Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Women's Basketball
Transition defense - The Lady Ags are known for their defense, whether it's in the half or full court, but today they didn't get back and protect the basket. Baylor made layup after layup in transition as the ran the floor on the break. The Aggies simply couldn't keep up with the speed of their opponents and it create too many easy opportunities for A&M to overcome.
Rebounding - Baylor grabbed more than double the amount of rebounds than the Aggies in the first half. In fact, Hayden and Williams combined for 13 rebounds, more than the entire A&M total. Offensive rebounding was crucial as well. Even after digging a hole in the first five minutes, the Ags found a way to get a few stops in a row, but failed to secure the rebound after missed shots, giving Baylor extra chances to increase the lead. When you aren't making a lot of shots on offense but still play good defense, it's demoralizing to give up offensive rebounds and have to play another 30 seconds of defense.
Odyssey Sims - The best point guard in the country. She has the scoring power, leadership and defensive combination that no other player can match. She controlled the game at both ends and continuously made plays that broke A&M's back. Between Sims and Griner, it's up for grabs who is more valuable to this Baylor team.
Shooting Percentage - Outside shooting consistency has been a struggle the entire year for the Ags and today was no different. A&M made 28 percent of their field goal attempts, while Baylor made almost half of their shots throughout the game. Gary Blair even mentioned the poor shooting display in the press conference when he mentioned that his starting lineup made a grand total of one shot in the first half. Sydney Carter was the only A&M starter to make a field goal in the first 20 minutes of play. And it5's not like the starters didn't make shots because Gary sat them on the bench. It was because they just couldn't put the ball in the basket.
Second Half
Imagine a replay of the first half.
Tyra White - How big of a factor would Tyra have been in this game? She would have made the game more respectable, but I don't think she would have changed the outcome. The Aggies were missing Tyra's ability to create her own shot and catch and shoot on the perimeter. Baylor's long wings made it hard on A&M's smaller guards to get their shots off and create in the paint. Tyra's height and athleticism matches that of Baylor's guards and would have been a big factor in this game, but she needed the rest to get ready for the NCAA tournament. And with the first and second rounds being held in College Station, Gary Blair and company will need Tyra to perform at a high level.
Logan's WBB thoughts after loss to Baylor in K.C.
Logan's thoughts on A&M / Baylor
First HalfTransition defense - The Lady Ags are known for their defense, whether it's in the half or full court, but today they didn't get back and protect the basket. Baylor made layup after layup in transition as the ran the floor on the break. The Aggies simply couldn't keep up with the speed of their opponents and it create too many easy opportunities for A&M to overcome.
Rebounding - Baylor grabbed more than double the amount of rebounds than the Aggies in the first half. In fact, Hayden and Williams combined for 13 rebounds, more than the entire A&M total. Offensive rebounding was crucial as well. Even after digging a hole in the first five minutes, the Ags found a way to get a few stops in a row, but failed to secure the rebound after missed shots, giving Baylor extra chances to increase the lead. When you aren't making a lot of shots on offense but still play good defense, it's demoralizing to give up offensive rebounds and have to play another 30 seconds of defense.
Outside shooting consistency has been a struggle the entire year for the Ags and today was no different.
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Brittney Griner - After scoring 45 points in the previous game, A&M held Griner to just five points in the first 20 minutes of play, not to mention only allowing her to grab two rebounds. The Ags did a good job of limiting Griner to a minimum amount of shots and rebounds, but it was at the defensive end of the court where she made her presence felt. Every shot A&M took throughout the game had to be adjusted to some degree because of Griner's length and athleticism. And even when the A&M players were open, they were constantly looking over their shoulder to see where Griner was standing. Even if she didn't score a single point, she makes her presence felt throughout the course of a game. Odyssey Sims - The best point guard in the country. She has the scoring power, leadership and defensive combination that no other player can match. She controlled the game at both ends and continuously made plays that broke A&M's back. Between Sims and Griner, it's up for grabs who is more valuable to this Baylor team.
Shooting Percentage - Outside shooting consistency has been a struggle the entire year for the Ags and today was no different. A&M made 28 percent of their field goal attempts, while Baylor made almost half of their shots throughout the game. Gary Blair even mentioned the poor shooting display in the press conference when he mentioned that his starting lineup made a grand total of one shot in the first half. Sydney Carter was the only A&M starter to make a field goal in the first 20 minutes of play. And it5's not like the starters didn't make shots because Gary sat them on the bench. It was because they just couldn't put the ball in the basket.
Second Half
Imagine a replay of the first half.
Tyra White - How big of a factor would Tyra have been in this game? She would have made the game more respectable, but I don't think she would have changed the outcome. The Aggies were missing Tyra's ability to create her own shot and catch and shoot on the perimeter. Baylor's long wings made it hard on A&M's smaller guards to get their shots off and create in the paint. Tyra's height and athleticism matches that of Baylor's guards and would have been a big factor in this game, but she needed the rest to get ready for the NCAA tournament. And with the first and second rounds being held in College Station, Gary Blair and company will need Tyra to perform at a high level.
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