SHAWNEE STATE in Final Four

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from ssuchronicle.com

Bears and Wildcats to Meet in Final Four
The dictionary.com word of the day Monday is “gravitas” meaning “high seriousness”. It doesn’t get much more serious for Shawnee State than Monday night’s Final Four match-up against Indiana Wesleyan.

Shawnee State last appeared in the Final Four in 1999, when they won the National Championship behind Player of the Year Erica Hayes. This year they come into the semi-finals with a record of 28-6 and are led in scoring by senior guard Mallory Albers, who is averaging 18 points per game.

Indiana Wesleyan last made the Final Four in 2007, when they also won the National Championship. The Wildcats are 29-6 and are led by Elaine Hessel who averages 19 points per game.

Shawnee State is 1-1 all-time against Indiana Wesleyan.

“It’s so hard to get to the Final Four and to be here is like a dream,” SSU head coach Robin Hagen-Smith said.

The Bears will face a tough opponent in Indiana Wesleyan who was ranked No. 7 in the final NAIA polls. They are a quick team that shoots the ball very and plays a disciplined style of basketball.

“They use the entire shot clock and force you to defend them,” Hagen-Smith said of the Wildcats.

The Bears will try and use their decided size advantage to create mismatches and give the Wildcats problems

“We are hoping to be able to take advantage of them inside,” junior forward Jill Cropper said Sunday after practice.

The Bears have relied on a stiff defense throughout the tournament, one that will be put to the test Monday. The Wildcats are led by Hessel and Kayla Thompson who both average double figures in scoring.

Leading Shawnee State throughout the tournament has been their tough defensive play. Against Grand View they were able to take away the inside game that the Vikings thrived on forcing them to take the outside shot and thus shutting them down.

It will be the opposite on Monday night as the Wildcats come in as a team shooting 36% from outside the perimeter. The Bears will try and force the Wildcats into poor shots and then make them run with the Bears and play a fast tempo style of game.

For Shawnee State, just making it to the Final Four is not the end goal.

“At our banquet we talked about setting goals and making it to the Final Four was a goal,” senior forward Alison Meyer said. “Now our goal is to win a National Championship.”

If the Bears are able to shut down the scoring combination of Thompson and Hessel, they may just get that opportunity.


KEYS TO VICTORY-

 Stay out of foul trouble (SSU dominated the post play with Alison Meyer and Alex Pohl staying in the game on Saturday)

 Defense! ( SSU is best when they control the game and are able to knock other teams out of their comfort zone)

 Hit your 3’s (Whitney Williams hasn’t been a factor for the Bears in this tournament. Williams, who set the school record for 3’s in a season needs to turn it on for the Bears to play for a National Title on Tuesday)

[dimedrop4]

Go Lady Bears!!

[rachelcreek]

Shawnee State wins in the National Semi-Finals Monday
night, 55-54, over Indiana Wesleyan. The Lady Bears
move on to the National Championship game Tuesday,
tip-off is 10:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time. Semi-final
game was heard on 107.5 FM out of Portsmouth.

[Mad-Dogg]

i wonder if the game will be shown at ssu tomorrow

[Lightle04]

Yes it is. It will be on the CBS college network at 10 pm. My wife was on the team that won it in 1999 so we will definately be watching. Go bears!!! Bring us Another one home. Coach and the kids deserve this one after everything they have been through this season!!

[dimedrop4]

Congrats Lady Bears! Bring home the National Championship!!!!!

[rachelcreek]

Live local radio broadcast of Shawnee State University
National Championship Game (vs.Northwestern College
of Iowa) in the NAIA Womens Division 2 Tournament
from Sioux City, Iowa to air tonight on 107.5 WZZZ
in Portsmouth (Pre-game at 9:45 P.M.). Good luck
to the Lady Bears, trying to win their first national
title since 1999.

[Dean]

Shawnee State has the best BB coach in Ohio in Robin Hagen-Smith. Her teams win consistently and with class. If I had a daughter there is no coach in the country that I would rather have her play for than Robin.

[bulkmove]

channel 613 on directv is cbs college sports. so i think it will air on this station!!

Go Bears, and congrats Robin!

[trojan7]

Channel 613 on Direct TV, 174 on Time Warner, 152 on Dish Network.

10pm EST 9pm CST

[The_Legend_of_Northwest]

No title for SSU. Great season though

[dimedrop4]

Is the game over?

[The_Legend_of_Northwest]

About 7 minutes left and SSU down 30.

[dimedrop4]

Thanks. Great Season though, Ladies!!

[Mad-Dogg]

85-66 northwestern college final

[prepstar18]

another great season for the lady bears