ORUTerry Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Mid-Continent Women's Team Breakdown By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer 3/3/2007 Story Link Oakland Golden Grizzlies Site: Rochester, Mich. Enrollment: 16,902 Coach: Beckie Francis Record: 17-11, 12-2 Mid-Con First-round opponent: Centenary (Grizzlies are 2-0 against Ladies this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 2-0 vs. UMKC, 2-0 vs. So. Utah, 2-0 vs. Valparaiso, 2-0 vs. Western Illinois, 1-1 vs. IUPUI, 1-1 vs. Oral Roberts. NCAA appearances: 2 (Lost opening round game in 2006). Season highlight: 12-game win streak in league play. Season lowlight: 54-42 loss to former Mid-Con opponent Chicago State. Top players: Forward Nicole Piggott (14.3, 5.5), guard Jessica Pike (13.4, 3.. Tournament outlook: Grizzlies playing extremely well down the stretch. VALPARAISO CRUSADERS Site: Valparaiso, Ind. Enrollment: 4,000 Coach: Keith Freeman Record: 19-10, 11-3 Mid-Con First-round opponent: Southern Utah (1-1 vs. Thunderbirds this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 2-0 vs. Centenary, 2-0 vs. IUPUI, 2-0 vs. UMKC, 2-0 vs. Oral Roberts, 2-0 vs.Western Illinois, 0-2 vs. Oakland. NCAA appearances: 2 (Lost opening round game in 2004). Season highlight: Closed out season on five-game win streak. Season lowlight: Suffered five consecutive losses in nonconference play. Top players: Center Tamra Braun (9.6, 46 blocks), forward Betsy Rietema (13.3, 6.8 reb), guard Carrie Myers (8.7, 1.9). Tournament outlook: Crusaders are always dangerous in the three-day Mid-Con setting. ORU GOLDEN EAGLES Site: Tulsa Enrollment: 5,152 Coach: Jerry Finkbeiner Record: 19-10, 8-6 Mid-Con First-round opponent: vs. UMKC (2-0 vs. Kangaroos). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 2-0 vs. Centenary, 1-1 vs. IUPUI, 1-1 vs. Oakland, 1-1 vs. So. Utah, 1-1 vs. Western Illinois, 0-2 vs. Valparaiso. NCAA appearances: 3 (Lost opening round game in 2005). Season highlight: Put together five-game win streak late in season. Season lowlight: Back-to-back home losses to open conference play. Top players: Forward Elisha Turek (17.7, 10.3), center Jenny Hardin (15.5, 5.2), guard Mariana Camargo (6.9, 4.2 assists), guard Katie Langford (6.1, 1.7). Tournament outlook: With the league's top two scorers and a late surge, Golden Eagles should make a run at the championship. IUPUI JAGUARS Site: Indianapolis, Ind. Enrollment: 28,139 Coach: Shann Hart Record: 13-15, 7-7 Mid-Con First-round opponent: Western Illinois (1-1 vs. Westerwinds this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 2-0 vs. Centenary, 2-0 vs. Southern Utah, 1-1 vs. Oakland, 1-1 vs. Oral Roberts, 0-2 vs. UMKC, 0-2 vs. Valparaiso. NCAA appearances: 0. Season highlight: Won six of their last nine games. Season lowlight: Four-game losing streak prior to the start of league play. Top players: Forward Jernisha Cann (13.6, 9.9), forward Tanika Mays (10.9, 5.9), guard Alicia Booyer (10.2, 4.6). Tournament outlook: Inside game is solid with Cann and Mays and could propel Jaguars into semifinals. W. ILLINOIS WESTERWINDS Site: Macomb, Ill. Enrollment: 13,558 Coach: Leslie Crane Record: 10-18, 6-8 Mid-Con First-round opponent: IUPUI (1-1 vs. Jaguars this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 2-0 vs. Centenary, 1-1 vs. UMKC, 1-1 vs. Oral Roberts, 0-2 vs. Oakland, 1-1 vs. So. Utah, 0-2 vs. Valparaiso. NCAA appearances: 1 (Lost opening round game in 1995). Season highlight: Two-game win streak to start conference play. Season lowlight: Lost 4 of last 5 games coming into tournament. Top players: Forward Stephanie Lovingood (8.6, 7.2), guard Amanda Walker (9.3, 3.7). Tournament outlook: Westerwinds have been a streaky team all season, must play well to stay in tournament. UMKC KANGAROOS Site: Kansas City, Mo. Enrollment: 14,256 Coach: Candace White Record: 10-19, 6-8 Mid-Con First-round opponent: Oral Roberts (0-2 vs. Golden Eagles this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 2-0 vs. Centenary, 2-0 vs. IUPUI, 1-1 vs. So. Utah, 1-1 vs. Western Illinois, 0-2 vs. Oakland, 0-2 vs. Valparaiso. NCAA appearances: 0. Season highlight: 64-61 overtime win over Western Illinois on the road. Season lowlight: Lost 7 of first 8 games. Top players: Center Alyssa Klein (12.1, 73 blocks), forward Stephanie Brown (9.4, 6.9), guard Chazny Morris (8.5, 3.7). Tournament outlook: Look for another close contest between Kangaroos and Golden Eagles. S. UTAH THUNDERBIRDS Site: Cedar City, Utah Enrollment: 6,672 Coach: Steve Hodson Record: 9-19, 5-9 Mid-Con First-round opponent: Valparaiso (1-1 vs. Crusaders this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 1-1 vs. Centenary, 1-1 vs. UMKC, 1-1 vs. Oral Roberts, 1-1 vs. Western Illinois, 0-2 vs. IUPUI, 0-2 vs. Oakland. NCAA appearances: 0. Season highlight: Four-game win streak in league play. Season lowlight: Enter tournament on six-game losing streak. Top players: Forward Anne Westwood (9.7, 6.6), forward Julie Stradling (8.0, 5.4). Tournament outlook: Must overcome late season collapse to have any chance. CENTENARY LADIES Site: Shreveport, La. Enrollment: 1,014 Coach: Steve Curtis Record: 5-24, 1-13 Mid-Con First-round opponent: vs. Oakland. (0-2 vs. Grizzlies this season). Record vs. rest of Mid-Con: 1-1 vs. Southern Utah, 0-2 vs. IUPUI, 0-2 vs. UMKC, 0-2 vs. Oral Roberts, 0-2 vs. Valparaiso, 0-2 vs. Western Illinois. NCAA appearances: 0. Season highlight: Lone conference win was 72-67 over Southern Utah. Season lowlight: Started conference play 0-10. Top players: Guard Holli Wilkins (11.3, 2.2 steals), guard Cierra Bush (10.9, 6.1), forward Jelena Aleksic (10.2, 3.5). Tournament outlook: With just one conference win, it doesn't look favorable for Ladies. 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