[81alum]

At the half it is South Carolina 32, Maryland 26.  Boston 4/4 but Zia Cooke only 2/10, reflecting Maryland's inability to defend Boston.  I am really impressed with Maryland's grad-transfer from Princeton Abbie Meyers, who has 18 points against South Carolina in the half.  The Ivies do not allow grad students to play, so she had to leave Princeton to continue her eligibility.  But whatever she is doing is the secret sauce that we want our wings to do.  

I wonder if Betts could defend Boston?  South Carolina does not start as much height as I expected:
Boston 6'5"
Saxton 6'2"
Johnson 5'8"
Beal 6'1"
Cooke 5'9"

Cooke will be the toughest perimeter matchup.  South Carolina was not a great three point shooting team last year, though, so it remains to be seen if they become a bigger threat from distance.  In the first half they were 4/15 from distance.

I am not sure if Iriafen can guard Boston, hence my wonderment about Betts or maybe even Prechtel.  We should look at last year's game and see what Tara did.  As for Cooke--whoever our best perimeter defender is.  I think Brink could handle Saxton or Beal easily.  Jones could handle Beal quite easily.  

I wonder if South Carolina would play zone against us to stop Brink and Iriafen from getting inside.  If so, our jump shooting will need to be sharp.  That is clearly Maryland's strategy, with mixed success so far.  But clearly a defense that takes out Boston and makes them hit jump shots is the obvious one.  And whatever can be done to limit O-boards for South Carolina should be done--a zone would not be good at that.  South Carolina already has 11 for the half.  Boston is just the great eraser who turns everyone else's missed shots into points, even if Maryland prevents South Carolina from passing the ball in to her.

[81alum]

At the half it is South Carolina 32, Maryland 26.  Boston 4/4 but Zia Cooke only 2/10, reflecting Maryland's inability to defend Boston.  I am really impressed with Maryland's grad-transfer from Princeton Abbie Meyers, who has 18 points against South Carolina in the half.  The Ivies do not allow grad students to play, so she had to leave Princeton to continue her eligibility.  But whatever she is doing is the secret sauce that we want our wings to do.  

I wonder if Betts could defend Boston?  South Carolina does not start as much height as I expected:
Boston 6'5"
Saxton 6'2"
Johnson 5'8"
Beal 6'1"
Cooke 5'9"

Cooke will be the toughest perimeter matchup.  South Carolina was not a great three point shooting team last year, though, so it remains to be seen if they become a bigger threat from distance.  In the first half they were 4/15 from distance.

I am not sure if Iriafen can guard Boston, hence my wonderment about Betts or maybe even Prechtel.  We should look at last year's game and see what Tara did.  As for Cooke--whoever our best perimeter defender is.  I think Brink could handle Saxton or Beal easily.  Jones could handle Beal quite easily.  

I wonder if South Carolina would play zone against us to stop Brink and Iriafen from getting inside.  If so, our jump shooting will need to be sharp.  That is clearly Maryland's strategy, with mixed success so far.  But clearly a defense that takes out Boston and makes them hit jump shots is the obvious one.  And whatever can be done to limit O-boards for South Carolina should be done--a zone would not be good at that.  South Carolina already has 11 for the half.  Boston is just the great eraser who turns everyone else's missed shots into points, even if Maryland prevents South Carolina from passing the ball in to her.