[81alum]

Some comparisons:
Points in the paint:  Stanford 32 Gonzaga 22.  Not as bad as it felt when Barta was killing us.
Second chance points, points off turnovers, fast break points, and bench points were not that far apart.  Not determinative.
Assists: Stanford 15 Gonzaga 10.  Not bad considering how tough the defense was.
Rebounding was not bad--we gave them only 4 offensive rebounds--partly because they shot such a high percentage--but neither side seemed to have a major advantage.  We got 12 offensive rebounds, to be expected perhaps with all the misses.  In any case, we did not lose the game because of rebounding.
Turnovers--only 11 for the game, a big improvement.  That also was not the story of the game.

So if all these secondary stats fail to explain the outcome, then what does?

Shooting percentage from long range, pure and simple.  Without the long range shots we were 19/40, plenty good enough to compete and win.  But Gonzaga got 24 points out of its 13 three point shots.  We got 9 points out of our 18 three point shots.  That is a fifteen point plus a 5 possession difference.  That more than determined this game. 

Why did Karlie only shoot twice and Alanna five times?  Karlie was guarded closely and often stepped around her guard for a two point shot, where she was 2/4. 

Alanna arrived with a reputation for being a good three point shooter but we have not seen any consistency at all from her shot.  Not only was she 0/5, at times they did not guard her and dared her to shoot.  Last year Alanna was 20/60 on her three point shots, but 10 of them came in two games:  Dayton she was 6/8 and Arizona she was 4/5.  Take those away and she was 10/47 in the other 33 games.  Streaky.

Bri was 1/5.  She has been a streaky shooter since her first year.  Last night was a bad night to streak cold.  Marta did take a shot and I did cheer and clap for her--it did not go in and I then realized too late that my clapping may have seemed sarcastic.  It wasn't intended to be.  But what was concerning was that Marta didn't once attack the basket--which was always her strength.  Gonzaga was doing something with their defense that Marta couldn't figure out.  Britt was 0/2 from three point range. 

I wonder whether Brewer can function on defense yet, since she sure seems to be able to shoot.  For example, on the last possession when we needed a three and no defense was required, why not send her out there instead of someone who was struggling?

Over the years I have noticed that our three point shooting goes hot and cold, but it is usually decent at home.  It is when we are away with new sight lines and unfamiliar routines that it can suffer.  To go 3/18 at home was most disheartening.  And it increases my estimation of Gonzaga's shooting that they shot the lights out on an away court.

[81alum]

Some comparisons:
Points in the paint:  Stanford 32 Gonzaga 22.  Not as bad as it felt when Barta was killing us.
Second chance points, points off turnovers, fast break points, and bench points were not that far apart.  Not determinative.
Assists: Stanford 15 Gonzaga 10.  Not bad considering how tough the defense was.
Rebounding was not bad--we gave them only 4 offensive rebounds--partly because they shot such a high percentage--but neither side seemed to have a major advantage.  We got 12 offensive rebounds, to be expected perhaps with all the misses.  In any case, we did not lose the game because of rebounding.
Turnovers--only 11 for the game, a big improvement.  That also was not the story of the game.

So if all these secondary stats fail to explain the outcome, then what does?

Shooting percentage from long range, pure and simple.  Without the long range shots we were 19/40, plenty good enough to compete and win.  But Gonzaga got 24 points out of its 13 three point shots.  We got 9 points out of our 18 three point shots.  That is a fifteen point plus a 5 possession difference.  That more than determined this game. 

Why did Karlie only shoot twice and Alanna five times?  Karlie was guarded closely and often stepped around her guard for a two point shot, where she was 2/4. 

Alanna arrived with a reputation for being a good three point shooter but we have not seen any consistency at all from her shot.  Not only was she 0/5, at times they did not guard her and dared her to shoot.  Last year Alanna was 20/60 on her three point shots, but 10 of them came in two games:  Dayton she was 6/8 and Arizona she was 4/5.  Take those away and she was 10/47 in the other 33 games.  Streaky.

Bri was 1/5.  She has been a streaky shooter since her first year.  Last night was a bad night to streak cold.  Marta did take a shot and I did cheer and clap for her--it did not go in and I then realized too late that my clapping may have seemed sarcastic.  It wasn't intended to be.  But what was concerning was that Marta didn't once attack the basket--which was always her strength.  Gonzaga was doing something with their defense that Marta couldn't figure out.  Britt was 0/2 from three point range. 

I wonder whether Brewer can function on defense yet, since she sure seems to be able to shoot.  For example, on the last possession when we needed a three and no defense was required, why not send her out there instead of someone who was struggling?

Over the years I have noticed that our three point shooting goes hot and cold, but it is usually decent at home.  It is when we are away with new sight lines and unfamiliar routines that it can suffer.  To go 3/18 at home was most disheartening.  And it increases my estimation of Gonzaga's shooting that they shot the lights out on an away court.