No. 8 Titans turn it around in 2nd half, Leave St. Louis with key 67-59 win over No. 11 WashU
Illinois Wesleyan completed a week to remember, winning at both No. 4 UW-Whitewater and No. 11 WashU just five days apart
When halftime came on Sunday afternoon in St. Louis, it seemed that WashU may have cracked the code to beating Illinois Wesleyan. At least on this particular day. A well-executed first half gameplan put the Bears in the lead, 30-24, against an IWU squad that took down No. 4 UW-Whitewater just five days before. WashU forced tough shots on the defensive end, and scored consistently in the low post, utilizing its height advantage on that area of the floor. IWU had scored at least 32 points in the first half of each of its first five games, so holding the Titans to 24 was a feather in the cap for the Bears, who were seeking to avenge last year’s 87-80 OT loss to the Titans.
But WashU soon found out, as did UW-Whitewater and DePauw in the days prior, that a deficit only pushes IWU to another level. With such an experienced group, there seems to be no panic when they fall behind on the scoreboard. Only a clear intent, and a resilience that becomes evident when you examine the Titans’ second-half responses in their marquee games throughout the first six games of this season.
UW-Whitewater goes on a 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter, taking a one-point lead? No problem. DePauw takes a four-point lead in the first two minutes of the third quarter? IWU countered immediately. WashU holds the Titans to their lowest first-half point total of the season? IWU simply made up for it in the third, putting 25 points on the board. The Titans answered the call, and finished with perhaps the best resume-building week of any team in the country this season. Doing what they did, winning two true road games against Massey Top 10 opponents plus a quality neutral court win over DePauw, shouldn’t be taken lightly. More than just the results themselves, the actual performances we saw from IWU said plenty about the talent and potential of Mia Smith’s squad.
It’s too early to start booking plane flights to Salem, but watching face Titans top-tier competition on the road, they look every bit the part of a Final Four team. The flip from the first half to the second half on Sunday is what you want to see out of a team capable of winning it all. Not every game will be flawless from start to finish. Basketball, after all, is a game of runs. But in facing a WashU team that I’ve considered to be Top 10 since the preseason, IWU made the necessary adjustments, withstood the Bears’ best efforts to retake the lead, and walked away with the kind of win that jumps off a team’s tournament resume when late February rolls around.
» IWU was led by Lauren Huber’s 24 points, as the senior posted a season-high in that category along with seven rebounds and four assists. Ava Bardic, who was also stellar in the second half, had 20 points. It’s worth noting as well, in a testament to IWU’s depth, leading scorer Kate Palmer (15.8 PPG entering the contest), had just one point, and Mallory Powers (averaging 12.8 PPG), had just seven. The Titans have proven they can win with different players stepping up, which only makes for a tougher defensive matchup for the opponent.
» Within my praise for IWU, it shouldn’t be lost that WashU put together a really solid performance. IWU out-played the Bears in the second half, but WashU’s first half was really impressive. This is a WashU team that should certainly compete with NYU for that UAA title, and in my Top 25 ballot, I actually moved them up a bit. Jessica Brooks had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, leading the Bears in another tremendous effort from her. All-American center Lexy Harris, who did not play against Rose-Hulman on Saturday, wasn’t at full strength, yet put up 11 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes.
» Another key to IWU’s win: the Titans forced 23 turnovers, which led directly to 19 points. It was a season-high for WashU, who hadn’t turned the ball over more than 14 times in a game this season.
No. 16 Smith displays strength in 74-49 win at RV Trinity (CT)
» Entering Sunday’s duel in Hartford, no team in the country had beaten a team in Massey Ratings’ Top 30 by more than 18 points (that 18-point differential belonged to UW-River Falls, who beat Concordia (MN) on Tuesday). But Smith blew that mark out of the water against Trinity (CT) in a dominant second half.
» Smith outscored the Bantams, 45-28, over the final two quarters, after leading by just four at the half. An 18-7 run to close the game pushed Smith’s lead all the way out to 25 at one point, with the Pioneers elevating their Top 25 resume in the process.
» Smith’s offensive efficiency made the final three quarters tough on the Bantams, as the Pioneers overcame a 4-of-15 shooting start to finish the game 26-of-52 from the field (50%).
» Hannah Martin put up a double-double for Smith, with 19 points and 10 boards, along with four assists and four steals. Jane Loo (17 pts) and Ally Landau (16 pts) were also consistent scorers for the Pioneers, who extended their winning streak against Trinity (CT) to eight.
St. Benedict’s solid defense pushes Bennies to 57-54 victory over UW-La Crosse
» In a tremendous defensive fourth-quarter, CSB held UWL to just nine points over the final 10 minutes, as the Eagles shot 3-of-17 down the stretch.
» But that wasn’t something that we saw only in the fourth. CSB’s guards defended the perimeter very well against a UWL squad that frequently looks to shoot it from beyond the arc. The Eagles were 2-of-22 from 3-point range, shooting a season-low .091. When you consider that UWL converted on 10 3s earlier this week at Hope, and has made at least 7 3-point shots in six of its eight games, CSB’s effort is pretty notable.
» CSB also found its way to the free throw line consistently, with at least six FT attempts in three of the four quarters. It resulted in the Bennies’ going 17-of-24 from the line, as compared to UWL, who shot better, but had fewer chances, at 12-of-16.
» The Bennies are now 3-0 against UWL, dating back to the first recorded meeting on Dec. 27, 1996. CSB won at home, 81-58.
Also of Note
Keene State found its way into the win column for the first time this season, defeating Maine Maritime on the road, 82-74. The Owls held off a late rally from Maine Maritime, as sophomore Brynn Rautiola put up a career-high 36 points. She was just three points shy of tying Keene State’s program record for points in a game (39), set in 1989.
With Washington & Lee’s 70-44 win over Marymount on Sunday, the Generals are now 5-0 for the first time in program history.
SUNY New Paltz also earned its first win after a rough start to the season. The Hawks took down Mount St. Mary, 78-52, as four starters scored in double figures.
Tufts earned a convincing home win over Rhode Island College, 62-47, highlighted by a 19-7 run to close the game. Monet Witherspoon had 19 points for Tufts.
Today’s Games to Watch (all times ET)
Nichols at Western New England, 5:30 p.m.
NJCU at Brooklyn, 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Scranton at Stevens, 7:00 p.m.