[M T]

Ouch — 9 of 21 from the line?! ... And the best way to stop runs like Baylor had in the 4Q is to make those FTs.

I disagree.  The best way to stop runs like Baylor didn't have in the 4Q  is to make those 3PT shots.   Are you saying that you lament Stanford making 0 of 4 FT in the 4Q?    I would say I lament that Stanford hit only 2 of 5 3PT in the 4Q.   You could say we left 4 points on the floor by missing the FT, but I can say we left 9 points on the floor by missing the 3 PTs.
(Baylor's run in the 4Q was only 21 pts (for the full quarter).)

I think it is easier for opponents to stop giving FT than to stop giving 3Pt attempts.   Stanford only gave Baylor four FTA in the 4Q.  If the opponent wants to go into Hack-a-3pter mode, then so be it.  At 43%  FT, Stanford would expect to get 1.29 points per fouled 3ptr.  At 43% 3PT%, Stanford still expects to get 1.29 points per 3pt attempt.  [Stanford had 60 shots and 7 OR, giving 53 possessions.  53*1.29 = 68.37, right on the 68 points scored.  Sounds evenly balanced.]

If Stanford spent two hours a day practicing FT and doubled their poor FT% (9/21) to an outstanding 86% (18/21), they'd have only gotten 9 extra points.  But, if by spending that time on FT instead of 3 point shots, the efficiency of 3PT attempts drops, say from a good 43% (13/30) to an ordinary 33% (10/30), Stanford would have lost those 9 points.


(Absolutely, in the last minute of a close game, FT% will be critical in a close game.  But, if you can make enough points earlier, you can avoid the close games except for even better opponents.)

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Did I miss someone congratulating the coaches for their scouting, Tara for her game plan, and the team for executing it to near perfection?   That was the #3/#4 team Stanford beat, with two BIG, talented ladies.   Maybe this doesn't make our ladies All Americans, but they were the winners on this day.  I'll take that any day.  And, Stanford wasn't at full strength.  

Congrats to the coaches for the preparation and to the team for the execution.   Maybe the team wasn't prefect, but they were better today by enough.

Kalani Brown: 6'7"  5 points, 8 rebounds,  3 blocks

• 2018 WBCA All-American
  

• 2018 Sports Illustrated All-America First Team
  
• 2018 USBWA All-America Second Team
  
• 2018 Associated Press All-America Second Team
  
• 2018 espnW All-America Second Team
  
• 2018 USA Today Sports All-America Second Team
  

Lauren Cox:   6'4"  2 points,  1  rebound (only 15 minutes)

• 2018 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention
  
• 2018 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention
  

[M T]

Ouch — 9 of 21 from the line?! ... And the best way to stop runs like Baylor had in the 4Q is to make those FTs.

I disagree.  The best way to stop runs like Baylor didn't have in the 4Q  is to make those 3PT shots.   Are you saying that you lament Stanford making 0 of 4 FT in the 4Q?    I would say I lament that Stanford hit only 2 of 5 3PT in the 4Q.   You could say we left 4 points on the floor by missing the FT, but I can say we left 9 points on the floor by missing the 3 PTs.
(Baylor's run in the 4Q was only 21 pts (for the full quarter).)

I think it is easier for opponents to stop giving FT than to stop giving 3Pt attempts.   Stanford only gave Baylor four FTA in the 4Q.  If the opponent wants to go into Hack-a-3pter mode, then so be it.  At 43%  FT, Stanford would expect to get 1.29 points per fouled 3ptr.  At 43% 3PT%, Stanford still expects to get 1.29 points per 3pt attempt.  [Stanford had 60 shots and 7 OR, giving 53 possessions.  53*1.29 = 68.37, right on the 68 points scored.  Sounds evenly balanced.]

If Stanford spent two hours a day practicing FT and doubled their poor FT% (9/21) to an outstanding 86% (18/21), they'd have only gotten 9 extra points.  But, if by spending that time on FT instead of 3 point shots, the efficiency of 3PT attempts drops, say from a good 43% (13/30) to an ordinary 33% (10/30), Stanford would have lost those 9 points.


(Absolutely, in the last minute of a close game, FT% will be critical in a close game.  But, if you can make enough points earlier, you can avoid the close games except for even better opponents.)

----------

Did I miss someone congratulating the coaches for their scouting, Tara for her game plan, and the team for executing it to near perfection?   That was the #3/#4 team Stanford beat, with two BIG, talented ladies.   Maybe this doesn't make our ladies All Americans, but they were the winners on this day.  I'll take that any day.  And, Stanford wasn't at full strength.  

Congrats to the coaches for the preparation and to the team for the execution.   Maybe the team wasn't prefect, but they were better today by enough.

Kalani Brown: 6'7"  5 points, 8 rebounds,  3 blocks

• 2018 WBCA All-American
  

• 2018 Sports Illustrated All-America First Team
  
• 2018 USBWA All-America Second Team
  
• 2018 Associated Press All-America Second Team
  
• 2018 espnW All-America Second Team
  
• 2018 USA Today Sports All-America Second Team
  

Lauren Cox:   6'4"  2 points,  1  rebound (only 15 minutes)

• 2018 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention
  
• 2018 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention