National Tournament News

Galesburg, IL 3-13-08
Carl Sandburg College (26-7) received the #4 seed and a bye in the first round of the NJCAA DII Women's Basketball National Tournament that is being held in East Peoria, IL March 19-22.  CSC will open play Thursday, March 20 at 4pm in the quarterfinals against the winner of the Illinois Central vs. Mesa, AZ game which is the 19th at 2pm.  For more information on the national tournament go to www.icc.edu/njcaatournament Brackets and seedings for the tournament are on this website.

Region IV Tournament News

River Grove, IL 3-8-08
Carl Sandburg College advanced to the national tournament in women's basketball with a 75-51 win over Black Hawk College in the Region IV final.  Sandburg led 35-16 at the half.  CSC was led by Heather Larson the tournay MVP with 20 points including 6-11 in 3 point shots.  Joining Larson on the all-tournament team were Ashley McKown who had 6 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists and played a fine overall floor game.  Also making the all tournament team was Britney Below who finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds. 
CSC will enter the national tournament with a 26-7 record and having won both regional and conference championships this season.  The Chargers will likely open play at the national tournament on March 19th. 
CSC Coach Mike Bailey-"Heather hit big shots for us and Britney Below had a nice game inside for us.  The best thing we saw as coaches was we extended the lead at the end of the first half with our floor leader Ashley on the  bench with 2 fouls.  Katie Wilson, Sara Turk, and Courtnee Brown did a nice job in that stretch for us. Our intensity the first half was outstanding and we need that for 40 minutes here on out!!  We are extremely happy for our whole team but especially the sophomores.  This group is 59-9 in their two years and they get to end at the national tournament together!!"

River Grove, IL 3-1-08
Carl Sandburg College (25-7) moved one step closer to the national tournament with a 71-40 win over Elgin College in the semifinals of the Region IV Women's Basketball Tournament.  Elgin, playing a mixture of zone defenses, got off to a good start behind a three point play by Ariana Topps who finished with 18 and a running one hander by Karin Herrera.  From that point on it was all CSC.  Sandburg led 34-20 at the half and extended the lead gradually over the last 20 minutes. 
The Chargers were led by Heather Larson once again who had 20 including 6-11 behind the 3 pt. line and Allison Epping finished in double figures with 10.  10 players for CSC scored.  Allison Epping led the way on the glass with 8 rebs. and Katie Willson played great defense all night and ended up with 5 steals. 
CSC plays Arrowhead Conference rival Black Hawk in the title game next Saturday back at Triton College.  Noon is the scheduled tip time.  Black Hawk knocked off the two seed College of Lake County by a score of 75-62. 
CSC Coach Mike Bailey-"Teams are playing a lot of zone against us right now and I think we are taking what they are giving us and that is a lot of perimeter and not a lot inside.  We played solid defense again and limited them to 10 offensive rebounds which is pretty good.  They were athletic and hungry and I thought we met the challenge very well.  The championship game will be two teams that know each other very well and paying attention to details will be very important."

Galesburg, IL 2-28-08
Carl Sandburg College (24-7) opened the Region IV DII Women's Basketball Tournament with a 79-41 win over Waubonsee College.  Sandburg led 38-8 at the half.  CSC was led by Heather Larson with 27 points including 24 on 8 3's.  Ashley McKown added 14 and Sara Turk had 10.  Waubonsee was led by Ashlee Jones with 12 and Cassie McKenzie with 10. 
CSC advances to play in the regional semifinals Saturday at noon in River Grove, IL  on the campus of Triton College.  They will take on the winner of the McHenry-Elgin game.
 CSC Coach Mike Bailey-"We weren't very consistent on the offensive end and gave up too much dribble penetration.  We have worked on these things over and over in practice and may need to evaluate how we are teaching.  It's always good to win in the tourney and we are happy to be moving on.  The girls are excited about their opportunity."

Galesburg, IL 2-21-08
Carl Sandburg would like to release the Region IV Division II Women's Basketball Schedule.  The Sandburg women are the #1 seed and will start postseason play Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 6pm in John Lewis Gym against Waubonsee College.  If the Chargers win they will play March 1 and March 8, 2008 at Triton College in River Grove, IL.  The semi-finals and the finals of the Reg. IV Tournament will both have a noon tip time if CSC advances.
The national tournament is in East Peoria, IL hosted by Illinois Central College and runs from March 19-22, 2008.  CSC's women are trying to get to the nationals for the fourth consecutive year.

Sandburg 43 vs ICC 47
March 20

Sandburg 50  vs Johnson Co. 59
CSC Takes 6th Place
March 22

Sandburg 79 vs Waubonsee 41
Galesburg, IL

Sandburg 75 vs Black Hawk 51
River Grove, IL

Michael Bailey
Head Coach Chargers Women's Basketball
Mike is entering his 10th year as a head coach at CSC. He is from Oelwein, IA and holds degrees from North Iowa Area Community College and The University of Northern Iowa. His coaching stops include BC Wetzikon in Wetzikon, Switzerland, Northern Iowa under Mr. Eldon Miller, and Southeastern Community College under Mr. Jim Wyatt. Mike and his wife Kelly reside in Galesburg and have two children- Steele and Skyler.

Michelle Dennison
Assistant Coach CSC Women's Basketball
Michelle Dennison, former CSC player, will also serve as the assistant women's basketball coach. Dennison is a Galesburg High School graduate having played for Head Coach Evan Massey and she just completed her career at CSC with a record of 64-6 as a player at the College