WBB at Stanford Feb 12 @ 10PM

The Ladies travel to the West Coast for the next two games. Tonight, they are at Stanford on the ACCNextra with Evan Hughes on PxP and Liz Kitley as analyst. The Hokies are 1.5 point favorites; but the Matchup Predictor say Stanford 65.2%.

Stanford is 16-9, 5-7; the Hokies are 18-7, 8-5. Our record looks better; but their 7 ACC losses are to Louisville(#6), NC State(RV), Syracuse(RV), Duke(#17), Cal, ND, and GA Tech. Their wins were against UNC(#25), Cal, WF, BC, and Pitt. Our five losses were to Duke, Miami, Louisville, ND, and NC State. We beat WF, BC, Pitt, SMU, UVA, Clemson, and Syracuse. The only difference is we beat Syracuse and they lost to Syracuse. Schedule says the teams are pretty evenly matched.

Stealing from 07Hokie:

The Hokies then begin a left coast swing at Stanford. The Cardinal are on a severe slide, having lost 5 of their last 6. Stanford's roster is much like their mascot closet: full of trees. Stanford has eight players 6-2 or taller. 6-5 Alexandra Eschmeyer, 6-3 Lara Somfai, 6-2 Mary Ashley Stevenson, 6-2 Nunu Agara, and 6-1 Courtney Ogden all get significant run; with Somfai, Agara, and Ogden getting 25+ mpg. The five of them combine for over 100 mpg. Stanford is only averaging about 65ppg since ACC play started, 7 points fewer than the Hokies. They allow 68.5 ppg, 7 points more than the Hokies allow. They shoot less than 29% from range, but the Cardinal are very good from the FT line, and rebounding. Tech's defense should be able to take advantage of the 0.64 ATO margin Stanford has produced in conference play, as they have dished out fewer than 11 assists over conference play.

The Stanford Trees:

We won't be at a severe height disadvantage against their first 6; but 7 (6'5" Eshmeyer) and 8(6'2" Stevenson) could give us matchup problems depending on who sits when they come in; but they only play about 15 min/game. Maybe Trent or Jenkins can play some good minutes when those two come off the bench.

As 07Hokie said, Stanford is in the midst of losing 5 out of their last 6, with the only win against hapless Pitt. Four of the top 6 players for Stanford average double digits and a fifth is at 9.5 ppg. So, very balanced scoring; but not a lot of scoring at only 69 ppg But they are only giving up 61 ppg. They only shoot 43% overall, 29.8% from three and 79% from the line. They make about 5.5 threes per game. Somfai and Agara are strong on the boards averaging 9.4 and 8.4 per game. Fouls could be an issue; four of the top six players average 2 or more fouls per game. They average 12.3 assists and 14.8 TOs per game.

This is a winnable game for the Hokies if they can adjust to the time difference and don't have dead legs from the travel. Freelon has to stay on the court for this game; we will need her on the boards. Carleigh and Carys need to have decent nights shooting the ball. And we need to limit turnovers and fouls. We can't afford to lose players to foul trouble and Stanford is very good from the line.

If we have a chance to go dancing in March, we can't lose to Stanford or Cal.

LET'S GO HOKIES!