Chart Analysis: UW WBB Huskies Individual Defensive Performances vs. STANFORD (1/31/21): Field Goal Percentage Against vs. Individual Possessions Defended
On January 31st, the Washington Huskies Women’s basketball team lost their home matchup with the Stanford Cardinal, 74-48.
The Huskies were missing multiple players due to injuries (Tameiya Sadler, Khayla Rooks, Alexis Whitfield) and one, Jayda Noble, due to a personal leave of absence.
Although, for the game, UW attempted only ten less shots (53) than the Cardinal (63 ), the Dawgs only made 36.4% of their two-point shots, while Stanford made 56.8% from two-point range.
Interestingly enough, the Huskies and Cardinal were almost identical in three-point efficiency with UW shooting 30% (six made 3-pointers total) and Stanford shooting 30.8% (eight made 3-pointers total).
The Huskies’ 72 total offensive possessions versus Stanford’s 82 offensive possessions seem fairly close on paper; however, this game was mostly settled by the disparity of the teams’ first quarter play.
In the first quarter, Stanford scored 28 points while limiting the Huskies to nine (9) first quarter points.
Although the Dawgs shot 42.9% overall in the opening quarter, they only took seven shot attempts and made three shots (3-7).
Meanwhile, the Huskies defensive effort got off to an even slower start in the first period.
Against the Huskies’ first quarter player-to-player defense, the Cardinal shot 57.1% overall and 50% from behind the three-point line.
Against the Huskies’ first quarter zone defense, Stanford shot 33.3% overall and 33.3% from the three-point line.
Overall, Stanford made ten of seventeen (10-17) shots for a 58.8% shooting average in the first quarter; while making four of nine attempts (4-9) from three-point range.
Unexpectedly, for the remainder of the game, the overmatched Huskies played Stanford fairly even.
Stanford only outscored the Dawgs by three points in the second quarter (13-10); and UW held the Cardinal to 38.5% shooting overall (5 of 13).
In the third quarter, Stanford outscored the Huskies twenty to seventeen (20 – 17); and the Dawgs held the Cardinal to 20% shooting from three-point range on one of five (1 – 5) shooting.
Finally, in the fourth quarter, Stanford only outscored Washington by one point (13-12); while the Dawgs defense continued to fight and held the Cardinal to their worst shooting quarter of the game — 31.6% shooting overall, i.e., six of nineteen (6-19); and 14.3% from three-point range on one made three-pointer out of seven attempts (1 for 7).
Due to Stanford’s hot start in the first quarter, the Huskies allowed 0.90 points per possession (ppp) by the Cardinal for the game; meanwhile, the Huskies only managed 0.50 points per possession (ppp).
Throughout the game, the Cardinal severely out-rebounded the Huskies (42 – 27 total rebounds); as well as, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds versus six (6) by the Dawgs.
As a result, Washington had a mixed bag of individual defensive performances versus Stanford.
Three UW players held Stanford offensive players scoreless in their individual defensive matchups — Nia Lowery (3 possessions defended) ;Callie Lind (2 possessions defended); and AJ Martineu (1 possession defended).
However, Haley Van Dyke was Washington’s defensive standout of the game.
In 33 minutes of play, Van Dyke recorded a spectacular five steals.
Other defensive performances of note:
Nia Lowery recorded two (2) steals;
freshman guard Jess Finney recorded two (2) blocks;
Darcy Rees recorded one block and two (2) steals; and
Alexis Griggsby had one steal.
The Huskies look to improve on their performance in their home matchup with the USC Trojans on Friday, February 5th.
