched to be able to get down to Belize and, weather permitting, visit their famous Blue Hole.
And yet… basketball doesn’t stop.
I told her I wanted to cancel. No why, no discussion about it. She confirmed my credit card # for the refund. I asked if I would be getting a full refund. She said yes and I would have it by next week. Of course, I won’t truly believe it until I see the credit posted to my account, but am a little surprised that they didn’t try to pull you signed a no refund agreement. Like with Trump, I think that may be because my bar is so low now that I just expect them to screw us over.
I think Coach Reeve has a good point. Again, too bad the Lib could give a flying frack.
SWITCHING GEARS AND CLEANSING MY PALATE!
Was overjoyed to get a call from a colleague – and Louisville fan – last night before their UConn game. My stomach sank for him after the first quarter of the game, but the Cardinals did well to gather themselves and fight to the end. The headlines kind of say it all.
Other games to reflect on as I work my way out of my Liberty-gone funk….
#18 Georgia was not-quite-ready for prime time in their game v. #11 Tennessee.
Speaking of “not-quite-ready“… #21 Michigan falls to MSU. Not a good way to set yourself up for the end of the regular season.
Yes, Kitija Laksa can go off, and USF has had a up-and-down-and-up-and-down season… but if you’re not worried about #13 Ohio State, you’re not paying attention.
LSU, upset queens, take down #14 Texas A&M. Something’s brewin’.
I see you, Bethune-Cookman, sitting at 11-0 in the MEAC.
It was tight in the fourth, but Dayton held off George Washington, 57-53, to go to 13-0 in the A-10.
No one is ignoring Quinnipiac, undefeated in the MAAC.
Moments after Quinnipiac’s home victory over Canisius on Friday night, Tricia Fabbri pulled off her pink high heels and took off for the second half of her son Paul Henry’s high school basketball game.
St. Joseph-Trumbull beat Fairfield Ludlowe by a point for its first win. That made mom happy. Saturday morning, Fabbri was back in her car, heading to Jersey in search of a big recruit.
Not being with the team before a road game was unusual, Fabbri said, but she’d meet her Bobcats later Saturday night in Albany. It’s all good, she said. And the fact that she was set to win her 400th career game at Siena?
RrrrrrOUGH! Drake stays undefeated in the MVC with an 84-61 win over Indiana State.
Can we get a Mississippi State v. UConn regular season game on the schedule? So exciting to see what Vic and company have created.
Of course, in the “on any given day” Big East, DePaul (20-6, 12-2) escapes Xavier (9-17, 2-13), 73-72.
Laimbeer discusses the deals he’s already made this month—for players like Carolyn Swords, Kelsey Bone and Tamera Young—plus the trio of elite guards he inherited from the San Antonio Stars, along with how he plans to deploy them: will Kelsey Plum, Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride play together? How often and when?
USA coach Dawn Staley has been thrilled that Taurasi and Sue Bird decided to keep playing for the U.S.
“They bring so much every time they step on the court and off it as well,” Staley said.
..’cause the WNBA schedule is out and Lib fans are SCREWED!!!
From Grand Central, peak train 6:10 gets you to White Plains @ 6:45.
After security/bag check, you’re into the arena by 7pm.
To get back to the city (on a weekday) you can grab a 9:09 (arriving at Grand Central by 10:01) or catch the 10:05pm train and arrive 10:44.
So, this season, you get to fight commuters going home and pay $21.50 a game.
Basically, my question is “Why even bother?” I’ve also got questions on who arm-wrestled Dolan into not totally pulling the plug on the teams…. Methinks this is worse.
OK. You can uncover your eyes now.
Sometimes your emotions betray you. You sense that a person has extraordinary qualities, but after plum bobbing and further review, you find that all the dots, which might be superficial, don’t connect.
This leads to the reality that what you often see is not what you get. But I am happy to aggressively creep out on the limb with confidence that I am secure in submitting to a rave review of the Lady Dawgs basketball program. It is not premature to sing the praises of coach Joni Taylor.
Bionca Dunham has a literal chip on her shoulder.
Kentucky freshman lost her way obsessing about three-pointers. Here’s how Cats got her back.
It was nothing that a long discussion over a salad and fried pickles couldn’t fix for McKinney, whose emergence has happened as Kentucky has won three of its last four games.
Womenshoopsworld asks: Who are the most indispensable players of them all?
Morgan William has gotten used to life as a minor celebrity. It’s her jump shot she’s worried about these days.
Listen up! LaChina Robinson chats with Bentley head coach Barbara Stevens who weighs in reaching 1,000 wins. Also, Women’s Hoops World editor Sue Favor helps us break down the week’s biggest games. Plus, Texas A&M’s Anriel Howard and Chennedy Carter join.
Listen up! No Ceilings Podcast: Milestone Moments: Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin speaks about her team’s big win at Stetson that snapped a long drought in DeLand, going 2-2 through the toughest test, avoiding a letdown late in the season, NBA trade deadline and more.
Port Wing has a population of only 364 and not a single stoplight. Gustafson’s graduating class at South Shore High included just 11 seniors.
Filling out school athletic teams required some creative combinations. Gustafson grew up playing with girls nearly three grades higher or on coed teams matched against all-boys teams.
The residents of Port Wing knew Gustafson was something special from the moment she scored her first basket.
It’s funny, in most cases, that some people don’t realize that my parents are white. Yes..I said it, white. It all started in Camden, New Jersey, with my birth sister Takiesha, and my birth brother Dawonye. My mother at the time had Takiesha at around 14 years old, and had my brother at around 15 years old, then finally me at 16 years old. My parents were young, naïve, and in my personal opinion, assumably weren’t ready to have children.
Difice came into our lives, shortly after my birth sister mysteriously had broken her arm. In actuality, my father had done it, as he pulled her from the crib aggressively by the arm. Our social worker was named Donna, and from that point on the journey to becoming adopted soon began. Right now you’re probably thinking it was great, there was happiness, and there was beauty. It’s actually the complete opposite of that. It was horrible, terrible, scary, and absolutely inhumane. Physical, mental, and emotional abuse took place for 6 years. Yes…6 whole years. It was quite terrifying and scary, because at one point I didn’t think I was going to make it through these different foster homes alive. Lucky enough, I had gone through everything with my brother, which is quite rare I shall add.
As I get deeper into this journey I ask my readers of three things. One, to keep an open mind, two, to not feel sorry or to feel bad, and three, respect it.
You should’ve seen my grandma when I told her that I wasn’t going to play in the WNBA last year.
It was like she’d just found out that her favorite television show had been canceled.
Actually, no, it wasn’t like that — that’s what it was.
The very name — National Girls and Women in Sports Day — connotes certain images, most notably of girls and women playing or coaching. It is to be celebrated, surely, this attainment of more opportunity for girls and women than ever before.
But this is the story of a woman who is very much a player without being one. This is the story of Amber Cox, a beacon for girls and women everywhere, who illustrates the concept of opportunity beyond playing and coaching.
FYI :The @WomensSportsFdn‘s new #PlayIX game, designed with student-athletes in mind, is free to play on Facebook and Kik. Just search PLAY IX or @WSFplayIX on either platform, start a conversation by sending a message and you’re in. Get playing today in celebration of #NGWSD!
A raucous, sold out arena and some timely shooting help lift #2 Mississippi State to a 67-53 win over #7 South Carolina.
Mississippi State stunned the world against Connecticut, but South Carolina left the Final Four with the national championship.
That hurdle remained, and with it that last little bit of lingering doubt.
That doubt remained after a painfully slow first quarter Monday night. It remained when South Carolina took a lead into the fourth quarter. But Victoria Vivians, the one player who, for better or worse, seems immune from doubt kept shooting. And a run allowed a wave of noise from the biggest crowd in program history to wash away the doubt.
#3 Baylor won their 19th straight, beating Oklahoma 74-65.
#15 Missouri eked out a win over Florida, 66-64.
On Jan. 4, Vanderbilt women’s basketball dropped an 81-52 loss to Georgia at Memorial Gym. The Commodores fell to 0-2 in SEC play due to an inconsistent performance vs. the Bulldogs, headlined by 28 turnovers.
That loss didn’t sit well with Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie White. Her Dores needed a jolt with a road trip to rival Tennessee on the horizon. After the Georgia game, White issued a challenge to her roster.
“Right before we went to Tennessee, we said, ‘From here on out, we want to be the most improved team in the SEC,’” White said.
This month’s clash is set up to be the one of the biggest yet between Louisville and the 11-time national champions.
A slow, yet painful, death: James Dolan, MSG decide not to sell WNBA’s Liberty and move most of their games out of the Garden this season and into an arena in suburban Westchester County.
All eyes are on Starkville as undefeated #2 Mississippi State goes up against #7 South Carolina, 7pm.
The State: USC’s Staley flying high after Eagles win Super Bowl, is another parade in her plans?
Jackson Clarion Ledger: Will this time be different for Mississippi State against defending champ South Carolina?
Mississippi State has reached unprecedented heights under Vic Schaefer, but the Bulldogs have never defeated South Carolina in his tenure, and that fact has often prevented the program from reaching its major goals.
After 11-straight outcomes featuring the same result, will this time be different?
“My players continue to battle, to fight and to handle having that target on your back,” said Vic Schaefer, who took over the Bulldogs in 2012.
Teaira McCowan’s first workout at Mississippi State was supposed to be simple.
Associate head coach Johnnie Harris wanted the 6-foot-7 recruit to work on one of the most fundamental moves a post player can make — the drop step. Harris gave a few instructions, stepped back and waited for McCowan’s first move.
The freshman responded with a blank stare.
Too small. Too slow. Too short.
Blair Schaefer has heard those words plenty of times in her career. But the 5-foot-7 guard didn’t grow into an integral piece of the No. 2 Mississippi State women’s basketball team because she listened to what other people thought about her.
Austin over Dallas-Fort Worth with style. #8 Texas held #22 TCU to 4 first-quarter points and cruised to a 92-65 win.
#20 Green Bay got a tussle from Wright State, but held on for the 75-68 win.
Boomer! Sooner! Oklahoma defeats #21 West Virginia by 19.
After North Florida stunned Florida Gulf, 75-73, the Eagles responded with a 2-point win over Jacksonville.
AmEast upset: New Hampshire over Albany, 74-68.
NEC top dogs battled… and St. Francis (PA) roared away with the 68-47 win.
STILL undefeated in the Patriot: American over Army in OT, 71-63.
Upset in the Southland, as SE Louisiana took down Central Arkansas, 78-70 in double-OT.
Upset in the Big West, as CSU Northridge sent UC Davis to their first conference loss, 75-71 in OT.
Told ya they were stubborn. #24 Stanford stuns #6 Oregon, 78-65. Will the Ducks figure out that, if you can’t score, you gotta play defense?
The #13 Wolverines stumble again, falling to Rutgers, 63-56.
A big fourth quarter by Syracuse made it interesting, but the #4 Cardinals managed to keep their distance from the Orange, 84-77.
#10 Florida State needed a big fourth quarter to secure the 66-59 win over Pittsburgh.
A big fourth helped #12 Tennessee escape Vandy, 74-64.
#5 Notre Dame just slowly, steadily pulled away from #19 Duke for an 18-point win.
Close, but no cigar. #11 Maryland holds off the Huskers, 64-57.
LSU continues its winning ways, this time over Kentucky, 72-70.
Whomp. Miami over North Carolina, 92-72.
So, the Big East being the Big East, as Creighton withstands Marquette’s furious comeback to escape with the 74-73 win.
Well, now. Elon gives James Madison their first conference loss, 50-43.
I see you, Drake, sitting at 11-0 in the MVC.
Polls! Bye, WVa & Cal. Hello NC State and Arizona State.
WNBAInsidr is talking free agency.
Thank you! Jia Perkins retires.
What was your approach in creating your program, both on and off the court?
When we first started out we didn’t have a gym; our offices were in trailers. Everything was emphasizing the vision of what FGCU could become. Early on we took the best players we could find who would be coachable. That included walk-ons to transfers to signed freshmen. We pieced a team together, and in a lot of ways it was easier than rebuilding a program because we got to pick the pieces for ourselves and fit them into the overall plan. We wanted players who were willing to share the ball, who were really good shooters. Kids that could move their feet and play man-to man-defense. We were bringing in kids who could play the way we’d like them to play.
What was your 1988 Olympics experience like?
For me it was the culmination, the hardest thing that I did in that I had always been the starting point guard. But I got hurt the year before the Olympics and was lucky to be on the team. Coach Yow was loyal to me and put me on the term after what we’d done (win the World Championship) in 1986. When I look at it, it was such a good experience to not be the best player or the starter, and get minutes when I could, having that role. And at the same time, knowing it wasn’t a one tournament experience. When you finally get an Olympic gold medal and you’re standing on the podium watching the flag go up, hearing the anthem playing, it’s one of the most special and one of the greatest accomplishments as an individual. For to be an Olympian, I feel very fortunate. I felt such gratitude. I thought of all that my family had sacrificed for me.
6:30: #12 Tennessee v. #14 Texas A&M. The Vols try and right the ship. They exploded in the fourth quarter to make sure the ship stayed afloat.
7pm: #3 Louisville v. Virginia. Both are 8-1 in the ACC. Guess we’ll see if that means anything. Meant zilch. Cardinals in a romp.
7pm: #10 Florida State (6-2) v. NC State (6-3). Down go the Seminoles!
7pm: #11 Maryland v. Rutgers. So Scarlet Knights – ya wanna be a pretender or a contender? Pretender.
7pm: South Carolina hosts UConn: USC’s historic challenge of facing No. 1, No. 2 back-to-back is no risk, huge reward Not sure what was more brutal – the final score or the awful TV commentary (really disappointing).
8pm: Michigan v. Purdue. The Wolverines try and keep their run going against the (occasionally) upset-minded Boilermakers. Purdue gets the upset in OT.
8pm: #17 Georgia v. LSU. Speaking of upset-minded…. I need to get me a lottery ticket.
8pm: Nebraska v. Illinois. The Huskers aren’t ranked (yet), but this game likely won’t garner them the voters’ attention – unless they lose. OOOf. Illinois scored ONE point in the second quarter… so, yah, Huskers win.
8pm: Western Illinois v South Dakota. If the Leathernecks want the upset, they’ll have to do it on the Coyotes’ home. It was a game Debbie Antonelli would love, but South Dakota emerged victorious, 92-81.
8:30: #2 Mississippi State v. #15 Missouri. What’s the Tigers’ post-kerfuffle mood? Pretty feisty, but not enough for the upset.
9:00: Gonzaga v. San Diego. The Bulldogs have quietly moved to 9-0 in the WCC. Make that 11-0.
#24 Stanford sure is stubborn. They take down #16 Oregon State, 60-57.
It was as if the words glanced off of Diane Richardson.
The first-year Towson University women’s basketball coach didn’t want to believe what she was hearing. She sat there frozen, helpless from the news she was just given.
“I took it really hard and for three days, I couldn’t speak,” said Richardson, last week as specks of late afternoon sunlight shined through the corners of her office window. “My husband and I were college athletes and to have our first born to be diagnosed with autism and not be able to talk or walk or do anything or eat on her own was kind of a shock to the both of us.

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