[pepper1]

Good game summary, 81alum!  Cardinal were just outplayed today, especially in the first half on the offensive boards.  Bares were both much quicker, more aggressive and, yes, more athletic under the glass, with Cardinal players picking up many fouls as they clutched and grabbed.  The game might still have remained close if Lyles had not started hitting threes in the second part of the first half, with one of the uglier strokes I've seen ... still four of them went in.  If Bares can find anyone in their backcourt with a reasonable shooting touch (don't expect lightning to strike again for Lyles), they could be a legitimate Elite Eight or Final Four team.  With a comparable rebounding disparity in Tuesday's game, it is remarkable that the Cardinal won that game ... and a further indication of the Bares' shooting limitations.

In the meantime, Tara and her staff clearly need to find some more potent offensive reinforcements for Chiney.  As 81alum describes, Amber did a very good in the first half before looking confused & disappearing in the second.  I continue to hope that Jos will become the kind of scorer that she seemed to be early in the season and that we make better use of Toni's driving skills to break down man defenses like we saw today.  And seeing Brook in the stands made me fantasize about Mikela learning a hook shot, so she could be a two-way player.

For better or worse, major adjustments/improvements will need to happen quickly with the SoCal Bares coming to Maples next Friday.  It will be a test to see whether the Cardinal are contenders or pretenders this year.  Stay tuned. 

[pepper1]

Good game summary, 81alum!  Cardinal were just outplayed today, especially in the first half on the offensive boards.  Bares were both much quicker, more aggressive and, yes, more athletic under the glass, with Cardinal players picking up many fouls as they clutched and grabbed.  The game might still have remained close if Lyles had not started hitting threes in the second part of the first half, with one of the uglier strokes I've seen ... still four of them went in.  If Bares can find anyone in their backcourt with a reasonable shooting touch (don't expect lightning to strike again for Lyles), they could be a legitimate Elite Eight or Final Four team.  With a comparable rebounding disparity in Tuesday's game, it is remarkable that the Cardinal won that game ... and a further indication of the Bares' shooting limitations.

In the meantime, Tara and her staff clearly need to find some more potent offensive reinforcements for Chiney.  As 81alum describes, Amber did a very good in the first half before looking confused & disappearing in the second.  I continue to hope that Jos will become the kind of scorer that she seemed to be early in the season and that we make better use of Toni's driving skills to break down man defenses like we saw today.  And seeing Brook in the stands made me fantasize about Mikela learning a hook shot, so she could be a two-way player.

For better or worse, major adjustments/improvements will need to happen quickly with the SoCal Bares coming to Maples next Friday.  It will be a test to see whether the Cardinal are contenders or pretenders this year.  Stay tuned.