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RIPON, Wis. – The league’s top four teams fight for a spot in the NCAA Tournament starting on Friday afternoon at the 2014 Midwest Conference (MWC) Women’s Basketball Tournament. St. Norbert serves as host to the tournament after a 15-2 mark in conference play and aims to win the MWC Tournament for the seventh time.
The tournament kicks off on Friday when #3 seed Monmouth takes on #2 seed Cornell at 3:30 p.m. The second semifinal game matches #4 seed Carroll against St. Norbert at 8:00 p.m. The two semifinal winners will play for the MWC automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
St. Norbert claimed hosting duties for the 2014 MWC Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years and aims to win the tournament for the first time since 2011. The Green Knights rely on a strong defense as they lead the league in scoring defense (50.8 ppg), holding opponents to 50 or few points 12 times. St. Norbert is also riding a seven game winning streak heading into the tournament and has won 10 of its last 11 games. Heidi Van Sistine averaged 11.1 points per game and led the league shooting 75% from the field while also leading the Green Knights in rebounding with 5.7 rebounds per game. Brianna Byrne averaged 10.7 points per game while Morgan Heim averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Lana Tomashek finished sixth in the league dishing out 3.5 assists per game and led the MWC with a 1.7 assists/turnover ratio.
Cornell won both the MWC Championship and MWC Tournament in its first year back in the conference last season and aim to do the same in 2014 after winning a league-best 20 games. The Rams were near the top of the charts in most statistical categories including leading the league in field goal defense (34%) and rebounding margin (+10.0). The Rams finished second in scoring defense (57.3 ppg), scoring offense (75.8 ppg), blocked shots (4.2 bpg), and assists (16.6 apg). Taylor Dicus averaged a double-double during the regular season with 15.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game with seven double-doubles on the season. Rikki Mulloy was second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) while shooting 40% from behind the arc (50-125). Kellie Kuzmanic led the team with 73 assists and also added 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The Rams enter the tournament winning their last 12 games and winning 14 of their last 15.
Monmouth is back in the MWC Tournament for the fourth straight season and last won a title in 2012 as the number two seed. Monmouth finished the year with 18 wins and averaged 74.4 points per game and allowed only 63.5 points per contest. The Fighting Scots led the league in both blocked shots (4.5 bpg) and steals (12.9 spg) while finishing second in field goal percentage (44%). Marla Willard led the team this year averaging a double-double with 16.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, shooting 54% from the field. Kaley Corban was second on the team averaging 12.1 points per gameand shot 54% from the field. Jacquice Cooper averaging 6.6 rebounds per game and averaging double-figure points (10.5 ppg). The Fighting Scots have six different players with double-digit blocks led by Willard with 31, followed by Paige Nord with 17.
Carroll is in search of its first MWC Tournament championship since 2006 as they take part in the postseason for the fourth straight season. Carroll is third in the league in field goal percentage (44%) and was second in the MWC in turnover margin (+6.0). The Pioneers have won nine of their last 12 games entering the tournament and finished the year with 15-8 record. Emily DeNoyer leads the team in scoring (14.8 ppg) while also contributing 3.7 rebounds per game and 27 steals. Breann Maryanski averaged 11.5 points per game while finishing fourth in the league in field goal percentage (57%) and fourth in rebounding (7.7 rbg). Corrine Engels is one of four Pioneers to average double-figure points (10.5 ppg) and finished second in the MWC in assists (4.8 apg).