Preview:
We have played UCLA twice this year. Way back on December 21 we prevailed 61-49, led by Belibi with 15 points, but giving up 19 to Onyenwere and 15 to Bessoir. Osborne was held down to 7 points and 1/7 three point shooting.
On January 22 we lost in Santa Cruz 66-70 after previously losing to Colorado to complete a two game skid. Williams led us with 19, Belibi Jones and Lexie were all in double figures but the bench gave us only 8 points. Brink had 4 in this, the last game she was not a starter. Much more troubling than a 66 point offense, however, was our defense. Onyenwere and Bessoir both did nearly as well as they did in December, but in this game Osborne went off for 24 points and Chou was in double digits too--they had 4 in double digits which made them a much more balanced offense than in December, with Osborne in particular being uncontrollable
In this loss Anna Wilson started but only played 10 minutes. Lacie came in for her and played 32. I don't remember the details behind that, but it seems that it was the one game this year that Wilson could not shut down the opponent's leading perimeter player. This is probably the most worrisome detail from the game since we cannot afford to let Osborne score 24 again, and I don't have an explanation for why she was so successful on Jan 22 and why Wilson sat.
In the wake of the two losses Tara focused on our inadequate rebounding. In the second UCLA game UCLA had 21 O boards and we had only 24 D boards, giving UCLA 18 second chance points. (We had 6 second chance points by comparison.) Belibi had only 2 rebounds in 16 minutes, Prechtel had 4 in 17 minutes, and Brink had 6 in 12 minutes, and after that game Brink got the starting job.
For defense, rebounding and boxing out will no doubt be the major focus for the game, in addition to finding a way to better control Osborne than we did last time. Last year it was Onyenwere who went off against us--so we can't neglect her either, although I think Brink, should she stay out of foul trouble, presents a much bigger challenge to Onyenwere's inside game. It is when Onyenwere hits her jumpers that we have more problems, as her step backs really cannot be defended.
On offense, we must contend with the UCLA pressure defense. I am surprised how well it has worked for them given their lack of depth. Officiating makes a big difference for them--loosely called "let them play" refs favor the UCLA game. And while they are not known for being a prolific three point shooting team, Bessoir and Chou and Osborne all hit multiple threes against us last time out--they were 8/22 while we were 2/10. Not only was our three point shooting weak against them, we did not take many shots, which indicates that the pressure defense was working.
Since that loss against UCLA we haven't lost again, of course, and Brink is a very different part of our team than she was. UCLA, in contrast, has lost to WSU and to OSU over that stretch, to balance against 7 wins--the best of which was last night against Arizona. In that game Arizona controlled everyone on the UCLA team except giving up 24 to Onyenwere, and UCLA controlled everyone on Arizona except giving up 24 to McDonald. We present a much for difficult offense to guard than does Arizona. Still, I think we are playing the second best team in the Pac 12, with no disrespect to Arizona, Oregon State, or Oregon. It is a fitting championship game.
We have played UCLA twice this year. Way back on December 21 we prevailed 61-49, led by Belibi with 15 points, but giving up 19 to Onyenwere and 15 to Bessoir. Osborne was held down to 7 points and 1/7 three point shooting.
On January 22 we lost in Santa Cruz 66-70 after previously losing to Colorado to complete a two game skid. Williams led us with 19, Belibi Jones and Lexie were all in double figures but the bench gave us only 8 points. Brink had 4 in this, the last game she was not a starter. Much more troubling than a 66 point offense, however, was our defense. Onyenwere and Bessoir both did nearly as well as they did in December, but in this game Osborne went off for 24 points and Chou was in double digits too--they had 4 in double digits which made them a much more balanced offense than in December, with Osborne in particular being uncontrollable
In this loss Anna Wilson started but only played 10 minutes. Lacie came in for her and played 32. I don't remember the details behind that, but it seems that it was the one game this year that Wilson could not shut down the opponent's leading perimeter player. This is probably the most worrisome detail from the game since we cannot afford to let Osborne score 24 again, and I don't have an explanation for why she was so successful on Jan 22 and why Wilson sat.
In the wake of the two losses Tara focused on our inadequate rebounding. In the second UCLA game UCLA had 21 O boards and we had only 24 D boards, giving UCLA 18 second chance points. (We had 6 second chance points by comparison.) Belibi had only 2 rebounds in 16 minutes, Prechtel had 4 in 17 minutes, and Brink had 6 in 12 minutes, and after that game Brink got the starting job.
For defense, rebounding and boxing out will no doubt be the major focus for the game, in addition to finding a way to better control Osborne than we did last time. Last year it was Onyenwere who went off against us--so we can't neglect her either, although I think Brink, should she stay out of foul trouble, presents a much bigger challenge to Onyenwere's inside game. It is when Onyenwere hits her jumpers that we have more problems, as her step backs really cannot be defended.
On offense, we must contend with the UCLA pressure defense. I am surprised how well it has worked for them given their lack of depth. Officiating makes a big difference for them--loosely called "let them play" refs favor the UCLA game. And while they are not known for being a prolific three point shooting team, Bessoir and Chou and Osborne all hit multiple threes against us last time out--they were 8/22 while we were 2/10. Not only was our three point shooting weak against them, we did not take many shots, which indicates that the pressure defense was working.
Since that loss against UCLA we haven't lost again, of course, and Brink is a very different part of our team than she was. UCLA, in contrast, has lost to WSU and to OSU over that stretch, to balance against 7 wins--the best of which was last night against Arizona. In that game Arizona controlled everyone on the UCLA team except giving up 24 to Onyenwere, and UCLA controlled everyone on Arizona except giving up 24 to McDonald. We present a much for difficult offense to guard than does Arizona. Still, I think we are playing the second best team in the Pac 12, with no disrespect to Arizona, Oregon State, or Oregon. It is a fitting championship game.
