[81alum]

Preview:

Our autumn match up with Gonzaga has become a regular occurrence, and not always a happy one for Stanford fans.  Gonzaga changes coaches but seems to always be strong, hardly missing a beat when Kelly Graves went to Oregon and left his long time assistant Lisa Fortier behind to take the reigns.

This year, Gonzaga is 6-1.  They recently defeated both Louisville in overtime and Tennessee by one point.  Their one loss was to Marquette the day after they knocked off Louisville.  Massey has them at 23, AP has them at 23, Coaches at 25.  They are an excellent team and one that is entirely capable of beating us at Maples if we do not play well. 

Gonzaga is putting up some gaudy statistics.  They have a +15 point scoring differential, and given that they have had a stronger strength of schedule than we have, that is meaningful.  They are shooting better than 40% of their threes and making about 7 of them per game--not as many as FGCU but at a higher percentage.  They have a +8 rebound margin.  Perhaps their weakest link: they have just a few more turnovers than assists.  One of their strengths is balance:  they have 4 players averaging double digit production and a fifth is over 9 ppg.  Their offense will not be a simple one to shut down with a scouting report.  Another strength:  they are a VERY experienced team, with every single starter being at least a junior.

As their coach Lisa Fortier says, Gonzaga is a major school in a mid-major conference.  They are clearly as good as most of the schools in the upper half of the Pac-12.

Players:

#15 Ejim, Yvonne is a 6'1" junior forward from Canada who leads Gonzaga in scoring at 17 pts and 8 rebounds per game.  She is shooting 52%.

#22 Maxwell, Brynna is a 6' grad student guard who is a scorching 18/32 from three point range (that is 56%) and is averaging 13ppg.

#14 Truong, Kaylynne is a 5'8" senior guard averaging 13ppg and who has 35 assists to 20 turnovers.

#12 Hollingsworth, Eliza is a 6'3" redshirt junior from Australia (so many Aussies on the west coast!) who is Gonzaga's best inside presence.  Oh, she also is shooting threes at 60% (9/15.)

#11 Truong, Kayleigh is the other sister, has not started all the games but is averaging 9 ppg while "only" shooting treys at 40%.

#11 #24 Williams, McKayla is a 6'1" junior guard from Winward in LA.  She has started all 7 games and is averaging 7ppg.

Last Year:

This was a very close win at Gonzaga for us in a kind of homedcoming game for the Hulls.  Gonzaga came out in the 1st quarter
and outscored us 23-13.  We clawed back into the game over the next three quarters to pull out a 66-62 win, but our offense never got into high gear--we never scored more than 19 points in a quarter.  The Gonzaga defense was solid.  Jones was kept out of the game with an injury.  Brink was in constant foul trouble.  Belibi and Jump each had 14, Brink had 12 (and 4 personal fouls in only 19 minutes of play) and Lexie 11. 

Gonzaga's top scorer Melody Kempton is gone, but Hollingworth had 12, Ejim had 11.  The Truongs were held down to 2/15, but of course all three of our perimeter defenders are gone this year.

Gonzaga vs. Tennesee

The Gonzaga win over Tennessee in on ESPN replay, and is an excellent game to watch to size up our next two opponents. 

Gonzaga's offense does not do a lot of screens or picks, although I saw Ejim setting a few, not particularly effectively.  She got called for a moving screen twice.  The offense looks to me to be mostly a 4 out 1 in, with the one who is in often in motion going in and exchanging positions with someone else on the perimeter.  This gives them a fair number of open looks from three point range, but both Ejim and Hollingsworth have excellent moves around and under the basket to get around taller players.  In short, we will need to both defend the perimeter and the paint, which is the point of their offense.  Tennessee did so-so at each.  Its length probably made them more successful in the paint, but they gave up 4 treys in the first quarter before they buckled down and adjusted.

Gonzaga was somewhat lucky to win this game.  There were many questionable calls, but the refs calling a tight game probably helped them and hurt Tennessee more.  A strange traveling call with 12 seconds left gave Gonzaga the ball and Ejim got them the lead.  Then Tennessee missed three layups at the other end to lose.

[81alum]

Preview:

Our autumn match up with Gonzaga has become a regular occurrence, and not always a happy one for Stanford fans.  Gonzaga changes coaches but seems to always be strong, hardly missing a beat when Kelly Graves went to Oregon and left his long time assistant Lisa Fortier behind to take the reigns.

This year, Gonzaga is 6-1.  They recently defeated both Louisville in overtime and Tennessee by one point.  Their one loss was to Marquette the day after they knocked off Louisville.  Massey has them at 23, AP has them at 23, Coaches at 25.  They are an excellent team and one that is entirely capable of beating us at Maples if we do not play well. 

Gonzaga is putting up some gaudy statistics.  They have a +15 point scoring differential, and given that they have had a stronger strength of schedule than we have, that is meaningful.  They are shooting better than 40% of their threes and making about 7 of them per game--not as many as FGCU but at a higher percentage.  They have a +8 rebound margin.  Perhaps their weakest link: they have just a few more turnovers than assists.  One of their strengths is balance:  they have 4 players averaging double digit production and a fifth is over 9 ppg.  Their offense will not be a simple one to shut down with a scouting report.  Another strength:  they are a VERY experienced team, with every single starter being at least a junior.

As their coach Lisa Fortier says, Gonzaga is a major school in a mid-major conference.  They are clearly as good as most of the schools in the upper half of the Pac-12.

Players:

#15 Ejim, Yvonne is a 6'1" junior forward from Canada who leads Gonzaga in scoring at 17 pts and 8 rebounds per game.  She is shooting 52%.

#22 Maxwell, Brynna is a 6' grad student guard who is a scorching 18/32 from three point range (that is 56%) and is averaging 13ppg.

#14 Truong, Kaylynne is a 5'8" senior guard averaging 13ppg and who has 35 assists to 20 turnovers.

#12 Hollingsworth, Eliza is a 6'3" redshirt junior from Australia (so many Aussies on the west coast!) who is Gonzaga's best inside presence.  Oh, she also is shooting threes at 60% (9/15.)

#11 Truong, Kayleigh is the other sister, has not started all the games but is averaging 9 ppg while "only" shooting treys at 40%.

#11 #24 Williams, McKayla is a 6'1" junior guard from Winward in LA.  She has started all 7 games and is averaging 7ppg.

Last Year:

This was a very close win at Gonzaga for us in a kind of homedcoming game for the Hulls.  Gonzaga came out in the 1st quarter
and outscored us 23-13.  We clawed back into the game over the next three quarters to pull out a 66-62 win, but our offense never got into high gear--we never scored more than 19 points in a quarter.  The Gonzaga defense was solid.  Jones was kept out of the game with an injury.  Brink was in constant foul trouble.  Belibi and Jump each had 14, Brink had 12 (and 4 personal fouls in only 19 minutes of play) and Lexie 11. 

Gonzaga's top scorer Melody Kempton is gone, but Hollingworth had 12, Ejim had 11.  The Truongs were held down to 2/15, but of course all three of our perimeter defenders are gone this year.

Gonzaga vs. Tennesee

The Gonzaga win over Tennessee in on ESPN replay, and is an excellent game to watch to size up our next two opponents. 

Gonzaga's offense does not do a lot of screens or picks, although I saw Ejim setting a few, not particularly effectively.  She got called for a moving screen twice.  The offense looks to me to be mostly a 4 out 1 in, with the one who is in often in motion going in and exchanging positions with someone else on the perimeter.  This gives them a fair number of open looks from three point range, but both Ejim and Hollingsworth have excellent moves around and under the basket to get around taller players.  In short, we will need to both defend the perimeter and the paint, which is the point of their offense.  Tennessee did so-so at each.  Its length probably made them more successful in the paint, but they gave up 4 treys in the first quarter before they buckled down and adjusted.

Gonzaga was somewhat lucky to win this game.  There were many questionable calls, but the refs calling a tight game probably helped them and hurt Tennessee more.  A strange traveling call with 12 seconds left gave Gonzaga the ball and Ejim got them the lead.  Then Tennessee missed three layups at the other end to lose.

[M T]

Good review (except not anything about defense).

It sounds like SCU with less screening and higher caliber players.  Betts and Prechtel won't get much playing time.

[M T]

Good review (except not anything about defense).

It sounds like SCU with less screening and higher caliber players.  Betts and Prechtel won't get much playing time.

[81alum]

Here is something else: Kayleigh Truong has been playing through a nagging lower leg injury, but reaggravated it against Tennessee.  It was remarkable, really.  She was in so much pain that she could not run the floor but the game did not stop, and her team played defense at the other end without her for one possession.  When they got the ball back and advanced it they passed it to her and she hit a trey, essentially while hopping on one leg.  Finally they got the game stopped and got her out of the game.

According to the Gonzaga message board, both she and Maud Huijbens, a 6'3" reserve forward averaging 18 mmg, are either out or not at full strength for their game with us.  Huijbens was whacked in the side of the face with an intentional Tennessee foul--she came back to play in the game but perhaps there was a later concussion protocol?  As a Zag poster said, "Stanford is another story… without Kayleigh and Maud at 100%, it will not be a fair example of this years team."  Neither appeared in their game Monday against Maine.  They have a game this afternoon (Thursday) against Stephen Austin in Texas so we will see if either is back.

They also pointed out that Brynna Maxwell is a grad transfer from Utah, where we have faced her before.  A solid player from a solid Pac 12 team has helped to reinforce the Zags this year.  Maxwell scored 21 against Louisville to give the Zags the win in one of their biggest program victories.

---

As for defense, MT, Gonzaga seems to me to play mostly a very solid, nothing crazy man defense.  They don't do a lot of switching so perhaps they are vulnerable to screening?  They also did not seem to sag off nearly as far as our defense is sometimes willing to do, but neither are they ridiculously aggressive a la Texas.  They would bring some help when Tennessee penetrated into the paint. 

Think about what we would look like with 3 or 4 Hannah Jump quality defenders out there on the floor at the same time.  Sound positionally, reasonably athletic, but they lack the length of a South Carolina or the disruption of a Texas.   I have not seen them press so far, nor have I seen a zone so far, but I'm limited thus far only to the Tennessee game and perhaps they change their personality depending on the opponent.

[81alum]

Here is something else: Kayleigh Truong has been playing through a nagging lower leg injury, but reaggravated it against Tennessee.  It was remarkable, really.  She was in so much pain that she could not run the floor but the game did not stop, and her team played defense at the other end without her for one possession.  When they got the ball back and advanced it they passed it to her and she hit a trey, essentially while hopping on one leg.  Finally they got the game stopped and got her out of the game.

According to the Gonzaga message board, both she and Maud Huijbens, a 6'3" reserve forward averaging 18 mmg, are either out or not at full strength for their game with us.  Huijbens was whacked in the side of the face with an intentional Tennessee foul--she came back to play in the game but perhaps there was a later concussion protocol?  As a Zag poster said, "Stanford is another story… without Kayleigh and Maud at 100%, it will not be a fair example of this years team."  Neither appeared in their game Monday against Maine.  They have a game this afternoon (Thursday) against Stephen Austin in Texas so we will see if either is back.

They also pointed out that Brynna Maxwell is a grad transfer from Utah, where we have faced her before.  A solid player from a solid Pac 12 team has helped to reinforce the Zags this year.  Maxwell scored 21 against Louisville to give the Zags the win in one of their biggest program victories.

---

As for defense, MT, Gonzaga seems to me to play mostly a very solid, nothing crazy man defense.  They don't do a lot of switching so perhaps they are vulnerable to screening?  They also did not seem to sag off nearly as far as our defense is sometimes willing to do, but neither are they ridiculously aggressive a la Texas.  They would bring some help when Tennessee penetrated into the paint. 

Think about what we would look like with 3 or 4 Hannah Jump quality defenders out there on the floor at the same time.  Sound positionally, reasonably athletic, but they lack the length of a South Carolina or the disruption of a Texas.   I have not seen them press so far, nor have I seen a zone so far, but I'm limited thus far only to the Tennessee game and perhaps they change their personality depending on the opponent.

[M T]

As for defense, MT, Gonzaga ...

Thanks!

[M T]

As for defense, MT, Gonzaga ...

Thanks!

[freddot5]

Have two tickets lower bowl Section 11, Row GG. Parking pass also. PM if interested.

[freddot5]

Have two tickets lower bowl Section 11, Row GG. Parking pass also. PM if interested.

[81alum]

Neither Kayleigh Truong nor Maud Huijbens played in Gonzaga's Thursday victory over Stephen F Austin in Texas.  But neither did Eliza Hollingsworth--meaning that Gonzaga is 2 starters and 1 key reserve down.  Obviously I don't know if any of the three will be back for our game.

Cali Stokes, a 5'11" redshirt freshman guard, started instead.  She is 11/24 shooting for the year, but has not yet made a trey.  

Gonzaga won 71-59 and led the whole game after a 25-9 first quarter.  So their injury-riddled team was able to beat a feisty #77 Stephen F. Austen fairly easily on the road.

[81alum]

Neither Kayleigh Truong nor Maud Huijbens played in Gonzaga's Thursday victory over Stephen F Austin in Texas.  But neither did Eliza Hollingsworth--meaning that Gonzaga is 2 starters and 1 key reserve down.  Obviously I don't know if any of the three will be back for our game.

Cali Stokes, a 5'11" redshirt freshman guard, started instead.  She is 11/24 shooting for the year, but has not yet made a trey.  

Gonzaga won 71-59 and led the whole game after a 25-9 first quarter.  So their injury-riddled team was able to beat a feisty #77 Stephen F. Austen fairly easily on the road.

[81alum]

I wonder what percentage of the South Carolina crowd will come back for the Gonzaga game.  It could be a good one.  If it were not for the Zag injuries I would be confident it would be a competitive game.  Now, not sure, although Gonzaga has done well enough without all its pieces so far.  In any case, this will be more competitive than a fair number of Pac 12 games.

[81alum]

I wonder what percentage of the South Carolina crowd will come back for the Gonzaga game.  It could be a good one.  If it were not for the Zag injuries I would be confident it would be a competitive game.  Now, not sure, although Gonzaga has done well enough without all its pieces so far.  In any case, this will be more competitive than a fair number of Pac 12 games.

[WBB fan]

I wonder what percentage of the South Carolina crowd will come back for the Gonzaga game.  It could be a good one.  If it were not for the Zag injuries I would be confident it would be a competitive game.  Now, not sure, although Gonzaga has done well enough without all its pieces so far.  In any case, this will be more competitive than a fair number of Pac 12 games.

As will the next two games after this -- first up Tennessee on the 18th, then Creighton on the 20th, currently #13, definitely not to be overlooked.

[WBB fan]

I wonder what percentage of the South Carolina crowd will come back for the Gonzaga game.  It could be a good one.  If it were not for the Zag injuries I would be confident it would be a competitive game.  Now, not sure, although Gonzaga has done well enough without all its pieces so far.  In any case, this will be more competitive than a fair number of Pac 12 games.

As will the next two games after this -- first up Tennessee on the 18th, then Creighton on the 20th, currently #13, definitely not to be overlooked.

[81alum]

I've been reading the Zag's wbb board--not very active unfortunately--but the fans there do not know if Kayleigh Truong or Maud Huijbens are able to play.  They did not play during the game Thursday in Texas, and apparently the team traveled directly here, so those two may not be on the road trip.  After us, they go home for a game Tuesday, so they have been doing a lot of traveling.

See you all in a couple of hours.  And remember the Cardboard rendezvous at halftime on the concourse by section 7--usually we step down outside the glass doors to the outer ring where it is quieter and cooler to talk.

[81alum]

I've been reading the Zag's wbb board--not very active unfortunately--but the fans there do not know if Kayleigh Truong or Maud Huijbens are able to play.  They did not play during the game Thursday in Texas, and apparently the team traveled directly here, so those two may not be on the road trip.  After us, they go home for a game Tuesday, so they have been doing a lot of traveling.

See you all in a couple of hours.  And remember the Cardboard rendezvous at halftime on the concourse by section 7--usually we step down outside the glass doors to the outer ring where it is quieter and cooler to talk.

[WBB fan]

I've been reading the Zag's wbb board--not very active unfortunately--but the fans there do not know if Kayleigh Truong or Maud Huijbens are able to play.  They did not play during the game Thursday in Texas, and apparently the team traveled directly here, so those two may not be on the road trip.  After us, they go home for a game Tuesday, so they have been doing a lot of traveling.

See you all in a couple of hours.  And remember the Cardboard rendezvous at halftime on the concourse by section 7--usually we step down outside the glass doors to the outer ring where it is quieter and cooler to talk.

A real bummer for me, but I have to miss this game -- an unbreakable conflict. So I'll miss the rendezvous. Next time! Cheer them all on!

[WBB fan]

I've been reading the Zag's wbb board--not very active unfortunately--but the fans there do not know if Kayleigh Truong or Maud Huijbens are able to play.  They did not play during the game Thursday in Texas, and apparently the team traveled directly here, so those two may not be on the road trip.  After us, they go home for a game Tuesday, so they have been doing a lot of traveling.

See you all in a couple of hours.  And remember the Cardboard rendezvous at halftime on the concourse by section 7--usually we step down outside the glass doors to the outer ring where it is quieter and cooler to talk.

A real bummer for me, but I have to miss this game -- an unbreakable conflict. So I'll miss the rendezvous. Next time! Cheer them all on!

[CompSci87]

I'll be watching from home. Still sick with influenza A. At least it's not Covid.

[CompSci87]

I'll be watching from home. Still sick with influenza A. At least it's not Covid.

[BobK]

Join 81 Alum and chimera and me down the stairs behind section 7 for half time discussion. Get well comp sci
I’m wearing a Stanford hoodie Jacket

[BobK]

Join 81 Alum and chimera and me down the stairs behind section 7 for half time discussion. Get well comp sci
I’m wearing a Stanford hoodie Jacket

[martyup]

---

---

Brink breaks the ice with a 3 on our first possession.

[martyup]

---

---

Brink breaks the ice with a 3 on our first possession.

[BostonCard]

Brink follows it up with a three, the old fashioned way. Six points and two rebounds in about three minutes.

BC

[BostonCard]

Brink follows it up with a three, the old fashioned way. Six points and two rebounds in about three minutes.

BC

[martyup]

How's the crowd at Maples?

[martyup]

How's the crowd at Maples?

[M T]

Join 81 Alum and chimera and me down the stairs behind section 7 for half time discussion.  Get well comp sci
I’m wearing a Stanford hoodie Jacket

I’m wearing Stanford gear too as if that helps. My hat will be 12 years old

---

No 3 pt shooters on the floor as the quarter was ending. That hurt

[M T]

Join 81 Alum and chimera and me down the stairs behind section 7 for half time discussion.  Get well comp sci
I’m wearing a Stanford hoodie Jacket

I’m wearing Stanford gear too as if that helps. My hat will be 12 years old

---

No 3 pt shooters on the floor as the quarter was ending. That hurt

[martyup]

A 19 point quarter, which isn't bad if we hadn't allowed the Zags to score 18.

Jump in rare foul trouble with 2 in the first quarter.

[martyup]

A 19 point quarter, which isn't bad if we hadn't allowed the Zags to score 18.

Jump in rare foul trouble with 2 in the first quarter.

[M T]

How's the crowd at Maples?

Maybe 200 more than last night

[M T]

How's the crowd at Maples?

Maybe 200 more than last night

[martyup]

With Jump on the bench, the Zags are clogging the paint and preventing the entry pass.

Brink then hits a long 2 and Lepolo hits a 3.  Then Demetre hits three 3s. That will keep them honest.

---

We lead at the half 45-36. We are 8-13 from beyond the arc (61.5%)!

The problem is that Truong has scored 20 points on us at the half. She is 4-7 from 3.

---

The Zags only have 7 players dressed, and three of them have 2 fouls.

[martyup]

With Jump on the bench, the Zags are clogging the paint and preventing the entry pass.

Brink then hits a long 2 and Lepolo hits a 3.  Then Demetre hits three 3s. That will keep them honest.

---

We lead at the half 45-36. We are 8-13 from beyond the arc (61.5%)!

The problem is that Truong has scored 20 points on us at the half. She is 4-7 from 3.

---

The Zags only have 7 players dressed, and three of them have 2 fouls.

[mbdude]

Demetre gets some meaningful extended minutes and rewards

[mbdude]

Demetre gets some meaningful extended minutes and rewards