BEREA, OHIO —Junior guard Steffani Jaworski scored a team-high 15 points as the Baldwin-Wallace College women’s basketball team defeated Williams (Mas.) College, 68-61, tonight (March 10) in the East Sectional semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Division III National Tournament in the John Long Center at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
With its win, B-W advances to the Sectional Championship Game and the "Elite Eight" and will play the winner of the host Scranton versus the University of Rochester game tomorrow night (Saturday, March 11) at 7:00 p.m. The East Sectional champion advances to the Division III Final Four in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 17-18.
With its win, the B-W improves to 27-4 overall while Williams ends its season at 23-6 overall. The Yellow Jackets also have won three straight, even their all-time NCAA Tournament record at 9-9 and are advancing to their third "Elite Eight" in school history. The other two were in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001.
In the first half, Williams took an early 2-0 lead before B-W outscored the Ephs 16-6 to take a commanding 16-8 lead with 9:25 remaining when sophomore forward Carly Flowers scored on a layup. Williams then got as close as 20-16 with 6:38 left before B-W went on a 14-2 run to lead by as many as 16 points at 34-18 with 1:35 left when Jaworski made a pair of foul shots. B-W also led at halftime, 36-20. In the first 20 minutes, 21 of B-W's 36 points came from its "bench bunch", led by Jaworski's 11 markers.
In the second half, Williams made an early run to close to within eight points at 37-29 with 14:55 when Mika Peterman canned a jumper. Undaunted B-W went on a 16-6 run to build its largest lead of the game at 18 points at 53-35 with 8:23 left when Flowers made a jumper.
Williams, using 12 Colleen Hession second half points, then made a run at B-W, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 26-13 to close to within five points at 66-61 with 18 seconds remaining.
"We run a system of whoever is playing well is going to play more," said Head Coach Cheri Harrer of Jaworski. "Steph stepped up and played well."
A key to B-W's victory was its first half play when it forced the Ephs into 18 turnovers and 27 total for the game.
"I think our problems on offense [turnovers] carried over to our defense," said Williams Head Coach Patricia Manning. "They are a very good team and have a lot of weapons."
In addition to Jaworski for B-W, junior forward Michelle White scored 14 points.
Williams was led by Hession's game-high 17 points and Maggie Miller and Ellen Wilks each had 12.
B-W has faced both Scranton and Rochester already this season. B-W beat Rochester, 53-39, in its second game of the season, on November 19, 2005, in the championship game of the U/R Ed Resler Tournament. B-W also faced Scranton on December 22 in its second game at the D3Desert Shooyout in Las Vegas, Nevada and lost 59-49, but led Scranton by three points late in the game only to be outscored 16-3 down the stretch.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Cheri Harrer, please call her at 440-826-3299, via FAX at 440-826-2192 or via e-mail at charrer@bw.edu.
Game Notes vs. Williams (Mass.)
The BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE YELLOW JACKET women's basketball team will travel to Scranton, Pennsylvania and the University of Scranton to play Williams (Mass.) College on Friday, March 10, 2006 in an East Sectional Semifinal Game in the NCAA Division III National Tournament at 5:00 p.m. Scranton will play the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in the second game of the doubleheader at 7:00 p.m.
The winner of this game advances to the "Elite 8" and the East Sectional Championship Game of the national tournament and will play the winner of the Scranton versus Rochester game on Saturday, March 11 at 7:00 pm. at Scranton.
RADIO BROADCASTS AND INTERNET WEB AUDIO STREAMS -- Tonight's Yellow Jacket NCAA Division III Tournament women's basketball game is being broadcast LIVE by B-W campus radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM, and d3hoops.com. In addition, both WBWC and d3hoops.com are streming the audio over their Internet Web sites. You can connect to the B-W broadcast at www.wbwc.com, and you can connect to the d3hoops.com feed at www.d3hoops.com.
BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE
LOCATION: Berea, Ohio
NICKNAME: Yellow Jackets
CONFERENCE: Ohio Athletic
2005-2006 RECORD: 26-4
LAST GAME: Beat William Smith, N.Y., 71-65, on March 4 in the second round of the NCAA Trny. in Berea.
HEAD COACH: Cheri Harrer
B-W RECORD: 327-118
YEAR AT B-W: 16th
CAREER RECORD: same as above
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting
SERIES STREAK: First Meeting
LAST MEETING: First Meeting
WHO WON: First Meeting
SERIES BEGAN: First Meeting
WILLIAMS (Mass.) COLLEGE
LOCATION: Williamstwon, Massachusetts
NICKNAME: Ephs
CONFERENCE: NESCAC/ ECAC
2005-2006 RECORD: 23-5
LAST GAME: Beat Messiah (Pa.), 71-67, on Mar. 4 in a second round NCAA Trny. game in Grantham, Pa.
HEAD COACH: Patricia Manning
WC RECORD: 275-119
YEAR AT WC: 16th
CAREER RECORD: same as above
PREGAME NOTES -- The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a 26-4 overall record and captured the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title with a 17-1 mark. B-W advanced to the East Sectional by winning the East Region Championship by defeating Oswego State (N.Y.), 73-69, in the first and semifinal round on March 3 and William Smith (N.Y.) College in the East Region Championship Game, 71-65.
Williams enters this game with a 23-5 overall record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament by defeating New York University, 63-56, in the first round and Messiah (Pa.) College, 71-67, in the second round.
The Baldwin-Wallace versus Williams All-Time Series -- This is the first-ever meeting between Baldwin-Wallace College and Williams College in women's basketball.
B-W and Williams Have a Common Opponent -- This season, both B-W and Williams have played Bates (Maine) College. The Yellow Jackets defeated Bates, 66-63, on December 20, 2005 while on its Winter Break trip to the D3 Desert Shootout in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the championship game in Las Vegas, B-W lost to Scranton, 59-49. Williams lost to Bates, 71-55, in the NESCAC semifinals in Lewiston, Maine on Feb. 25 and in two-of-three games this season.
B-W Information and Probable Starters -- Look for Yellow Jacket veteran Head Coach Cheri Harrer to start 5'7" senior guard Nikki Altenweg (Perry) at the point guard position and in the backcourt along with 5'9" junior guard/forward Michelle White (Hudson) and 5'8" freshman guard Amanda Mondrach (Parma/ Parma Heights Holy Name). On the inside, look for 5'8" sophomore Stacia Shrider (Marietta/ Warren Local) to start alongside 6'0" senior All-OAC center Jenn Neal (Mentor). Altenweg scores a team-leading 10.8 points per game and grabs 3.7 rebounds per game. She also has a team-leading 85 assists and 75 steals and shoots 47.6 percent from three-point range and 79.1 percent from the foul line and has a team-leading 30 treys. White scores 7.7 ppg. and grabs 3.0 rpg. She also shoots 79.7 percent from the foul line. Mondrach scores 10.2 ppg., grabs 3.0 rpg. and has 27 triple's. Shrider scores 4.4 ppg. and grabs 3.9 rpg. Neal scores 6.4 ppg., grabs 3.1 rpg. and has blocked a team-leading 18 shots.
Harrer's bench is deep, so look for 5'6" junior guard Steffani Jaworski (Parma/ Padua Fransiscan), 5'11" sophomore swing player Alyson Cotter (Salem), junior 5'8" forward Jessica Latimer (Brooklyn) and 5'10" Carly Flowers all to see action as veterans. They will be joined by 5'6" freshman guard Jessica Butzer (Orrville) and 5'8" freshman guard Leah Mottayaw (Mansfield/ Madison) and 5'5" point guard Rachael Quiring (Brunswick/ Parma Hts. Holy Name). Jaworski scores 4.9 ppg. and has 28 three-pointers Cotter scores 7.4 ppg. and grabs 3.8 rpg. and has 25 three-pointers. Latimer scores 6.8 ppg. and grabs a team-leading 4.0 rpg. and shoots 56.9 percent from the floor. Mottayaw scores 4.4 ppg. Butzer has played in 18 games and scores 3.0 ppg.
Scouting the Ephs of Williams College -- Look for Head Coach Patricia Manning to start 5'8" senior Colleen Hession, 5'7" junior Kaylan Tildsley and 5'8" junior Meghan Stetson in the backcourt and 6'1" junior Meghan O'Malley and 6'0" junior Maggie Miller start on the inside. Miller tops the team in scoring at 13.7 ppg. and rebounding at 8.3 rpg. She also has 37 assists, 42 steals and a team-leading 56 blocked shots. Hession is second in scoring at 12.8 ppg. and is first with 73 assists and 63 three-pointers. O'Malley is third in scoring at 12.1 ppg., second with 8.0 rpg. She also has 27 assists, 27 steals and 22 blocks. Stetson is fourth in scoring at 10.8 ppg., grabs 4.4 rpg. and has 61 assists and 45 three-pointers. Tildsley scores 3.2 ppg., grabs 3.6 rpg. and has 63 assists, a team-leading 44 steals and has canned 10 triples.
Off the bench, look for Coach Manning to play 5'7" freshman guard Mika Peterman, 5'7" junior guard Ellen Wilk, 6'2" sophomore Whitney Livermore, 6'1" sophomore Dominique de la Torre and 6'1" freshman guard Patricia Ludwig. Peterman scores 3.8 ppg. and has 12 three-pointers. Wilk scores 3.3 ppg. and has 10 three's. Livermore scores 2.9 ppg., grabs 2.5 rpg. and has 18 blocks.
In B-W's Last Game: Baldwin-Wallace College -- 71, William Smith (N.Y.) College-- 65 on March 4 in the Second and Championship Game of the East Region in the 2006 NCAA Division III National Tournament in the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea, Ohio -- In its last game, Baldwin-Wallace College defeated William Smith (N.Y.) College, 71-65, in the Championship Game of the East Region of the 2006 NCAA Division III National Tournament in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea. Senior three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference point guard Nikki Altenweg led the way and scored a team-high 17 points, grabbed three rebounds, passed for five assists, made four steals and went eight-of-eight at the foul line, including four straight in the final 11.83 seconds. Freshman guard Amanda Mondrach had 14 points and junior forward Jessica Latimer came off the bench to score 10 points.
In Williams' Last Game: Williams (Mass.) College -- 71, Messiah (Pa.) College --67 on March 4 in the Second Round of the 2006 NCAA Division III National Tournament in Grantham, Pennsylvania -- In its last game, Williams (Mass.) College defeated Messiah (Pa.) College, 71-67, in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Division III National Tournament in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Leading the Ephs was junior guard Meghan Stetson with a game-high 26 points, eight rebounds and four assists. She canned six-of-seven three-pointers. In addition, junior forward Meghan O'Malley had 13 points, senior guard Colleen Hession had 12 points and a key triple with 33 seconds left in the game and junior forward Maggie Miller had a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Yellow Jacket Chatter
NCAA Tourament History -- Baldwin-Wallace College is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament in the last 11 years. The Yellow Jackets have compiled a 8-8 record and .500 winning percentage, including its wins this season versus Oswego State (N.Y.) and William Smith (N.Y.) College. The Yellow Jackets have twice advanced to the Elite Eight (1999-2000 and 2000-2001). This is B-W's third appearance in a "Sweet 16" contest.
The OAC Regular Season Title -- B-W has won six of the past eight Ohio Athletic Conference regular season titles, including three straight. This is the first OAC outright title for B-W since 2000-2001.
Ten Straight 20-Win Seasons for the Jackets -- The B-W women have 10 straight seasons with 20 or more victories. Head Coach Cheri Harrer's team is 245-43 during that time span for an amazing .852 winning percentage.
Cheri Harrer is the OAC Coach of the Year -- For the third time in her career, Baldwin-Wallace Head Coach Cheri Harrer has been named as the Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Harrer also won the honor in both 1999 and 2000. Harrer is the winningest women's basketball coach in B-W history with 327 victories. Harrer is 327-118 in her career with a .736 winning percentage and is in her 16th season at B-W.
Amanda Mondrach is the OAC Freshman-of-the-Year -- Freshman guard Amanda Mondrach is this year's OAC Freshman-of-the-Year. Mondrach averages 10.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game and has canned 27 treys as a starter in all 30 games this season.
Nikki Altenweg Headlines Four Jackets' on the All-OAC Team -- Senior point guard Nikki Altenweg headlines a group of four B-W players who were named to this year's All-OAC team. Altenweg was named to the team for the third time and made the first-team for the second straight year. In addition, junior forward Michelle White and senior center Jenn Neal made the team for the second straight year. White moved up to the second-team this year after being named honorable mention last winter. Neal made the honorable mention group for the second straight year. Freshman guard Amanda Mondrach, this year's OAC Freshman-of-the-Year, also was an honorable mention choice.
Nikki Altenweg Named ESPN MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV -- Nikki Altenweg (Perry) has been named as a second-team ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV player. Altenweg carries a 3.6 grade point average in mathematics and intends to teach and coach basketball following graduation. She currently stands third all-time in school history in steals with 234 and assists with 355. Altenweg also has 887 career points and 327 career rebounds.
Jenn Neal is B-W's All-Time Leader in Blocked Shots -- Senior All-OAC center Jenn Neal (Mentor) is the school's all-time leader with 100 blocked shots, including 17 this season. Overall, Neal has scored 701 career points, grabbed 373 career rebounds and has canned 51.7 percent of her field goal attempts (295-of-571).
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please visit the Baldwin-Wallace Athletics website at www.bw.edu/athletics for up to date results and statistics. For further inquiries, please contact B-W SID Kevin Ruple by phone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. B-W Head Coach Cheri Harrer can be reached by phone at (440) 826-3299, by FAX at (440) 826-2192 or via e-mail at charrer@bw.edu.
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