The loss in 4 stats:
1. 3-point shots: NC State 7 of 17 (41.2%), Stanford 5 of 25 (20%). Apart from Jump, half of our usual O game was AWOL (2 for 17).
2. free throws: NC State 16 of 19; Stanford 6 of 7 (unbelievably ALL 7 by Kiki!). There's your 10-point final score differential. Stanford's guards rarely even tried to take it to the hoop, possibly earning FTAs. Instead, they launched lots of errant long shots. That persistent pattern cost us.
3. bench scoring: NC State 14 points; Stanford 7 points. We've seen the unproductive-bench script play out throughout the season.
4. personal fouls called on...: NC State 14, Stanford 22. This too was costly. Was it ref bias, lack of discipline, being too amped up, or Cardinal defenders being unable to keep up with James and giving her 11 FTAs, of which she made 10. IMO, the last three factors largely explain the marked disparities in foul calls and foul shots.
Overall, NC State was too fast for Stanford, on both O and D. But had Brink not fouled out, the Cardinal might have had a chance of cutting the 8-point deficit that existed after 3 quarters. Stanford effectively played 4 on 5 when on offense. When Brink fouled out early in Q4, our O was basically Kiki, aided by one trey each from Hannah and Brooke. That's all, literally.
NC State was the deeper team. Its game w/ Texas should be an interesting matchup. Two tough, intense, and quick teams, on both O and D.
1. 3-point shots: NC State 7 of 17 (41.2%), Stanford 5 of 25 (20%). Apart from Jump, half of our usual O game was AWOL (2 for 17).
2. free throws: NC State 16 of 19; Stanford 6 of 7 (unbelievably ALL 7 by Kiki!). There's your 10-point final score differential. Stanford's guards rarely even tried to take it to the hoop, possibly earning FTAs. Instead, they launched lots of errant long shots. That persistent pattern cost us.
3. bench scoring: NC State 14 points; Stanford 7 points. We've seen the unproductive-bench script play out throughout the season.
4. personal fouls called on...: NC State 14, Stanford 22. This too was costly. Was it ref bias, lack of discipline, being too amped up, or Cardinal defenders being unable to keep up with James and giving her 11 FTAs, of which she made 10. IMO, the last three factors largely explain the marked disparities in foul calls and foul shots.
Overall, NC State was too fast for Stanford, on both O and D. But had Brink not fouled out, the Cardinal might have had a chance of cutting the 8-point deficit that existed after 3 quarters. Stanford effectively played 4 on 5 when on offense. When Brink fouled out early in Q4, our O was basically Kiki, aided by one trey each from Hannah and Brooke. That's all, literally.
NC State was the deeper team. Its game w/ Texas should be an interesting matchup. Two tough, intense, and quick teams, on both O and D.