When KSU came to Ames their speed gave us matchup problems, but the ladies found a way to get a tight win. I figured we would see more of the same in the little apple, but hoped our defense would lead the way. Sadly it didn't.
The first quarter was a mixed bag. The ladies got out of the gate, but Mintie used a timeout (he seemed to be very masterful at this all game) to slow us down. Initially, the ladies were doing a great job on the defensive boards where they lead the league. Early on we would see something that would be present all night long. Shots were not falling and not enough moving on the offensive end. KSU sticking close on defense and personally I think we make that easy for them with our "no-motion" offense. The early 6-2 lead was cancelled out by a KSU trey and two straight turnovers would allow the cats to attack and take the lead.
The pattern of our offense was what I call hit and miss (mostly miss). After losing the lead Donarski and then Diew score to grab it back. At this point our defense was looking pretty good. The offense would keep running like a V8 with three cylinders missing. Four early turnovers.
After another turnover in a bad inbounds play KSU scores and is fouled. On offense we are using no screens and there is slow movement as we dribble the clock away. On the other end, KSU would hit another three and they lead 13-11. We continued to miss and KSU keeps going inside and builds their lead. Donarski would score to end an 8-0 KSU run. 13 points in a quarter. Woof. This was just plain ugly for what most think is a top 15 team.
KSU leads 15-13.
Starting off the second the offense was still drawing blanks. KSU was on a 10-2 run. The offense is a lot of standing and 1 on 1 play. No team offense at all. But, all of a sudden KSU is the one making mistakes. Kane would take a nice lob from Ryan for two and Donsarski hit a trey to allow the sisters to retake the lead.
As good as that sounds…we still are standing around the perimeter and watching. Essentially three players (one out top and two in the middle) moving the ball and two players standing in the corners watching. This would be one of those little spurts as ISU would go on a little 7-0 run. Mintie would call a timeout and boom...a KSU trey and it’s 20-19 ISU.
DIEW would answer with a trey and then she makes three mistakes in one play…delays shooting after a nice pass underneath, turns under the basket where she can’t do anything and then travels.
Donarski appeared to be hobbled after committing a foul and goes out. This would appear to bother her the rest of the game. She gutted it out though. Fritz nailed a trey. Defense stepping up and was actually frustrating KSU. The would go without a score for almost three min. Sadly, we just weren't doing anything to help ourselves. Another turnover (8 so far) meant another empty possession. Additionally, Donarski and Joens went to the bench with two fouls. This was another problem throughout the game.
Weirdly with them on the bench the offense seemed to come alive for a short time. Ryan would hit a trey and Fritz drove hard and scores and was fouled. All of a sudden it’s an 11 point lead 34-23 and I thought...whew...finally the ladies were taking control. M&M was still missing badly and KSU hits a trey in response to stem things for them.
We are starting to pick up too many fouls. D, Joens and Diew all with two. With fouls and the offense again finding the neutral gear KSU crept back in 34-28. Then the wheels completely fell off the bus. All of a sudden we are putting up threes and just missing. Ryan committed the 11th turnover of the half and KSU runs the court for two.
To make matters worse...as usual, the dribble down the clock at the end of the half fails miserably as Ryan gets lost and misses. Leads to another basket by KSU at the buzzer. The lead is cut to 36-32. Terrible finish.
OK...second half. Small lead and a chance to adjust. Didn't happen. The quarter started with Joens taking and missing a long three from six feet behind the arc and turning the ball over on the next possession. What does KSU do each time? Score. Then we commit a shot clock violation. Three empty possessions to start the half
KSU would take the lead after a trey and Donarski answers with her own. But KSU would hit another trey and lead 40-39. BTW...since late in the second quarter KSU was on a 15-3 run to lead 43-39.
That ugly foul problem would rear its head again and again. Joens picked up her third foul and went to the bench. Then Diew throws up an air ball hook shot. Just not being smart on offense. Much of what we do smacks of desperation.
KSU on offense is eating us alive again as they keep driving. If we collapse they would hit a wide open trey. KSU would be on a 25-9 run since late in the first half.
Fritz would step up with a layup and get fouled to put the sisters back in front (can you believe we were leading after giving up so many points?). This would contribute to a little 8-0 ISU run. But, Fritz and Joens have three fouls and ISU led 53-51. Joens was having a terrible night shooting. Not even close on any deep shot so far and struggling with her usual inside stuff.
Diew is one of those mixed bags. Sometimes she is sensational (she was dominating the boards for a while tonight) and she had two offensive possessions where she showed she can’t dribble worth a crap turning it over to end the quarter.
KSU leads after three 54-53.
The fourth quarter, sadly, would be much of the same. The offense would keep misfiring. Lots of standing. On defense KSU is driving and driving beating the ladies every time. KSU really isn't that good of a team, but they at least run an offense. First four points of the quarter went to KSU and they lead 58-53. Sounds just like other quarters in this game.
Joens would go to the bench early with four fouls. Another drive past Ryan and it’s KSU 60-56. Kane is blocked and KSU scores on the changeover.
One of the better plays of the night was a nice steal by Donarski for two! The epitome of the offensive problems was Ryan having a wide open trey and instead tried to drive into triple coverage and traveled. Again the best word I can come up with for the offense is dysfunctional.
Joens would finally hit her first trey. Give her credit, Joens is trying, but getting mugged and no calls coming. Joens would drive again and ties the game at 64 with 2:40 left.
Then the defense broke down and gave up another WIDE open three and KSU leads 71-66. On the other end our so called offense rears its ugly head again and comes up empty. Donarski (she of twister ankle) scored a layup and is fouled (not called) but KSU leads by three with :42 left. She then commits a late in the shot clock foul and it resets the clock and KSU can just about run the clock out. It would become a foul fest and free throw shooting event for KSU at this point. Joens would foul out. KSU makes both free throws. Diew scored two, we foul and KSU hits one FT. Lead is four. Donarski would hit for two. Diew fouled out. KSU hits both of the free throws with 2.3 left. Somehow the ladies hit a trey at the buzzer, but KSU wins 78-77.
Observations
POG - Has to be Donarski. Goes for 18 points and single handed kept the ladies in the game when nothing else was working.
Joens - tough night at the office. Poor shooting. Foul trouble. Only four rebounds and three turnovers.
Ryan - ugh...way too much dribbling with no running offense. Had a crap load of turnovers (6) to 8 assists.
Fritz - showed her usual toughness and made some nice plays...just not enough of them. Only took 7 shots. 5-5 at the line and some tough boards.
Kane - non-factor. Three shots total. Four points and three rebounds.
Diew - As I said earlier...a mixed bag. Bunch of rebounds...and I mean a bunch (14), but offensively...she got a respectable 14 points...but got beat up on defense and some critical timed turnovers. 14 and 14 sounds pretty good though. It's just the lapses that hurt and don't show up on the stat sheet.
M&M - her offense has completely abandoned her. Even the announcers were talking about her struggles. Did finally hit a trey.
Free throws - our fouling at the end of the game made this more of a discrepancy than it was, but until then it def was not an advantage ISU. The ladies hit 100% (13-13), but KSU got 20 attempts due to the end of the game.
Rebounding - ISU actually won this battle handily.
This one is weird to look at statistically. Field goals? ISU had one more than kSU. Three pointers? Dead even. Rebounding? ISU by seven. Free throws? KSU by only 3. Steals? Dead even. Definitely a head scratcher.
What was the difference? Deeper bench for KSU for one. Nine players saw the court. The one word that I can offer that cost ISU this game was consistency. The offense never got going. There would be little runs and then it would go backwards with multiple empty possessions. Defense would look lock down and then the sea would part and KSU would drive down the lane like an old lady going the wrong way on the interstate. Inconsistency. No offensive flow at all. I don't question coach very often, but I have to wonder what the offensive strategy was in this game. Let Ryan dribble most of a possession away, have two players stand immobile in the corners...and pray something goes your way? Head scratcher for sure.
Well, this knocks the ladies out of first place since Texas won tonight. There is a huge game with Baylor coming up Saturday. The ladies are unbeaten at home this year, but this game doesn't leave me feeling very hopeful. It was a complete mess from start to finish. At the end of the season, if ISU finishes out of first place in the standings this will be the game everyone points to.
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