[treetop11]

Preview:

Utah is 12-11 and 92 in RPI.  The write-up and preview of the game we played at home against Utah a month ago is here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...hlight=wbb

In the last game, we had only 5 turnovers, Belibi had a breakout offensive performance, and Jump hit 3 treys in a row after missing 3 treys in a row.  After losing to us, Utah was crushed at home by Oregon and Oregon State, but then went to Washington and swept the two Washington schools in their home arenas. 

Utah is led by two freshmen who continue to improve with every game and who will be a thorn in our side for years to come.  Keep in mind that Utah beat us at their place just last year.

I am particularly interested to see if we see a game appearance by Dodson on this road trip.

Overview:

Our offense clicked, we hit 15/30 treys, and our scouting report defense blanked the Utah freshman star to 0 points.  One of our most convincing wins of the year.  Lexie with 24, Williams with 19, and Prechtel with 16.

Flow of the Game:

We received the welcome news in advance that Dodson would play some limited minutes in her first game of the season.  Jerome also started this game--Tara decided to go with experience and knowledge in her starting lineup.

There was little suspense in this game, after we won the first quarter 23-13, we unleased a 32 point second quarter with 6 treys to lead 55-33 at the half.  We were 10/17 from three point range in the first half, had 9 steals, and only 4 turnovers.  Our offense slowed dramatically in the first part of the 3rd quarter, as we came out missing all those treys we had been hitting.  But it started clicking again and our defense improved, and we wound up winning the second half 34-21. 

Tara played all 13 healthy players, with 9 getting double digit minutes and Dodson getting 9 minutes.  11 players scored.

Performances:

It is not hard to understand how we won, given that we shot 15/30 three point shots, and we shot 54% overall to their 34%.  Their leading scorer, Briana Maxwell, was 0/6 for 0 points.  Turnovers evened out in the end--we had 13 to their 16, so that was not as outstanding as the last time we played them, and rebounds were somewhat even as well--but there were few offensive rebounds for us to get since we were making most of our shots.  24 of our 38 field goals were assisted, which is one of our better passing games.  Utah does not do much to disrupt those perimeter passes the way the close defenses we have played before do.  We also had 25 fast break points to their 2, 11 blocks to their 1, and 42 points in the paint to their 20.

Lexie had 24 points in 24 minutes, including 4/6 treys, some rebounds, assists, steals etc.  Outstanding all around.

Williams had 19 points in 30 minutes, including 4/10 treys, and a similarly outstanding stat line. 

The posts all did well in their own ways. 

Prechtel had 16 points in 14 minutes, got 3 blocks and was versatile in her scoring.

Belibi had 10 points in 14 minutes and an outstanding 5/6 shooting, to go with 2 assists.

Dodson looked pretty good offensively with 7 points in 9 minutes and played outstanding defense, getting a block.

Fingall played 22 minutes and got 3 blocks and 5 points.

There were many other contributors, too numerous to list.  Tara kept her team fresh for the demolition derby that is coming up at Colorado.

Conclusion:

An outstanding game to watch, especially with out 25 fast break points and the plethora of threes.  I do think Utah seems to be particularly ill suited to us, and Colorado matches up against us much better.  I am not looking forward to Sunday's game not expecting it to be a pretty one to watch.  But I am looking forward to seeing Dodson increase her role and giving us another dimension as we move forward.

Actually Dodson was excellent on offense - 7 pts in 9 mins. Her footwork, touch, and finishing in the post was Hebard like. She also drove down the lane and scored. She looks bigger, stronger, and more mature.
When we play Oregon next, we would be wise to use all of Fingall, Prechtel, Belebi, Dodson, and even Jerome to physically wear down Hebard and try to draw fouls on her early. We should feed the post and force Hebard to constantly defend and hopefully pick up fouls. Hebard was a beast ags Ucla tonight with 34 pts and 16 rebs. We could try to foul ans 20-25 fouls to give, but she shoots FTs really well although she missed two in a row tonight. I would like to see us have a player slip over behind Hebard when she rolls to the basket after her patented pick. She might pick up a couple of fouls for charges.

[treetop11]

Preview:

Utah is 12-11 and 92 in RPI.  The write-up and preview of the game we played at home against Utah a month ago is here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...hlight=wbb

In the last game, we had only 5 turnovers, Belibi had a breakout offensive performance, and Jump hit 3 treys in a row after missing 3 treys in a row.  After losing to us, Utah was crushed at home by Oregon and Oregon State, but then went to Washington and swept the two Washington schools in their home arenas. 

Utah is led by two freshmen who continue to improve with every game and who will be a thorn in our side for years to come.  Keep in mind that Utah beat us at their place just last year.

I am particularly interested to see if we see a game appearance by Dodson on this road trip.

Overview:

Our offense clicked, we hit 15/30 treys, and our scouting report defense blanked the Utah freshman star to 0 points.  One of our most convincing wins of the year.  Lexie with 24, Williams with 19, and Prechtel with 16.

Flow of the Game:

We received the welcome news in advance that Dodson would play some limited minutes in her first game of the season.  Jerome also started this game--Tara decided to go with experience and knowledge in her starting lineup.

There was little suspense in this game, after we won the first quarter 23-13, we unleased a 32 point second quarter with 6 treys to lead 55-33 at the half.  We were 10/17 from three point range in the first half, had 9 steals, and only 4 turnovers.  Our offense slowed dramatically in the first part of the 3rd quarter, as we came out missing all those treys we had been hitting.  But it started clicking again and our defense improved, and we wound up winning the second half 34-21. 

Tara played all 13 healthy players, with 9 getting double digit minutes and Dodson getting 9 minutes.  11 players scored.

Performances:

It is not hard to understand how we won, given that we shot 15/30 three point shots, and we shot 54% overall to their 34%.  Their leading scorer, Briana Maxwell, was 0/6 for 0 points.  Turnovers evened out in the end--we had 13 to their 16, so that was not as outstanding as the last time we played them, and rebounds were somewhat even as well--but there were few offensive rebounds for us to get since we were making most of our shots.  24 of our 38 field goals were assisted, which is one of our better passing games.  Utah does not do much to disrupt those perimeter passes the way the close defenses we have played before do.  We also had 25 fast break points to their 2, 11 blocks to their 1, and 42 points in the paint to their 20.

Lexie had 24 points in 24 minutes, including 4/6 treys, some rebounds, assists, steals etc.  Outstanding all around.

Williams had 19 points in 30 minutes, including 4/10 treys, and a similarly outstanding stat line. 

The posts all did well in their own ways. 

Prechtel had 16 points in 14 minutes, got 3 blocks and was versatile in her scoring.

Belibi had 10 points in 14 minutes and an outstanding 5/6 shooting, to go with 2 assists.

Dodson looked pretty good offensively with 7 points in 9 minutes and played outstanding defense, getting a block.

Fingall played 22 minutes and got 3 blocks and 5 points.

There were many other contributors, too numerous to list.  Tara kept her team fresh for the demolition derby that is coming up at Colorado.

Conclusion:

An outstanding game to watch, especially with out 25 fast break points and the plethora of threes.  I do think Utah seems to be particularly ill suited to us, and Colorado matches up against us much better.  I am not looking forward to Sunday's game not expecting it to be a pretty one to watch.  But I am looking forward to seeing Dodson increase her role and giving us another dimension as we move forward.

Actually Dodson was excellent on offense - 7 pts in 9 mins. Her footwork, touch, and finishing in the post was Hebard like. She also drove down the lane and scored. She looks bigger, stronger, and more mature.
When we play Oregon next, we would be wise to use all of Fingall, Prechtel, Belebi, Dodson, and even Jerome to physically wear down Hebard and try to draw fouls on her early. We should feed the post and force Hebard to constantly defend and hopefully pick up fouls. Hebard was a beast ags Ucla tonight with 34 pts and 16 rebs. We could try to foul ans 20-25 fouls to give, but she shoots FTs really well although she missed two in a row tonight. I would like to see us have a player slip over behind Hebard when she rolls to the basket after her patented pick. She might pick up a couple of fouls for charges.