Lady Toppers Start CUSA Tournament Thursday. Who Could They Face? How Will They Do?
This is a good look at the teams in CUSA after the regular season concluded on Saturday. Where do the Lady Toppers rank? Who is in their way to win and go to NCAA Women's Tournament?
Taking a look at CUSA from UTEP to Liberty
This bracket looks different this year because the MTSU Lady Raiders are not at the top for the first time in several years. There are definitely some favored teams, some contender teams, some pretender teams and some bad teams in this bracket. But anything can happen at tournament time, so we will take a look at each team.
University of Texas El Paso 11-18 (4-14 CUSA) #10 Seed
The Miners had a decent non-conference record of 7-4 but were NOT a good team in CUSA play with only four wins and those against bottom teams. Ivane Tensaie leads UTEP averaging 12.9 points per game this year. No other player is in double figures as the team struggles to score in the 60s and average 17.6 turnovers to only 12.9 assists per game. UTEP must lower their turnovers and shoot better to have a chance in the first round on Tuesday against Kennesaw at 2pm.
Kennesaw State 12-17 (7-11 CUSA) #7 Seed
The Owls come into Tuesdays contest slightly favored with two wins against UTEP this year. They are NOT at good team as they do not shoot three pointers very well at 25.3%. Kennesaw averages 62.5 points and 35.6 rebounds per game. The Owls have four players averaging 9.5 points or more, Prencis Hardin (15.7), Keyarah Berry (11.9), Keiara Griffin (10.5) and Carley Hooks (9.5). Like UTEP, Kennesaw turns the ball over around 17 times per contest and to advance to play MTSU, the Owls will need to hang onto the ball and hit some shots.
Update: #7 seed Kennesaw State Owls Outlast #10 seed UTEP Miners 71-63
This game was back and forth throughout the first half. Sam Houston led after the first quarter 16-14. UTEP led at half 37-34. Sam Houston came out outscored UTEP 20-11 in the third quarter and took control of the game. UTEP would cut the Sam Houston lead to four with 4:14 left in the fourth, but could get no closer as Sam Houston made enough free throws to stay ahead.
The Miners had two players in double figures led by Portia Adams with 24 points and 7 rebounds. The Owls had three players in double figures led by Keyarah Berry with 24 points. Kennesaw wins the right to play on against #2 seed Middle Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon at 2pm.
Jacksonville State 10-19 (4-14 CUSA) #9 Seed
The Gamecocks come into their 11:30 am game on Tuesday against Sam Houston with only four wins in CUSA play. They are NOT a good team averaging under 60 points per game, but beat better teams than UTEP to get the 9 seed. Zero players average more than nine points per game. If they are to pull an upset some players will need to step up go above their averages, and hit some threes or they will make an early exit so close to home.
Sam Houston State 12-16 (5-13 CUSA) #8 Seed
The Bearkats are NOT a good team this season averaging only 61 points per game, but found ways to beat Jacksonville State twice this year in very close games. I expect an inside the paint slugfest to be an exciting back and forth affair where Sam Houston wins again and will move on to play Liberty on Wednesday. The Bearkats have three very good players to watch: Kaila Kelly, Deborah Ogayemi, and Nyla Inmon, the only players in this game averaging ten or more points.
Update: #8 Seed Sam Houston State Defeats #9 Seed Jacksonville State 55-53
This game was close throughout. Jax State had a five point lead multiple times in the first quarter, but Sam Houston kept coming back and tying. The game saw 48 fouls called and 54 turnovers committed combined. Most of those were in the first half as the teams tried to settle into tournament play. Sam Houston did see its first lead until the fourth quarter and found a way to make a few shots and get some turnovers to earn the win.
Elsie Harris led Jax State with 13 points. Sam Houston was led by Nyla Inmon with 17 and Fanta Kone with 15. Jacksonville states undoing was 31 turnovers. Sam Houston will play #1 seed Liberty on Wednesday morning at 11:30.
Florida International 11-18 (7-11 CUSA) #6 Seed
The Panthers will play against the WKU Lady Toppers on Thursday afternoon at 2 pm. This will be an old fashioned rubber match, but must play much better than on Thursday nights loss 83-48 or they will be headed back to Miami with their Panther tails between their legs. FIU has been inconsistent this season and is a Pretender for the championship, but has a couple very good players in Isnelle Natabou averaging 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and Parris Atkins averaging 13.7 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.7 steals per game. The Panthers will need to find a way to slow down the Lady Toppers high scoring offense.
Louisiana Tech 15-14 (8-10 CUSA) #5 Seed
The Lady Techsters record says pretender, but with a win against Liberty earlier this year, they are really a contender, or maybe a dark horse if you will. They have a great history, they are pretty close to home, but can they find a way to win their way through a good New Mexico State team and a great Liberty team to the championship game? That is one question everyone is asking right now. The Lady Techsters are a very good, young, balanced team led by two freshmen. Paris Bradley with 14.5 points and 3.0 assists per game and Jordan Marshall with 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game lead La Tech. Two others average 11, so La Tech is a powerful but inconsistent, so anything can happen. This should be another nip and tuck game on Thursday morning.
New Mexico State 17-14 (10-8 CUSA) #4 Seed
One of the players to watch in this CUSA tournament is the Aggies 5th year senior guard Molly Kaiser. Molly has scored 19 or more points in 20 games this season. WKU and MTSU were the only two teams to hold her under ten the entire conference season two weeks ago. On Thursday she took out her frustrations on La Tech and whipped them for 35 points in the win. When Molly Kaiser is not corralled under 20 points, the Aggies move from a good team to a great team and could contend for the championship because of her scoring ability. I can’t wait to see her live.
Honestly, La Tech and NM State should be one of the best matchups of the tournament: A balanced scoring team versus a true power scorer with a supporting cast. This is a game that all basketball fans should be excited to watch.
Western Kentucky University 22-8 (13-5 CUSA) #3 Seed
The Lady Toppers come into this Thursday 2 pm game red hot averaging 79.4 points per game over the last five games and 73 points per game overall. Only #1 seed Liberty has been able to hold Western to 70 points in the last few weeks. WKU is a real contender in this tournament and has the ability to get hot and stay hot over a long period of time with win streaks of seven, six, and five games at the beginning, middle and end of the regular season. Western’s starting five is a good as any in CUSA. The weakness has been the inconsistency of the bench and turnovers. If WKU can hold their turnovers to ten or less, generate turnovers, and make layups, they can beat any team in CUSA.
Josie Gilvin #33 has been a red hot player in CUSA averaging 19 points and 7.45 rebounds over the last nine games and her average is up to 13.0 per game this season. Alexis Mead lead the team in scoring at 13.3 points, Destiny Salary adds 12.6 points, Acacia Hayes adds 11.3 points, and Zsofia Telegdy adds another 8.2 points per game this season. All these have proven they can score 20 plus in any game, so good luck containing all of them.
Middle Tennessee State University 24-7 (16-2 CUSA) #2 Seed
The Blue Raiders are one of the two true favorites to win the CUSA Championship on Saturday. MTSU looks to run through the competition until they can get revenge on Liberty after losing 61-42 on Thursday and their #1 seed. In the past, MTSU has looked past lower competition and then lost before getting to the championship. Will they bow out early or will MTSU be the dominant team like last year?
Middle Tennessee is led by Ta’Mia Scott averaging 16.7 points, Jalynn Gregory averaging 13.5 points and Anastasiia Boldyreva with 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. They have several nice support players that make this a very strong team to contend with. The only real weakness that MTSU has is a short bench as they only play 6 or 7 players for most of the game. No team in CUSA has been able to get inside their defense enough to put them in foul trouble. WKU is the only real threat to MTSU on their way to the finals.
Liberty University 23-6 (16-2 CUSA) #1 Seed
The Flames have proven to be the other true favorite in CUSA this season. Liberty chased MTSU all season and were able to overcome them a few nights ago to steal away some of the Raiders’ glory. Will they march through to the conference championship again to lose to MTSU or will they conquer the little blue giant of CUSA? (There are only a few teams in college sports that you can refer to as Big Blue.) Liberty has proven it can come back from deficits against good teams to win games as they did against WKU on Saturday (14 points). If this matchup happens, it will be a battle for the ages of CUSA.
Liberty also has three players that stand out: Bella Smuda, Asia Boone, and Emma Hess, but has seven players that add to the team and make them so very dangerous. if you sag too much on Bella, several players can bomb away from outside. Leave the middle to open and Smuda or Boone will carve their way to the basket. The Flames are a very good team and should burn their path to the finals.
What does Western Kentucky Need to do to Win CUSA?
Take care of the ball. This number must be ten or less. Editor’s note: As extreme as ten turnovers may seem, believe it or not, against CUSA’s best, and often against lesser opponents, if the Tops have much over ten turnovers, they struggle to find ways to win.
Make layups. WKU must make most of their layups or it will not go well.
Be aggressive and get the ball inside, initiate contact, and draw fouls to be able to shoot free throws. Free throws are a key to every championship.
Dribble penetrate and kick out for three pointers. Part of being aggressive means the opportunity to pass to open players for higher percentage shots.
Play solid hustle, steal the ball, and bring the intense WKU Lady Topper defense that leads to the made layups.
Conclusion
If The Lady Toppers hit their averages this week, they can score enough to win their games and bring home a much missed CUSA championship. Western is 22-8 and having one of their best seasons in years. Their fast paced, hard nosed defense, and ability to steal the ball makes this a very exciting team to watch. As a second generation WKU alumni and fan, born and raised in Bowling Green, I want my home team to do well, and unless I am sick or at work, you will find me at Diddle Arena on game days cheering on the Red and White of Dear Old Western.
I challenge Bowling Green, Warren and surrounding counties, students, staff, alumni, former players, friends, enemies, and anyone else reading to get your family to Huntsville this week and cheer on the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. These players have worked too hard to play in a blue gym.
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