[M T]

The pre-game projections proved on target. The Creighton article linked projected us winning 75-59 - a couple of made FTs and just one Jump three would have made that prediction exact. Posted above was eSPN line of us by 13.5 and we won by 13.

If you watched the substitution pattern in this game, and how Tara handles 20-point leads her entire career, you'd have recognized that Stanford starters were fairly easily beating Creighton, but the subs were getting beaten.  The final score is just a reflection of how much time the subs were on the floor.   Tara uses weaker teams as an opportunity to give experience to her subs. 

This weaker team was ranked #21 and so wasn't too weak.  Their style of play (at both ends) countered the usual advantages of our subs.  Stanford did have to play their starters more than usual.  The date of their game against Stanford has probably been marked by an asterisk on their calendar all season.

Up 17 at the end of the first quarter, Tara started the 2nd quarter with 3 subs on the floor.  Then 2 minutes into the 2nd (up 16), she put in a 4th sub.  3 minutes later when the lead shrunk to 12, she pulled Belibi, Nivar, Bosgana, Demetre (and Jones), putting in 4 starters (and Emma-nnopu).
This pattern keeps repeating itself throughout the game.

We were up 22 in the 4th quarter.  Lepolo gets pulled with 8:35 left.  Iriafen gets pulled with 7:18 left.  Brink gets pulled with 6:56 left (up 17).   The margin drops  down to 12 and Tara sends back in 3 starters at 4:05.

The starters averaged +/- of more than 18 in under 30 minutes on the floor.  The subs did not fare so well.

Some thoughts:

• Brink had only 2 fouls called on her during 29 minutes against the Missy team.   Remarkable.
  
• I only saw Missy go to the monitor once during the game (and it was during a timeout).   Remarkable.
  
• A tip of the hat to the Stanford coaches for calling that Lepolo needed to be ready to shoot tonight.
  
• I have the feeling that Stanford's switching defense was designed for exactly this kind of team.
  
• Jones again had the lowest +/- of the starters.
  
• Lepolo started off hot on her 3s, but kept putting them up when not so hot.  I had no problem with that.
  
• While Stanford played pretty well at the fast pace of the game, I do think that hurt some of our 3pt shooting.
  

[M T]

The pre-game projections proved on target. The Creighton article linked projected us winning 75-59 - a couple of made FTs and just one Jump three would have made that prediction exact. Posted above was eSPN line of us by 13.5 and we won by 13.

If you watched the substitution pattern in this game, and how Tara handles 20-point leads her entire career, you'd have recognized that Stanford starters were fairly easily beating Creighton, but the subs were getting beaten.  The final score is just a reflection of how much time the subs were on the floor.   Tara uses weaker teams as an opportunity to give experience to her subs. 

This weaker team was ranked #21 and so wasn't too weak.  Their style of play (at both ends) countered the usual advantages of our subs.  Stanford did have to play their starters more than usual.  The date of their game against Stanford has probably been marked by an asterisk on their calendar all season.

Up 17 at the end of the first quarter, Tara started the 2nd quarter with 3 subs on the floor.  Then 2 minutes into the 2nd (up 16), she put in a 4th sub.  3 minutes later when the lead shrunk to 12, she pulled Belibi, Nivar, Bosgana, Demetre (and Jones), putting in 4 starters (and Emma-nnopu).
This pattern keeps repeating itself throughout the game.

We were up 22 in the 4th quarter.  Lepolo gets pulled with 8:35 left.  Iriafen gets pulled with 7:18 left.  Brink gets pulled with 6:56 left (up 17).   The margin drops  down to 12 and Tara sends back in 3 starters at 4:05.

The starters averaged +/- of more than 18 in under 30 minutes on the floor.  The subs did not fare so well.

Some thoughts:

• Brink had only 2 fouls called on her during 29 minutes against the Missy team.   Remarkable.
  
• I only saw Missy go to the monitor once during the game (and it was during a timeout).   Remarkable.
  
• A tip of the hat to the Stanford coaches for calling that Lepolo needed to be ready to shoot tonight.
  
• I have the feeling that Stanford's switching defense was designed for exactly this kind of team.
  
• Jones again had the lowest +/- of the starters.
  
• Lepolo started off hot on her 3s, but kept putting them up when not so hot.  I had no problem with that.
  
• While Stanford played pretty well at the fast pace of the game, I do think that hurt some of our 3pt shooting.