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“16-17” and “13-14” refers to the starters, not the entire team.
Minutes
The 13-14 starters were mules. All but KML started in all 40 games. Four of the Five starters played in at least 75% of every minute of every game of the season. Even adjusted for fewer games played, the 16-17 starters did not play more minutes. I found this surprising given the lack of a bench in 16-17; only Butler and Crystal Dangerfield subbed regularly. However, the 13-14 team also had a short bench, with Stokes, Chong and Banks rotating in and out. Tuck only played in 8 games due to injuries.
Shooting: FG, 3PG, FT, Pts.
14-15 tended to have higher absolute numbers in several areas. This is to be expected given 3 additional games and heavy minutes. Adjusted for that, 16-17 numbers are higher or better in every category. Almost as many FGM on far fewer FGA. More 3FG on fewer attempts, even without adjusting. More trips to the line. More FTs made. Higher FG%. Higher 3FP%. Higher FT%. Advantage: 16-17.
Rebounds
The 13-14 starters outrebounded the 16-17 starters, though the latter had slightly more ORebs when adjusted for minutes. Otherwise, it appears 13-14 starters had more balanced all-around rebounding on both ends. Fewest total Rebs by a starter was Moriah’s 136, followed by Hartley’s 144. By comparison, 16-17 shows Chong, Nurse, and KLS with 104, 57, 143. Advantage: 13-14.
Assists
The starters are even here, once adjusted for minutes. This is a bit of a surprise in light of the fact that the 16-17 team broke assist records. With one exception on each group (KML; Phees), every starter averaged more than 3 assists per game. Advantage: none.
Turnovers
13-14 starters turned the ball over considerable more than the 16-17 starters. Adjusted for minutes, 13-14 had about 45 more TOs on the year, or a little more than 1 per game. Advantage: 16-17.
Steals
Again, 16-17 starters had better numbers, in absolute terms and adjusted for minutes. Translates to about 1 additional steal per game.
Blocks
No contest. 13-14 dominates, with 71 more blocks on the year, or 62 when adjusted. Translates to about 1.5 blocks more per game. Not surprising given Stewart (110) and Dolson (93)—compared with Phees (77) and Gabby (52). Advantage: 13-14.
PF
13-14 fouled slightly more, when adjusted. But the difference is rather negligible. Not surprisingly, the shot blockers and rebounders (Stewie, Dolson; Phees, Gabby) fouled the most on each group.
Conclusion
If it is not already obvious, it should be clear that comparing these kinds of figures cannot begin to tell us the whole story. The 16-17 starters were obviously a more potent and efficient offensive group. But the stats don’t adequately convey the defensive abilities of the teams’ starters. The 13-14 team averaged 82.1 points/game, while giving up 47.8 pts/game. The 16-17 team averaged 87.1 points/game, while giving up 54.9/game. The 13-14 team had Kia Stokes at 6’3” subbing in where necessary and giving a big front court. The 16-17 team matched that with Butler at 6’5”. Moriah was a sophomore, and her game was still developing. Can’t say without watching the 13-14 games whether she was generally more effective defensively than Saniya 16-17 (her counterpart). KML was probably more effective defensively than KLS. Difficult to argue that the combo of Stewie and Dolson were not as effective defensively than Collier and Gabby. And in fact, they were probably considerably more effective in tandem. (Who would you rather face when driving to the hoop?) That leaves Kia and Bria. Here, the nod has to go to Bria—way more rebounds, assists and steals, even when adjusted for minutes.
In short, while the 13-14 starters were not as efficient offensively, their defense more than made up for any resulting difference. Advantage: 13-14.
Minutes
The 13-14 starters were mules. All but KML started in all 40 games. Four of the Five starters played in at least 75% of every minute of every game of the season. Even adjusted for fewer games played, the 16-17 starters did not play more minutes. I found this surprising given the lack of a bench in 16-17; only Butler and Crystal Dangerfield subbed regularly. However, the 13-14 team also had a short bench, with Stokes, Chong and Banks rotating in and out. Tuck only played in 8 games due to injuries.
Shooting: FG, 3PG, FT, Pts.
14-15 tended to have higher absolute numbers in several areas. This is to be expected given 3 additional games and heavy minutes. Adjusted for that, 16-17 numbers are higher or better in every category. Almost as many FGM on far fewer FGA. More 3FG on fewer attempts, even without adjusting. More trips to the line. More FTs made. Higher FG%. Higher 3FP%. Higher FT%. Advantage: 16-17.
Rebounds
The 13-14 starters outrebounded the 16-17 starters, though the latter had slightly more ORebs when adjusted for minutes. Otherwise, it appears 13-14 starters had more balanced all-around rebounding on both ends. Fewest total Rebs by a starter was Moriah’s 136, followed by Hartley’s 144. By comparison, 16-17 shows Chong, Nurse, and KLS with 104, 57, 143. Advantage: 13-14.
Assists
The starters are even here, once adjusted for minutes. This is a bit of a surprise in light of the fact that the 16-17 team broke assist records. With one exception on each group (KML; Phees), every starter averaged more than 3 assists per game. Advantage: none.
Turnovers
13-14 starters turned the ball over considerable more than the 16-17 starters. Adjusted for minutes, 13-14 had about 45 more TOs on the year, or a little more than 1 per game. Advantage: 16-17.
Steals
Again, 16-17 starters had better numbers, in absolute terms and adjusted for minutes. Translates to about 1 additional steal per game.
Blocks
No contest. 13-14 dominates, with 71 more blocks on the year, or 62 when adjusted. Translates to about 1.5 blocks more per game. Not surprising given Stewart (110) and Dolson (93)—compared with Phees (77) and Gabby (52). Advantage: 13-14.
PF
13-14 fouled slightly more, when adjusted. But the difference is rather negligible. Not surprisingly, the shot blockers and rebounders (Stewie, Dolson; Phees, Gabby) fouled the most on each group.
Conclusion
If it is not already obvious, it should be clear that comparing these kinds of figures cannot begin to tell us the whole story. The 16-17 starters were obviously a more potent and efficient offensive group. But the stats don’t adequately convey the defensive abilities of the teams’ starters. The 13-14 team averaged 82.1 points/game, while giving up 47.8 pts/game. The 16-17 team averaged 87.1 points/game, while giving up 54.9/game. The 13-14 team had Kia Stokes at 6’3” subbing in where necessary and giving a big front court. The 16-17 team matched that with Butler at 6’5”. Moriah was a sophomore, and her game was still developing. Can’t say without watching the 13-14 games whether she was generally more effective defensively than Saniya 16-17 (her counterpart). KML was probably more effective defensively than KLS. Difficult to argue that the combo of Stewie and Dolson were not as effective defensively than Collier and Gabby. And in fact, they were probably considerably more effective in tandem. (Who would you rather face when driving to the hoop?) That leaves Kia and Bria. Here, the nod has to go to Bria—way more rebounds, assists and steals, even when adjusted for minutes.
In short, while the 13-14 starters were not as efficient offensively, their defense more than made up for any resulting difference. Advantage: 13-14.