Well, wasn’t THAT an nice early Christmas present for

Debbie Antonelli (and everyone else who loves women’s basketball)? In the battle of the West Coast Bears, #18 UCLA and #21 Cal wore out the basketball’s through two overtimes. Eventually it was the Goldens over the Bruins, 108-104.

Arnecia Hawkins gave her #22 Arizona State teammates something nice: a win over #10 Florida State, 68-56.

The senior guard, coming off the bench, scored a career-high 23 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including three 3-pointers. That’s 21 more than against the Seminoles in late March, when she only played 12 minutes compared to 31 this time.

“Extra everything,” Hawkins said of the reason for what is becoming a breakout season. “Extra workouts, extra shooting that we all do every day. It feels good just be relaxed and be able to help the team.”

Swoopes, there it is! Loyola (CHI) stunned #17 DePaul, 88-75.

“Once you give a team the belief that they can win, a well-coached team will absolutely take advantage of that,” head Coach Doug Bruno said. “They might be the best 2-7 team in the country. Their record doesn’t show what kind of team they are. They’ve played a great schedule, just like we’ve played a great schedule.”

The #4 Texas Bears had their hands full with James Madison, but a strong second half propelled them to a 77-63 win (Davis with 15 assists). Baylor’s first trip out of their home state has proved to be no walk in the park: in an earlier game, Miami kept it close.

St. Joe’s kept it close with the Irish through two, and then Notre Dame said, “That’s quite enough of that, thankyouverymuch, it’s coach’s homecoming!” cruising to a 91-55 win.

#8 Mississippi State moved to 11-1, but not without a heck of a battle from SMU. 19 turnovers doomed the Mustangs, and the Bulldogs prevailed, 72-70.

Fellow American Conference member Tulane had better luck against the Billikens, winning 66-58.

Speaking of the American, #20 South Florida made Oklahoma State’s first loss of the season painful, 68-48.

In the Battle of the Blues, it looks like #8 Kentucky may have gotten better by subtraction. The Wildcats got a comfortable lead in the first quarter and held it through to the end, beating #13 Duke 71-61.

WHB jinx strikes again: UNC Asheville loses to Clemson and it was ugly.

Ditto with William & Mary – though they have an excuse: they were playing VCU (10-2).

Nojinxnojinxnojinx: Is anyone noticing Abilene Christian this season? They’re 8-2 and defeated the Vandals, 71-59.

Colorado State looks strong again in the Mountain West. Do they really only play New Mexico State and Wyoming once in the regular season?

Maine v. Purdue? Just avert your eyes.

Penguins lose!

Virginia Tech squeaked out a win over Radford to move to 11-1.

With their win over NC State, Florida is also 11-1.

K State is now 10-1.

Santa Clara is at 10-1 and the WCC fun begins: they meet the Gaels tomorrow. St. Mary’s just took down San Francisco (9-3), 78-68 and, if you recall, upset Cal. Wonder if the two teams will tell “How we played the Pac-12” stories.

Yes, Missouri is 11-0, “atop” the SEC with it’s best start ever, and has entered the Top 25 for the first time since Justin was bringing SexyBack… but here comes Tennessee…and undefeated South Carolina and its zillions fans is lurking.

#5 Texas got the best of their SEC/Big 12 Challenge, defeating Arkansas 61-50. It’s been pretty cool to watch the Longhorns start to rebuild legacy

#18 Texas A&M got conference revenge by beating #17 Oklahoma, 74-68.

Georgia State has not (traditionally) been good and Stetson has… so props to the Panthers for upsetting the Hatters in the Hatters Classic,  80-72.

“I am proud of this team’s fight,” coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “They made plays when they had to, they got some key stops when they had to and that is what winning teams do. This is probably one of our better wins recently as Stetson is really tough here at their place and a perennial 20-win program.”

Yes USC-West is still undefeated, but (as warned) they got a scare from the Great Danes.

Oregon State rolled over Cal Poly, but that is small comfort to the Beavers: All-Pac-12 point guard Sydney Wiese is out with a (potentially season-ending) wrist injury.

About OSU v. Tennessee. Again, a wicked ugly game – but this time Tennessee prevailed. So yes, the Volunteers held a 4-hour players-only meeting. Cool. But what’s next? There’s the rub. For the Beavers, they believe Tennessee game could define season

No Stewie? No biggie.

Speaking of the Huskies, they next face Maryland at the Garden. Hard to gauge Frese’s Terps – they’ve not played a ranked team yet, and the only team of “import” they encountered was d’em famous Wabbits. She says they’re ready, though.

Congrats! Outsports Female Hero of the Year: Layshia Clarendon

And yet the Education of the Bigots still continues: 5 Lesbian Basketball Players Who Could School Pepperdine

Ryan Heisenberg, coach of the Pepperdine University women’s basketball team, [allegedly] believes that lesbians on his team “would cause the team to lose games,” according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

NB: This post is from the 22nd and got stuck in the “draft box.” Someone’s head is going to roll!!!

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Is it just me, or might things be getting a little toasty in Durham?

There’s a vocal constituency that’s mighty cranky about coach McCallie’s coaching and post-game style. One can only imagine what they’ll say now that #16 Duke has lost three in a row. This time Georgia Tech was the topple-er, beating Duke for the first time since February,  1994.

For what it’s worth, if Duke can’t handle #15 North Carolina at home on March 1, they will match the four-loss streak that ended the ’93-94 season. Perhaps the Blue Devils can take some comfort in the fact that UNC barely escaped Virginia – needing a last-second putback to avoid overtime.

Speaking of upsets – HUGE win for St. Peter’s. Patty Coyle’s team took down Marist, 66-58.

Yes, I’m calling this an upset: Wake Forest got its second ACC win by defeating Miami, 60-59 on freshman Amber Campbell‘s second buzzer-beater of the season.

#19 Stanford traipsed into Corvallis and said, “No, #7 Beavers, thou shalt not take down this Tree and use it as a torch. Cardinal win, 69-58, handing Oregon State their first home loss this season. BTW, missed this tidbit: OSU’s current total of 25 wins in the most in school history.

Just when you think Gary Blair’s got his team figured out… Mizzou’s Maddie Stock nails a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to lift the Tigers to a 70-69 win over #12 Texas A&M.

Georgia showed a little more fight, but Tennessee prevailed, 70-59. The loss of Izzy seems to have made the Ledger’s Dave Link a little anxious: Lady Vols seem to be slipping off national stage

Speaking of fight: let’s talk Richmond battling back to take #22 Georgetown into OT. The Spiders ran out of steam, though, and were outscored 14-2 in the extra five. Colonials win, 81-69.

And still speaking of fight – ya, Wisconsin is 8-19, but these last few games they’ve proven to be a tough out. #17 Iowa escapes, 78-74. That’s the 300th career win for coach Bluder.

Glad Debbie wasn’t on hand to call this one:#13 Kentucky was just able to keep ahead of Arkansas, 56-51. 

I’m guessing Maryland got a bit more of a fight than expected from Indiana, but the Terps prevailed, 83-72, earning their 20th straight win as Laurin Mincy scored 28pts, a career high.

Florida State made sure North Carolina State wouldn’t repeat their upset ways. In front of the largest home crowd in four years, it was the Seminoles over the Wolfpack, by 20. Their 26 regular season wins ties the school record. One more game to break it: season finale at Miami.

Both coach Frese and Semrau are on the latest Dishin and Swishin podcast.

In the Sun Belt, Arkansas Little-Rock, Arkansas State and Troy kept rollin’.

So did #2 South Carolina.

So did #4 Notre Dame, who shot a breathtaking 62% against Pittsburgh. Mechelle has a little something on The Jewell:

In our best Marlon Brando voice, we’re going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. Settle into your seats, indulge in some popcorn … and read about the Jewell Loyd movie marathon experience. Hope you don’t mind if the line between film hero and villain is sometimes a little ambiguous.

“‘The Godfather’ is kinda our family movie,” Loyd, the Notre Dame junior guard, said of her parents, older brother and herself. “I like the concept of family, loyalty and getting the job done.”

Then Loyd laughed and added, “Obviously, we’re not going to be beating anyone up or anything.”

Loyd took part in a bit of “reel talk” recently at espnW’s request, as she’s a film, television and theater major at Notre Dame.

Jewell’s coach talks about Fighting Through February.

“February is a grind,” McGraw said before a recent home game at Purcell Pavilion. “You’re ready for the tournaments to begin, you want to see where you’re going to finish and what the seeds are going to look like, but you know you have to get through February to get to March.”

#20 Rutgers’ return to anemic offense and inability to defend doomed them against #25 Northwestern, 80-60. Kinda makes ya wonder, can ya justify C. Vivian Stringer making $1.6M in 2014?

Of note: the Knights’ loss, combined with Minnesota’s loss to Nebraska on Tuesday, means that Ohio State’s 88-70 win over Penn State moves the Buckeyes up into fourth place in the B10 standings. Seems like the Ohio State is not interested in waiting till next year to be good.

You know what’s notable about Tom Keegan’s column, End nearing for Bonnie Henrickson? The thoughtful, informed comments.

Ah, the joys of Senior Night and a reviving program: Making her first start of the season, senior Teneka Whittaker set career highs with 16 points and eight rebounds to help Rhode Island to a 68-53 win over St. Louis. With the victory, Rhode Island has clinched at least a .500 record in conference play for the first time since 2003-04.

Speaking of reviving: Hello, Hawai’i! Big West champs. First time in 21 years. Nice job, third-year coach Beeman.

Not only has #24 Cal inched its way back in to the rankings, but their 74-59 victory over Oregon gave coach Lindsay Gottlieb her 100th win at Cal. She’s the quickest to the milestone in program history.

This is nice news to read on a cold February day: Lauren Hill makes it through full season despite tumor

The Mount St. Joseph’s women’s basketball team held its postseason banquet in a hospital room warmed by Lauren Hill’s smile.

The 19-year-old freshman made it through a full season while raising more than $1.3 million for research into the type of brain tumor that will likely end her life. She’s occasionally hospitalized for treatment now, but still holding to each day as tightly as she can and urging others to appreciate their time together.

A little W news from Lois Elfman: Epiphanny Prince returning to her Brooklyn roots

“To be able to come home and try to win the championship with my home team and do it in front of my family and friends is very exciting for me,” said Prince, 27, who made her Madison Square Garden debut at age 12, playing a halftime exhibition at a Knicks game, and won four PSAL titles with the Murry Bergtraum Lady Blazers. She’s played five seasons with the Chicago Sky, which went to the WNBA Finals last year.

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27.5% v. 31.1%….

…and 27.5% shooting won. However you slice it, I’m glad I didn’t purchase a ticket for the  #11 Tennessee v. #  17 Rutgers game. To add insult to injury, the Knight’s will have to wait for the doctor’s report on Betnijah Laney’s thumb to see what’s up.

So, what does the fact that the Mercer Bears beat Alabama tell us?

Debbie Antonelli Special: Sacramento State 99, USC 101. One of these days, the Hornets are going to win one of these shootouts.

Ouch 1) Kentucky’s Goss has a broken thumb.

Ouch 2) Missouri women’s basketball team loses forward Kayla McDowell to ACL injury

So long:

Sadie Edwards Leaving UConn Women’s Team

Freshman  Kaylee Page leaves Nebraska.

Freshman Brielle Blaire will leave Virginia Tech.

Dishin & Swishin 12/11/14 Podcast: Looking at the first part of the college basketball season with Debbie Antonelli & Brenda VanLengen

From Graham:  Major finds lead way for Green Bay – Phoenix score fifth win against a team from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten or Pac-12

Separated by a little more than 100 miles, after all, the two schools form the points connecting the hypotenuse of a right triangle that has the population center of Milwaukee as its 90 degree angle. One of those points has Big Ten money. The other has the smallest athletic budget in the Horizon League.

How often did his program and the University of Wisconsin go head-to-head on recruits?

“I don’t know that we’re really in that arena for the most part,” Borseth eventually allowed. “We lose a lot of kids to bigger schools, not just Wisconsin but other schools equally, as well.”

And yet the Phoenix rarely lose to those teams on the court. Especially against the Badgers.

Upcoming game of interest:

Nice matinee matchup of undefeateds: #16 Oregon State v. #6 UNC.

Speaking of undefeated: Northwestern Zipped Past Gonzaga, 62-43

The Wildcats, at 8-0, are off to their best start since the 1995-96 season when the squad opened with nine victories.

From Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw: “Stand for something you believe in.”

From Michelle Smith: ‘I wanted to see what it meant to protest’ – All-America candidate Brittany Boyd, coach Charmin Smith join Berkeley protests

They pulled out masking tape and a black permanent marker and began to write names on the strips they pulled from the roll.

The players on the Cal women’s basketball team woke up Saturday morning in Long Beach to the news that back in Berkeley, three cardboard cutouts of African-Americans in nooses had been hanged in effigy on the Cal campus.

While campus officials worked to determine both who was behind the act and their intent, the players gathered after their shootaround. The team’s plan was to wear black shirts with the phrase “I Can’t Breathe” Sunday at home before a game against Louisville. But the Bears felt compelled to act immediately.

Forwarded by Sue, a FOB: Goshen basketball player Olivia Love copes with tragedy with help from family

Kimberly Love and her two youngest children — Kristian and Kiana — died in a 2007 fire, leaving Kimberly’s mother Rita Mickles to raise grandchildren, including Goshen basketball player Olivia Love.

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Was there anyone NOT cheering for OSU?

Even, maybe, quietly, some of the Iowa State fans who’d made the trek to Stillwater?

Down by 4 at the end of the first, the Cowgirls rode freshman Liz Donohoe’s 27pts and 7 rebounds, and team defense, to snare the 71-63 win.

POP! That was Fresno State’s fer-0 disappearing: the Bulldogs (23-5, 11-1 WAC) go down to San Jose State (11-16, 6-6). It’s been nine years since that has happened.

And the jinx continues: CS Northridge (10-5, Big West) ran into Cal Poly (11-3) and it was the Mustangs who came out on top. Big.

Senior night, and Buffalo (9-20, 4-11, MAC) surprised Ohio (13-16, 6-9), 61-56.

NOT the kind of triple-double you want to notch: Iasia Hemingway had 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 turnovers in the Syracuse/Georgetown game.

You get a sense that both Louisville and DePaul are in the punch-drunk stage of the season, they’ve had so many injuries that they’re battling through. Meeting at the YUM Center inspired senior Becky “Big Shot” Burke, and she helped lead Cardinals to a 75-62 win.

Missouri is on a roll: They get their second Big 12 win (12-15, 2-14) over Kansas State (bound for the tourney), 61-56.

Bowling Green (13-2, MAC) kept their balance against Miami (OH) (10-5), 64-55.

Novosel exploded for 32pts, and Notre Dame needed every single one of them against the feisty Bulls of South Florida.

Big East win #1 for Seton Hall.

Texas Tech implodes in the first half and TAMU enjoys every second of it.

I just like typing this: CHSO Buccaneers over the CCAR Chanticleers, 70-55.

New Hampshire went to OT to get their 9th Am. East win, 59-52.

More OT: Dayton over Duquesne, 74-69.

More OT: FIU over South Alabama, 58-55.

More OT: SIUE over Moorehead State, 72-70.

Ummm, did Texas read Mechelle’s piece? They exploded in the second half, taking down Oklahoma 87-62.

Tennessee-Martin easily dispatched Jacksonville, and the Skyhawks are now 15-1 in the OVC.

Nice win for an improving program, Sacramento State, as they defeat the Portland Vikings, 84-82.

Princeton was the favorite in the Ivy, and they’ve met the challenge every since game. With their win, their First in the Nation (into the Tourney). If the brackets hold, it’s NJ v. NJ with the Tigers set to meet the Scarlet Knights.

Whoa, Wright State. They go off for 100 points, and earn their 12 win in the Horizon.

Beth Mowins would be proud: Lafayette scared the youknowwhat out of American, but the Eagles escaped with a 58-54 win.

Post celebration let down? San Diego State (11-2) got surprised by Colorado (9-4, MWC), 68-65.

More surprises: SE Louisiana (6-8, Southland) takes down the Central Arkansas Bears (12-2), 58-53.

Hampton (13-1, MEAC) survives the Rattlers (12-2), 46-43, and Howard (14-2) kept pace by smooshing Delaware State, 67-52. The victory gives the Lady Bison the most wins in a season since 1997-98 when they went 23-7.

In the battle of the Montanas, it was the Griz over the Bobcats.

In the battle of the Oregons, it was the Beavers over the Ducks, 68-53.

Gonzaga claimed the WCC regular season crown by taking down challenger BYU with enthusiasm, and in front of a sold out crowd,  77-60.

I didn’t jinx’em, but I seemed to have inspired the Portland Pilots to put up a fight: San Diego wins, 51-46. With the win, the Toreros tie a program record with 21 overall wins, and set a program record with 12 WCC wins.

Okay, I’m keeping an eye on perennial doormat, St. Francis (NY) (3-14 NEC) because they just defeated Farleigh Dickinson (8-9), 62-47.

Win #700 for Tara featured the Ogwumike’s teaming up for 31 and 19rebs. Orrange had 12 on 5-8 shooting.

The Southern championship is going to be fun: Chattanooga (15-4) took down Davidson (16-3), 55-48.

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February is a danger zone for many teams

They’re banged up, they’re tired, they’re “in the groove” in a way that could easily become “going through the motions until the conference tournament injects some excitement” way.

Which may explain why Providence was within 10 of Notre Dame at the half, why Louisville went to OT and why Missouri almost got its first Big 12 win of the season.

As March Madness nears, all sorts of different tests loom:

From the Baylor Lariat: Daunting Stillwater showdown awaits Lady Bears

From the Kansan: Women’s basketball must step up to replace injured Davis

From the Daily Lobo: Recovered bench ups morale

From the State Press: ASU women’s basketball nursing injuries

From the Grand Forks Herald: Roebuck gets win in his final regular-season home game

From the Statesman Journal: Beavers are exceeding expectations with Rueck

From the Yale Daily News: Gobrecht coaches to 500th win

From the Miami Herald: Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball team is doing big things by going small

From the Salina Journal: BiCenter court to carry name of former coach Budke

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If you’re 50% upset, does that make you

a glass half full or glass half empty kinda person?

I guess tonight it depends on which side of the glass you ended up on.

Texas got its most significant win of the season (so far) by going in to College Station (perhaps for the last time?) and upsetting #10 TA&M, 76-71.

It was touch-and-go there for a while at the YUM! Center, but #15 Louisville survived South Florida, 63-57.

#10 Texas Tech earned their first loss of the season at the Hand(s) of Oklahoma, 71-68.

The phrase “a tale of two halves” is  clichéd for a reason: it’s often true. Oklahoma State was within two of #1 Baylor at the end of the first half. And the end of the second half, they were within 25.

St. John’s squished the Orange.

Erfh: It’s going to be a long road back for Maine. They lose to the Terriers, 75-34.

The Bonnies dealt Temple their first A-10 loss, 74-65.

Don’t look now, but the Great Danes are 4-0 in the American East.

Still pretty glum in the land of the Musketeers: the lose to the Dukes, 68-49, and fall to 3-12.

Were Beth and Debbie at this game? Akron over Buffalo, 91-82.

A little wake up and smell the coffee at Missouri? With their 72-46 loss to K-State, they drop to 0-3 in the Big 12.

It took two overtimes, but Kansas got the win over Iowa State.

Ouch, the Monarchs let one get away: they had a nice lead over VCU, but lost in OT, 76-72.

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Don’t lose these teams in the shuffle

Penn was a respectable team under Kelly Greenberg (who’s moved over to BU and is doing good things this season), but the Quakers fell off the map after she left. They’re making their mark again under former Holy Family coach Mike McLaughlin. Latest accomplishment? OT win over Drexel.

Richmond is making some noise: they’re now at 10-2, as a second half surge earned them a 69-56 win over Hartford.

The Wolverines are now 11-2, the program’s best start.

The Bonnies are now 11-1.

The Green Wave is 9-2.

In a battle of M-Tigers, Missouri’s win over Memphis brings the team up to 9-1.

With their win over the Red Foxes, the Pride sits at 9-2. Next up, the Tigers (Princeton, that is).

Oklahoma State is 7-0 — I’m glad they’ve played their first six at home. From Mechelle’s chat:

Sometimes the demands of the season are a good way for people to deal with their grief. I remember Baylor’s Morghan Medlock, whose mother was murdered during the season a few years ago, said people kept asking her how she could play despite going through that. And she said that playing was what *got* her through it; the thing she dreaded was when the season was over. Jim Littell has been named head coach at Oklahoma State now – the interim is off his title – and he’s been very much a stabilizing factor for the Cowgirls. I think that for some of them, though, they may find that there is still a grieving period to go through – when they won’t have the season to occupy their minds.

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Stuff that caught my attention…

We mentioned Missouri’s 7-1 record. The Missourian writes: Pregame routines keep Missouri women’s basketball team focused

Graham takes note of another Missouri team: Living up to legendary comparisons – Compare her to Jackie Stiles, but don’t underestimate Casey Garrison’s all-around game

There is plenty to be said, much of it pertaining to everything but scoring records. As Garrison points out, her game is completely different than that of the program’s most famous alum. Listed at 6 feet, Garrison leads the Bears in rebounds and assists this season in addition to points. She will likely leave the school second in points, but she could depart second in assists and in or near the top five in rebounds, steals and blocks.

About that team that took down Oklahoma: Ki-Ki Moore makes immediate impact for Fresno State women’s basketball team

The questions about Ki-Ki Moore never stopped last season while she worked out with the Fresno State women’s basketball team after transferring from Washington State.

It she the real deal? Will she make an immediate impact? Can she join the long line of great Bulldogs guards Chantella Perera, Mirenda Swearengin, Tierre Wilson and Jaleesa Ross?

Out of Wisconsin: Slow start to Bobby Kelsey era

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team (4-7 overall) is in the midst of a 12-day break, and based on its last few performances, it appears the time off comes at the perfect time for the Badgers.

Out of Boston: Chantell Alford, Terriers take down Eagles

Podcasting: Dishin & Swishin December 15, 2011 Podcast: Nneka & Chiney Ogwumike & Ros Gold-Onwude…on hoops, the Pink Room, and their Nigerian heritage

YouTubing: The Pink Room, Season 1, Episode 2: Breaking down UConn’s defense, ranked teams countdown No. 10 to No. 6 and more

From Lady Swish: Holiday Shopping Guide: Take me out to the movies

From Hoops Across America, more Graham: Northern State’s the only game in town

Aberdeen’s Northern State University led Division II in women’s basketball attendance during the 2010-11 season, just as it did each of the three seasons before that as part of a run of seven consecutive seasons in the top 10. The Wolves averaged 2,399 fans per game a season ago, making them one of only two Division II teams to top 2,000; it’s a mark that also would have been good enough to rank them ahead of more than 250 Division I programs, including the likes of California, Florida and Georgetown.

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So what have we learned?

Several teams enjoyed their daily dose of cupcakes: UConn,  Louisville, Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers and Baylor.

Yes, Oklahoma has lost three-in-a-row, but don’t let that overshadow the fact that, after the debacle that was Klein-Johnson, coach Wiggins has done some really nice stuff with the Fresno State program.

Notre Dame stomped all over in-state rival Purdue, which means TAMU is…?

Could be a long year for Marist.

Ditto for Michigan State, but I’m guessing Gail could care less.

I’m not outrageously impressed with Michigan’s scheduling, but they are 9-1.

Have the Lobos and the Pit permanently lost their bite?

Keeping an eye on 7-1 Missouri.

We’re also noticing that Northwestern is 7-1.

Whoa, Navy beat Princeton!

And the Penguins won again!

Hooper had 32 in Nebraska’s double overtime win over Northern Arizona. That just seems right.

Yes, I remember a time when people enjoyed having BC in the Big East because they were tough and competitive. It’s been a while.

Speaking of the ACC, tough for Duke to have a nice lead away at Kentucky, and then go cold. How much of a challenge can the Wildcats give Tennessee and Georgia this year?

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Tennessee and Company may be Paradise Jammin’

but you can catch them streaming online.

November 23-28, 2010

Island Division
Iowa State, TCU, Virginia, West Virginia

Reef Division
Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Tennessee

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