Who Was That Ref?

[YemenBear]

I was able to attend the WAC post-season basketball tournament hosted by Tulsa back in early March. It was great because both men and women played in the same place on same dates. Lots of good basketball.

There was a lady ref who called several of the women's games including the champhionship (I'm pretty sure). Don't know who she was, but she was very good at calling the game consistently and keeping play under control. She's fairly young, short-cut blonde hair, kicks her feet up high behind her when she runs. She even called a technical foul on La Tech's Coach Barremore when he complained just once too often.

It was nice because I was able to watch the tournament without a team to which I'm emotionally attached. Great to watch several teams play which whom I'm not that familiar and enjoy the sport. That's why I think my opinion of her abilities is non-biased. I could watch the games from an objective point-of-view. She maintained good position on the court and was confident in her calls.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her at the first and second round regionals hosted by Baylor. She did another great job, although my bias had kicked in here.

Don't know if any of you know her or not. If you do, please pass along one fan's assessment that she's doing a terrific job.

Sic em,

[mred]

A quick boxscore check shows that the ref you are talking about must be Melissa Barlow.

I'm tempted to make some way to determine Big 12 ref tendencies. I might see how many fouls are called in each game, and see how it relates to who is playing, where it's played, and who is refereeing. That could be a fun project.

I found a pic. Is this her? http://www.officiating.com/images/front/melissa_barlow.jpg Apparently she is a WNBA ref as well. In fact, she was a ref at the 2001 WNBA all-star game. It seems you aren't the only one who thinks she's a good ref. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[YemenBear]

Photo sure looks like her. Man, you people on this site really are good!

Don't know how many Big XII games she called during the season, but as stated previously, I thought she did a super job in the games I saw her officiate. Thanks for your help.

[schooner2]

Yep she reffed the national championship game. I forget her name but she is also in one of those "What it means to be a ref" commercials they had on TV during the NCAA Tourney.

[OhMandy]

I see that ref at many Big West, WCC, and Pac-10 games. She's pretty good. I can't stand Carla Fujimoto or Marianne Karp. Both are terrible and how they get selected for Final Four's is beyond me.

[dem]

Melissa Barlow is the subject of an article called "A Star in Stripes," by Dick Rockne of the Seattle Times. This article appeared in the official program for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in Kansas City in 2000. (It may also be in the Final Four program for that year, but I haven't seen that program.)It's a very nice article, but I have been unsuccessful in finding a web link.

[cyfanatic]

Thanks, everyone for noting that there is at least ONE good official out there. I was pretty disillusioned with the officiating this last season.