RSC Women's Basketball Weekly Report -- Week 5 -- Jan. 4, 2017 #RSCWBB #RSC
FLORENCE, Ky. -- After a week off between Christmas and New Year's, the River States Conference Women's Basketball Weekly Report returns for Week 5 to get you updated on conference play starting back up in 2017. Look for this weekly feature at RiverStatesConference.com.
HERE WE GO!
RSC women's basketball began the final seven weeks of the regular season this week, which is mostly all conference games for most teams from here on out. There were four conference matchups last night, Tuesday, Jan. 3, and there are nine more games this coming weekend on what is a busy first week of the New Year.
JAN. 3 RECAP
No. 21 IU East 81, Asbury 60 -- In a matchup of the last two conference championship games, No. 21 IU East won on the road after building a 42-26 halftime lead. IU East's Tia King had 21 points to lead four starters in double digits. Asbury had 17 points from Brittany Warren and 15 points and 22 rebounds from Kali Whiteside but could not overcome 22 turnovers (compared to 12 for IUE). IU East is 4-0 RSC, Asbury is 2-3 RSC.
IU Kokomo 68, Carlow 50 -- IU Kokomo remained unbeaten in conference play at 5-0 RSC with the home win over Carlow. Whitney Williamson had 20 points for IUK, which built a 32-21 halftime lead and is now 12-5 overall for its most wins ever. Emma Stille had 15 points for Carlow (0-4 RSC).
Point Park 64, Cinncinnati Christian 42 -- Point Park used a 34-6 run in the first half for the 22-point road win at CCU. The Pioneers forced 33 turnovers and held CCU to 27 percent shooting (1-18 3pt FG). CCU (2-3 RSC) had 14 from Brianna Ruffin. Point Park is 4-0 RSC to tie for first place in the RSC East.
Ohio Christian 64, Alice Lloyd 58 -- Ohio Christian earned a road victory -- the third one of the night for the RSC East Division -- at Alice Lloyd. The Trailblazers built a 47-36 lead after three quarters to take control. Erinn Bailey had a team-high 14 for OCU, and Amber Shepherd led ALC with 18.
NAIA DII TOP 25 POLL
The next NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll comes out next Tuesday, Jan. 10. Conference teams have this weekend to state their Top 25 case for what will be the first poll since Dec. 13. In the most-recent rankings, the RSC was represented by No. 21 IU East and "receiving votes" team Point Park at No. 30 overall.
Since the last poll, No. 21 IU East (13-4) had a narrow loss at No. 7 Davenport (Mich.), 80-78, and a 101-92 win over No. 25 Huntington (Ind.), the latter being the Red Wolves' third Top 25 win of the year. (RV) Point Park is now 14-3 with two of the losses being to NCAA Division I Robert Morris (Pa.) and Youngstown State. IU Kokomo has upped its record to 12-5 (5-0 RSC), and Asbury (7-9, 2-3 RSC) earned a win over No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan since the last Top 25 poll.
UP NEXT THIS WEEKEND
A full slate of RSC women's basketball action is on tap this Friday and Saturday beginning with three games on Friday. Just like Tuesday, the weekend matchups are all crossover games pitting one team from each division. Friday's action gets things going with Brescia at Rio Grande, Midway at Point Park and IU Southeast at WVU Tech.
Saturday's lineup features six more games getting going with IU Kokomo at Point Park (12 p.m.) featuring two teams that are both undefeated in RSC play. No. 21 IU East takes is unbeaten conference record to Alice Lloyd and Brescia goes to WVU Tech in the two 1 p.m. matchups. There are two games at 2 p.m. with IU Southeast at WVU Tech and Midway at Carlow. Ohio Christian is at Asbury for an evening game at 6 p.m.
RSC LEADERS
IU East's Tia King is the RSC scoring leader at 18.5 ppg. Next is Brittany Warren of Asbury at 17.1 ppg. Asbury's Kali Whiteside is the RSC rebounding leader at 12.8 rpg followed by Emma Stille of Carlow at 11.1 rpg. Annie Thomas of IU Southeast has a conference-best 4.6 apg.
IU East has the top offense in the conference at 80.7 ppg. The Red Wolves lead the RSC in field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage and assists per game. Point Park has the top defense in the RSC leading in scoring defense at 54.9 ppg (5th in NAIA DII). Rio Grande is the top rebounding team in the conference ranking seventh nationally with 44.5 rpg.
FOLLOW THE RSC
Follow River States Conference Women's Basketball online at RiverStatesConference.com for updates on results, standings and news throughout the year. Follow the conference on Twitter @RiverStatesConf hashtags #RSCWBB and #RSC. Like the conference on Facebook.com/RiverStatesConference.