Mansfield no match for Van Wagner, Golden Bears

Kutztown Golden Bears 63
Mansfield Mountaineers 49

Recap: The Golden Bears erased a three game losing streak by taking care of business in Mansfield on Wednesday evening. KU allowed the Mounties to keep the game close early on, leading by only two at the half, but the ladies pulled away early in the second frame fueled by a 9-0 run. Four Golden Bears scored in double figures with Melissa McQuade leading the way with 13. Lara Dellegrotti and Katie Dovey (pictured) added 12, while Mercedes Van Wagner scored 11.

Telling Stat: The Golden Bears were on fire, outshooting the Mounties by 20 percent on the evening. KU shot 47 percent from the floor, while Mansfield hit just 27 percent of their shots. That margin was the clear difference in the game. Also of note was a 2-of-9 shooting day from MU’s leading scorer, Alicia Espigh. The PSAC leader in three pointers made was held without an attempt from beyond the arc and scored just 8 points, four of which came from the free throw line.

Key moment: As mentioned, this game was tight throughout the first 22 minutes, but KU was able to pull ahead early in the second half. Up two points with 17:55 to play, KU recorded a 9-0 run which was fueled by a Dellegrotti three pointer, back to back buckets by McQuade and Dovey, and a three point play by Van Wagner.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: For the second time in as many tries this season, Van Wagner notched a double-double against the Mountaineers. Last evening, the senior scored 11 points and hauled in a game-high 14 boards. She was 4-of-6 from the floor, 3-of-3 from the charity stripe, and had 4 blocks. As mentioned in my preview for this game, Van Wagner should be relied on if KU hopes to climb back into the playoff race. She certainly did the job last night against the Mounties.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: I hate to give out this award following a win, but there is always someone who had a rough day. Last evening it was freshman Meredith Starr, who has struggled during divisional play. Starr was 0-of-3 from the floor, recording 0 points, 1 assist, and 1 turnover in 14 minutes of work. The freshman has now failed to hit a field goal in three straight games, shooting 0-of-12 from the floor for a total of 3 points. In that time, coach Malouf has allowed her a mind-blowing average playing time of 25 minutes per game.

Impact: The game was a must win for KU and they certainly came through. The Golden Bears are now 3-5 in the PSAC East, which is still not quite enough to put them in one of the top 4 playoff spots. They have Bloomsburg next before taking on Millersville, Cheyney, and East Stroudsburg. Bloomsburg should be an easy win, while Millersville won’t be an easy task. Fortunately for KU, they get to play CU and ESU, the two teams just ahead of them for the final playoff spot, in the season’s final two games. Wins in both, and possibly one, of those games would send them to the postseason.

Both hoops teams sweep Mansfield

The women's basketball team won tonight's game over Mansfield 63-49, which improves them to 3-5 in the PSAC East.

The men's team followed by beating the Mounties by a score of 94-91. The victory improves the Golden Bears to 7-1 in the PSAC East, which I believe clinches them a spot in the PSAC playoffs this March. More on that later.

Full recaps will be available here tomorrow.

Golden Bears Eye Playoff Berth

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield Mounties
When: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: Decker Gymnasium on the campus of Mansfield University

As the PSAC East schedule draws to a close, the KU men's basketball team is in prime position to clinch a playoff berth, as well as hosting a first round game. If the Golden Bears do happen to finish first in the east, and win their quarterfinal matchup, the team would host the PSAC Playoffs. However, there is plenty of basketball left to be played as KU has five PSAC East games left, including tomorrow night's matchup against Mansfield. KU is coming off of a 78-73 win over West Chester last Saturday which again saw the Golden Bears down by double-digits at the half only to respond with another sizzling second half. Stephen Dennis led KU with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Dave Ben chipped in with 16 points. Andre Woodlin had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Washington also had one with 10 points and 10 boards. Nate Edwards added 15 points off the bench. The win kept KU in a tie for first with Cheyney at 6-1 in the PSAC East.

Mansfield is 15-7 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC East. Mansfield was 11-3 in non-conference play and has not fared well against conference foes. The Mounties currently occupy the fourth and final playoff spot in the east and are a half game ahead of East Stroudsburg. MU is coming off of a 95-92 loss in overtime against Millersville. Ryan Callahan had 30 points off the bench and Chris Greene added 24 but it wasn't enough. Greene's three-pointer with one second remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime, but his attempt to tie the game at the buzzer in OT was no good. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Mounties. MU is led by Kevin Hill who averages 13 points per game. John Hampton averages 12 points per game. Brandon Lawley averages 9.3 points per game and grabs seven rebounds per game.

The last time these two teams met was at Keystone Arena on January 16. KU won that matchup 88-75 after trailing 7-0 for the first five minutes of the game. The Golden Bears pulled away late in the first half with a 14-3 run to take a 40-27 lead into the locker room, and then staved off a couple of MU runs in the second half. Dennis led four players in double figures with 27 points. Woodlin and Ben poured in 18 a piece, while Washington added 13. Jeremy Coombs grabbed a team high 11 rebounds. MU's leading scorer Hill was held to just three points on 1-of13 shooting, including a 0-for10 night from beyond the arc. MU was led by Dhimitri Luarasi's 24 points. Greene added 18 while Hampton pitched in with 11. Lawley grabbed 11 boards for MU.

Probable Starters:

Kutztown
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Mansfield
G- #14 John Hampton
G- #15 Chris Greene
G/F- #23 Kevin Hill
F- #32 Brandon Lawley
F- #00 Yuseff Carr

Prediction:
Three of MU's four conference home games thus far have gone into overtime. The only game that didn't go into OT was an 82-77 loss to Cheyney. KU has not played well in the first half in the past couple of games, something they cannot afford four hours from home. The Golden Bears proved that they have more talent than MU, but KU needs to make sure that they come out with the same amount of energy as MU's speedy guards, Hampton and Greene. This one will be closer than the last meeting, but we all know what can happen when the Golden Bears play two dominant halves of basketball.

Kutztown 90
Mansfield 84

Probable Softball Starters

I'm still working on my in depth preview for this season's softball and baseball teams. However, I currently have a pretty good idea of who you can expect to see alot of on the softball diamond this year. Here is a sneak peek:

Probable Starting Lineup:
1. Kim Morrison – 2B
2. Maria Schiavo – LF
3. Steph Denlinger – 1B
4. Krista Cameron – 3B
5. Ashley Fitzgerald – CA/DH
6. Krista Tedjeske – SS
7. Caitlin Hague – CA or Tami Wambold – DH
8. Sam Flowers – RF
9. Kathy Gregg – CF

Probable Pitching Staff:
Ace: Kaitlin Arbogast
Top Reserves: Monica Glomb/Mary Hoch

Profile: Mercedes Van Wagner

Vitals:
Player: Mercedes Van Wagner
Height: 6’1”
Number: 53
Class: Senior
Hometown: Mullica Hill, N.J.
High School: Clearview Regional
Major: Elementary Education
Position: Center
Depth Chart: Starter

Stats: Mercedes “Benz” Van Wagner is KU’s all-time leader in blocks. She had 136 coming into her senior season and eclipsed Becky Savage’s previous mark of 164 on Jan. 19. Van Wagner also joined the 1,000 point club earlier this season, making her just the 11^th KU women’s basketball player to reach that mark. Benz was the 2004-05 PSAC Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-PSAC second team following the 2006-07 season. Last season, she recorded a career high 11.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. Van Wagner has shot over 50 percent in each of her seasons at KU. This season, she is third on the team in scoring (8.4 PPG), second in rebounding (6.4 RPG), and first in blocks (48).

Breakdown: Van Wagner has been an impact player ever since her arrival at KU four years ago. She has been a fixture in the Golden Bears’ starting lineup, notching a start in all but 6 of the games she has appeared in. Benz has been a constant presence in the lane, forcing opponents to base their game plan around her. She generally has either a very good or a very bad day, usually depending on how the defense handles her. If Van Wagner makes a few buckets in a row, it could be a long day for the opposing frontcourt.

Strengths: As mentioned, Van Wagner is hard to stop when she is on a roll. She is 6’1” and very few players in PSAC can match up with her. If she gets the ball on the block, there is a good chance she will finish. Teams will tend to double her when she gets the ball inside, which certainly limits her offensive ability. Van Wagner is even more of an asset defensively. The PSAC’s premiere distributor of blocks over the last few seasons, Benz is also a monster on the glass, averaging near a double-double on most occasions. Opposing centers generally have a hard time scoring on her in the lane.

Weaknesses: Van Wagner often gets rattled once defenders shut her down a few times early in games. Her impact on a game generally will rely heavily on those first few opportunities. If she scores a few times, she will be fired up and have a big game. If she gets the ball blocked away or misses a few close range shots, it could be a long day. Although she generally has the size advantage, she sometimes tries to do too much in the lane and ends up shooting poorly from the field. Van Wagner does not move around too well so, like most centers, she struggles when she gets the ball and isn’t within a few feet of the net. Benz doesn’t have great hands and defenders can often knock the ball out of her grasp following a rebound or once she receives a pass not directly to her.

Impact: Van Wagner could be utilized better on the offensive end, but there is no doubt that she is a superior defensive asset. With more opportunities offensively, she would likely be much more of an impact player. As mentioned, her major flaw is becoming rattled early and allowing that to cost her throughout games. The reason she excels when she starts off well is because her confidence is sky high and she gets aggressive, using her body to pound the ball inside and score possession after possession. If KU hopes to recover and make the PSAC playoffs this season, much of it will hinge on Van Wagner. She is coming off a big game against West Chester and if she can carry that momentum and confidence into the remainder of the team’s games, there is no reason to believe she can’t score 20 in each outing.

Ladies look to 'Mountie' a comeback

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield University
When: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 5:30 p.m.
Where: Decker Gymnasium on the campus of Mansfield University

The KU women’s basketball team will head to Mansfield this Wednesday for a game that certainly has playoff implications for both squads. The Mounties sit at 1-6 and are bringing up the rear in the PSAC East, while the Golden Bears are just one game ahead of them at 2-5. A KU loss would all but extinguish their playoff hopes, as they would need a lot of help from the divisions other teams if they hoped to sneak back in. Kutztown is 9-13 overall this season.

The Golden Bears are coming off Saturday’s 67-65 home loss against West Chester. It was their third straight loss and fifth of their last six games. KU led in the late stages of each of their last three games, but mistakes down the stretch allowed their opponents to take charge and steal the wins. The Golden Bears divisional wins have been over Mansfield and Bloomsburg, while losses were to West Chester (twice), Cheyney, Millersville, and East Stroudsburg.

The Mountaineers head into Wednesday’s affair coming off a game in which they were manhandled by division-leading Millersville by a score of 62-39. Mansfield is 6-16 overall this season and has lost 8 of its last 9 games.

These teams last met on Jan. 16 at Keystone Hall. The Golden Bears came away with the 59-51 win, but the Mounties led for much of the day. KU trailed by 8 at the half, but quickly erased that deficit in the second half thanks in part to an 18 point, 13 rebound day from Mercedes Van Wagner. The Golden Bears turned the ball over just 9 times in that game, but a 33 percent shooting day allowed the Mounties to keep it close.

Probable Starters:
Mansfield:
C- #35 – Merissa Gaeta
F- #24 – Emily Akins
F- #25 – Alicia Espigh
G- #34 – Clarissa Correll
G- #10 – Jeanette Meacham

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

Much like KU, Mansfield does not showcase one or two superstars and often has a different leading scorer from game to game. With that being said, the focal point of the Golden Bears game plan will be focusing in on Alicia Espigh and Clarissa Correll, both double digit scorers. Correll is a machine in the steals and assists category, while Espigh averages just under 14 points a game and is a 48 percent shooter. Jeanette Meacham (9.5 PPG) and Courtney Brooks (8.9 PPG) should not be overlooked. Brooks returned to action on Saturday against Millersville after missing 9 straight games.

The Golden Bears have had there problems shooting the ball this season, but looked much better against West Chester. If KU shoots how they did against the Golden Rams, they should roll over the Mounties. If they struggle with the shooting game, it will be a crapshoot similar to the first meeting. The Golden Bears must focus on continuing to move the ball around on offense in order to find ways to get the ball inside to top scorers McQuade and Van Wagner. Van Wagner is ten times the player when she gets the ball on the block rather than when she is forced to make a play from the top of the key. McQuade can shoot from anywhere, but coach Malouf must find more ways to take advantage of her exceptional ability to maneuver in the lane, especially in the second half.

Prediction: The Golden Bears will win this game. They took care of business against the Mounties at home earlier this season and they know they are the superior team in this case. KU should have won their last three games and late game implosions were the only thing that is keeping them from a 5-2 record as opposed to 2-5. There is no reason to believe this team cannot recover and make the PSAC playoffs. It will start Wednesday with a pounding of the struggling Lady Mounties.

Kutztown 450
Mansfield 12

Haha! You thought I was serious. As nice as that would be, here is the real prediction:

Kutztown 71
Mansfield 54

Amusing photos for the entire family

I would never want to be accused of being too serious on here. So, here are some amusing photos from women's action earlier this year. I'm sure certain players who will go nameless* will not be pleased by this post, but hey, that's what you get for making silly faces. At least that's my stance. Yes, that's what I'm going with. Enjoy.

*May or not be Claire Sitarz & Rachel Weidensaul





"Rachel! How many times do I need to explain to you that you can save a bunch of money on your car insurance by switching to Geico!"












"Are you kidding me, Malouf?! I'm trying to play basketball and you're going to come at me with lies. Progressive is clearly cheaper and covers a broader range of insurance needs for the average American."













"Lady? What are you doing?!! OMG!! Zombie Attack!!!!"









"Referee Joe lines up at linebacker for the Refs, while quarterback Janet Malouf gets set to take the snap."












"If this picture ends up on the internet, I will kill Mike."