Mid-Continent Women's Team Breakdown - Tulsa World (3-3-2007)

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Mid-Continent Women's Team Breakdown

By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer

3/3/2007

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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.