Mike Siroky’s SEC Report: Big 12 Challenge Week Bomb

By Mike Siroky

 

A nice little season within a season -- the annual Big 12/SEC Challenge -- was this week for the historically best conference of women’s basketball, the Southeastern.

 

The SEC started the week with seven nationally ranked teams.

 

It ended with six, a lot of downward sliding and one undefeated team left. 

 

Two home losses to unranked teams can make the rankings questionable. The worst of the ranked teams lost all its votes after one week.

 

In the Challenge, the league uses 10 randomly assigned teams to match the number of Big 12 opponents. 

 

It is the fourth season of this format. Five home campus sites are offered on each side.

 

Four games featured at least one ranked team.

 

It opened with the 72-38 blowup of unranked Georgia at defending national champ No. 7 Baylor and Texas Tech easily winning at Ole Miss. 84-48.

 

Next had Iowa State winning at Alabama, 75-66.

 

On the weekend, the ranked SEC teams got into it. 

 

Kansas State lost at No. 23 Arkansas, No. 25 LSU lost at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State at No. 12 Texas A&M. TCU took care of Auburn 80-65.

 

 On Sunday, Texas came to No. 17 Tennessee and formerly ranked West Virginia to No. 10 Mississippi State.

 

Each unranked road team won, ending the challenge.  Florida lost at Kansas to complete the wipeout, 76-66.

 

Kentucky got to 9-0.

 

As always, any SEC team but one which has ever won 20 is in the elimination games. The better teams can always find 10 in league play.

 

No. 5 SOUTH CAROLINA (9-1)

 

The Gamecocks avoided the Big 12 tussle and instead had a one-game workweek against Temple, from Dawn Staley’s hometown.

 

From the jump neither side gave in. 

 

Breanna Beal hit a 3 to open scoring, then Zia Cooke hit another.

 

The Owls countered with layups by Marisa Mackins and Mia Davis. 

 

Kiki Herbert Harrigan hit a 3 with five minutes to go in the quarter and the 3:39 scoring drought was broken. 

 

The quarter ended 12-11, SC. 

 

The Gamecocks blew a 12-point edge and only added one more basket advantage before the half, so it was 37-33, representative of the bump-n-grind all over the floor.

 

Destanni Henderson hit a 3 as the third quarter ended and Aliyah Boston hit a short jumper as the half ended, 53-49, just when Temple had secured a lead.

 

Beal had 10 and Boston had eight. The game plan was not working.

 

Boston spent significant time on the bench because she was just not playing well. 

 

SC had an average of 10 rebounds better, but they were being outrebounded by Temple.

 

Staley yelled as much as she could, but the team was not inspired. In the fourth, Temple got its 3s up to eight, keeping itself in the game.

 

SC remained 15 percent below their average shooting percentage. It was a struggle. SC had six blocks, two by Boston. She and Kiki Herbert Harrigan began posting on either side of the basket and started getting second shots with the lead at seven. 

 

Ty Harris drove, had her shot blocked but recovered and got fouled, making both free throws.

 

The senior leader drove again and got fouled again and made two again.

 

This sequence was where the game was won.

 

Harris’ 12 led five Gamecocks in double figures. A defensive slap and score followed by another unanswered basket and the lead was 15. 

 

But the Owls hit another 3.

 

SC needed to live off its defense and slow the game to their pace.

 

Temple’s Mackins matched her career high with 26. 

 

The lead was nine within two minutes. Another Temple drive cut it to seven.

 

Herbert Harrigan hit a 3. 

 

Temple responded with a 3 and the shooter was fouled, making it a four-point play.

 

Staley called an angry time out with 48 seconds left. 

 

Harris got fouled and made her sixth straight free throw, 19 points overall. It ended 78-71.

 

Temple did win rebounds.

 

Associate head coach Fred Chmiel said, “It was exactly what we thought was gonna happen. They came at us like we thought they would, Ty saved us at the end.

 

“They packed it in and it was a little physical and we played through it. We got the W which is all the mattered, so it is on to the next one.

 

“If we can get the rebounds and out in space, that’s where our young players will flourish. They are not yet up to college speed, but they will be.”

 

They get a week off until Purdue visits as a four-game homestand begins. They are likely to win them all.

 

They remain the only SC team in the top five, behind three from the Pac 12 and UConn.

 

No. 11 TEXAS A&M (8-1)

 

The Aggies joined the flock of teams playing in pre-noon starts to honor elementary and middle school students. They drew a season-high 6,450.

 

Their game was midweek against Central Arkansas. The Sugar Bears were on a three-game losing streak and were just what the Aggies needed to erase the memory of a first loss. Last season, A&M won by nearly 60.

 

Senior guard Shambria Washington is the league leader with 5 assists per game.  Junior forwards N’dea Jones (rebounds average) and Ciera Johnson (8.2) rank No. 5 and No. 8 in the SEC in rebounding.

 

This was the 250th victory in Reed Arena.

 

The expected 76-46 runaway was foreshadowed at the tipoff, a 26-12 start.

 

Chennedy Carter snared a defensive rebound, Johnson had a block then Kayla Wells fed Carter a 3, all within the first 55 seconds. 

Another defensive rebound, another block and then a jumper and a free throw and that about it for Carter. 

 

Wells had 10. The Aggies hit 63 percent and allowed 33 percent.

 

It kept going in the second quarter. 

 

After a 47-21 half, the Sugar Bears got focused. 

 

They had cut the lead to 53-30 on 41 percent shooting at the four-minute mark of the third by the Aggies and Blair was frustrated. 

 

He called an angry time out. 

 

They had only eight points in the quarter. 

 

He kept Carter on the bench, making her chance of an eighth straight 20-point game unlikely. Johnson went to the locker room to get re-taped.

 

If you are going to have a bad quarter, it is best against a bad team. 

 

A&M did not even hit 10, shooting 18 percent. Central shot 53 percent. It was 55-37.

 

The lead never dropped below 20 again, but it was still an ugly game.

 

Wells led everybody with 18, including three 3s. Johnson scored 15. 

 

Aliyah Whitson also had three 3s and scored 13. Carter had nine assists and 11 points, a career 71 of 72 games in double figures. 

 

She is fourth on A&M’s all-time scoring list. Cheryl Rael-Whitsitt claimed 13 rebounds.

 

The players immediately flooded into the stands to interact with the young fans.

 

Blair said: “The best player on the floor today played for the other team, and that was Taylor Sells. We have to give that kid a lot of credit for what she was able to do. 

 

“I loved the pace of play that she carried this game at. They had a couple players out with injuries, so who knows what this game could have actually turned into.

 

“We have to start playing at that type of tempo that I saw from the other side. We have to be able to push the ball to the offensive end to try and get transition back into some baskets. 

 

“We missed six layups in the first half and a lot of times we trying to style into a layup, instead of letting the defense come and close in. We were not able to finish on those type of contested shots.

 

“It’s something we have to look at and work on to get a little bit better each day. In the first quarter, we did some nice things but still have to continue to push our defense. 

 

“We have to practice better to play better. We have three tough home games coming up and we need to become a better basketball team.”

 

 He said even Carter has to accept setbacks and move on as the team leader.

 

“What she has to do is realize she did not have her best performance against Florida State. Which was a lot of us, including the head coach. I think she went into this game to be a good teammate first.

“She was able to give some great passes and if we were able to make the shots, she would have been able to break her career high in assists. But we missed them and she was missing the easy shots herself.

 

“Overall, I saw her come out to be a good teammate and work hard on defense with high energy. I want to give her all that credit in this ball game.

 

“We had a terrible start in the third quarter. ACU was able to outscore us and some of our shots were taken at point blank. We had a good halftime talk and we made some adjustments, we just missed the shots. 

 

“If we are going to miss the basket, then we have to play defense on the other end to try and get some transition.

 

“Shots are going to come and go. We are going to miss some shots, that’s a given. If you look at the offensive boards, we had 18 and should have had 30. 

 

With our size and athleticism that should have been our goal.”

 

Junior Center Ciera Johnson said about Cheah Rael-Whitsitt: “When Cheah is in there crashing she is our energizer bunny. We definitely need her out there for us. She was capable of these things last year, but I see a new-found confidence in her. She is out there producing for us.

 

 ”These elementary school kids were loud and happy to be out of class today, I bet. It was fun having them here. All of us enjoy this game, since the energy was brought today.”

 

 Senior Forward Cheah Rael-Whitsitt said, “I wouldn’t say anything is different, necessarily. I think compared to other seasons I have played, I feel more confident in myself. I am trying to help my team in any way that I can, on and off the court.”

 

Assistant coach Amy Wright said, “I thought our kids came out with a lot of energy. We pressured and got easy baskets, then we got tired.

 

“It was good to get a lot of kids some playing time. It was about execution. On defense, we did not do the little things.”

 

“Our next three games are all at home, Holiday Hoops time. They have a lot of time for their families to visit and stay busy. 

 

“This is an older team now and they know what to do, what to work on.”

 

The SEC/Big 12 Challenge game was visiting Oklahoma State.

 

 A&M used to be in the Big 12. Blair won his national Championship then. He was 15-4 vs.

the Cowgirls, four of the most-recent five.

 

The Aggies spread the scoring at the start, four of five starters scoring in the 12-9 opening. Then the Cowgirls came back for a 14-12 edge.

 

Junior center Anna Dreimane blocked a shot, Wells claimed the rebound and fed Carter. She was fouled and hit both free throws. 

 

Those points moved her into fourth on the all-time A&M scoring list.

 

Junior guard Ahliyah Jackson grabbed the final rebound of the quarter and it was 18-all. 

 

Every A&M starter scored. For two minutes in a stretch in the middle of the quarter, no one scored.

 

 A&M was up by one. Rebounds were even. Turnovers were even.

 

Carter made four free throws and it was tied at 28 with 1:33 left. 

 

Wells made two free throws and got a defensive rebound. 

 

She fed Carter and Carter scored. That focused flurry made it 32-28, Aggies at the half.

 

Someone needed to get hot. Carter had 11 and Wells nine. 

 

At 21.1, Carter remains the SEC scoring leader. She has 46 straight double-figure scoring games. 

 

Wells has been in double figures in all but two games. Washington was 2-of-3 on 3s. The Cowgirls were 1-of-12 on 3s. A&M had five more rebounds.

 

A 28-13 third moved the needle. 

 

Carter scored 18 with three steals, Jones had 11 rebounds, seven on defense. It ended 74-62. 

 

Wells was 4-ot-6 on 3s among her 22 points. Carter had 32 points with no 3s.

 

A&M shot a season-high 50 percent 3s and 90 percent from the line, while also making a season-high 17 free throws.

 

Blair said: “I thought the difference in the ballgame was how we finished the second quarter. We were in as much foul trouble as we were at Florida State. 

 

“This time, between (Cheah Rael-Whitsitt) and Anna (Dreimane), they came in and stopped it and some other kids made some plays. 

 

“That was the whole point of being able to rest Ciera and not play her into her third foul. It just wasn’t her night tonight. 

 

“It’s been her night for the majority of the season, so we’ll go back to work. When you’re going against a good team that’s already played Louisville and Oregon, they’ve seen teams that are as good or better than us, but I thought our kids responded.

 

“You look at the stat sheet and say ‘Chennedy took so many shots,’ but look at how many great shots she hit.

 

“One of these days, she’s going to go 12-14 and go 9-10 from the line, and that’s how hard she is to guard sometimes. Everybody has a different defense that they try to guard her with, but I thought she played a very good game.”

 

 ”Wells is a pretty good Scottie Pippen, next to (Carter as) Jordan. 

 

“Sometimes, you have to have two people that work together so long. Remember, those two have been teammates since the fourth or fifth grade. 

 

“Those kids have known each other that long. They just have a feeling about where the other person is going to be. Wells, when she strokes the ball and hits that 3 as good as she was, she was just getting open looks and then creating. 

 

“She’s getting better and better.”

 

Carter said: “Coach (Bob) Starkey (the defensive coach) really emphasized that we could get after them today. We could get aggressive, make a couple steals, and really turn them over. They made it really easy on us.

 

“I think for me, I got out in the passing lanes a couple of times, Shambria got out, even Kayla was guarding Vivian [Gray], their best player, and made it hard for her. 

 

“When you shut out their best player it takes away from the team and everyone else getting into their rhythms.

 

“It really started with Kayla’s defense and we all just picked it up behind her.

 

”Teams that zone us don’t really understand how hard this one (Kayla Wells) and Wilson really work on their 3-pointers.

 

“I mean I work on mine a lot too, but it really comes and goes for me. Kayla is a really consistent shooter and I don’t think she gets enough credit for hitting threes consistently night in and night out. It starts there, she puts a lot of time in.”

 

 Wells said, “I was driving and my teammates found me when I was hot. That was important, when your teammates find you when you’re hot, it’s more their assists than anything.

 

“I just felt like the energy was different. We came out and were ready and excited to play, that was a quality opponent that we played. 

 

“We were just excited and the energy was there you could just tell, Coach Starkey said he could just tell coming in from warm-ups it was just different. 

 

“The energy had a big thing to do with it and we were very prepared. We had a really good walk-through, shootaround, and he knew we were focused."

 

They bumped up one in the national poll.

 

No. 14 KENTUCKY (9-0)

 

Kentucky also avoided the conference challenge series and also hosted a morning start Elementary School honors game. 

 

Charlotte was 6-1, holding opponents to 60 while scoring 69.

That fit in nicely with UK allowing their average offense, but shattering the defensive average with 89.

 

Rhyne Howard scored 29, a career high, including 7-of-8 from the line. 

 

UK shot nearly 50 percent from the field. Ten players scored. They caused 22 turnovers. They drew a season-high 4,546.

 

Sabrina Haines scored16 and Jaida Roper 10.

 

Kentucky forced 22 Charlotte turnovers and scored 24 points off those. The Kats had eight turnovers.

 

Kentucky hit four of its first six shots from the field, including two of two from behind the arc, to grab a 10-0 lead, forcing a Charlotte timeout with 6:51.  

 

It didn’t help.

 

The Kats were 10-of-16 from the floor (5-of-7 3S) 29-9 through the quarter, the highest-scoring quarter of the season.

 

 A 7-0 run led to a 44-22 lead at the half. Howard had 19 points. It is four straight games with at least 40 at intermission.

 

In the third, Kentucky assembled a 14-2 run, including eight in a row, to lead 60-29.  They did it again in the fourth, a 6-0 run to lead 68-35. The Kats closed the game on a 14-2 splurge.

 

Coach Matthew Mitchell said he was proud of the effort. He said the fast start has been a focus since June.

 

“We set the tone offensively. I don’t think it ever hurts for shots to go down early and I think that definitely energized our group. 

 

“The thing that I felt like put them out of rhythm the most was we did a really nice job at what they were trying to get done on offense. 

 

“We also were very sharp defensively and that helped a tremendous amount. But that’s what we are working on, every time at tip we are trying to come out focused and paying attention to the details.

 

“What makes (Howard) really special is because she is so versatile. She’s gaining confidence around the basket and getting better scoring in the paint and we all know what just a tremendous shooter she is from the perimeter. 

 

“She played her best game today just from a mindset standpoint.

 

“If she’s open, I want her to shoot it. So, if she’s open one-thousand times I want her to take one-thousand 3s. 

 

“She shoots 3s when she’s on a roll like a lot of people shoot layups. So, if she’s open from the 3, I want her to take that shot.”

 

 On filling Memorial Coliseum with elementary school students for every game: “We might just start tipping off at 11 a.m. all the time. If we played like that, it would be well worth it I can tell you that.”

 

Howard said: “My height plays a factor, I’m able to jump over the top of people and get my shot off.

 

“Going against the guys (in practices) help, they’re a lot quicker than what most of our players are going to be, so they’re just helping to prepare me to get my shots off quicker and to control my pace.

 

”I think everyone here knows I like to shoot behind the yard. It just builds my confidence even more that. He’s (Mitchell) allowing me to do it whenever because my teammates help me get open all the time and I know they can get me the right pass so I can hopefully knock it down”

 

Of course, she wanted to play longer than xx minutes.

 

 “I wanted to stay in, but I see where he’s coming from, so I just listen and be coachable.”

 

Senior guard Sabrina Haines said, “When we got on a run the first quarter, I think (Mitchell) just wanted us to lock in and get back to the basics that we’ve been doing in the first quarter and we could build the lead on. 

 

“When we came out for the third quarter it took us a little bit to get started, and then we put the pedal to the metal and ran up the score.

 

 ”We definitely have a lot of room for growth. It’s very early in the season, and we’re a veteran team so we know that we have to get a lot better before we get into Southeastern Conference schedule or even get to the next teams after this. 

 

“It’s continuous improvement and knowing that every day we want to get better – games and everything.”

 

Having Howard on her team is appreciated.

 

“She’s such a dynamic scorer, playing against her in practice and all last year I always wanted to guard her, I knew she would help me get better and the fact she could score. 

 

“The fact she’s getting better with finishing, it’s just impressive to me that she is also a great teammate and passer and person. 

 

“Just the fact that she’s able to do all that and only a sophomore, I’m excited to see her grow.”

 

Charlotte coach Cara Consuegra enjoyed the screaming crowd of children.

 

“It was fun,” she said. “We’ve played in these types of environments before. We have a big education day game at Charlotte ourselves. We were looking forward to that opportunity. 

 

“It’s fun to play in those types of environments. In women’s basketball, you don’t always get to play with a full arena. We were looking forward to that opportunity and we are glad that we were a part of it.”

 

 Mitchell is likely to get 11 more wins at Kentucky, which would place him at 300 in this program.

 

So look who is the first to nine wins. Samford made it six straight of seven winnable games at home, 70-49. They drew a respectable 3,795. Howard scored her career-best 30.

 

It was a game of runs in the first quarter. Kentucky started 9-0 run hitting three 3s (tame (two by Howard) but Samford followed with a 12-2. 

 

Then UK ended the quarter on a 11-2 run to take a 22-14 lead . 

 

UK had six 3s.

 

In the second UK limited Samford to six while scoring 19 and it was over. UK had a season-best 23 assists, having recorded 20 or more assists in two of its last three games and 18 or more in five straight.

 

 UK was 11-of-23 on 3s, tying a season high in 3s made. Howard had 5-of-8.

 

Of course, Mitchell appreciated his team’s effort.

 

 “Wins are hard to come by and just have to keep working every day trying to get better. I thought we had a couple good days of practice and got better throughout the week. We had some good things happen for us; shot the ball from 3 really well, passed the ball really well.

  

“We just need (Howard) to play with that type of mentality. I told her throughout this process, this is the kind of team we have. 

 

“We need for her to be really productive and efficient. So, some days it may be a big point total, other days when people are trying to commit a lot of resources to you, it may be assists or it doesn’t even show up in the stat sheet, it’s just because you’re a presence on the floor.

 

“No doubt, she is a huge part of our production, offensively. She just continues to show signs of growth and I thought she had some great finishes around the basket today, and that has been something we’ve been focused on, trying to help her with. 

 

“To her credit, she has been working on… she’s been working hard to play with the proper pace and that’s not always the easiest thing to do.”

 

Howard said, “Yeah, my teammates and coaches were trying to tell me how many more points I needed, so they were telling me to stay aggressive and they were helping me get in, so it felt good to finally break 29 points.”

 

One more easy win and then it’s the best in-state matchup, with No. 7 Louisville at Rupp Arena on Sunday.

 

For now, they jumped past Mississippi State in the national poll.

 

Howard was added to the Drysdale watch list, a United State Basketball Writers’ Association player of the year markers. She is one of five underclassmen so nominated.

 

 

No. 15 MISSISSIPPI STATE (8-2)

 

Vic Schaefer had a special focus for his one game this week.

 

“We have a stock the pantry that benefits Bully’s Closet and Pantry,” said Schaefer.

 

 “Anybody that will bring a canned good or non-perishable item can get in free. I have been here eight years. We don’t have too many games where you can do something to get in free.

 

“It is that time of year. It is the reason for the season. It is a time of giving. What that can do for people in our community is special. I just want to encourage everyone to do that, from tuna to chicken noodle soup to a box of oatmeal and anything in between.”

 

 He recounted the travel perils of the trek home from the holiday tournament.

 

“We were gone a long time, and we are glad to be home. It took 21 hours for us to get home. We might as well have gone to Europe as far as the traveling went. 

 

“It was a long day for our kids Sunday. I think we got them up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. We got back at 3:00 a.m. 

 

“That is 21 hours. 

 

“We had three airplanes and some delays. We were lucky to get home.”

 

He said they learned a lot on the court, especially playing the No. 1 team in the country close.

 

“We had a knock-down drag-out game with Stanford. We had a shot with 10 seconds left in a wide open 3 to tie. We could have very well been holding for the last shot to win if some things had gone differently in that game.

 

“I was really encouraged in how we played that game and encouraged that we had three sophomores and two freshmen on the floor in the fourth quarter when we made our run. 

 

“Andra Espinoza-Hunter, who I know is listed as a junior, but this is really only her second year of competition. 

 

“She was out there with JaMya Mingo-Young at point, Rickea Jackson, Jessika Carter and Xaria Wiggins.

 There is not a lot of experience out there, and they were going toe-to-toe.

“They actually won their quarter. We just had a really bad start to the third quarter. We didn’t play well. A team like that makes you pay. I am encouraged.

 

 ”Coming home, we have a lot of things to fix. As we found out, winning masks a lot of problems. We have our fair share right now, and we are addressing them.

 

“We noticed some things that we felt like we had to deal with. We went to Aliyah Matharu early, and she made some big shots for us. 

 

“At the same time, JaMya is involved on plays on both ends of the floor.

 

“It seems like I am always coaching her and talking to her more than anyone during the course of a game because she is involved in everything: good, bad and indifferent. She was involved. She drove the point guard for Stanford nuts, forcing her to eight turnovers. 

 

“We forced 20 turnovers against them which is really good. We took them out of a lot of the stuff they wanted to do in the second half.

 

“As all my kids are, JaMya is not afraid or scared. She is just ultra-competitive. I am just impressed with her. 

 

“It just worked out that way. Nothing in that was planned. It was just what we needed in that position then.

 

 ”Absolutely. 

 

“I think those kids grew up. They made some really great decisions. They were just playing hard. They were guarding and defending. 

 

“Our pressure just kind of wore them down. By the fourth quarter they were doing it to us out top.

 

“Those kids had a lot to do with that. From the competitive standpoint those were the kids that were out there laying it all on the line and playing extremely hard and defending. 

 

“They were just playing better. At the end of the day, that is what we are going to do. We are going to play the kids that are playing better at that time. 

 

“I think those kids were all ready for that moment. They were not afraid of that moment it wasn’t too big for them.

 

“JaMya is sitting there with a wide-open 3. There isn’t anyone within 20 feet of her. 

 

“You know what, she will be ready for that moment again, and she will make that shot next time. That is a shot I want her to take every day, all day. I do absolutely think those kids grew up a little bit.”

 

The development this year of freshman Rickdea Jackson has been an impact.

“She has to get us some more rebounds. She knows it,” sad Schaefer “That kid is coming now. She played really well on the trip. Shot it at a good percentage. 

 

“She is now up to shooting 46 percent. She is 50 percent from 3.

 

“We probably do not beat Marquette without Rickea in the fourth quarter. Her third time through in the substitution chain was a great rotation for her. She made a big three in the corner. I think we were down five. I had called time out.”

 

“She gets a three in the corner and makes it. There aren’t many times down the stretch you see a coach go to a freshman. 

 

“I went to her two straight times, and she delivered offensively. She really played well I thought the whole trip. 

 

“She is taking better shots and making more shots than she is missing. She is really trying to defend. She can just create some problems for folks.”

 

Against West Virginia, the things that needed to be fixed weren’t.

 

 A second straight loss was plain embarrassing, especially since State did an in-you-face pregame celebration by choosing to award the SEC title rings in a ceremony. 

 

Schaefer is one of the best motivators in the league and therefore the nation. But he lost at home for the third time in 51 games.

 

He even got the two bigs for West Virginia to foul out with plenty of time left.

 

So what.

 

Jordan Danberry made the second basket with five minutes left in the quarter and it was 6-4 West Virginia. 

 

They went ahead by three until another Danberry layin. 

 

Jessika Carter took a feed from Myah and it was 9-8. 

 

Another Carter layin and it as 11-8 State. Two free throws made it 13-12 at the quarter stop, West Virginia in the lead.

 

The second showed more scoring, but for each side.

 

A Carter layup at 8:35 put State up, 17-15 with eight minutes left. 

 

Something was amiss. It was not clear if the Bulldogs were just down or if the Mountaineers had a better game plan in this slap fight.

 

The lead rose to 10 and settled in, 36-28. Danberry led in scoring with 14. 36-55. 

 

A 5-0 effort cut it to two. With 6:40 left in the quarter, two Myah Taylor free throws put State ahead, 42-41. It lasted 22 seconds.

 

State scrapped to a six-point lead and kept it for the end of the third.

 

West Virginia held State to two of their final 14, including a botched layin in the final seconds and a 61-65 Mountaineer win.

 

Schaefer was not animated. How did this collapse happen?

 

They lost rebounds by 11. They had 17 turnovers, which WVU turned into 26 points Jackson scored 16 but it took 5-of-13 to get there. 

 

Danberry scored five in the second half and had five turnovers. They were 21 points below their season scoring average

 

The Bulldogs shot 14 percent from the field in the final period after erasing an eight-point halftime deficit in the third quarter.

 

West Virginia dominated the glass all game long, holding a 46-34 advantage on the boards and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds. 

 

State couldn't connect on its free throws, going 15-of-30. 

 

They drew 7,114.

 

Bulldogs didn't have a bucket for the final 6:08 of the contest.

 

“First off I appreciate the 7,100 fans that were here today,” said Schaefer “The atmosphere that they provided was so special. I just want then to know how much we appreciate them being here.

 

“I want to congratulate West Virginia. I thought they were the tougher team. The kicked us by 12 on the board. 

 

That is 32 we have been beat on the board the last two games. Offensive boards they got 17. I believe they had 26 points off our turnovers. 15 out of 30 on the free throw line for us. 

 

“Again, I think these things I just mentioned are all toughness things. We continue to have trouble getting back in transition with our guards being back. 

 

“We gave up 15 fast-break points today as well.

 

“I thought they were tough, that is a veteran team. We just got taken to the woodshed. It’s a great lesson to learn. When you’re a coach and you have been doing for this long you can see these things coming. 

 

“We are still learning. We have many new and inexperienced players and that’s not an excuse. There are no excuses today, we got outplayed and out-toughed.

 

“You have to tip your hat to West Virginia. Mike (Carey) is doing a great job with them as he does every year. 

 

“Those kids found ways to make plays. I thought they got every loose ball. They got some tough offensive boards; 17. 

 

“When you go 15 out of 30 at the free throw line it’s hard to win. We had every opportunity there and we just couldn’t do it. 

 

“I thought we got some really good looks at the second half.

 

“Offensively we were much better. 26 points in the third quarter. That’s almost as much as we scored the first half. We really played in the third quarter. 

 

“The fourth period we were back to not scoring. It comes down to attacking. 

 

“We got some really good looks and we will keep working on that. This will help us, we will grow from this. We will get better. 

 

“At the same time, we have to toughen up because we got taken to woodshed today.

 

“During that third quarter we were getting to the rim. We were getting fouled, which is what we wanted to do. We were so passive in the first haft. 

 

“It was terrible how offensively we looked, really anemic, and it had to do with how unaggressive we were.

 

“I thought Maya did a really good job in the third quarter of setting things up for everybody and she got to the free throw line. 

 

“We wanted to attack and make 3s tonight and we made two of them.

 

“We have to spend time in the gym and prepare. Those are the things that are in front of us. This isn’t terminal, this is a game and we got beat tonight by a better team who was tougher and played harder than us. It’s hard for me to shallow, I am the head coach and I have to wear that.

 

“I will fix it.”

 

 “Yemiyah (Morris) did OK. No problem with her, she has been doing better in practice and being more active. She was one for two, missed two free throws, had a block and gave us about eight minutes. She was fine.

 

 “I could be wrong, but I thought we got some pretty good looks (in the fourth quarter). We missed some layups, breakaway layups, and half-court layups. 

 

“We did have some turnovers. I thought we got some pretty good stuff, we just didn’t make shots. Now, some of those shots are tough shots and are being contested heavily.

 

“We have to find a better shot than that tough-contested shot but I think we got some good shots. We did settle two or three trips for jump shots but I thought we stayed in attack mode. 

 

“That team is a top 25 team. They have a pro on that team and we did a good job on her tonight.

 

“But what you don’t do is let No. 3 (Kirsten Deans) come off the bench and make 17. Then talking about (Kari) Niblack, she is physical, tough, and everything you love about a player. She is down there working.

 

“Again, I thought we executed and we got some good stuff. 

 

“At the end of the day we just have to make that shot and we will learn from it.

 

 “So we are 1-2 in those games that are coming down but I got to believe these are the games that help you in January and February. 

 

“We’ve just had such a veteran team in the past that was prepared and had been through the wars and now you look out there and we’re fairly inexperienced. 

 

“We’re really talented. So, I do think it’s a toughness thing. I do account it for. I love these kids. 

 

“I love coaching them and I love seeing them every day. I just enjoy this team, but I’ve got to wear it as the head coach in developing that toughness piece.

 

“Sometimes that means being ornery as a coach in demanding excellence. I think I do that but at the same time, the accountability piece is where you develop that toughness. 

 

“We’re working on that. We’re working on it off the floor. We’re working on it on the floor. But I think you’re right. 

 

“You don’t get it without going through this. I feel confident that all of our players will understand that, and they’ll come back.

 

“ Myah [Taylor] was playing well. Jamya (Mingo-Young) came on and didn’t play as well as she’s been playing. Aliyah (Matharu) has been playing well in practice. 

 

“I’ve got to find more time for her. She’s an offensive threat, but she’s got to work harder on keeping the ball in front of her.

 

“That’s the trade-off. I’ve got to coach her better and make her into a better defender. At the same time, offensively, there are days when you’ve got a hard time dealing with her. 

 

“She’s really good. We’ve got to get her ready and we will. 

 

“I thought Myah’s on-ball defense was really big. I thought she really bothered their point guard and made it really hard for her to run the offense. 

 

“If Aliyah could develop that on-ball defensive intensity like Myah has and be my good helper, there’s a lot more time for that kid because offensively she’s hard to deal with.

 

 “When we got back off the road, the whole team was off two days. Chloe was off two days of practice because she had an infected toe. 

 

“So, she missed some practice and I felt like some other kids deserved a shot. They have been working hard and so we brought Chloe off the bench and that’s all there really was to it.

 

“A big turning point, we had a wide open 3 on the wing. We missed it, and they came down and made one, so it was a six-point swing. 

 

“Chloe went 2-for-4 and made some shots out there and helped us a little bit. Obviously, offensively we need her.

 

“Going back to the Stanford game, we had our defensive team in in the fourth quarter, but my offensive team was sitting down on the bench and so that’s the trade-off. 

 

“This isn’t football. We don’t get to put them in for defense and take them out for offense.

 

“My bad defensive players, I have to coach them better and get them better defensively because those are my best offensive players. 

 

“That’s our job and that is my job as a coach. I’m accountable for that. We will get better, this is a good young group and we will be okay. 

 

“Some people will think the sky is falling because we lost a nonconference game but we are going to be OK.”

 

Danberry said, “It definitely isn’t a good feeling. Right now, I feel like we have a lot of changes that we need to make. 

 

“We have eight days to prepare for the next team. We have to be tougher, player harder and start to focus more. 

 

“We have to change. Some of us have to change within ourselves so we can change as a team.

 

 “I kind of take it to heart being the only senior here. Being someone who has played in those big games with the past teams, I feel it’s my job to get my teammates prepared. 

 

“We’re a young group. I have to lead them better and not take plays off in practice. That will translate into the game

 

“Just going harder. It’s all about playing harder. Like coach said, just being tough, being in the right position, and pushing back. 

 

“Sometimes they’re going over our back. It’s our job to be tougher. We have to push them back and get the rebound regardless of what the other team does.”

 

Jackson said, RJ: “The coaches always get on me about rebounding. So, going into this game I knew that Esmery (Martinez) and No. 14 (Kari Niblack) are two great rebounders. I knew that I had to hit first before they get the rebound. That was my main focus, to do what coach Shaffer said.”

 

State will head to Louisiana for a matchup after a week off. The Bulldogs then go to Las Vegas for the Duel in the Desert tournament. 

 

State has those three games left before the SEC, where they will be favored in the first four games.

The two straight losses caused a drop of five in the national poll.

 

 No. 22 ARKANSAS (8-1)

 

The Razorbacks made it rain with 11 3s, Chelsea Dungee scored 32, Alex Tolefree 21 -- both season highs – as the Razorbacks won their Challenge game at home over Kansas State, 81-72.

 

The Razorbacks led 37-33 at the half and used a 10-0 run in the third quarter and a last-minute 3-pointer by Tolefree, to take a 61-50 into the fourth.

 

The Wildcats couldn’t get any closer than eight as the Razorbacks closed it out at the line.

 

Dungee and Tolefree combined to make nine of the 3s.

 

“Their post players had just gone 17-of-17 from the field. So you have to screen against that,” said coach Mike Neighbors.

 

“Like we have done with other teams with big players, you just run with them. What it usually comes down to, you have to make them uncomfortable. 

 

“This is another NCAA tournament team from last season. That’s four tournament teams in five games.

 

“We have to continue to pursue the ball, not hoping it comes our way, but going out and gettin’ it. The only difference between the loss to Cal is we have to get it.

 

Individually, we have great shooters. We just have to get it.

 

“Got a win for the Challenge, which is good because we had lost the last two.

 

“Seven rebounds from Amber Ramirez, crucial because two of them were right where needed them. I didn’t expect anything less than a slugfest and that’s what it was.

 

“The job Mikayla Daniels did on a future pro, that was key. We had to make enough shots to do it. Chelsea drew a blocking foul and when that happens, that’s where we took off.

 

“Chelsea drew two early fouls and played without drawing another one early. We would have let her play with three. That’s her maturity.”

 

They drew 2,168. 

 

They moved up in the national poll. They have two more winnable home games this week.

 

No. 23 TENNESSEE (7-1)

 

Another week of practice led to a one-game showing, in the Big 12/SEC challenge against Texas.

 

This used to be called Big Orange against Bigger Orange, when Jody Conradt and Pat Head started the rivalry; whichever Orange won got to be Bigger Orange until the next season.

 

Tennessee looked uninspired and never caught fire. The Lady Vols lost, 66-60. They drew 9,371. We’ll see how many of those return for the SEC season.

 

It was a bad debut before America, as the nation finally got to see the revived program when ESPN broadcast this one.

 

Coach Kellie Harper showed the marked difference between herself and her predecessor -- who of course recruited and coached her to national championships on this same court. 

 

Harper is calmer and more-encouraging. The players, all but one recruited by that predecessor, are performing as recruited, a level above previous seasons.

 

Texas had been plagued by defections and a significant injury.

 

It is not now a national impact program.

 

Rennia Davis, 6-3, is the undisputed leader for Tennessee, headed to All-America status. 

 

She averages 16 per game.

 

 She has plenty of help, including Kasiyahna Kushkituah off the bench who was recruited to be a dominant center. 

 

She tweaked a knee – the injury has never been described – her rookie season and is just now becoming a substantial asset, hitting 61 percent from the floor. 

 

The other two of the best recruiting class in the nation had been run off by the former coaching staff.

 

Sophomore guard Jazmine Massengill, 6-0, is the backcourt leader. Massengill had 21 assists and four turnovers coming in.

 

 Freshman Jordan Horston, 6-2, is emerging as well as any national rookie, nine points and five rebounds per game. 

 

Freshman center Tamari Key, 6-5, averages eight points and five rebounds. Tennessee wins rebounds 62-35 on average, the SEC’s best and second in the nation. 

 

Redshirt freshman Lou Brown, 6-3, also averages five rebounds.

 

So it is the best mix of contributors from all classes, with an emphasis on underclassmen meaning the fun has just begun. 

 

Harper starts the tallest lineup Tennessee has ever had. This confounds opponents because there is length at every position and more on the bench.

 

 By an average of 31-12, the Tennessee bench has outscored all previous opponents, much of that  Kushkituah’s nine points in 17 minutes on average.

 

Guards Sug Sutton drove for a basket to open it for Texas. Massengill and Davis each hit a 3. 

 

Davis hit two free throws. Sutton had all seven of Texas’ points. 

 

Davis hit a 3. Texas hit a 3. Nobody was corralling rebounds. 

 

Celeste Taylor hit a 3 then Jada Underwood another. 

 

The Longhorns led 18-13 at an ESPN timeout, 3:15 to go. The rebounds were even. Tennessee started using its bench.

 

Tennessee responded with a shot clock violation. Joyner Holmes, Texas’ leading scorer, hit a layup. 

 

The lead was seven on an 8-0 run. Horston blew a fast break layup, Tennessee shooting 25 percent from the field. 

 

Kushkituah hit a short jumper assisted by Horston. Then she hit two free throws. Nothing underneath for the home team so far.

 

Next time, they missed a shot.  

 

But Kamera Harris hit a short jumper. It was suddenly 20-19.

 

Underwood drew a foul as the quarter expired. She was awarded two free throws.

 

Texas had been stuck on 20 for the final 2:50. It was 22-19.

 

Tennessee had switched to a zone and started playing offense from the inside out.

 

“Nobody is getting tired tonight,” Harper lectured her team at the break. “Why should we be tired and they are not. We are not tired. You just push through.”

 

Taylor drove for two. Burrell answered.

 

Horston threw away the next possession. But she assisted Key on the next trip. 

 

Tennessee was focused on drives as Collier had two fouls with no points. Texas called the time out, up by one with 8:39 left in the half.

 

So it went.

 

Nobody took control, though Holmes sold a defensive stop that replays showed was a miscall.

 

Tennessee suddenly abandoned its inside game and Texas took advantage. 

 

When it was down to five minutes in the half, Texas held a nine-point lead. Harper needed to do something.

 

It was a 10-0 run when Underwood spun in for a basket, drew a foul and made the free throw. 

 

Texas was much more celebratory. 

 

Harper called a time out. 

 

Davis only had five points. Horston answered the challenge going coast to coast. Harris finished another drive.

 

Texas was unafraid. 

 

They led by six at the half when Davis hit a 3 at the buzzer. 

 

Tennessee had never trailed at half this season. 

 

Tennessee was still unassembled and appeared defeated, heads down. 

 

Lashann Higgs had 12 in the quarter. 

 

Tennessee kept shooting long jumpers and was 5-of-11 on 3s. Harper kept pulling starters, but it was not working.

 

The home team came out firing in the third quarter and scored a quick bucket from Massengill, followed by a lay-up from Davis to make it a two-point game at 42-40. 

 

The Longhorns went on a 6-0 burst and extended their lead to 48-40.

 

The Lady Vols answered with a 5-0 scoring run and pulling to 48-45. 

 

They didn't allow another bucket from Texas in the last 2:24 of the quarter, and the deficit was 50-49 at the end of the third.

 

 Tennessee held Texas to a 21.1 shooting percentage in the third, which marked the Longhorns' lowest of the game. 

 

The Lady Vols also out-rebounded the Longhorns, 16-14, and forced three turnovers.

 

Davis gave Tennessee its first lead of the game since the first quarter with a bucket 18 seconds into the fourth. Key followed with another, giving the Lady Vols a 53-50 lead less than a minute into the fourth period. 

 

The Big Orange didn't score again until the 4:48 mark, while the Longhorns scored eight points to regain the lead, 58-55.

 

 Massengill made the next bucket for Tennessee with 2:23 left in the game, cutting the deficit to 60-57. 

 

The Lady Vols scored three more free throws in the final quarter but could get no closer the rest of the way.

 

 Harper was sold on the excitement.

 

 “Well, that was a competitive game and it felt like that was going to be the case when we started.

 

“Obviously, I hate the loss, but it's definitely an opportunity for us to measure where we are against high-quality athletes and a really good basketball team. 

 

“I told our players that we have to find a way to get better, otherwise, the loss helps you none.

 

"I think their attitude was where I would want it to be when I came in to see them. I don't want them happy; I don't want them excited that we did something positive, I want them feeling it. 

 

“I want it to be a little bit of a gut-wrench.

 

“I also explained to them, because this is our first loss and the first time that we are dealing with this, I don't deal with (losses) very well, so I didn't need to see anybody happy in the locker room. 

 

“I think they're pretty motivated, so we'll see."

 

"The bright spot from the game today was our post play (Tamari Key), especially defensively with how physical that game was. 

 

“We have not seen that this year - the physicality, interior play -- and Tamari did a really good job. I thought she was alert. I thought she was physical. I thought she was competitive, and that's a good sign.

 

“I thought Kasi was… I thought all of our post players stepped up to a huge challenge of guarding two big-time post players. They did a great job."

 

“For us, and where we are, maybe if a few teams had given us a little bit more of an SEC-type look, it would've been a positive. 

 

“We knew that when we picked up the schedule when we arrived here. That's what we were dealt with, and we've got to be able to play through all that."

 

The closing nine minutes just stunk.

“We came down, and we were empty for three-straight possessions and three turnovers. We did not execute our quick-hit action. 

 

“That's definitely an area that we're going to look at. We have to communicate better when we're out on the court, the game's coming really fast.

 

“It's loud, so our communication has to be better. I think defensively, we were a little bit slow during that stretch. 

 

“When you take the lead, you've got to be able to get one more bucket and finish that off. You've got to get a bucket in those three possessions and give yourself a chance going down the stretch, and we just couldn't get that bucket that we needed.

 

“Today, our defensive boards… we didn't give up a lot of offensive boards, however, I didn't think they crashed as hard as they typically do. 

 

“They were getting back in transition to guard us in transition.

 

“They were sending people back so they could be set and take that away from us. Offensively, although, we got 17 offensive boards. 

 

“The percentage of our misses wasn't as high as it has been. It's not going to be playing the team that we're playing today, but I think we could've gotten in there for a few more offensive boards. I think they looked good, but I don't know if they're completely where I want them to be."

 

“We were rushing our offense. I thought we were a little impatient. We were impatient throughout the game. 

 

“I thought we were impatient with our offense. We were quick shooting the basketball. 

 

“We'd get the ball in and we were rushing our shots as well, just trying to get a shot up instead of score and finish. 

 

“It's the first time, in my opinion, that we've been challenged, that we had to work for a shot. 

 

“We needed to work, and we were really quick to move on to getting that shot up instead of utilizing a little more shot clock. 

 

“I think that's an area of growth for us that we probably couldn't have predicted prior to this game.

 

“Our free-throw shooting has been a concern of ours, and we work at it a lot in practice. We talk about it. We try to hold our team accountable in pressure situations throughout practice to maybe simulate what they'll see in a game. 

 

“We've got players that can make free throws; they just need to step up there and do it. We'll keep working with them and keep trying to get that percentage higher. 

 

“We knew that to keep that going at the percentage we're shooting as a team, you're going to lose a game at some point because of it.

 

“You can make an argument that today, if you make a few more, it's a different ballgame.

 

"That was a great game for us. We needed this. I don't want to say we needed the loss, that's hard to say, but we needed that game. 

 

“That was one reason I've been looking forward to this game, because I knew we needed this. We needed to see where with a physical, athletic team with size. 

 

“That's going to be what we see in the SEC, so we needed to have that to learn from and to grow from."

 

Davis said, “I personally don't think it was just the fourth quarter. I think it was the build up from the first quarter. 

 

“We weren't as efficient with our offense as we wanted to be. I don't think we were taking the shots that we wanted to take. 

 

“On top of that, we weren't stopping them from scoring the easier shots. It was a combination of a lot of things.

 

“I wouldn't say it threw us off. We knew they had a couple of guards that could make plays. We were focused in on their post, but their post got in foul trouble early. 

 

“It's on all of us as guards to lock in. We've seen that a couple of their guards were hitting shots early, so that was all on us."

 

Massengill said: "We made it harder on ourselves with scoring. I feel like we could do more with the ball. I feel like we took the hardest spot to make a shot. I think that could improve.

 

"Tamari is a phenomenal post player. We try to get the ball to her the best we can. Every game we try to do a better job of giving the post the ball and doing a better job of getting in position. 

 

“It's a learning tool for both of us. 

 

“I definitely think Tamari held her own. Freshmen through senior, we expect everyone to perform the way they know how. I feel like she did that today.

 

"I would agree with focusing on the small things and the details. 

 

“When playing against teams that are equal to you or are larger than you, you have to focus on the details. That's what it comes down to during these ball games."

 

 Still ahead, Tennessee can win several before it interrupts its SEC season for a silly visit to UConn. 

 

The Lady Vols can win their first five league games. 

 

Next up is Colorado State a home.

 

The loss to an unranked team which came in having lost two of three caused a ride in the struggle bus, down six stops in the national poll, the lowest ranked SEC team. 

 

The hometown writer at Texas actually gave them a vote.

 

No. 25 LSU (no longer ranked)

 

New to the rankings in a make-or-break season for coach Nikki Farkas, the challenge game was good preparation for the league wars to come.

 

The Ben-Gals are led by a trio averaging double figures, 5-7 junior guard Khayla Porter 14.6, 6-5 junior center Faustine Aifuwa (13.1) and 6-0 senior forward Avana Mitchell (11.6). 

 

They are the only one who have started all nine games. 

 

Mitchell is the best rebounder (8.9), Pointer leads in assists. The outside game isn’t much, as Aifuwa and Mitchell had yet to connect on 3s. 

 

As a team, they scored 67.5 points per game and allow 56.

 

LSU warmed up for the challenge by welcoming in traditional rival Nicholls State, from Thibodaux. The Lady Colonels represent the Southland. 

 

Doesn’t matter. 

 

LSU celebrated its corner of the national stage, 63-39. They allowed 10 points in the first half.

 

Mitchell was 9-of-9 from the field and scored 21. They played nine reserves.

 

It was the annual Field Trip game, a morning tipoff as LSU invited in 5,000 elementary and middle school students from Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes to the game. 

 

They drew 6,970, 4,800 above their home average.

 

“It should get you fired up. It should get you motivated to come out and perform,” said Farkas. “You should know that everything you do will be magnified in their eyes and they are going to cheer louder for you. 

 

“When you are playing this game the right way, you might get a young girl that says ‘I want to be like Ayana Mitchell' ‘or ‘I want to play for the Lady Tigers one day.’ 

 

“Somebody that came today could potentially be walking and gracing our campus as a student-athlete or as a student.

 

“It’s great to have this environment for our student-athletes to participate as well as Nicholls State.

 

“The team is getting better in putting together stretches where we can look back and say, ‘That was some really good basketball’. 

 

“Then there were some stretches where we didn’t play or perform at the level I thought we should have. Our execution on the offensive side of the basketball was okay – it wasn’t great.

 

“We need to make sure we have ball security especially in transition. I thought we turned the ball over way too many times in transition.

 

“We could have converted a few more of those baskets and we could have gotten well over 70 points easily with our transition conversions. 

 

“We are going to challenge our team to get better in that area.

 

“All that we have experienced, though, is only going to help us get ready for our next opponent in Oklahoma.

 

“The bench needs to be the same. I want to highlight Mercedes Brooks.especially in the first half. 

 

“She came in and was all over the place. She was helping teammates, rotating, and she even drew a charge.

 

“She gave us some big momentum plays. Then she let the game come to her on the offensive end. I thought that was really good to see her knock down some shots for us. 

 

“She did a really nice job of giving us a lift coming off the bench. At different times throughout the season we’ve had different players step up – we’re just looking for some consistency. We need to know who we can count on every single game.”

 

So it was a good setup for the challenge of the Sooners, though it was an away game. 

 

Oklahoma was 5-3. They are led by the Big 12’s weekly player of the week, sophomore guard Taylor Robertson, after she scored 30 in a game. In this one, she scored 21 with four 3s.

 

The game was lost early, in the 28-16 second quarter.

 

Fargas even tried shrieking to a technical foul, but it didn’t matter.

 

Oklahoma was ahead by 19 and the game was lost at halftime.  The Sooners had nine second-chance points and was winning rebounds. 

 

LSU scored one basket in the final 4:25. Pointer had 16 points.

 

Little flurries without rebounding did little to help LSU. The Ben-Gals tried running but Oklahoma withstood that. 

 

The Sooners had seven 3s, LSU zero. The lead remained 19 with 4:21 left in the third. It was already the most points LSU had allowed all season.

 

The Sooners won an uninspired third, 20-17.

 

Nothing much else happened. Oklahoma worked itself to 10 3s.

 

Neither coach was happy with the officiating. The LSU radio man also tired himself out doing double-duty as officiating commentator. 

 

Mitchell hit her first 10 shots (the school record is 11) but didn’t shoot again after two minutes remained in the third.

 

Oklahoma ended LSU’s seven-game win streak, 90-68.

 

Pointer finished with 24.        

 

“It’s gonna be a challenge for us,” said Fargas. “A lot of cred to Oklahoma. We had players we went to. Our player off the bench are as important as anyone else. We just couldn’t keep it close. Never got in a rhythm.

 

“You want to hang yourself on defensive board play, but we just didn’t have it. It’s hard to swap twos for 3s.

 

“We gotta have more. You get about 80 possessions a game. What are you doing with those possessions?

 

We have to guard better. Giving up 90 is a concern.”

 

LSU has 12 days off, then another nine-day break leading into SEC play. They lost all their votes and out of national listings. They are unlikely to return.