In Reply to: halftime posted by barrya on November 26, 2025 at 12:55:42
We were badly outcoached. How many of our passes did Texas pick? They knew what were going to do before we did.
We missed Janiah. Missed: her toughness, her attitude; her rebounding; her ability to take players off the dribble and draw fouls (so that they can’t foul Lauren as soon as she catches the ball).
But, I think this was a fantastic game for us. In the first half we were trying to cram everything into Lauren at the post, despite her being smothered. The sideline reporter said that Lauren said we needed to adjust because she was blanketed. Cori’s response? keep doing the same thing .
At the half, studio lady called it out. You can’t just keep staring down Betts. You’ve got to get her moving around. Second half we started to do that. Yay!!!!! Hopefully Close has learned that camping Betts out under the basket all game is not going to succeed against the best teams. In the second half Close moved her around, let her pass, draw players away from the basket so our guards could attack, and let her cut to the basket . Oldacre cant move with Lauren. Lauren can cut to the basket on her or take her on the dribble.
And the team as a whole ramped up their fight. Another good lesson learned.
IMO it was an outstanding game for us, lots of lessons to learn. Would love for us to face Texas again. I think they are very beatable if we learned our lessons.
Another thing, I haven’t looked at the stats, but seems like we got killed on the boards. We should add Sienna and Timea. That will help.
Last: Texas must take flopping lessons. Booker repeatedly dribbles into people and throws her head back. And that one Texas player ….Kiki shoves her in the upper part of her chest, Texi player throws her head back, falls on the floor grabbing her throat. Her throat then miraculously heals.
Maybe we’ll learn a) not to shove off while dribbling (we did that too many time); b) lead with your shoulder and throw your head back when you initiate contact.
This was a great game if we can learn from it.