RebKell's Junkie Boards

[CourtsideTix]

Congratulations to Stanford. Wiggins is really something.

Awfully tough for a team to score 87 points and lose.

What a difference between the two games played tonight!

[CamrnCrz1974]

[mercfan3]

[fancy_daniel]

YIPPEEEE!!!!!

Finally, the drought is over. My heart was pounding through that game, especially when Maryland started making it's run. Kristi decided to take over, but those two threes by Hones and Wiggins kept Stanford's composure.

Wow! I love how much Wiggins is in the moment. Great thing to see for all the seniors.

Maryland seniors, you will be missed in the college game. Good luck.

[luvDhoops]

[PRballer]

I'm so thrilled for Candice Wiggins. I'm hopping on the Stanford train for Tampa.

Also really happy for Tara Vanderveer - in my opinion, one of the Top 5 coaches the women's game has had.

[CalwbbFan]

Congrats to Stanford.....have to admire CandICE and was happy to see JJ shoot lights out.....especially coming back from last year's ACL injury. Stanford did themselves (and the Pac-10) proud......not that I'm surprised.

[Joey Nations]

Congrats to Stanford they played a hell of a game and couldn't miss.

OT: How bad was the production for this game? We missed back-to-back 3s. They had no idea Stanford beat Rutgers even though it was a memorable game. And one graphic said two teams from the same conference haven't met in the Elite since 2004. Last I checked Tennessee played Ole Miss in the Elite 8 last year.

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"People kept saying why are you looking at Maryland, why are you even talking to them? Well, look at us now!" - Crystal Langhorne, NCAA Champion

http://www.terpswomenshoops.blogspot.com

[fancy_daniel]

[jonnyss]

[bballfan2005]

With this loss, Debbie Antonelli officially went on SUICIDE WATCH. Sorry, Debbie, but the ACC wasn't as dominant at the top as it's been in recent years. In a way, I'm glad the league won't be represented in this year's Final Four. Let someone else have a little face time.

Wiggins is a good kid. It's nice to see her go out with a BANG!

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Avatar: The King has his ring!

Mathies to LA 2013

[Keegan]

Um, does anybody PLEASE have a copy of the game that they're willing to part with? I have Tim Tams (i.e biscuit crack) to offer!

ABOUT TIME. Candice Wiggins

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Beware of snarky monotremes...

[hoopfan24]

[hoopfan24]

[p_d_swanson]

After 11 years, Stanford returns to the Final Four


AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

[spikeybedhead]

[LadyDevilFan]

[pilight]

Congrats to Stanford on a well earned win.

_________________
I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home

[jersey_stupka]

wow, stanford...never woulda thunk they'd beat Maryland...

where did harper and langhorne disappear to in this game?

coleman and toliver...you all played your hearts out....

on the flip side, great to see Wiggins play so well, and I loved her excitement at winning...

now onto the RU game...git er dun for C Viv.

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Break out da booze...is New Yawk...

[bballfan]

Stanford was solid against MD. Congratulations to Candice Wiggins and her team. That was a well-deserved win... How cute was she in that post game interview?

Oh, and what a preformance by Kristi Toliver.

_________________
Some people dream of success...while others wake up and work hard at it.

http://www.myspace.com/cappie23officialfansite

[jaye]

man what a game.....feel sorry for toliver.....wow she played her a** off.... shame someone had to lose this one..... d*mn i love womens' bball......

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sammy can ball....

[LakotaStorm]

[gpark33]

[eyevolley4]

Keys to the Game:

First, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude's defense on Toliver.

While Toliver scored a lot, I think that we saw Ros do something very important that I believe the commentators have talked about all season long. Kristi Toliver had to play East-West instead of North-South, which prevented her from truly getting the rest of her team into the flow of the offense, instead forcing her to take fade-away jumpers. Yes, she made a lot of those, but I think the effects of not getting Harper and Langhorne involved in the offense stemmed to other problems.

Langhorne, having the ball in her hands more often, is first of all likely to score - equally as likely as Toliver on her fade aways. But more importantly, it gives the Terps opportunities to create fouls on Jayne Appel. Taking Jayne out is a huge cog of Stanford's offense and defensive scheme. Maryland did a poor job of attacking her forcing the sophomore to make big decisions. Also, when it came time for Maryland to hit jumpers, they missed.

A lot will be said of how Stanford shot the lights out, but also they mixed those jumpers with driving baskets from Wiggins, Hones, Appel, and Pederson. Harmon got into the act as well. Keeping that balance offensively was a huge part of why Stanford was able to keep the Terps at bay.

Next, Jayne and Kayla prevented the Terps from going buck wild on the offensive glass.

Yes, Maryland won the rebounding battle, but they didn't have the second chance points they need to be successful against a team scoring like Stanford did. Marah Strickland was their leading O-rebounder, and while it was nice to see her have a good tournament, the posts should have been leading the charge. Stanford's team defense and rebounding ability is underrated, and considering when you play teams of Maryland's level, you can't expect to win in every category of the game - you just have to make the big plays at the right moments - which Stanford did.

Then, Marah Strickland defending Wiggins was a joke.

Honestly, what more proof do you need that Toliver and Coleman are not considered up to snuff defensively even by their coach. Strickland on Wiggins gave Candice the green light to do basically whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Strickland fought hard through screens, and I know she battled defensively, but she was so overmatched it wasn't even funny - unless you're a Cardinal fan (ah thank you!) - then it was pretty much glorious.

Finally, one year removed from ACL injuries, Ros and Hones are showing they can be so much more than role players, and more importantly, that the injuries are well behind them.

Watching Ros and Hones in the beginning of the season was like watching players who really wanted to be confident in themselves, but couldn't be. Hones especially wasn't moving well, and while she is still incredibly deliberate with her movements, she was really out of whack.

Now, Ros is showing her speed again and taking on major defensive assignments in Zellous and Toliver. Hones - the most unlikely person to turn the ball over left in this tournament - is really in the flow of the game and played 40 minutes last night with her decision making and conditioning actually appeared better in minute 35 as it did in minute 2.

A couple final notes:

Pederson and Appel are the best post duo in the country - hands down - as a sophomore and a freshman.

Wiggins show of pure emotion is so refreshing. I love seeing people act like real people with real feelings. I am so impressed. She is such a super-star.

Harper and Langhorne will be missed. Harper had some cheap calls made on her, which didn't help Maryland's cause, but showing that jumper was a great way to end her career. Hitting that three may have given her a bit of an idea for the future.

Coleman never really got to make her mark on this game, and that is something dictated by Toliver not letting her play with the ball in her hands at all. Look at how Stanford plays - everyone on their team touches the ball. It's not dominated by any one person.


And last of all - Thank you to all who said nice things about this team. I've stood by the idea that this is a Final Four and Championship caliber team. I'm really pumped to see their rematch with UConn, but wish both squads were full to the brim with all of their talented players. It feels good to be a Stanford fan right now which I owe completely to Kristen Folkl - thank God for volleyball players.

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Some days are meant to be remembered.

[myt]