WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - Printable Version

WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - Printable Version

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WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - 81alum - 12-14-2018

Preview:

No. 3 Baylor (Massey ratings) comes to Maples on Saturday. Baylor is led by 6'7" Kalani Brown, who is averaging 16 points at 65% from inside. But Baylor has a second tower in 6'4" Lauren Cox who is a more versatile scorer. To complement these twin towers Baylor has Juicy Landrum, a 5'8" guard making 44% of her treys. Their point guard, Chloe Jackson, has a great 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, and scores on 55% of her shots, but has not attempted a single three point shot this year. The closest anyone has come to controlling Baylor was ASU, who fronted Kalani Brown to deny her the ball and pulled the Baylor defense out by keeping all five on offense mostly beyond the perimeter. If we have a chance, it will be with Alanna and Nadia hitting treys to pull Brown and Cox outside, and Williams, Carrington, and others then getting behind the Baylor bigs with open lanes to the basket. The Baylor bigs are also slow, so if our defense can force Baylor to miss some long range shots, we should be able to collect some fast break points. Alanna is key to this game: keeping out of foul trouble while defending bigger players, and hitting her three point shots at the other end. We will also see how effective Williams and Carrington can be one-on-one with Juicy Landrum and Chloe Jackson--I've had my doubts about our perimeter defense and this will be a good test.

Overview:

Very strong inside defense held Baylor's vaunted twin towers to 7 points, and we got enough treys after cold first quarter shooting to keep the lead from midway through the first quarter to the end. We shot only 43% of our free throws, leaving 12 points at the line, our offense stalled in the 4th quarter, and we were once again grossly out rebounded--but hitting 13 treys to Baylor's 3 made up for a lot of problems.

Flow of the game:

This was the most fun I've had watching a game at Maples in a long time. It was no sellout, but it was a bigger crowd than we have had recently, and it was vocal. It helped that the team gave us the lead the whole game and made many spectacular plays along the way--leading to half a dozen standing ovations. The refs also made a few bad calls, leading to some lusty booing. For the first half the football team was in attendance--and they seemed to get into it.

The first quarter was a defensive slugfest. From the start I was surprised that we defended Kalani Brown straight up--not fronting her--although help would sag in on her. Baylor's offense was completely flummoxed. On the other hand, we were shooting cold and points did not come easily for us. Kiana finally gave us the lead at 3:27 on a trey, then Nadia and Lacey got into the act, and we closed out a tough, physical first quarter 17-13.

The second quarter was both our best offensive and defensive quarter of the game. Baylor's offensive woes continued and they scored only 11 points. I think we have learned that our defense is much superior inside than it is outside, and Baylor could not take advantage of our perimeter defense in the same way that Gonzaga did. Furthermore, Kalani Brown sat much of the quarter with 2 fouls, Baylor turned the ball over on errant throws, misses, and fouls, and we finally got hot from three, with Alanna hitting three treys and Kiana 2 in the quarter. We went into the half ahead 41-24, and we were all wondering if we could maintain a 17 point lead for a second half.

The third quarter went well, and we did maintain our lead. Our defense was not quite so sharp, but Shannon Coffee proved to be an able defender on Kalani Brown and hit two treys, forcing Brown out to the perimeter just as we hoped. Smith hit a trey and Carrington also, and finished the quarter up 58-42. What could go wrong?

The fourth quarter was a near collapse, but we traded just enough time for points to finally put the game away. Baylor did to us what we did to Gonzaga--a furious fourth quarter rally that fell short in the end. Baylor did it by calling on non-stars to make mid range jumpers. Tara's scouting report defense shut down Kalani Brown, Cox had disappeared from the game--injury? Juicy Landrum was held in check. But point guard Chloe Jackson and bench player NaLyssa Smith started to hit jumpers each time Baylor came down the floor, and the lead shrank to 10. Juicy cut it to 7, but it took nearly 3 minutes for Baylor to score again and when two free throws cut the lead to 5, there were only 7 seconds left and we ran out the clock. Over the last several minutes Kiana looked tired--she missed several shots, turned the ball over, committed a foul. She had played her heart out for almost every minute of the game, and we are lucky that we limped across the finish line.

Performances:

I thought this game would turn on Alanna, and did it ever. She led with 21 points including 5/9 three pointers, and while she picked up 4 fouls, she did manage to stay on the floor for 28 minutes. Interesting that Tara tried to keep her from guarding Kalani Brown--giving that task to Nadia, or Maya, or Shannon. Alanna also had 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and an assist for an impressive line.

Kianna played all 40 minutes and had 13 points on 5/16 shooting. Although she was only 3/10 from three point range, one of the threes was from 8 feet beyond the arc and was a momentum changer that seemed to rattle Baylor. She also had a respectable 5 assists to 2 turnovers and a couple of steals.

Carrington played 27 minutes and her hustle was indispensable. She scored 10 points on 3/6 shooting, collected 6 rebounds--sometimes in the midst of Baylor's towers--and had a couple of assists, a block, and a steal.

Maya Dodson, Nadia Fingall, and Shannon Coffee seemed to tag-team on Kalani Brown. Maya got the most minutes and scored 9 points, and had a couple of brilliant under the basket moves. Shannon proved very successful, making 3/4 three point attempts and forcing Brown out of the paint.

Lacie Hull played 22 minutes and tenacious defense, although she was just 1/6 shooting. Brown, Jerome, and Wilson each got into the game but for less than double digit minutes.

As a team we still have some serious weaknesses. 9/21 free throw shooting could easily have cost us the game. Again we were outrebounded 30-43. But we also did some good things--turning the ball over only 10 times, and shooting 43% from three point range (higher than our free throw percentage!)

Conclusion:

This team has enormous potential. Tara is a master teacher who knows how to get a team to improve over the season, and as impressive as this win was, we need to get better if we are going to retake the Pac 12 crown. I think our younger players needed a confidence boost after the Gonzaga debacle, and this might be just what the doctor ordered.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - bl82 - 12-14-2018

This would be a great time to have a healthy Lexie out there causing havoc on defense and draining three pointers on offense. We have an interesting group of defenders this year, but most of our defensive talent is on the perimeter. This will be a great test for Maya — and I hope she’s up to the challenge. If Alana can stay out of foul trouble, we have a chance to steal this one.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - JJJ - 12-15-2018

So happy to see Anna Wilson playing. There was very little news I saw about her since her ER visit in Hawaii.

Alanna Smith picked up her 3rd foul just before the half. But we have the lead. Will await 81alum’s update as I just tuned in.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - BigEasyCard - 12-15-2018

Cardinal lead 41 - 24 at half.

Two of my Baylor buddies are watching the game right now at our French Quarter Stanford football sports bar. Too bad that I had to stay at work on a project this afternoon instead of joining them.

Geaux Cardinal!

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - mbdude - 12-15-2018

(12-15-2018, 01:49 PM)JJJ Wrote: So happy to see Anna Wilson playing. There was very little news I saw about her since her ER visit in Hawaii.

Alanna Smith picked up her 3rd foul just before the half. But we have the lead. Will await 81alum’s update as I just tuned in.

Think Alanna only has 2 - 1 was corrected and given to Hull

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - Griffins78 - 12-15-2018

Offense moving the ball well and I have to say, we are quicker and more athletic. Kiana has had at least a couple of highlight video moves and a 3 pointer from Steph Curry land.

We are boxing out as a team better than I’ve ever seen us do before - and going aggressively for the ball. Lots of blocks, tips, loose balls.

Were tight in the beginning and missed several open 3s. If we could make free throws we’d have doubled their score and be up by ~25.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - JJJ - 12-15-2018

(12-15-2018, 01:56 PM)mbdude Wrote:
(12-15-2018, 01:49 PM)JJJ Wrote: So happy to see Anna Wilson playing. There was very little news I saw about her since her ER visit in Hawaii.

Alanna Smith picked up her 3rd foul just before the half. But we have the lead. Will await 81alum’s update as I just tuned in.

Think Alanna only has 2 - 1 was corrected and given to Hull

Ah, thanks for the correction. I tuned out as I'm supposed to be working...
will watch on DVR later

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - Spiny_Norman - 12-15-2018

Stanford was outrebounded 43-30, missed 12 of 21 FTs, was outscored 39-27 in the 2nd half and did not score in the game's final 3 minutes.

And won the game. Fantastic team effort! It's even more impressive to me because I know how exhausted I was at the end of Finals Week. And yet Stanford was the more energetic, aggressive team for much of the game's first 3 quarters as it built up a big lead.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - Jskass - 12-15-2018

At least they have areas to improve. Free throws. So glad for Coffee. She worked hard. After halftime the bigs except Dodson were practicing three point shots. Hope Lacie learned lesson about late game composure which will pay off in March. Or sooner. She made my husband apoplectic.

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - bl82 - 12-15-2018

For those that missed the game, what happened with Lacie?

RE: WBB: Stanford vs. Baylor Sat noon - CompSci87 - 12-15-2018

(12-15-2018, 03:35 PM)bl82 Wrote: For those that missed the game, what happened with Lacie?

Nothing major, just some poor decisions: shooting quickly after a rebound with a fresh clock and a late lead, when they wanted to hold the ball, fouling a driver late when it would have been best to let her score and keep the clock running. Maybe some others.

It will be a good game for Tara to coach all the players from the tape, reinforcing the good things and cleaning up the bad ones. Same for Kim Mulkey and her team, really.

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63Sat noon - 81alum - 12-15-2018

Write up done at the top. An impressive win, with plenty to work on going forward. Let's hope we can keep this effort level up when on the road at Tennessee and Buffalo!

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63Sat noon - Viking_Guy - 12-15-2018

Alanna had a great game, but she's gotta stop with the silly early fouls - her second foul was slapping at a well-guarded ball that a Bear had just defensive boarded, with no chance of knocking it away. That foul sent her to the bench midway through the second quarter. And four straight missed free throws as Baylor was mounting their comeback were really tough.

They were really rescued by Shannon Coffee's buzzer-beating three pointer with about 3 minutes left - the lead had been cut to 7, and the shot clock was down to about 2 seconds when she caught the ball, took a step left and launched. Even though Baylor hit a three on the ensuing possession, it maintained the lead, and ran another 40 seconds off the clock.

The game really did swing on the officiating - the third foul on Smith, which could have easily been the third on Kaylani Brown, followed by fouls on Fingall and Lacie to give them each midway through the third quarter -- it really did appear as if Stanford's defense backed off a bit, trying to keep players on the floor.

That third quarter was really the difference in the game - with 3 starters on the bench, we managed to hold Baylor at bay, thanks to Carrington, Coffee, and Alanna, when she came back in late. To take the Bears' post-halftime surge and weather it enabled Stanford to hold on for the win when they got a little tight late in the game. scoring only 2 points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, and not scoring again after Coffee hit her three with 3 minutes left.

But Baylor kept shooting themselves in the foot - three turnovers in the last three minutes, including the CRITICAL charge call taken by Smith that the referees reviewed and reviewed to "get it right." If that call had gone the other way, it could have been a 5 point lead with 2 minutes to play.

VG

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63Sat noon - Jskass - 12-15-2018

I could not believe that Mulkey didn’t start fouling us intentionally when we couldn’t hit free throws.

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63Sat noon - jonnyss - 12-15-2018

(12-15-2018, 04:33 PM)Viking_Guy Wrote: They were really rescued by Shannon Coffee's buzzer-beating three pointer with about 3 minutes left - the lead had been cut to 7, and the shot clock was down to about 2 seconds when she caught the ball, took a step left and launched. Even though Baylor hit a three on the ensuing possession, it maintained the lead, and ran another 40 seconds off the clock.

VG

agreed. imo shannon gets the game ball. 3/4 shooting. 3/4 on 3's. played 19 minutes. only 1 foul. and yes, that 3-pointer saved our bacon. without that, baylor is down only 4 after their 3 and has all the momentum. not only was shannon's late 3 a catch-and-shoot with no time left on the shot clock (the refs reviewed for 3 or 4 minutes to confirm she got it off), but also she had 2 defenders in her face.

i never saw it coming that shannon would get good enough to play in crunch time and play well.

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63Sat noon - mbdude - 12-15-2018

Post game interview with Alanna

https://pac-12.com/videos/alanna-smith-describes-how-no-11-stanford-womens-basketball-played-grit-topple-no-3-baylor

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - chimera - 12-15-2018

Great effort by the team. If some iffy calls had not gone against us in bulk in the third I think we keep playing the sort of defense we had been. Those calls changed the game a lot and I thought cost us some aggressiveness as people had to be so careful. Lots of good things like Smith playing very tough and hitting shots, Williams scoring in the first half, Dodson playing really well all game, Carrington the same, and Coffee with those immense threes. Love to see a senior who has not played much do so well in a big game. The negatives were the FT shooting, which could easily have cost the game, and the report that Williams, who went 40, was fatigued enough to stop scoring in the second half. We need her scoring late in games. We need Lexie and Marta back.

I thought it was odd that Baylor did not try to foul us at the end. We were missing FTs like crazy.

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - 81alum - 12-15-2018

Did the announcers say what happened to Lauren Cox? She played only 15 minutes, was not in foul trouble, and left the game for good halfway through the third quarter? The wrath of Mulkey?

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - Jskass - 12-15-2018

My guess is wrath because her offense and defense were both ineffective.

RE: WBB: Stanford 68 Baylor 63 - mbdude - 12-15-2018

Type 1 Diabetic - may have something to do with her blood sugar levels - too high or low and they pull her from game