D3 WBB Daily: January 5, 2024: RIC dominates against UMD, John Carroll to the NCAC
Welcome to D3 WBB Daily, as I will take a look each morning at the biggest storylines, news, and notables in D3 women’s hoops, getting you up-to-date on what happened the day before, and what is upcoming in the day ahead. I’ve split this breakdown into three parts: “Tipping Off” will include 3-4 main storylines that have stuck out to me, “Fast Breaks” will be quick notes on impressive performances, stats, etc., and “Looking ahead” will feature a couple key games that are on my “must-watch” list in the day ahead.
Rhode Island College left no doubt in key LEC matchup against UMass-Dartmouth
There weren’t many “big-time” matchups last night, but the contest between No. 4 Rhode Island College and UMass-Dartmouth certainly fit into that category. RIC put its perfect record on the line in LEC play against a 9-1 UMD team that notably beat Smith earlier in the year. But as it turned out, RIC left no doubt as to who was the better team (at least on this particular night) in Providence. The final score was 69-31, and the Anchorwomen controlled the game from start to finish. I expected RIC to win, but by 38? Couldn’t have seen that coming.
RIC opened the game on an 18-4, and followed that by outscoring UMD 24-8 in the second half. It was reminiscent of RIC’s win over Baldwin Wallace in Florida a handful of days ago, in terms of the dominant start, and sizable halftime lead. In total, RIC allowed just one double-digit quarter from UMD, and even then, it was only an 11-point output. The Anchorwomen forced 30 turnovers and scored 24 points off those takeaways, helping jumpstart the offense, while also shooting 8-of-24 from 3-point range.
RIC is a national title contender, and continues to prove that each week. Wins over Tufts, Williams, Trinity (CT), Springfield, Gustavus Adolphus, Baldwin Wallace, and now UMD, look really solid at this point. Head coach Jenna Cosgrove did a nice job of putting together RIC’s non-conference schedule, and it has put the Anchorwomen in a strong position heading into the heart of LEC play.
Reports: John Carroll to the NCAC
A report from D3 basketball expert Bob Quillman surfaced this morning, breaking the news that John Carroll is expected to make a move from the OAC to the NCAC. While Bob noted that it is not yet a 100% done deal, it is very close to being announced. Wilmington was the last change in membership (amongst full members), and that came in 2000. From a women’s basketball standpoint, it would certainly strengthen the NCAC, as JCU is often in the mix for the OAC title and generally been a strong program as of late. The Blue Streaks have made three NCAA Tournament appearances and won two OAC regular season titles within its history, and are 8-4 overall this season. As I write this, I also see that Pat Coleman and Dave McHugh are reporting that the JCU to the NCAC move is expected to happen, per sources. The move would take effect in the fall of 2025. Read the full D3sports.com article here.
NESCAC tips off tonight!
The NESCAC is always an intriguing league, and this year will be no different. I’m interested to see who rises to the occasion within the next several weeks, and many times, it isn’t always the team(s) you expect. Amherst is certainly the frontrunner right now, and gets a good test against Williams tonight. Bowdoin is also in action against Wesleyan, Middlebury faces Hamilton, and Tufts battles Connecticut College. Upsets aren’t out of the question. The Amherst/Williams matchup is interesting considering Williams has one of the best scorers in the league with Arianna Gerig (21.2 PPG), but Amherst has such a tremendous defensive presence. The NESCAC never fails to disappoint, and I’m interested to see how tonight unfolds.
Fast Breaks
» Bob Quillman sat down for a Q-Cast interview with eight members of the #13 Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball team, and had a fantastic, insightful conversation. Definitely worth the listen. Really enjoyed hearing different perspectives on the success of this season, and being part of the IWU program as a whole. Listen here.
» Scott Peterson has a regional rankings update, and you might be surprised how several regions are shaping up. Check out those regional ranking projections at d3data.weebly.com.
Looking Ahead
Lynchburg at Mary Washington, 6 pm ET
Williams at #10 Amherst, 7 pm ET
Middlebury at Hamilton, 7 pm ET
Puget Sound at Pacific, 9 pm ET
Trinity (TX) at Colorado College, 9:30 pm ET