GW leads series 43 - 10.  UMass is winless in the Smith Center (0 - 18 if my memory is correct) and has lost 8 in a row overall to GW, including that 2 OT offensive debacle in Amherst a few years ago.  They didn't play last year,  URI also had been winless at Smith Center.  As Verdi has built the team over the past few years, the Minutewomen had ended a lot of long losing streaks to programs.  And there were a lot.

UMass' strengths had been rebounding and transition offense.  Lots of offensive rebounds.  They've struggled with rebounding against the last 2 bigger, more physical teams.  Ngalakulondi and White are prone to foul trouble.  When both had to sit against Dayton, 5'11" Pruitt (UTEP) came in and was somewhat effective.

 A core 6 plays most of the minutes but Verdi has gone to his bench a bit more with the 4 games in 8 days.  Today is game 5 in 11 days.

Taylor is the key.  She's shot poorly the past 2 games.  If she starts hot, watch out.

Breen has been carrying the team offensively, with help with the guards, Philoxy and Mayo.  Breen gets double teamed a lot.  Ngalakulondi can be a force on the offensive boards,  White has had an up and down season,  She had a DNP - coaches decision during loss to BC, when they could have used her size to clog the middle.   White is a decent shooter but has bad hands.  Smith (Towson) is normally the 2nd player off the bench, after whichever big doesn't start.  She's effective but not much of a shooter.  Stefanie Kulesza is the only frosh getting much playing time.  She was an early admission last season, and was valuable during the 5 - 2 postseaon run, when team was down to 7 players.  Kulesza has played more the past few games.  I get the sense that she's a good 3 point shooter;  with limited playing time, she is 4 - 8.  

Breen is most effective offensively close to the basket, but has shot better with her mid-range jumpers and 3s.  Tries a jump hook once or twice a game.  Even improved her foul shooting.  She rebounds exceptionally well and gets a few assists, steals and blocks.  

Philoxy and Mayo are effective small guards.  Both can shoot 3s and drive the basket.  Pests defensively.  Philoxy majors in assists.  

After a frustrating home loss to BC, UMass crushed a good Columbia team on the road. although the Lions closed the gap with 3 point shooting in the 3rd period.  Columbia is now 12 - 3 with road wins over Davidson, Clemson, Georgetown and Marist.  Minutewomen are coming off 2 frustrating losses including at home to Dayton.  Can GW hold them to another slow start. ?

Last edited by WMC (1/22/2022 11:07 am)

UMASS wins 68-41. A major setback for the Colonials.

Total breakdown offensively and defensively in the 1st half, where the outcome of the game was determined. Defensively, we should have neutralized Breen or Taylor, but they combined for 28 points against a really soft defense. Outside of Taiwo, there didn’t seem to be total focus on either end, and we seemed a half step slow.

Things got better in the 3rd quarter, at least defensively when we held UMASS to 3-14 shooting. A major factor in the loss? We were 5-29 for 3-point range. The percentage is bad enough, but also the fact that we took so many. We obviously don’t have an inside offensive presence when Taiwo is out, but we shot too many without even drawing iron and playing into their defenses' hands. The good: at least the offense is not running the clock down for a late shot on every possession; the bad: sometimes shot our selection is bad and even when the execution is good, we’re making a low percentage of our shots.

Props to Taiwo for playing a really good game (13 boards, 5 offensive), but she should be taking more than 3 shots a game (a result of being too satisfied with 3-pointers). If not for her energy and hustle, the outcome could have been much worse (if that's possible). And although Lok started out with a few (questionable) turnovers and in spite of going 4-15 from the field, she played a really aggressive second half, and could have easily been 7-8 for 15 had her shots that rimmed out fallen.

Besides Taiwo, our lack of strong interior players in hurting on both sides of the ball. We’re constantly being jumped over on the defensive boards, and we have few answers against the stronger interior offensive players of our A10 opponents. If we don't have Moore for the rest of the season, the situation is even worse. It’s hard to play against size when you don’t have it, but it’s something that has to be addressed for the future. Also, it’s not clear that we have an established floor leader, but we need to develop one who can settle the team down in the heat of a game to increase the likelihood that we play four good quarters every game.

GW FTs 4-13.   Can't they at least learn how to do better than that?