[TheFarm07]

Well, CTT always seems to find a way, even with much less talent, to screw up our offense.  What surprised me was that her offense seems improved over a year ago.  Hanson is the real deal, and their freshman Simmons racked up 16 clutch points.  Those two made the game uncomfortably close for much of the last three quarters.

After a quarter it looked like we would be dominant, but we let that domination slip away.  Why?  We shot only 4/19 from three point range--which is not unexpected against ASU.  Tara always says that your best opportunity to score against ASU is with layups since they guard so closely.  But we had a whopping 17 turnovers--cut those in half and this would have been a blowout.  Offensive rebounds were tied 13-13.  And of course ASU has Missy playing for them, so ASU got 17 points out of their free throws while we only had 6.

Williams stepped up in the second half and scored 16.  I am beginning to dread life after Williams and Wilson graduate.  But Lexi was 2/11.

Fran had a career high with 23 points and 12 rebounds, but she also had 5 turnovers.

The questions that remain:

1. How badly was Brink banged up?  Will she really be back next game, and if so, at full health?

2. Where we we be playing our home games?  I suggest UC Santa Cruz--in Jones's back yard.

3. Can we get Lexi back as a reliable scorer?  She did expend enormous energy trying to hold Hanson in check, but we need that balanced offense with multiple players in double digits.

4. What do we need to do to get our turnovers in check?

 Hopefully her injury is not too bad. We have 5 days until the Oregon game on Friday evening. Even with the loss of the Big 3 for the Ducks, the freshman class is already contributing and complimenting Bolley and the younger Sabally nicely. I think today's game really underscores how much Brink has added just a few games into her collegiate career. She is confident and fearless (though that can be an Achilles heel, I shudder to think how quickly she might have fouled out of this game with the poor officiating) and can be that extra spark off the offense and give the opponent another player to worry about.

What's frustrating for me with the turnovers is that a lot of them are unforced. It's not some swarming defense or defenders being ultra quick and cutting off passing lines for the pick, but forcing the ball into teammates who have 2 defenders on them or throwing a pass at 100 mph. The players are talented enough to not have to make the low percentage passes to manufacture offense.

[TheFarm07]

Well, CTT always seems to find a way, even with much less talent, to screw up our offense.  What surprised me was that her offense seems improved over a year ago.  Hanson is the real deal, and their freshman Simmons racked up 16 clutch points.  Those two made the game uncomfortably close for much of the last three quarters.

After a quarter it looked like we would be dominant, but we let that domination slip away.  Why?  We shot only 4/19 from three point range--which is not unexpected against ASU.  Tara always says that your best opportunity to score against ASU is with layups since they guard so closely.  But we had a whopping 17 turnovers--cut those in half and this would have been a blowout.  Offensive rebounds were tied 13-13.  And of course ASU has Missy playing for them, so ASU got 17 points out of their free throws while we only had 6.

Williams stepped up in the second half and scored 16.  I am beginning to dread life after Williams and Wilson graduate.  But Lexi was 2/11.

Fran had a career high with 23 points and 12 rebounds, but she also had 5 turnovers.

The questions that remain:

1. How badly was Brink banged up?  Will she really be back next game, and if so, at full health?

2. Where we we be playing our home games?  I suggest UC Santa Cruz--in Jones's back yard.

3. Can we get Lexi back as a reliable scorer?  She did expend enormous energy trying to hold Hanson in check, but we need that balanced offense with multiple players in double digits.

4. What do we need to do to get our turnovers in check?

 Hopefully her injury is not too bad. We have 5 days until the Oregon game on Friday evening. Even with the loss of the Big 3 for the Ducks, the freshman class is already contributing and complimenting Bolley and the younger Sabally nicely. I think today's game really underscores how much Brink has added just a few games into her collegiate career. She is confident and fearless (though that can be an Achilles heel, I shudder to think how quickly she might have fouled out of this game with the poor officiating) and can be that extra spark off the offense and give the opponent another player to worry about.

What's frustrating for me with the turnovers is that a lot of them are unforced. It's not some swarming defense or defenders being ultra quick and cutting off passing lines for the pick, but forcing the ball into teammates who have 2 defenders on them or throwing a pass at 100 mph. The players are talented enough to not have to make the low percentage passes to manufacture offense.