I feel it’s protected to say that three video games into WCC play, Gonzaga WBB appears scary
…for the opposition.
Admittedly, two of the three video games had been at house, however Gonzaga has regarded in management, probably dominant, in all of these matchups whereas securing victories in various methods. Yvonne Ejim is clearly the boss canine along with her consistency and prime quality performances, however every sport has featured a distinct participant stepping up alongside her. In opposition to Portland, Brynna Maxwell dropped 21 factors, her second highest whole of the 12 months. In opposition to Santa Clara, Eliza Hollingsworth scored 18 factors. And towards USD, Kayleigh Truong erupted for 21 factors, which was her first twenty level sport since simply earlier than Thanksgiving. When a workforce has three or 4 gamers that may rating in bunches alongside a possible All-American in Ejim, I can solely think about the heartburn felt by opposing coaches and gamers.
However earlier than we get too deep into our pontifications relating to the long run, let’s evaluation yesterday’s house sport towards USD.
The primary quarter began out as most Gonzaga video games have this season: an Ejim layup. Maxwell adopted that just about computerized basket along with her personal, almost computerized, three pointer assisted by none aside from Yvonne. Nonetheless, USD didn’t look phased as they made high quality drives to the hoops for factors, received the interval’s rebounding margin 8-4 (together with 3 offensive rebounds), and, most significantly, confirmed tenacity on protection by forcing the Gonzaga offense to provoke the offense a lot additional away from the ring than typical. This was efficient for a time because the Toreros had been in a position to climb inside one level of the Bulldogs simply after the halfway media timeout. Nonetheless, San Diego subsequently hit a chilly streak and shot 1-9 to finish the quarter down 21-13. For Gonzaga, all starters scored with Ejim main the best way with 7 and Maxwell simply behind her with 5. There was a pleasant play within the dying minutes when Kayleigh drove previous her matchup and into the paint earlier than the Torero gamers swarmed her, however couldn’t cease her as she by some means wrapped the ball round a defender to search out Ejim ready under for the straightforward two. Take a look at the clip under:
The second quarter began off a bit gradual with Gonzaga scoring simply 7 (2-9 capturing), together with a 4 minute stretch and not using a basket, and San Diego (2-8 capturing) simply 6 throughout the primary 5 minutes. I’m positive Coach Fortier was pissed off as a result of her offense regarded stagnant and the protection was permitting an excessive amount of penetration from the perimeter, which created simple appears for the Toreros that they fortunately couldn’t convert. These difficulties had been compounded by Gonzaga committing 7 fouls throughout the interval that USD translated into 5 simple factors. Importantly, this included Brynna selecting up her second foul three minutes into the quarter and he or she didn’t see the court docket for the rest of the interval. Fortunately, Eliza Hollingsworth made a pleasant cross out of a collapsing Torero protection to Kaylynne Truong who subsequently nailed the extensive open three pointer. Yvonne, having solely scored 1 level to date, should’ve heard that swish and realized she wanted some motion as she scored 7 extra factors throughout the following two minutes to assist the Bulldogs head into the break up 43-33. For the interval, Yvonne once more led Gonzaga with 8 whereas Kayleigh contributed 7 factors in her seven minutes.
Notable stats on the half embody:
Gonzaga:
15-28 FG / 3-7 3FG / 10-15 FT / 18 rebounds (5-13) / 9 assists / 8 fouls / 5 turnovers
Ejim 15 / Kayleigh 11 / Kaylynne 6 / Maxwell 5 / Eliza 4 / Maud 2
Second probability factors: 2
Factors off turnovers: 2
Fouls: 8
San Diego:
12-31 FG / 2-4 3FG / 7-9 FT / 17 rebounds (7-10) / 5 assists / 10 fouls / 6 turnovers
Sheffey 9 / Horstmeyer 8 / Afeaki 4 / two with 3 / three with 2
Second probability factors: 4
Factors off turnovers: 4
Fouls: 10
After a reasonably terse half-time interview, I’m positive Coach Fortier had some phrases for her workforce within the locker room and this resulted in Kayleigh instantly driving to the free throw line and making a pleasant pull-up jumper. Gonzaga would subsequently rating seven extra unanswered factors earlier than Maxwell picked up her third foul after she tried to swipe the ball from Neubert’s fingers on her roll to the ring. Whereas we don’t usually take into consideration Brynna’s defensive talents, this clearly rattled the workforce as they allowed drive after drive, primarily by permitting Sheffey to get to her dominant left hand, that resulted in a 7-2 run throughout the following minute. We additionally noticed USD begin to roll with a three-quarter court docket strain on most possessions, which didn’t create any turnovers, however slowed the offense’s rhythm simply sufficient and highlighted my concern with how this workforce addresses strain. Fortunately although, the Bulldogs dug deep and relied on their teammates for offensive contribution as six gamers scored this era to assist Gonzaga enter the ultimate interval up 65-47.
After solely enjoying 13 minutes throughout the earlier three quarters, Brynna began the fourth quarter and subsequently dedicated her fourth foul throughout the first minute. Regardless of wanting visibly pissed off, Fortier left the star senior within the sport for some time longer and was rewarded with 4 factors throughout her 4 minutes of enjoying time. With the sport firmly out of attain, the bench performed for a lot of the remaining 5 minutes and we acquired to see Future Burton rating her first factors of the season because the Zags received 85-67.
My takeaways from the sport are as follows:
Ejim’s superb, which is clear in the event you’ve been following this workforce all season, however towards a tricky and bodily Torero workforce, she scored 25 factors on 10-18 capturing whereas including 10 rebounds, together with 6 on the offensive finish and solely committing one foul on an evening with 35 fouls referred to as.
Kayleigh broke out of her capturing hunch by scoring 21 factors on 8-9 capturing, together with 1-1 from deep, and amassing 7 assists with zero turnovers. This was her finest capturing sport and first twenty level sport for the reason that journey to Texas for the Van Chancellor Traditional earlier than Thanksgiving in order that’s acquired to be a confidence enhance for her going ahead.
Kaylynne was quieter than her sister, however managed so as to add 11 factors, together with 3 three pointers, 4 assists, and three rebounds. Let’s hope that her damaged finger has healed properly and he or she’s in a position to get again to her double digit scoring and wizardly help means.
As a workforce, Gonzaga solely dedicated 7 turnovers and San Diego solely transformed this into 7 factors. Two of those turnovers had been dedicated by Bree, who made some questionable cross court docket or overly-aggressive passes after dribbling into the opposition’s strain, so for this workforce to solely have 5 different turnovers towards a Torero workforce that forces almost 17 per sport throughout their season appears good.
Gonzaga not solely received the rebounding battle 38-31, they grabbed 14 offensive rebounds which correlated to an ORB% of 41.9% in comparison with simply 24.8% for USD. Kasey Neubert has been a rebounding hog for the Toreros this season, however she was held to only 7 whole rebounds, her lowest since earlier than Christmas. Whereas the Bulldogs might solely convert this into 14 factors, getting these possibilities will likely be necessary for each massive and small groups sooner or later.
I used to be not very impressed with the Bulldog’s protection yesterday. I’ve highlighted earlier than that San Diego will get nearly all of their factors from two pointers so for our defenders to permit their marks to beat them off the drive is unacceptable in my eyes. That’s to not say I anticipated it by no means occur, however there have been too many occasions once I watched a Gonzaga participant aggressively cost down a San Diego participant on the three level line just for them to make a easy transfer by and basically have a 5 on 4 alternative. USD hasn’t shot above 40% all convention play and yesterday, they simply about acquired there with their 39.7% efficiency, which was their highest since earlier than enjoying Montana earlier than Christmas. Extra hanging, USD’s main scorer, Veronic Sheffey, put up her second highest level whole of the 12 months with 20 on 7-12 capturing. As Kaylynne stated through the post-game interviews, “Protection will win us video games.”
How does Bree Salenbien have 5 blocks throughout her final two video games wherein she performed 17 minutes? I imply, I do know it’s taking place due to her athleticism and dimension, however that’s an absurd quantity and even together with her earlier half-hour when she didn’t have a block, these numbers correlate to greater than six per 100 possessions. I personally sit up for Bree channeling her internal Dikembe.
Gonzaga has had an inclination this season to have some quarters within the teenagers and 1 / 4 right here and there with 25+ factors, which feels good to look at, but additionally has left me a bit involved at occasions that they’re not constant sufficient throughout video games. Nonetheless, final evening, we noticed a sport wherein Gonzaga scored 21, 22, 22, and 20. It wasn’t their finest capturing sport as they went 30-61 from the sphere and 6-17 from deep, however there weren’t any actual down quarters. Their worst capturing efficiency got here within the fourth when the workforce went 7-17, however this quantity is deflated by the bench unit going simply 1-5 from the sphere and the sport firmly out of attain. I’m unsure if I just like the growth/bust cycle we’ve seen at occasions this season kind of than the efficiency seen yesterday, however, frankly, it doesn’t actually matter as a result of if this workforce can persistently drop 80+ factors, they’ll have an opportunity to win virtually each sport.
Gonzaga’s subsequent sport comes on the highway this Thursday towards Loyola Marymount at 10pm EST. Test again in later this week for a preview of that matchup. Till then, ZAG UP!