[81alum]

Stanford shot 36.4% in the first half, and 36.4% in the second half, for (obviously) 36.4% for the game.

Oregon State shot 65.2% in the first half, and 35.7% in the second, or 49% for the game.  That is a major offensive decline, and improved Stanford defense has to get some of the credit.

After the game, Tara talked about moving Toni to guard Ali Gibson in the second half, who was the frosh guard from Oregon State who had such an excellent first half (in the talk, Gibson was referred to by her number.)  In the first half, Gibson scored 13 with 4 layups, a jumper, and a three pointer--and two misses.  In the second half, Gibson scored 3 points with one three pointer and five misses.  The ten point difference in her performance was equal to the ten point difference in the Oregon State offensive letdown from their first to second half, and of course was more than the margin of the game.

I noticed in the second half that Toni would meet her player (who I now know was Gibson) in the backcourt and shadow her the whole way up the court.  She did this even if it was a different Oregon State player bringing the ball up.  The whole Stanford defense would be back in the half court defense except Toni, who would be harassing her player--even when her player did not have the ball and even while the ballhandler came up court unmolested.  It looked odd to me, but it must have been designed to throw Gibson off stride--or to prevent her from receiving a pass--and perhaps it worked.  In any case, Gibson seems to have been defended better in the second half with Toni on her than she was in the first with others on her.

[81alum]

Stanford shot 36.4% in the first half, and 36.4% in the second half, for (obviously) 36.4% for the game.

Oregon State shot 65.2% in the first half, and 35.7% in the second, or 49% for the game.  That is a major offensive decline, and improved Stanford defense has to get some of the credit.

After the game, Tara talked about moving Toni to guard Ali Gibson in the second half, who was the frosh guard from Oregon State who had such an excellent first half (in the talk, Gibson was referred to by her number.)  In the first half, Gibson scored 13 with 4 layups, a jumper, and a three pointer--and two misses.  In the second half, Gibson scored 3 points with one three pointer and five misses.  The ten point difference in her performance was equal to the ten point difference in the Oregon State offensive letdown from their first to second half, and of course was more than the margin of the game.

I noticed in the second half that Toni would meet her player (who I now know was Gibson) in the backcourt and shadow her the whole way up the court.  She did this even if it was a different Oregon State player bringing the ball up.  The whole Stanford defense would be back in the half court defense except Toni, who would be harassing her player--even when her player did not have the ball and even while the ballhandler came up court unmolested.  It looked odd to me, but it must have been designed to throw Gibson off stride--or to prevent her from receiving a pass--and perhaps it worked.  In any case, Gibson seems to have been defended better in the second half with Toni on her than she was in the first with others on her.