UNI always seems to be a house of horrors...kind of like Carver Hawkeye...for the sisters. UNI always gives 150% and sometimes that doesn't go well for the visitors. Watching all those students dancing on the court after the end of this one said it all.
Brown got things going with a toe on the line two. Early it was deep shots and nothing for Crooks. Finally she got the ball and was fouled. Her two free throws tied the game at 4. Our ladies were allowing UNI to tie up the ball too much and their soph post had three blocked shots early on. Ryan nailed a trey to tie the game at 7. She followed with another off a nice Crooks screen. She was taking this thing over with a drive for two. She led an 8-0 run and it was 12-7 early. Jackson picked up her second foul and headed to the bench. Brown followed with a beautiful drive for two. Without Crooks the game is different. Easier for UNI to defend. At the first timeout ISU led 14-12. ISU was seeing foul trouble early mainly by being out of position. What I saw early on were the Panthers out hustling Iowa State. The ladies seem to be just a step short of making some plays. Hare hit a three and UNI answered right back. Crooks wasn't making anything and the officials were letting things go for UNI. Meanwhile everything was being called on ISU. There was a nice feed from Crooks to Brown for a deuce. Crooks hit a beautiful fade away from ten feet and it was 21-16 ISU. UNI would then hit another very deep trey. Crooks was really struggling to make anything and was being hammered underneath. One minute to go in the first and it was tied at 21. Everything offensively is going UNI’s way. Brown broke the tie and UNI had the last possession and traveled. End of one ISU led by two 23-21. Brown and Ryan both had eight and Crooks has been a non-factor. No scoring from the bench.
The second quarter started with Crooks being surrounded and fouled. Ryan hit another three. A bit of back and forth with misses by both teams until Harris hit and it was 29-21 early. UNI was getting way too many second chance shots. Meanwhile ISU was one and done. Meanwhile UNI is working back in the game behind McDermott. It was 31-27 ISU after a Ryan bucket at the first timeout. After the timeout UNI scored and ISU had an unforced turnover. Joens would score off an offensive board. Brown would follow that getting fouled on a shot. She would hit her two free throws and the lead was 35-29. McDermott would answer with another very deep three to keep UNI in the game. Both teams are definitely sending up threes. UNI would block yet another shot and score at the other end to cut the lead to one. ISU's offense is one and done and UNI was just out quicking them. After an ISU foul, UNI would take the lead after a 7-0 run. The sister's offense was just out of sync. A lot has to do with UNI's defense. They are keeping things covered up. The sisters had gone several minutes without a bucket until Brown hit a trey to put the ladies back in front 40-28. Brown hit again to extend the lead to four and McDermott again answered with a trey from deep. Brown would drive for two and the half would end with the sisters in front 44-41. UNI was establishing a blueprint for stopping Crooks. She is 2-7 with only 6 points. Ryan (13) and Brown (17) were leading the way. Crooks clearly was flustered.
The third started with a UNI miss, and finally Crooks had a one on one underneath for a basket. ISU would foul at the other end. Crooks scored again off a Ryan assist. Hare followed with a trey at it was 51-43 sisters. This was the best it would be for the sisters tonight. Two high sloppy passes led to a turnover basket for McDermott. Crooks answered with another turn around jumper. ISUs defense was stepping up the pressure. After another missed trey by Ryan UNI nailed their own and followed with a steal. Another flop underneath yielded another foul on Crooks. McDermott was ripping ISU apart and hit another trey to make it a two point game. ISU had missed its last five shots. Crooks continued to struggle against the double teams and traveled. Both teams were missing inside and out. AJ picked up her fourth foul and our top defender went to the bench. UNI took the lead on another trey 54-53. Another big scoring drought for the sisters and UNI was out hustling the sisters plain and simple. After another missed trey UNI drive for two. ISU was looking pedestrian compared to the Panthers. UNI led 56-53. ISU had scored two points in the last five minutes. Defensive breakdowns and lots of missed shots were the game here. UNI scored again and led by five. Meanwhile the chuck a three strategy was failing miserably for ISU. Finally with a minute left Hare would score the first bucket in ages for ISU. Crooks would hit 1-2 free throws and UNI would hit another uncontested trey to lead 61-55. UNI then hit a logo trey to end the quarter leading by NINE points. UNI dominated the third quarter. This wasn’t looking good as every starter was miserable in the third. Ryan AND Brown didn’t score in the third quarter. It was 64-55 UNI as they outscored the sisters 23-11.
The fourth started with two more misses including a bunny by Crooks. The sisters fouled on the other end and the lead was ten. Crooks made it to the line and made one free throw. McDermott seems to fling up anything and it would go through. UNI was slowly pulling away. Crooks finally hit after being fouled and again missed at the line. ISU again fouled at the other end. At the first timeout UNI led by twelve. UNI just kept hitting everything and ISU was out of sync everywhere. The lead climbed to 16 with five minutes left. There was nothing showing up…not a pulse…for the sisters. Ryan and Brown still hadn’t scored this half. Crooks finally scored inside and hit the foul shot. Defense needed to step up or there was no chance. Instead, McDermott scored her 33rd point to answer. 78-63 UNI. Brown would get her first points of the half at the line. Even after a desperation trey miss by UNI Brown fouled on the rebound. This resulted in yet another McDermott basket. The lead was 15 at 80-65 and this game was everything but over. Brown would hit a two, but the lead was still 13 with only three minutes left. Hare followed with a trey and the lead was ten. McDermott was fouled on the other end and didn’t miss her free throws. The team needed some urgency and instead Ryan turned the ball over for an easy layup. Lead was back to 14. The rest of the way the ladies would score and then UNI would just answer back. Hare had a nice and one to cut the lead to ten once more, but it was too little too late. UNI pummeled the sisters 87-75.
Observations
We may have the ranking and the preseason all Americans/conference players, but the best player on the court was McDermott. She dominated tonight with 37 points.
Defense - other than a few spurts the defense looked slow and couldn’t keep up with UNI. Time and time again UNI had open looks or drove past our defenders.
POG - can there be one? Brown maybe, but she disappeared in the second half. Same with Ryan. We can go without this game.
Brown - a strong first half with 17, but we need her in the second half as well. She disappeared.
Crooks - was taken out of the game by UNIs defense in the first. Got her points late in the game when UNI shifted focus to our deep shooters.
AJ - complete non factor in this one. Even her defensive efforts resulted in fouls and lots of bench time.
Ryan - brilliant first half. Like Brown she disappeared in the second. Good assist numbers, but that’s it.
Hare - had a couple of nice shots and ended up with 14 points. Not a bad game from her.
The bench - that 12 deep thing sure didn’t happen tonight. Five total points from the bench.
Free throws - 11-15. Not bad at all.
Three pointers? 8-24 Will never cut it. Especially when you hit most of those in the first half. UNI hit 12.
I’m not sure what to say. UNI came prepared and smacked the sisters in the mouth early. In particular Crooks. This is the first time I’ve seven her blink. She was a complete non-factor until the game was out of hand. And her defense really hurt things. Face it, the team defense really hurt things. UNI simply beat the sisters in every facet of the game and they looked like the ranked squad. Like some of you I’m wondering if ISU might not be the fourth best team in the state. Yes, maybe over-reaction. Maybe tongue in cheek. But the team we saw tonight isn’t a good one. So, reality check time…reaction check time as we see if the sisters learn from this butt whooping in time for an even better team in Drake and then South Carolina. A blueprint has been laid out. Frustrate Crooks and wait for the deep shooters to miss.
Brown got things going with a toe on the line two. Early it was deep shots and nothing for Crooks. Finally she got the ball and was fouled. Her two free throws tied the game at 4. Our ladies were allowing UNI to tie up the ball too much and their soph post had three blocked shots early on. Ryan nailed a trey to tie the game at 7. She followed with another off a nice Crooks screen. She was taking this thing over with a drive for two. She led an 8-0 run and it was 12-7 early. Jackson picked up her second foul and headed to the bench. Brown followed with a beautiful drive for two. Without Crooks the game is different. Easier for UNI to defend. At the first timeout ISU led 14-12. ISU was seeing foul trouble early mainly by being out of position. What I saw early on were the Panthers out hustling Iowa State. The ladies seem to be just a step short of making some plays. Hare hit a three and UNI answered right back. Crooks wasn't making anything and the officials were letting things go for UNI. Meanwhile everything was being called on ISU. There was a nice feed from Crooks to Brown for a deuce. Crooks hit a beautiful fade away from ten feet and it was 21-16 ISU. UNI would then hit another very deep trey. Crooks was really struggling to make anything and was being hammered underneath. One minute to go in the first and it was tied at 21. Everything offensively is going UNI’s way. Brown broke the tie and UNI had the last possession and traveled. End of one ISU led by two 23-21. Brown and Ryan both had eight and Crooks has been a non-factor. No scoring from the bench.
The second quarter started with Crooks being surrounded and fouled. Ryan hit another three. A bit of back and forth with misses by both teams until Harris hit and it was 29-21 early. UNI was getting way too many second chance shots. Meanwhile ISU was one and done. Meanwhile UNI is working back in the game behind McDermott. It was 31-27 ISU after a Ryan bucket at the first timeout. After the timeout UNI scored and ISU had an unforced turnover. Joens would score off an offensive board. Brown would follow that getting fouled on a shot. She would hit her two free throws and the lead was 35-29. McDermott would answer with another very deep three to keep UNI in the game. Both teams are definitely sending up threes. UNI would block yet another shot and score at the other end to cut the lead to one. ISU's offense is one and done and UNI was just out quicking them. After an ISU foul, UNI would take the lead after a 7-0 run. The sister's offense was just out of sync. A lot has to do with UNI's defense. They are keeping things covered up. The sisters had gone several minutes without a bucket until Brown hit a trey to put the ladies back in front 40-28. Brown hit again to extend the lead to four and McDermott again answered with a trey from deep. Brown would drive for two and the half would end with the sisters in front 44-41. UNI was establishing a blueprint for stopping Crooks. She is 2-7 with only 6 points. Ryan (13) and Brown (17) were leading the way. Crooks clearly was flustered.
The third started with a UNI miss, and finally Crooks had a one on one underneath for a basket. ISU would foul at the other end. Crooks scored again off a Ryan assist. Hare followed with a trey at it was 51-43 sisters. This was the best it would be for the sisters tonight. Two high sloppy passes led to a turnover basket for McDermott. Crooks answered with another turn around jumper. ISUs defense was stepping up the pressure. After another missed trey by Ryan UNI nailed their own and followed with a steal. Another flop underneath yielded another foul on Crooks. McDermott was ripping ISU apart and hit another trey to make it a two point game. ISU had missed its last five shots. Crooks continued to struggle against the double teams and traveled. Both teams were missing inside and out. AJ picked up her fourth foul and our top defender went to the bench. UNI took the lead on another trey 54-53. Another big scoring drought for the sisters and UNI was out hustling the sisters plain and simple. After another missed trey UNI drive for two. ISU was looking pedestrian compared to the Panthers. UNI led 56-53. ISU had scored two points in the last five minutes. Defensive breakdowns and lots of missed shots were the game here. UNI scored again and led by five. Meanwhile the chuck a three strategy was failing miserably for ISU. Finally with a minute left Hare would score the first bucket in ages for ISU. Crooks would hit 1-2 free throws and UNI would hit another uncontested trey to lead 61-55. UNI then hit a logo trey to end the quarter leading by NINE points. UNI dominated the third quarter. This wasn’t looking good as every starter was miserable in the third. Ryan AND Brown didn’t score in the third quarter. It was 64-55 UNI as they outscored the sisters 23-11.
The fourth started with two more misses including a bunny by Crooks. The sisters fouled on the other end and the lead was ten. Crooks made it to the line and made one free throw. McDermott seems to fling up anything and it would go through. UNI was slowly pulling away. Crooks finally hit after being fouled and again missed at the line. ISU again fouled at the other end. At the first timeout UNI led by twelve. UNI just kept hitting everything and ISU was out of sync everywhere. The lead climbed to 16 with five minutes left. There was nothing showing up…not a pulse…for the sisters. Ryan and Brown still hadn’t scored this half. Crooks finally scored inside and hit the foul shot. Defense needed to step up or there was no chance. Instead, McDermott scored her 33rd point to answer. 78-63 UNI. Brown would get her first points of the half at the line. Even after a desperation trey miss by UNI Brown fouled on the rebound. This resulted in yet another McDermott basket. The lead was 15 at 80-65 and this game was everything but over. Brown would hit a two, but the lead was still 13 with only three minutes left. Hare followed with a trey and the lead was ten. McDermott was fouled on the other end and didn’t miss her free throws. The team needed some urgency and instead Ryan turned the ball over for an easy layup. Lead was back to 14. The rest of the way the ladies would score and then UNI would just answer back. Hare had a nice and one to cut the lead to ten once more, but it was too little too late. UNI pummeled the sisters 87-75.
Observations
We may have the ranking and the preseason all Americans/conference players, but the best player on the court was McDermott. She dominated tonight with 37 points.
Defense - other than a few spurts the defense looked slow and couldn’t keep up with UNI. Time and time again UNI had open looks or drove past our defenders.
POG - can there be one? Brown maybe, but she disappeared in the second half. Same with Ryan. We can go without this game.
Brown - a strong first half with 17, but we need her in the second half as well. She disappeared.
Crooks - was taken out of the game by UNIs defense in the first. Got her points late in the game when UNI shifted focus to our deep shooters.
AJ - complete non factor in this one. Even her defensive efforts resulted in fouls and lots of bench time.
Ryan - brilliant first half. Like Brown she disappeared in the second. Good assist numbers, but that’s it.
Hare - had a couple of nice shots and ended up with 14 points. Not a bad game from her.
The bench - that 12 deep thing sure didn’t happen tonight. Five total points from the bench.
Free throws - 11-15. Not bad at all.
Three pointers? 8-24 Will never cut it. Especially when you hit most of those in the first half. UNI hit 12.
I’m not sure what to say. UNI came prepared and smacked the sisters in the mouth early. In particular Crooks. This is the first time I’ve seven her blink. She was a complete non-factor until the game was out of hand. And her defense really hurt things. Face it, the team defense really hurt things. UNI simply beat the sisters in every facet of the game and they looked like the ranked squad. Like some of you I’m wondering if ISU might not be the fourth best team in the state. Yes, maybe over-reaction. Maybe tongue in cheek. But the team we saw tonight isn’t a good one. So, reality check time…reaction check time as we see if the sisters learn from this butt whooping in time for an even better team in Drake and then South Carolina. A blueprint has been laid out. Frustrate Crooks and wait for the deep shooters to miss.
