Wednesday wrap: Great Scots

More news about: Hampden-Sydney | Illinois Wesleyan | UW-Oshkosh | Wooster
Feb 06, 2013
Wooster has risen to the top of the NCAC and the first regional rankings
Wooster athletics file photo

In the span of less than two hours, No. 14 Wooster clinched the NCAC championship with an overtime win and learned its the top team in the first Great Lakes regional ranking.

The Scots defeated Ohio Wesleyan 74-67 in overtime to capture the NCAC title and top seed on the conference playoffs. Wooster trailed by seven with 3:15 to play, but held the Battling Bishops scoreless for the rest of regulation and tied the game on Xavier Brown's jumper. Brown finished with 17 points and Josh Claytor added another 17 off the bench.

Shortly before Wooster finished its victory, the NCAA released the first set of regional rankings. Wooster is slotted first in the Great Lakes, directly ahead of Ohio Wesleyan and Thomas More. The Saints defeated Westminster (Pa.) 83-77 for their tenth straight win.

Illinois Wesleyan, which debuted atop the Midwest ranking, clinched a share of the CCIW title by crushing North Park, 88-44. This is the Titans' first conference title since 2005. No. 11 North Central (Ill.) still has a small chance to share the title after the Cardinals registered a narrow 59-58 win over Millikin.

Hampden-Sydney stayed atop the ODAC standings by beating archrival Randolph-Macon, 66-47. Harrison George had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers, who swept the Yellow Jackets for the first time since 2003-2004.

Altogether six of the teams ranked first their region played and won on Wednesday night. WPI rolled over Wheaton (Mass.) 86-59 and stayed undefeated (20-0, 9-0). Catholic took care of Susquehanna 74-53. St. Thomas, which is ranked first in the West region and the country, held off Gustavus Adolphus 68-63.

The Atlantic region is the only one whose top-ranked team lost on Wednesday. Rutgers-Newark upset Ramapo 72-69 and denied the Roadrunners a chance to clinch the top seed in the NJAC playoffs.

Elsewhere the conference playoffs are taking shape. Delaware Valley defeated King's 73-52 to clinch a conference playoff bid for just the fourth time in program history. Salisbury will host a game in the CAC playoffs for the first time in over a decade after beating Marymount 72-50.

Michael Sommer scored 18 points, including the game-winning layup, as Capital edged Marietta 70-67 and gained first place in the OAC. Cabrini topped Gywnedd-Mercy 80-68 to secure home court throughout the CSAC playoffs.

Luther defeated Central 72-66 in overtime to claim sole possession of first place in the IIAC. Alvernia took a one-game lead in the MAC Commonwealth, thanks to its 64-47 win at Arcadia and Albright's 70-60 loss at Hood.

Women's recap

Kaitlyn Thill scored a career-high 26 points for UW-Whitewater
 d3photography file photo by Larry Radloff

UW-Whitewater gained ground on two of its major contenders for the WIAC title. The Warhawks took care of UW-Platteville 81-62 behind 26 points from Kaitlyn Thill. Whitewater plays its final three games at home.

Meanwhile UW-Oshkosh edged UW-Stevens Point 56-53 on a Katie Kitzke three-pointer with three seconds left. UW-Superior, which re-entered the Top 25 poll this week, lost 53-48 at UW-River Falls.

Catholic, which is ranked second in the Mid-Atlantic, surved a scare at Susquehanna. The Crusaders (7-15, 2-9) closed within one point of the Cardinals with a minute left, but didn't score again and lost 54-53.

University of New England secured home court in the CCC playoffs with a 61-47 win over Eastern Nazarene. Carthage topped Elmhurst 78-54 for a school-record 12th straight victory. DeSales defeated Manhattanville 72-64, despite a huge night for Alyson Caiazzo (23 points, 24 rebounds).