Ok, on to the game.
UCONN vs Creighton
Day: Sunday
Date: Nov 23, 2014
Location: Gampel
Time: 1:00
| TV: SNY | ||
| Radio: Conn/IMG Network |
Records UConn 1-1, Creighton 2-1.
Overview
UConn is coming off a tough loss to Stanford. Creighton lost to Wichita State (who then lost by 28 to Eastern Washington) 65-56. They won their home opener against Utah 64-56. They were led by MC McGory with 11 points, Janning with 15 points going 3-4 on 3's and Akin-Otiko with 14 points. Creighton was out-shot, out-rebounded but not outscored. Why? They only had 2 turnovers the entire game while forcing Utah into 16.
11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard
Kia's fouling out in the Stanford game was painful. A couple of really bad calls and some international defense hurt.
MPG 20.5, FG% .450, 3PT% .250, PPG 8.5, RPG 4.5, APG 1.0, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Jefferson is looking to bounce back from a poor game against Stanford although she did have 6 assists.
MPG 30.5, FG% .467, 3PT% .500, PPG 9.0, RPG 2.5, APG 6.5, 1 steal, 1 block
41 Kiah Stokes 6'3" Senior Center
Kiah had her usual number of blocks, but she struggled in the Stanford game. I'm sure Geno is expecting more.
MPG 22.5, FG% .400, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.5, RPG 6.0, APG 1.0, 0 steals, 7 blocks
23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward
I'm sure KML is not happy with how she played in the last game but 45 minutes shows she has certainly got herself in great condition.
MPG 34.5, FG% .542, 3PT% .667, PPG 21.0, RPG 4.5, APG 1.5, 4 steals, 0 blocks
Stewie was terrific in the Stanford game, but as with the rest of the team, I'm sure she thinks she should have done more.
MPG 34.0, FG% .500, 3PT% .444, PPG 19.0, RPG 8.0, APG 5.0, 5 steals, 2 blocks
UConn Bench
3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward
Morgan was perfect from the line against Stanford going 6-6. Her fouling out was critical in the loss. UConn needs her to shoot a better FG and 3PT percentage.
MPG 20.5, FG% .333, 3PT% .200, PPG 10.0, RPG 4.0, APG 3.5, 1 steal, 0 blocks
12 Sanyia Chong 5'8" Sophomore Guard
Chong had a great offensive game against Stanford.
MPG 28.5, FG% .667, 3PT% .551, PPG 16.0, RPG 4.5, APG 2.0, 1 steal, 1 block
22 Courtney Ekmark 6' Freshman Guard
Courtney will get playing time in this and most games.
MPG 19.0, FG% .000, 3PT% .000, PPG 0.0, RPG 3.0, APG 2, 3 steals, 0 blocks
15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard
Gabby as well will see minutes against Creighton. Her athleticism will get her into the regular rotation sooner than later.
MPG 13, FG% .500, 3PT% .000, PPG 6.0, RPG 3.0, APG 0.0, 1 steal, 0 blocks
UConn Complete Stats
 |
| The 2014-15 Creighton Blue Jays Back Row: (Left to Right) Bailey Norby, Kylie Brown, Brianna Rollerson, Syndey Lamberty. Middle Row: MC McGrory, Jade Owens, Tessa Leytem, Lauren Works. Front Row: Myah Mellman, Taylor Johnson, Sammy Jensen, Alexis Akin-Otiko, Marissa Janning. |
What a nice looking team. I almost feel badly for them. Almost.
Creighton Starters
MPG 28.7, FG% .409, 3PT% .333, PPG 11.3, RPG 5.0, APG 4.0, 3 steal, 0 blocks
MPG 24.7, FG% .400, 3PT% .444, PPG 4.30, RPG 0.3, APG 2.0, 1 steal, 0 blocks
23 Marissa Janning 5'8" Junior Guard
MPG 33.0, FG% .370, 3PT% .655, PPG 18.0, RPG 3.7, APG 2.7, 1 steal, 0 blocks
45 Alexis Akin-Otiko 5'11" Senior Forward
MPG 26.0, FG% .414, 3PT% .222, PPG 9.7, RPG 6.3, APG 1.7, 2 steal, 7 blocks
22 Brianna Rollerson 6' Sophomore Forward
MPG 19.7, FG% .588, 3PT% .000, PPG 9.3, RPG 4.0, APG 1.0, 2 steals, 1 block
Creighton Bench
14 Sydney Lamberty 5'10" Sophomore Guard
MPG 16.3, FG% .400, 3PT% .500, PPG 5.3, RPG 2.7, APG 1.3, 1 steal, 0 blocks
22 Taylor Johnson 5'11" Sophomore Guard/Forward
MPG 14.0, FG% .353, 3PT% .364, PPG 5.7, RPG 1.3, APG 0.7, 1 steal, 0 blocks
11 Bailey Norby 6'2" Freshman Forward
MPG 11.5, FG% .667, 3PT% .000, PPG 3.5, RPG 4.0, APG 0.0, 4 steal, 0 blocks
12 Lauren Works 5'7" Sophomore Guard
MPG 11.3, FG% .500, 3PT% .500, PPG 2.7, RPG 1.3, APG 0.3, 1 steal, 0 blocks
01 Jade Owens 5'6" Freshman Guard
MPG 10.0, FG% .125, 3PT% .000, PPG 0.7, RPG 0.7, APG 0.7, 0 steal, 0 blocks
Final Analysis
There is not a lot to say here. Creighton has match up nightmares up and down the lineup. Jefferson and Chong are too quick and the UConn front line is way to big for Creighton to handle. Their starting lineup has only one player over 5'11" and she is only 6'. Their two players with height (6'2" and 6'3") off the bench only play 13 minutes between them.
Janning, the 5'8" junior guard is their main scoring threat. She is hitting a KML like 68.8% on threes going 11-16. She also averages a team high 19.5 ppg. So far, as a team, they are handling the ball well with more assists than TO's. I don't expect that to continue as they will struggle with UConn's quickness. Akin-Otiko is a 5'11" forward is very Barbara Turner like on the boards. She will do well against many teams, but not against UConn's size. But from what I have seen, she will be fun to watch.
For UConn, it's just a time to regroup, refocus, move on, etc...etc...etc. This team is still the same talented team it was before the Stanford game. I'm expecting great focus on moving the ball for the best shot. They got away from that in the loss. Better execution and even more intensity. Expect a lot of ball pressure and quick defensive switching. Geno had some not so nice words about the team at the public practice. While they weren't there, I'm sure they know exactly how he feels. This focus on defense has him starting Nurse and relegating Chong to coming off the bench. This will all translate into a 40+ point win. And lots of time for everyone.
GO HUSKIES!!!
GO HUSKIES!!!
Great stuff. And now a daily dose of DD. It just keeps getting better
ReplyDeleteHey DD - I thought Nurse was starting over Chong per your dailies...otherwise I concur - terrific!
ReplyDeleteI changed it. Duhhhhh....lol. Thanks for pointing it out.
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