There doesn’t appear to be a listing for our broadcast on NCAAsports.com (at least for the moment)
For those who want to listen to the consolation and title game coverage
http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/d3football/d3basketball031806-4.asx
Those who want to watch the video of the consolation game can follow the same link they followed yesterday
As is the case in Salem, we’re a whirlwind of action with broadcasts, highlight editting, interviews and All-Americans swirling around.
So we’re a little quieter on the blogging end for the first game.
You never know what you’re going to get in the consolation game. A lot of years the players in that game look understandably deflated and the first half is ragged before a sense of urgency takes over. Often times these games have been extremely close with UW-Stevens Point and Rochester even going to Double OT a few years ago.
This year the teams have been energized from the beginning. Scranton built a 16-point half time lead with HSU struggling again from the field (6-27 for 22.2%).
The Cowgirls cut the lead in half, but Scranton has surged farther in front.
Scranton 42 Hardin-Simmons 29 – 10:50, 2nd
Both teams have played at a high
“Pace” should be the end of that last post. 🙂
Scranton 57 Hardin Simmons 47
Taryn Mellody leads Scranton with a game-high 21 points in just 28 minutes. Scranton maintained the lead down the stretch in spite of a late Hardin-Simmons run. Scranton wins takes third place in the tournament for the first time since 1993.
The championship game pre-game show is now on the air with Mark Simon and Gordon Mann. We’ve already been joined by the radio broadcasters from each school in a panel discussion. Mark had the pleasure to interview Alia Fischer of Washington University from the 25th Anniversary Team.
We’re about 15-20 minutes away from tip-off. The gymnasiusm is covered in one side of orange, another side of blue and yellow. Great atmosphere here. Nice to see the Hope fans made the trip all the way from Michigan.
The game is on. Southern Maine vs. Hope for the Walnut and Bronze.
First television time-out. Southern Maine and Hope are tied are two. Slight nerves on both sides of ball, but that’s expected in the national championship game. Myles for USM and Warsen for Hope have the baskets, both from high percentage in the lane.
Lots of turnovers in the early going. Marble’s had trouble establishing her presence down low. And for Hope, Bria Ebels has shown flashes, but not been able to convert.
Second television timeout, 9-8 Hope. Out of the last time out, Hope went on a 7-2 run keyed by a pair of buckets from Bria Ebels. The USM guards then turned up the intensity are forced a pair of turnovers and turned them into points. Sibley’s got four points for USM. Surprisingly, Myles and Marble are scoreless. Marble’s missed a couple shots, same for Myles.
The CSTV broadcast is being shown on the screen to our right. Pretty cool visual again. Don’t forget to tune in at half time, when we’ll give you the 2006 D3hoops.com All-America Team.
Whoops, Myles actually has two. I forgot she scored the first bucket for USM. Sibley strikes again with a three! 11-11, timeout USM.
The first half has turned into a game of runs. We’re at our third TV timeout of the half. Southern Maine had a nice spread out 8-1 run with Ashley Marble finally getting into the act on offense with an easy two down low. She’s been really muscled around down on the block by Hope. USM’s lead was 16-12, but the Dutch had an answer.
A 6-0 run by Hope brought us to the timeout. Julie Henderson has four of the six points in the run. Both teams still shaky on the shooting. Last check, both teams were at 31% field goal shooting. USM and Hope already have six turnovers each.
The under-four TV timeout. The two best teams in the country as starting to go jab-for-jab. One team has scored, the other came up the floor and answered. Myles hit a big three to be answered by a three for Hope by Sara Jurik. There’s been five ties and five lead changes and we still have about three and a half minutes left in the half.
Half-time in Springfield.
Hope 33 Southern Maine 30
All-Americans coming up on the half time show.
Switching lap tops. Southern Maine and Hope are underway in the second half. Quickie half time stats.
Myles 11pts 8rb
Frost 9pts
Sibley 7pts
Marble 2pts 1×6 FG 6rb
Jurik 7pts
B. Ebels 7pts
Henderson 6pts
USM 11×34 32% FG
Hope 14×32 44% FG
USM 3×10 30% 3PT
Hope 2×10 20% 3PT
USM 5×10 FT
Hope 3×4
– John
TV timeout. USM’s taken their first lead since 23-20 in the first half. 36-35 Huskies. Meghan Myles is carrying the load for the Maine school with the last six points and 17 for the game. Hope offensively is struggling in the half with only one basket from Bria Ebels.
Southern Maine’s finding a way to win without the offensive production from their All-American Ashley Marble.
Fans have had dueling chants in the last few minutes. There’s a “Let’s Go Hope” and “U-S-M”
41-40 Hope, 11:45 left. Ashley Marble finally getting some looks on offense. She has the last four points for USM. Hope went on a light 4-0 run keyed by Sara Jurik. Marble’s answered for the Huskies. Hope’s slow start in the half was a result of 1×7 shooting. Since then, it’s gotten better, but both teams are fighting for high percentage chances. I have a feeling, we’re going right to the wire.
TV timeout. 50-46 Hope. The Flying Dutch has led by as many as seven in the second half. USM took the lead momentarily on Myles six straight points, but has had to continue to batle from behind. Huskies guards penetrating into the Hope defense; Sibley and Frost have buckets on dribble drives for USM’s last four points.
Under the Hope basket, the Dutch have had the advantage. Linda Ebels, Lindsay Lange, and Ellen Wood have outplayed Marble down on the block. Back to the game, Hope fans on their feet.
Just over six minutes left, Ashley Marble was just called for her fourth foul. She sits down with eight points and 14 rebounds. Quick numbers, Hope 33% shooting in the second half to USM’s 53%. Hope outrebounding USM by three.
Marble back in, USM trails 55-50. Myles sits down with four fouls. Huskies can’t seem to catch a break. Hope’s responded with a basket down low each time that Southern Maine has scored. Southern Maine guards trying to create chances, but haven’t had great looks on hanging shots. USM’s foul shooting is killing them, Marble misses both, USM’s below 50% for the game.
TV timeout. 3:41 left. Hope 55 Southern Maine 50. The next big play could determine momentum the rest of the game.
Out of that last timeout, Megan Myles missed a three pointer that went out of boards. On Hope’s possession, Bria Elbels connected on a three pointer. Hope then had back to back steals result in points. Under two minutes to go, ten point Hope lead.
Game over. Hope has won its second national title. This time they had to do it all on the road.
Congrats Flying Dutch!
FINAL
Hope 69 Southern Maine 56
All-Tournament Team
MVP – Bria Ebels, Hope
Julie Henderson, Hope
Ashley Marble, Southern Maine
Megan Myles, Southern Maine
Taryn Mellody, Scranton
More to follow on the main page!