The Washington Huskies(5-0) will play their sixth game of the 2022-23 regular season against the Santa Clara Broncos (4-3) — at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic on Saturday, November 26th at 1:30 p.m. on the BeTheBeast Livestream.
Courtesy of UW Athletics.
Santa Clara comes off a dominating Friday victory, 75 – 50, over South Dakota — a sweet 16 team last season– to start the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.
The Broncos shot over 52.5% overall and defensively held South Dakota to 29.5% shooting.
Hot-Shooting Broncos, a deep problem for Huskies?
For the season, the Broncos are shooting 35.2% from three-point range (40.5% on corner threes) and 49.2% on two-pointers.
Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.
Thus, Santa Clara presents more of a deep shooting threat to a Huskies defense that struggles with defending the three-point line.
UW’s defense allows 34.2% three-point shooting which ranks in the Bottom 18% nationwide; as well as, allowing 40.2% shooting on corner threes which also ranks in the Bottom 18% nationwide.
Expect the Huskies defense to be hurt by Santa Clara’s corner threes if there is no defensive adjustment by the Huskies coaching staff.
The mystery of why Olivia Pollerd wasn’t allowed to shoot threes at Washington continues today.
When she decommitted from Duke to sign with ex-Huskies head coach Jody Wynn’s #17-ranked recruiting class of 2021, Pollerd was ranked #22 among all international prospects in her age group by the 2021 Global Rankings of Worldwide Hoops/Premier Basketball.
Courtesy of UW Athletics.
Former Husky freshman Olivia (Liv) Pollerd is a 6’3″ Aussie sharpshooter that went from zero three-point attempts at Washington to shooting 37.9% from three-point range (11 for 29) in seven games for Santa Clara — and a Top 25% three-point shooter nationwide.
Not only is Olivia Pollerd an excellent three-point shooter (60% on corner threes), Pollerd is excellent from mid-range (60% shooting) and above average scorer in the lane (except at the rim).
Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.
Pollerd averages 9.3 points per game and also tallies 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 block per game.
Q4, 9:02 | #Broncos 49, @FullertonWBB 48
Olivia Pollerd puts the Broncos ahead in the 4️⃣th quarter with a 3-ball! 🙌
She's got a season-high 14 points now#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/k4tm0ubS3h
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 12, 2022
But make no mistake, Olivia Pollerd is a three-point specialist that the Huskies’ defense will need to locate and keep a hand in #5 Pollerd’s face at all times.
Inside-Dominant Huskies is key to victory.
The common theme for Washington’s undefeated winning season is their assertion of dominance inside on the boards and offensively.
The Dawgs continue to take the majority of their shots around the rim (41.1%) within 4.5 feet and UW makes most of their shots around the rim (61.8%).
Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.
UW will need to continue to score inside against the Broncos today because the Huskies’ offense continues to struggle mightily with three-point shooting — 23.2% from three which ranks in the Bottom 11% nationwide.
However, the Dawgs rank in the Top 17% nationwide in offensive rebounding, which will be a key to victory against Santa Clara.
GO DAWGS!