FULL GAME NOTES
THE GAMES
-For the second time in school history, the Carthage College women's basketball team will square-off against Bethel University (Minn.) in game one of the Cornell College Classic on Friday, November 17 at 8:00 p.m. in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
-Carthage stormed back from a 19-point deficit with 5:34 left in the second quarter to defeat Bethel University 70-61 in the lone meeting between the schools on November 18, 2016 at the Wisconsin Lutheran Tournament. The Royals capped their 2016-17 campaign with a 22-5, 16-2 MIAC record, good enough for third place in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Their 2016-17 season ended with a 72-67 loss to Gustavus Adolphus College in the MIAC Championship Game.
-Bethel, who finished 2016-17 as the NCAA Division III leader in three-point field goal percentage (.379) (177-467), return their top-three aerial threats from last season in Jasmin Bretoi (58 3-pt. made), Abby Miller (48 3-pt. made) and Angie Kirchoff (24 3-point field goals made).
-The Lady Reds will face Cornell College for the first time in school history in the back-end of the tournament on Saturday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m.
-Cornell, who won the 2016-17 Midwest Conference Regular Season Championship (20-5, 17-1 MWC), fell to St. Norbert College 59-54 in the 2016-17 MWC Tournament Championship Game. Back for the Rams is 2016-17 leading scorer Diamond Boyd (14.6 PPG).
THE COACHES
-Jon Herbrechtsmeyer enters his 16th season as Bethel University Head Women's Basketball Coach in 2017-18.
-The 2017-18 season marks Brent Brase's 13th as Cornell College Head Women's Basketball Coach.
THE SERIES
-The Lady Reds own a 1-0 all-time record against Bethel University.
-Carthage and Cornell will square-off for the first time ever.
LAST TIME OUT
-The Lady Reds tuned up for the 2017-18 season with a pair of scrimmages against Lake Forest College (November 3) and Concordia (Wis.).
-Carthage closed the 2016-17 season with a 14-11, 8-8 CCIW record, which put them in a tie for fifth place in the CCIW with North Central College (Ill.).
-The Lady Reds will embark a return to the CCIW Tournament for the first time since 2015 after taking seventh and fifth place the past two seasons, respectively.
2017-18 ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Four freshmen, seven sophomores, five juniors, and three seniors makeup up the 2017-18 Lady Reds roster. The state-by-state breakdown consists for four Wisconsin, 14 Illinois and one Iowa.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Cornell College (Iowa), Knox College and Drew University make up the trio of squads Carthage will face for the first time in school history in 2017-18.
2016-17 CONFERENCE LEADERS
As a team, the Lady Reds paced the CCIW with 30.0 defensive rebounds per game. Morgan Harris led the conference in assists (133) and assists per game (5.5). Bailey Gilbert commanded the CCIW in three-point field goals made per game (2.24).
LACKING AGAINST THE MIAC
Carthage's 70-61 decision over Bethel University (Minn.) last season marked their first-ever victory over a MIAC opponent. The Lady Reds now sport a 1-2 all-time record against MIAC teams. This includes a loss to Concordia University Moorhead in 1977, followed by a 67-45 deficit to St. Thomas University (Minn.) on December 30, 2014.
NOVEMBER 17 BLUES
The last time Carthage opened their season on November 17 was 2009-10, when they registered a 75-51 win over Monmouth College.
SPREADING THINGS OUT
The Lady Reds don't play more than two games in a calender week in 2017-18. Carthage's 2016-17 opening week consisted of three games.
NEW TO THE STAFF
Gracie Sanchez, who played for the Lady Reds from 2012-16, enters her first season as the graduate assistant coach in 2017-18.
IOWA GOLD
The Lady Reds' first three games on the 2017-18 slate are in the state of Iowa. Carthage owns a 12-10 all-time record in Iowa, which includes an 81-77 loss at Loras College last season.
YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK HOME
The Lady Reds open their home schedule against UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. It marks the latest home-opener for Carthage since 2008-09 when the first one took place on January 5.
