Some thoughts…

Posted on: January 27, 2025 at 22:36:47 CT

1. I had this as one of only 3 potential winnable games coming in. But thought this one was the least likely of those 3. Glad I was wrong.

2. Thought if we beat a team outside of Arkansas that team would have to have a very poor game in order for us to win. I don’t think Miss St had a poor game, by their standards, but I’d say we got overall maybe their C+ game, which was enough to give us a chance to steal the game at the buzzer, which Slaughter did on a very difficult left handed shot.

3. Glad Grace kept the ball the final 10 seconds or so. I’d bet anything if she gave it up to another player in those frantic final seconds we would have turned it over or not even got a shot off. She put the game on her own shoulders, glad she did. That’s what your best player is supposed to do.

4. Thought it was a key that we never gave up the big run that happens in all our losses. We kept it close throughout, didn’t let them ever get to a double digit lead that always dooms us.

5. Best defensive game we played all year. Sound funny to say that when their star Jordan torched us for 40 points. But we played hard, tough, even dare I say smart defense for most of the game? Fantastic steal by Randle in the final seconds to give us a chance to win, she missed her first try at a steal but didn’t give up and poked the ball away on her second try.

6. Only 10 turnovers was another key. We don’t win this one without taking care of the ball, overall, as well or better than we’ve done all season.

7. Their star Jordan, as great a game as she had, was a mediocre free throw shooter coming in, just 73% which put her about #250 in the nation. Then she had an awful night from the FT line. Even as a mediocre shooter from the line, she had missed 17 free throws in her first 21 games, an average of less than 1 free throw miss per game. Tonight she missed 8 free throws, going just 9-17. Huge factor in our win.

8. Glad for the girls, they deserved a win that at least guarantees avoiding the 0-16 record. Not their fault they have the worst coach in the conference. Not going to change the rest of the season, we have 7 straight losses coming up unless we can upset TAMU on the road on February 9, then the game at Arky that could get us to a 2-14 finish, matching our SEC record last year. But getting the upset, the way it went down, and in front of their home crowd and family and friends, will be the highlight of the season.