usfldan
01-23-2013, 10:07 PM
This was an ugly one tonight. Fordham is just as undersized as we are, and they kept putting up threes in the first half, which enabled X to be up, 22-18 at halftime (It also enabled 5-3 Shatyra Hawkes to be our leading rebounder) . I think they realized we are just as small at halftime, and only took half as many threes in the second half while killing us with short jumpers in the paint.
Offensively, it was real ugly with one exception. The increased time has clearly helped Briana Glover’s confidence. She air-balled a three to start the game, but drained two right after that (who knew?), and then scored inside to finish with 20. Nobody else stepped up, though, and that was nearly half our total. Even Amber Gray struggled- she fed a couple nice passes to Briana, but most of Amber’s 12 points came at the line after being fouled on shots that were nowhere near going in.
Ultimately, I think what lost it was giving up too many possessions. In a grind-it-out game like this one, every possession meant something, and we had too many where threw the ball away, took a quick shot, or- most hurtful, gave up a steal at halfcourt that Fordham turned into an easy basket. It seemed like maybe they got frustrated and tried to make something happen individually rather than stay in the team concept. I can’t think of any times Fordham gave up possession in the first 15 seconds of the shot clock. I’m sure there were some, but I’m also sure they did it far less than we did.
On a second positive (on top of Briana’s breakout), everyone was in attendance tonight. Pachko and Crittenden weren’t dressed, but they were there, while Crouch did get a few minutes.
So far our A-10 opponents are a combined 13-2 in the league. If we can get everybody back healthy, with the experience the others like Glover and Zantt have gotten in meantime, I still think we can make something of this season.
Offensively, it was real ugly with one exception. The increased time has clearly helped Briana Glover’s confidence. She air-balled a three to start the game, but drained two right after that (who knew?), and then scored inside to finish with 20. Nobody else stepped up, though, and that was nearly half our total. Even Amber Gray struggled- she fed a couple nice passes to Briana, but most of Amber’s 12 points came at the line after being fouled on shots that were nowhere near going in.
Ultimately, I think what lost it was giving up too many possessions. In a grind-it-out game like this one, every possession meant something, and we had too many where threw the ball away, took a quick shot, or- most hurtful, gave up a steal at halfcourt that Fordham turned into an easy basket. It seemed like maybe they got frustrated and tried to make something happen individually rather than stay in the team concept. I can’t think of any times Fordham gave up possession in the first 15 seconds of the shot clock. I’m sure there were some, but I’m also sure they did it far less than we did.
On a second positive (on top of Briana’s breakout), everyone was in attendance tonight. Pachko and Crittenden weren’t dressed, but they were there, while Crouch did get a few minutes.
So far our A-10 opponents are a combined 13-2 in the league. If we can get everybody back healthy, with the experience the others like Glover and Zantt have gotten in meantime, I still think we can make something of this season.