February 18, 2008

Maryville University clinched the top spot in the SLIAC women's basketball tournament with their victory at Fontbonne University last week. The Saints also broke the NCAA Division III regular season conference win streak with their 73rd consecutive conference victory. Fontbonne and Greenville College have also both secured a spot in the post-season tournament and will face each other in the semifinals on Friday, February 29, at 6:00 pm. Top-seeded Maryville will host the tournament and will face the #4 seed at 8:00 pm. The last and final spot is still wide open with Blackburn currently in fourth place at 6-7. Westminster College, Principia College and Eureka College each have five wins, and with only three dates remaining for regular season play, anything can happen.

In the latest NCAA women's basketball statistical rankings, Maryville was the lone team to be ranked in the Top 20. The Saints ranked sixth in Scoring Offense (78.7), seventh in Steals per Game (15.7), 15th in Scoring Margin (18.4) and 18th in Three Point Field Goals per Game (6.9). In the individual rankings, Eureka's Nicole Fisher ranked fifth in Rebounds per Game (13.3) and Westminster's Ashley Stanfill ranked eighth in Field Goal Percentage (61.0).

On the men's side of the court, Webster University, Fontbonne and Westminster have all secured a spot in the SLIAC men's basketball tournament. The Gorloks have their perfect conference season on the line in the final three games of the season. They have to face Maryville and Eureka this week, both of which remain in the running for the fourth and final spot in the tournament. Greenville is the other men's squad that still has hopes for the conference tournament. The Panthers host Eureka this Wednesday in a game that will determine a lot come the final two dates of conference play.

The men's tournament semifinals will take place on Thursday, February 28, at the highest seed. Game times are set for 6:00 pm (#2 vs. #3) and 8:00 pm (#1 vs. #4).

In the latest NCAA men's basketball statistical rankings three squads were ranked in the Top 20. Westminster was ranked first in Turnovers per Game (9.2), eighth in Personal Fouls per Game (14.3) and 14th in Scoring Defense (61.5), Greenville was ranked 10th in Three Point Field Goal Percentage (41.2) and 18th in Steals per Game (11.1) and Webster was ranked eighth in Rebound Margin (8.4).