Wednesday women: Creating separation

More news about: Augsburg | Hope | Misericordia | North Park
Jan 29, 2020
 
Jayla Johnson and North Park are now at least two steps ahead of everyone else in the CCIW.
 North Park University athletics file photo


North Park extended its lead in the CCIW by beating Illinois Wesleyan while No. 19 Augsburg distanced itself from No. 17 St. Thomas in the MIAC and No. 6 UW-Whitewater did the same to No. 20 UW-La Crosse in the WIAC. Elsewhere Misericordia forced a three-way tie atop the MAC Freedom and No. 3 Hope shut down Albion.

Jayla Johnson's big night paced North Park to a 77-64 home win over Illinois Wesleyan, giving the Vikings their first win over the Titans in 15 years and a two-game lead in the CCIW standings. Johnson scored 11 of North Park's 22 points in the first quarter and the Vikings led by 12 at the half. Illinois Wesleyan whittled the lead to single digits a couple of times in the second half, including on a Kendall Sosa three with 4:11 to play. North Park responded by scoring the next eight points and putting the game out of reach.

Johnson finished with 23 points and Zakiya Newsome added 13 more for North Park (16-3, 9-1 CCIW). The Vikings, who have not won the CCIW women's basketball title since 1988, have a two-game lead on Wheaton (Ill.) and a 2.5-game lead on the Titans with six to play.

The crowded race for first in the MIAC started to sort itself out on Wednesday night. No. 19 Augsburg beat No. 17 St. Thomas 60-56, sweeping the regular season series with the Tommies. Camryn Speese scored baskets on consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter to give Augsburg a three-point lead and key an 8-0 Augsburg run. St. Thomas fought back within one at 57-56 with 21 seconds left on a Brynn Rolland layup, but Tamira McLemore responded with two free throws to extend the Augies' lead back to three. St. Thomas missed two shots on its next possession and Kaezha Wubben added another free throw to ice the game for Augsburg.

Augsburg (15-3, 11-2 MIAC) sits in second place, two games behind No. 5 Bethel, which beat St. Catherine, 77-56. No. 23 Gustavus Adolphus fell three games back of the Royals on a 64-53 loss at home to St. Benedict. Bethel will play St. Thomas, Gustavus and Ausburg in consecutive games in mid-February.

No. 6 UW-Whitewater bounced back from Saturday's loss at UW-Oshkosh with an impressive 73-47 victory over No. 20 UW-La Crosse. The Warhawks held La Crosse to eight points in the second quarter, six in the fourth quarter and 29 percent shooting overall (17 for 58). Rebekah Schumacher rolled up 14 points, six rebounds and two assists for Whitewater (17-2, 7-1 WIAC). 

No. 3 Hope, which beat Albion on a buzzer beater earlier this sesaon, had a much easier time with the Britons the second time around. The Flying Dutch built a 13-point lead at the break and cruised to victory on the road, 60-38, Lauren Newman errupted for 25 points on 9 for 13 shooting, including six 3-pointers. This is the third straight game that Hope has held an opponent under 40 points and the Flying Dutch have not given up more than 51 in a game all season.

The ARC's four-way tie for first turned into a three-way tie when Luther beat Simpson, 73-63. The Norse (9-6, 7-1 ARC) got 24 points from Sarah Holtz and had a a 23-9 advantage in bench scoring. Luther remains tied with No. 10 Wartburg and No. 12 Loras which beat Coe and Central respectively.

Misericordia created a three-way tie atop the MAC Freedom conference with a 76-62 win at home over King's. Four players reached double figures for Misericordia (16-2, 6-1 MAC Freedom), led by Erica Haefele who had 18. DeSales improved to 6-1 in conference and 14-4 overall after edging Eastern, 59-57.

The NJAC also has a three-way tie thanks to TCNJ's 70-59 win at Rowan. Rachel Gazzola tallied 21 points and Elle Cimiluca added 19 more for the Lions (13-6, 10-2 NJAC). Those two teams are tied with Montclair State, which outscored Ramapo 28-6 in the first half on its way to a 66-47 win. The Red Hawks (15-4, 10-2) have won 10 straight.