Jordan Blount.
By John Manley
Double-doubles became something of a routine for Jordan Blount last week. He enjoyed his third and fourth of the season to help Illinois-Chicago knock off Wis.-Green Bay, 83-75, in a Thursday road contest, and then take down Detroit Mercy, 94-87, at home on Monday. Blount, a 6-8 sophomore from Cork, cashed on six of 10 field goal attempts in Green Bay, including one of three from Lambeau Field, and one of two free throws, to finish with 14 points. He also reeled in 15 caroms and set up three Flames’ buckets. Then, on Monday, he tallied 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 5-of 6 from the line, along with 10 caroms and three assists. UIC is now 17-12 overall and 12-4 in the Horizon League.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S45OaNz9Aw&feature=youtu.be
“I think everybody’s been waiting for Jordan to get back to playing good,” said Steve McClain, Flames coach, after the Green Bay win. “He was a tough matchup for [Green Bay] and we took advantage of it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj-5WXe45WQ&feature=youtu.be
The little things that actually turn out to be big things. That was John Carroll’s department as Hartford prevailed, 69-68, over Vermont in Bernie Sanders’s hometown on Sunday. The 6-8 junior from Dublin didn’t record the winning point, but he did set up two buckets and rejected two Catamounts shots in the waning minutes to seal the win in this crucial America East contest. His five assists and three rejections were team highs. He added to that 10 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the floor. Previously, he dished out a team-high five assists as Hartford defeated Maine, 67-63, at home on Thursday. He also scored 10 points, hitting three of nine field goat attempts (one of three from 3-point range) and three of four foul shots. The Hawks are 16-11 overall and 9-4 in the America East.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4TeVWDcox0
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Edel Thornton scored 11 points off the bench to help Quinnipiac ward off a scare from Marist, who they defeated, 80-74, in two overtimes in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Sunday to remain undefeated in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The junior guard out of Gurranabraher, Co. Cork knocked down five of 12 shots from the floor, including one of four lottery shots. The Bobcats are 22-5 overall and 16-0 in MAAC play leading into the final week of the regular season.
A monster game on the boards from Whitney Moia couldn’t keep MidAmerica Nazarene University from dropping Friday’s home contest to Central Methodist, 76-68. Moia, a 6-3 junior from Dublin, grabbed 15 caroms in 22 minutes off the bench. She also rejected four shots and scored three points. On Wednesday, the Pioneers took out Avila, 74-66, in Kansas City, with Moia accounting for seven points and five rebounds. MNU is now 21-5 overall and 13-4 in the Heart of America Conference.