February 5, 2008

The final two 2008 SLIAC Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are scheduled to take place this week. Former Blackburn College men's basketball standout, Chris Parker, will be inducted this Saturday (Feb. 9) following the Beavers' alumni game at approximately 11:30 am. Westminster College's Jennifer (Whitaker) Schaefer, a two-sport student-athlete will also be inducted this Saturday (Feb. 9) prior to or at halftime of the Blue Jays double header versus MacMurray College. The women's game is scheduled to tip-off at approximately 3:00 pm.

Now that February is here, it's crunch time for all SLIAC hoops squads. Webster University's men's basketball team will look to maintain their perfect SLIAC record (9-0), but it will not  be easy as the Gorloks host cross town rival Fontbonne University this week. The Griffins are currently riding a 12-game winning streak and are out to avenge an early season 84-62 loss to Webster. The Gorloks have an eight-game winning streak, with four of those victories captured by a margin of nine points or less.

After starting 6-0 in conference play, the Westminster men have dropped their last three SLIAC games. The Blue Jays travel to Maryville this Wednesday, where each team will be looking for their seventh conference win this season. Eureka also has six wins in the SLIAC after defeating the Saints 71-70 in overtime last Saturday. Greenville also remains in the hunt for a slot in the SLIAC Tournament at 5-5. The Panthers host Maryville this Saturday in a key battle for both teams.

On the women's side, Maryville is 10-0 in conference play, but faced tough games last week versus both Principia College and Eureka. The Saints, whose regular season conference win streak stands at 70 games, will look to tie the all-time NCAA Division III women's basketball regular season conference win streak record of 72 games this Saturday at Greenville College. Maryville must first get past Westminster on Wednesday, before heading to Greenville on Saturday, where it so happens that their last conference loss occurred in February 2003.

Greenville and Fontbonne are currently tied for second in the women's standings at 8-2 in conference play. Blackburn, Eureka and Principia all have four victories, and it looks as if it will be a tight race right until the end.

In the latest national statistical rankings, several SLIAC teams were ranked in the Top 25. For the men, Westminster was ranked first in Turnovers per Game (9.1), 14th in Personal Fouls per Game (15.1), 15th in Scoring Defense (61.1) and 25th in Assist Turnover Ratio (1.17), Fontbonne was 18th in Rebound Margin (7.3), 19th in Field-Goal Percentage Defense (39.3), 19th in Personal Fouls per Game (15.5) and 20th in Won-Lost Percentage (83.3), MacMurray was 24th in Three-Point Field Goals per Game (8.9), Webster was 12th in Rebound Margin (7.9) and Greenville was 22nd in Steals per Game (11.2). Individually, MacMurray's Adam Polston was the lone SLIAC men's basketball player to be ranked in the Top 25. He ranked 22nd in Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage (45.9).

In the women's statistical rankings Maryville was ranked seventh in Steals per Game (15.8), ninth in Scoring Offense (77.8) and 18th in Three-Point Field Goals per Game (6.8). Individually, Eureka's Nicole Fisher was ranked 10th in Rebounds per Game (12.4), Webster's Michelle McQueen was 18th in Steals per Game (3.6) and Westminster's Ashley Stanfill was sixth in Field-Goal Percentage (62.1).