How great was our defense?

[sarals24]

Seriously...lots of shooting issues, but our defensive effort was stellar. Collapsing on Nneka in the first half, guard pressure in the second half...picking up full court....so impressed!

This is one area where not having Maya helps us in a way...they can't rely on her for her to play free safety, everyone has to step up and play defense.

And MAN, Kaleena plays tough defense. She works really really hard. So excited to see her for four years! And when Brianna gets more minutes, watch out! Bria's on-ball defense has improved considerably also. Stef and Kelly worked really hard, Tiff was a little crazy the first half but her defensive intensity never wavered.

 

[Aluminny69]

9 Blocks! 12 Steals! 16 Stanford Turnovers!

 

[Fiftyish]

Seriously...lots of shooting issues, but our defensive effort was stellar. Collapsing on Nneka in the first half, guard pressure in the second half...picking up full court....so impressed!

This is one area where not having Maya helps us in a way...they can't rely on her for her to play free safety, everyone has to step up and play defense.

And MAN, Kaleena plays tough defense. She works really really hard. So excited to see her for four years! And when Brianna gets more minutes, watch out! Bria's on-ball defense has improved considerably also. Stef and Kelly worked really hard, Tiff was a little crazy the first half but her defensive intensity never wavered.

Defense was outstanding. Full court almost the whole game with few subs. Great effort by all.

 

[sarals24]

Love it. We are going to win a lot of games this year if we play like that. Only a few teams have a player as good as Nneka, and we contained her.

 

[choochoo]

It was awesome!! And just think N D gave up 90 + to Baylor yesterday. Licking my lips for that match up.

 

[Dairyair]

Defense was outstanding. Full court almost the whole game with few subs. Great effort by all.

I said to someone over the weekend that we'd press a lot more this year, since we are a lot deeper. But you're right, Fifty, we only seriously used 7 players. We KNOW we will shoot better than we did tonight...like Ice said, we're going to win a lot of games this year!

 

[h2Oburyhuskyfan]

I am surprised, that nobody has mentioned the tremendous job that Kelly did on Chiney O. holding her to 3 of 12 for only 7 points. She does it so quietly!

 

[sarals24]

It seems like we rotate players a lot more this year, even though we are really only using one more sub. Part of that is Stef being in better shape and not dragging out there, part of it is having lots of guards that bring different aspects to the game. Bria, Brianna and KML are going to be a force on the perimeter defensively.

 

[sarals24]

I am surprised, that nobody has mentioned the tremendous job that Kelly did on Chiney O. holding her to 3 of 12 for only 7 points. She does it so quietly!

It is just assumed!

But yeah, she worked really hard on her. Boxed out and played GREAT post defense. Much bigger than her 5"11.

 

[uconnbaseball]

Everyone was stellar on defense tonight. Dolson and Faris in particular did a nice job of getting their arms up without getting into significant foul trouble.

And this team is still fairly young!

 

[Buzzyboy]

Seriously...lots of shooting issues, but our defensive effort was stellar. Collapsing on Nneka in the first half, guard pressure in the second half...picking up full court....so impressed!

This is one area where not having Maya helps us in a way...they can't rely on her for her to play free safety, everyone has to step up and play defense.

And MAN, Kaleena plays tough defense. She works really really hard. So excited to see her for four years! And when Brianna gets more minutes, watch out! Bria's on-ball defense has improved considerably also. Stef and Kelly worked really hard, Tiff was a little crazy the first half but her defensive intensity never wavered.

I wasn't overly surprised by the defense because in my mind, that's what Huskie teams have been doing for a long time. A lot of their offense has always been predicated on stopping (or stuffing) the other team. When there was a thread earlier pertaining to possible scores of tonights game, I was totally surprised that some of the posters were predicting Stanford scoring a whole lot of points, whether they predicted a Stanford or Huskie win. I couldn't imagine that happening but I'm glad that my thoughts were spot on and the team performed so well. I didn't think they'd struggle as badly as they did offensively but thankfully KML really steadied them and they did the things they needed to win. I was also pleased that Caroline made a couple of key 3's later in the game. Go Huskies

 

[VAMike23]

It is just assumed!

But yeah, she worked really hard on her. Boxed out and played GREAT post defense. Much bigger than her 5"11.

Kelly strong like bull!

 

[Bestiarius]

With the energy expended on the full court press, I was concerned that they would eventually run out of gas, but it never happened. Superb conditioning!Even a fresh Nnemkadi couldn't overcome the defense. Wow!

 

[Icebear]

A lot of the Boneyarders were very close tonight on the spread ranging from 10-14

 

[Sonny44]

It is just assumed!

But yeah, she worked really hard on her. Boxed out and played GREAT post defense. Much bigger than her 5"11.

 

[Chief00]

Kelly defensive post play was inspirational. She couldn't shoot worth a lick tonight - but she was was great defensively in the post.

 

[cardfan]

A lot of the Boneyarders were very close tonight on the spread ranging from 10-14

I predicted 12 pt Uconn win

Congrats on the win. I agree, your D was great and was your backcourt.

 

[Icebear]

Kelly defensive post play was inspirational. She couldn't shoot worth a lick tonight - but she was was great defensively in the post.

Best thing about her shot is that she is taking it reliably and with very good form. Sooner or later it will start to drop.

 

[Icebear]

I predicted 12 pt Uconn win

Congrats on the win. I agree, your D was great and was your backcourt.

As did I card. It was a great game and exciting and I think a big help to both teams for the future..

 

[Phil]

Seriously...lots of shooting issues, but our defensive effort was stellar.

Exactly. It was very impressive. KML was obviously awesome on the offense, but if you only saw her defense, you might think she was a defensive specialist. They were on, and not just in spurts. The Cardinal must be exhausted.

 

[Phil]

I am surprised, that nobody has mentioned the tremendous job that Kelly did on Chiney O. holding her to 3 of 12 for only 7 points. She does it so quietly!

I did I did, I just did (see another thread)

 

[Sonny44]

The win was a result of getting N Ogwumike in foul trouble.

 

[tomcat]

It was quite a game. I'm afraid UConn could be a team that -- a la the first half -- could play pretty ugly at times if the shots are not dropping. On the other hand, KML is absolutely the real deal. Icewater in her veins. Loved the first-half defense. Dolson was immense. Hartley is twice the player when KML is in the game. Boy, do they have chemistry.

 

[cardfan]

I've always thought Uconn plays great D, which is often overlooked since you usually a good offensive player, or two.

 

[msf22b]

Just think what the score would have been if the team just had an average night to go with the outstanding D. A 30 point win might not have been out of the question.