[Griffins78]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=7652.msg59927#msg59927 date=1362971141]1. Was Chiney shut down by UCLA's defense, or was there something wrong with Chiney tonight?  She seemed sluggish the way Joslyn has seemed sluggish this tournament.  A bug?

UCLA's defense was good, but Chiney looked exhausted. Maybe Tara will say in the postgame whether Chiney caught the bug that Jos had. If so, I hope it runs its course quickly and she's feeling 100% when the NCAAs start.[/quote]I agree. 3 physically tough games in 3 nights (the last one ending at essentially 11:30pm) as opponents tried to physically harass, exhaust, and take Chiney out of her game. As long as they had bodies and fouls to give the opponents shoved, clawed, grabbed, bumped, etc. Her shots were often short (tired legs). She wasn't the only one tired - both teams seemed gassed at times. That's what made Amber's play even more remarkable. She kept motoring. UCLA, like Colorado, extended the defense and tried to harass the ball from coming into Chiney, but they all sagged and collapsed onto Chiney as soon as she got the ball. At times, she seemed to be intent on getting to the basket to get her offensive game going instead of looking to pass the ball back out.

[quote author=81alum link=topic=7652.msg59927#msg59927 date=1362971141]2. Why was Bonnie not much used in the second half after going 3/5 from three in the first, providing our best offense at that time?  (Actually, she was in for 7 minutes in the second half but did not take a shot.  Did they change their defense on her?)

They seemed to be up in her face in the second half, making her put the ball on the floor, where she's not too secure.[/quote]UCLA started the 2nd half in a 1-2-2 zone which was effective against Chiney. Tara countered with Bonnie and UCLA immediately came out of the zone and went to man. They extended their defense and got in the face of anyone that touched the ball, well beyond the 3 point arc and kept a close eye on Bonnie. But Bonnie did get a shot off and her first 3 point shot of the second half was way short and hit the front of the rim. Then she was out the majority of the 2nd half. Made me recall that after her last 3 pointer in the 1st half she had a pained look on her face that made me think she was hit in the face or head after the shot. Maybe Tara was concerned. So Tara got UCLA out of the zone that was so effective against Cal by using her Bonnie weapon but when UCLA changed - it made Bonnie less of a threat.

[Griffins78]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=7652.msg59927#msg59927 date=1362971141]1. Was Chiney shut down by UCLA's defense, or was there something wrong with Chiney tonight?  She seemed sluggish the way Joslyn has seemed sluggish this tournament.  A bug?

UCLA's defense was good, but Chiney looked exhausted. Maybe Tara will say in the postgame whether Chiney caught the bug that Jos had. If so, I hope it runs its course quickly and she's feeling 100% when the NCAAs start.[/quote]I agree. 3 physically tough games in 3 nights (the last one ending at essentially 11:30pm) as opponents tried to physically harass, exhaust, and take Chiney out of her game. As long as they had bodies and fouls to give the opponents shoved, clawed, grabbed, bumped, etc. Her shots were often short (tired legs). She wasn't the only one tired - both teams seemed gassed at times. That's what made Amber's play even more remarkable. She kept motoring. UCLA, like Colorado, extended the defense and tried to harass the ball from coming into Chiney, but they all sagged and collapsed onto Chiney as soon as she got the ball. At times, she seemed to be intent on getting to the basket to get her offensive game going instead of looking to pass the ball back out.

[quote author=81alum link=topic=7652.msg59927#msg59927 date=1362971141]2. Why was Bonnie not much used in the second half after going 3/5 from three in the first, providing our best offense at that time?  (Actually, she was in for 7 minutes in the second half but did not take a shot.  Did they change their defense on her?)

They seemed to be up in her face in the second half, making her put the ball on the floor, where she's not too secure.[/quote]UCLA started the 2nd half in a 1-2-2 zone which was effective against Chiney. Tara countered with Bonnie and UCLA immediately came out of the zone and went to man. They extended their defense and got in the face of anyone that touched the ball, well beyond the 3 point arc and kept a close eye on Bonnie. But Bonnie did get a shot off and her first 3 point shot of the second half was way short and hit the front of the rim. Then she was out the majority of the 2nd half. Made me recall that after her last 3 pointer in the 1st half she had a pained look on her face that made me think she was hit in the face or head after the shot. Maybe Tara was concerned. So Tara got UCLA out of the zone that was so effective against Cal by using her Bonnie weapon but when UCLA changed - it made Bonnie less of a threat.