My thoughts on Thursday night's #3 at #2 NWC semifinal. (As for Whitman at George Fox, I'm hoping it'll be available on demand Friday. I had Live Stats on, as both NWC semis were being played at the same time. I'd rather watch it first, before breaking that game down here. If I can, I will.)
#2 Puget Sound 71, #3 Whitworth 64: The surging Loggers (23-3, 13-3) toppled the Pirates (21-5, 12-4) at home for the second time in 5 days. Getting out to an early 10-2 lead 5 minutes in, UPS got unexpectedly solid point production from all 5 starters. 1st team All-NWC performers Amanda Forshay (20 points) and Emily Sheldon (13 points) led the way, with both 2nd team all-conference pick Katy Ainslie and SO Alex Noren adding 11 each. More surprising was SR PG Ashley Agcaoili, who averages just 5 ppg, who chipped in with 9. Six, however, were true daggers, both coming on made 3-balls immediately after quick Whitworth TO's, on consecutive Logger possessions at the 14:51 and 14:11 mark in the 2nd half - the second triple extended the Logger advantage to 15, at 48-33. Whitworth usually has a great 2-3 minutes after a Higgs TO, but Agcaoili's duo from deep instantly poured cold water on the momentum Whitworth usually derives from its TOs. Timing is everything. The Bucs still had a big run in them, however, although it required tremendous effort. Over the next 12 minutes, repeated dribble-drives were key to a 31-17 Whitworth run, and a layup by Katara Belton-Sharp with 2:07 left cut the Puget Sound lead to one, at 65-64. After Noren went 1-2 at the line, their lead was two when Pirate SR Kendra Knutsen missed a 3-ptr from the left corner with 1:36 left, that would've given the Bucs their first lead. Tonight Whitworth got beaten with their own M.O., as that Belton-Sharp hoop were their last points, while it was the Loggers who sank 6-7 late FTs to secure the win, and punch their ticket to the NWC finals. It's scary. The Loggers are still getting tangibly better as a group. They've clearly built on each big win and each tough loss this league campaign. The one word I would use is confident. I'll be surprised if they don't give a great account of themselves in Newberg on Saturday. I would caution George Fox to come ready to play, as they likely expected to see Whitworth advance. This UPS team can really play, and, most dangerously, they're just peaking as a team now.
Unlike last Saturday, Coach Higgs did unveil her "pack of wild dogs" defense. Yet, to their credit, the Loggers were able to navigate through it like butter, with only a very few exceptions. UPS was so skilled at quickly escaping Whitworth's full-court pressure that I recall seeing at least 5 easy UPS hoops being scored, as a direct result of doing so. Loree Payne's players were so not bothered by Whitworth's maniacal D that these multiple scores looked more like secondary fast break hoops, rather than an effective press break. As such, the Pirates found themselves in 3-on-1/4-on-2 defensive mismatches at the goal. Being short numbers on D just doesn't happen to Whitworth. Overall, UPS had 13 assists and 12 turnovers. That stat also doesn't happen to Whitworth. The Bucs' normal box score for opponents, over the past 2-3 seasons, regularly shows twice as many TO's than assists. It isn't that Whitworth's D has worsened recently. What has happened is that, to UPS, the "novelty" of it seems to have worn off a bit. In fact, Puget Sound appeared to now view it as an opportunity to score easily, instead of something to fear. I suppose it's only natural, as UPS has now seen this type of super-intense, 94-feet, in-your-face D employed against it 7 times this year, between the Bucs, George Fox, and, of late, Whitman. Still, the sky-high level of success that Puget Sound had against it did surprise me. Just because you know something is gonna happen, it still doesn't mean that you're gonna be able to overcome it/negate its effects. This was one of those times, however. Coach Payne and every Logger player deserve a tremendous amount of credit for this win. UPS' defense didn't exactly take the night off. They held Lexie Zappone scoreless, were able to minimize the offensive damage by McConnell (16) and Belton-Sharp (14), and held key inside player Jessica Kramer to just 4. FR Callie Harwood stepped up big for Whitworth, scoring 14, while Knutson hit double-figures (12-a rarity for her) for the second straight game, in a losing effort.
While I did expect Coach Higgs to at least show glimpses of multiple defenses vs UPS, she didn't. She again stayed man for the full 40, allowing UPS to stay with the offensive system/sets the Logger players execute so very well. I almost always agree with Higgs' choices, but I didn't happen to in this instance. In closing, unlike last weekend's game, there was a wide disparity in free throws taken Thursday, in favor of the home team. In fact, Whitworth (24-70; 34%) scored more total FGs than UPS (22-53; 42%). The Bucs went 13-16 at the line, while the Loggers took twice as many (24-32). Still, I thought this game was fairly officiated. Whitworth had to fight for tons of offensive rebounds off missed shots, putting them in danger of committing more fouls of aggression, which they did. In the end, UPS won this game because of 1) their press break, 2 ) by shooting better from the field than Whitworth did, and 3) defending the Pirates O at their usual, super high level. Despite scoring 2 more FGs, Whitworth shot the ball quite poorly Thursday - a recurring theme, of late. Despite their lack of height, the Bucs take more shots from 8 feet and in than any other team in the NWC. Generally, the closer the shots are launched from, the higher the %. And after starting the season 14-0, the Pirates are just 7-5 in their last 12. Granted, the level of competition of late has been very high. But Whitworth has been shooting their lowest FG% against the very best teams they are playing. This is not unusual - common, in fact. They've shot 38% or less in 10 of their 26 games. The Pirates did manage to win all 5 games when it happened against non-elite opponents. But they've lost all 5 games when it's happened vs. the NWC playoff teams. I'm also noticing some individual player fatigue. From out of nowhere, SR Jessica Kramer has been such an undersized, key inside cog for Whitworth this year. Still, she's played 10 times as many minutes this season as she had during her first 3 years. To her credit, she is categorically not a "pace yourself" type of player. The polar opposite, in fact. But it's clear to me watching, that she's starting to wear down physically. It's a long season - especially when it's your first season as a regular. Now Whitworth has over a week to rest up for the NCAAs, and the Bucs should really benefit from their mini-break.
#2 Puget Sound 71, #3 Whitworth 64: The surging Loggers (23-3, 13-3) toppled the Pirates (21-5, 12-4) at home for the second time in 5 days. Getting out to an early 10-2 lead 5 minutes in, UPS got unexpectedly solid point production from all 5 starters. 1st team All-NWC performers Amanda Forshay (20 points) and Emily Sheldon (13 points) led the way, with both 2nd team all-conference pick Katy Ainslie and SO Alex Noren adding 11 each. More surprising was SR PG Ashley Agcaoili, who averages just 5 ppg, who chipped in with 9. Six, however, were true daggers, both coming on made 3-balls immediately after quick Whitworth TO's, on consecutive Logger possessions at the 14:51 and 14:11 mark in the 2nd half - the second triple extended the Logger advantage to 15, at 48-33. Whitworth usually has a great 2-3 minutes after a Higgs TO, but Agcaoili's duo from deep instantly poured cold water on the momentum Whitworth usually derives from its TOs. Timing is everything. The Bucs still had a big run in them, however, although it required tremendous effort. Over the next 12 minutes, repeated dribble-drives were key to a 31-17 Whitworth run, and a layup by Katara Belton-Sharp with 2:07 left cut the Puget Sound lead to one, at 65-64. After Noren went 1-2 at the line, their lead was two when Pirate SR Kendra Knutsen missed a 3-ptr from the left corner with 1:36 left, that would've given the Bucs their first lead. Tonight Whitworth got beaten with their own M.O., as that Belton-Sharp hoop were their last points, while it was the Loggers who sank 6-7 late FTs to secure the win, and punch their ticket to the NWC finals. It's scary. The Loggers are still getting tangibly better as a group. They've clearly built on each big win and each tough loss this league campaign. The one word I would use is confident. I'll be surprised if they don't give a great account of themselves in Newberg on Saturday. I would caution George Fox to come ready to play, as they likely expected to see Whitworth advance. This UPS team can really play, and, most dangerously, they're just peaking as a team now.
Unlike last Saturday, Coach Higgs did unveil her "pack of wild dogs" defense. Yet, to their credit, the Loggers were able to navigate through it like butter, with only a very few exceptions. UPS was so skilled at quickly escaping Whitworth's full-court pressure that I recall seeing at least 5 easy UPS hoops being scored, as a direct result of doing so. Loree Payne's players were so not bothered by Whitworth's maniacal D that these multiple scores looked more like secondary fast break hoops, rather than an effective press break. As such, the Pirates found themselves in 3-on-1/4-on-2 defensive mismatches at the goal. Being short numbers on D just doesn't happen to Whitworth. Overall, UPS had 13 assists and 12 turnovers. That stat also doesn't happen to Whitworth. The Bucs' normal box score for opponents, over the past 2-3 seasons, regularly shows twice as many TO's than assists. It isn't that Whitworth's D has worsened recently. What has happened is that, to UPS, the "novelty" of it seems to have worn off a bit. In fact, Puget Sound appeared to now view it as an opportunity to score easily, instead of something to fear. I suppose it's only natural, as UPS has now seen this type of super-intense, 94-feet, in-your-face D employed against it 7 times this year, between the Bucs, George Fox, and, of late, Whitman. Still, the sky-high level of success that Puget Sound had against it did surprise me. Just because you know something is gonna happen, it still doesn't mean that you're gonna be able to overcome it/negate its effects. This was one of those times, however. Coach Payne and every Logger player deserve a tremendous amount of credit for this win. UPS' defense didn't exactly take the night off. They held Lexie Zappone scoreless, were able to minimize the offensive damage by McConnell (16) and Belton-Sharp (14), and held key inside player Jessica Kramer to just 4. FR Callie Harwood stepped up big for Whitworth, scoring 14, while Knutson hit double-figures (12-a rarity for her) for the second straight game, in a losing effort.
While I did expect Coach Higgs to at least show glimpses of multiple defenses vs UPS, she didn't. She again stayed man for the full 40, allowing UPS to stay with the offensive system/sets the Logger players execute so very well. I almost always agree with Higgs' choices, but I didn't happen to in this instance. In closing, unlike last weekend's game, there was a wide disparity in free throws taken Thursday, in favor of the home team. In fact, Whitworth (24-70; 34%) scored more total FGs than UPS (22-53; 42%). The Bucs went 13-16 at the line, while the Loggers took twice as many (24-32). Still, I thought this game was fairly officiated. Whitworth had to fight for tons of offensive rebounds off missed shots, putting them in danger of committing more fouls of aggression, which they did. In the end, UPS won this game because of 1) their press break, 2 ) by shooting better from the field than Whitworth did, and 3) defending the Pirates O at their usual, super high level. Despite scoring 2 more FGs, Whitworth shot the ball quite poorly Thursday - a recurring theme, of late. Despite their lack of height, the Bucs take more shots from 8 feet and in than any other team in the NWC. Generally, the closer the shots are launched from, the higher the %. And after starting the season 14-0, the Pirates are just 7-5 in their last 12. Granted, the level of competition of late has been very high. But Whitworth has been shooting their lowest FG% against the very best teams they are playing. This is not unusual - common, in fact. They've shot 38% or less in 10 of their 26 games. The Pirates did manage to win all 5 games when it happened against non-elite opponents. But they've lost all 5 games when it's happened vs. the NWC playoff teams. I'm also noticing some individual player fatigue. From out of nowhere, SR Jessica Kramer has been such an undersized, key inside cog for Whitworth this year. Still, she's played 10 times as many minutes this season as she had during her first 3 years. To her credit, she is categorically not a "pace yourself" type of player. The polar opposite, in fact. But it's clear to me watching, that she's starting to wear down physically. It's a long season - especially when it's your first season as a regular. Now Whitworth has over a week to rest up for the NCAAs, and the Bucs should really benefit from their mini-break.