Playing Baylor is always nerve wracking. Usually we are playing against much better athletes and coaches. This year was different though. Still nervous going in.
In the beginning the threes were falling. Ryan was being a bit loose with the ball and this would be concerning all game.
On the other end there was solid defense and GREAT rebounding. Kane was doing a great job inside.
One example being a beautiful drive and assist to Joens with Kane scoring. Five min in and it’s 15-5.
Diew picked up two fouls in 15 sec. Unreal.
Ladies were not taking care of the ball as it was a very physical game with some (lots) spotty calls.
Baylor came storming back after some turnovers and it was quickly 19-14. I swear Ryan is the slowest player on the court. Had a breakaway for a layup and was easily caught and blocked.
Bad call of the half was an over and back that should have been a foul. Fennelly about was T’d up and I couldn’t blame his reaction.
End of one and it’s 19-14. Baylor closed on a 9-4 run mainly due to careless ball care. Baylor has missed a lot of easy shots.
To start the second, the threes have gone cold. Ryan was being a mess with the ball. The ladies were on a 4 min scoring drought before Joens nailed a three. Baylor would answer by nailing a three at the shot clock buzzer. Donarski followed with a trey of her own.
At this point the defense was just getting sliced up and Baylor answers everything the sisters offense does. Diew got caught out of position and picked up her third and Baylor took the lead 29-27. Kane immediately responded to tie it once again. Ryan regains the lead with an and one, but the team went cold again and Baylor got back in
After Ash misses a free throw after being beat to hell…a defensive breakdown gives Baylor the tying basket. At the half it’s 37-37.
Officials are “letting them play” which translates to Baylor is being very physical. Sisters are dominating the boards 28-14. Otherwise every stat is even like the score.
The third started with the game going back and forth with both squads playing tough D. After a nice two by Izzi Joens nailed a three and it’s 46-41. Breathing room? Not so fast…
A bad offensive sequence from Donarski led to a trey by Baylor and then Diew picks up her fourth but Baylor missed the and one. After four straight ISU possessions without a basket Baylor scored to retake the lead.
One ref not only missed a physical foul on Baylor but then missed a travel call on the ensuing possession. Folks..the officiating was frustrating at best.
Ryan started getting to the free throw line and pulled ISU back into the lead 50-49. Ryan got two more for a three point lead. After a tough basket by Joens it was 54-49 at the end of three.
The fourth started with an ISU foul and only one make by Baylor. This was followed by the worst call of the game. We get hammered driving and they call an offensive foul. Yes, Baylor was again erasing the lead.
After some contentious play Joens hit a three and then we got a stop. The crowd was insane at this point. Deafening. Then Baylor scored after a Joens turnover and got the and one. 59-56. After another Ryan turnover Baylor hit a three and it’s 61-59. Nailbiter!
After a miss Baylor ties it at 61 with 4 left. Leads just don’t last long in this one. But…then it happened…
Kane scored.
Joens for three
Joens for another three!
On the other end it was fantastic defense and dominating rebounding. Donarksi would close things out with a three at the shot clock buzzer
Final 74-63.
Observations
One key thing that really hurt the effort tonight were turnovers. Too many times we tried going inside and had the ball tipped away. We only had 14 but it seemed like each one was crucial.
But…when the motion was going the inside opened.
Rebounding was just dominating. 54-29
POG - Joens again. She was a warrior tonight. Not perfect, but what an impact. 30 points and 15 boards.
Fritz - got us a few points but her defense was stellar. 9 points and 10 boards.
Ryan - made a living at the line, but wow…has to take better care of the ball. 7-7 at the line. 15 points, 8 assists, 6 turnovers, and 6 boards.
Donarski - great D and just enough offense when it mattered.
Kane - some great inside points and she was a beast on the boards. 10 points and 10 boards.
Izzi- her minutes were huge. Never backed down. A couple of power baskets and boards.
Diew - never impacted the game except for her fouls. Still struggles on D.
M&M - put in some relief minutes. Won’t show up on the stat sheet, but she did a nice job in there.
Free throws - seemed like we shot more and we should have. 8-9 with Ryan hitting 7.
Well…the Baylor bugaboo has been vanquished. Their mystique has been shattered. Next up is an OU team we match up well with. The one difference from when we last played them is Aubrey Joens has been lighting things up of late. We need to carry tonight’s grit, defense and determination into the game to earn another trip to the finals. See you there!