If only they could find some consistency in their level of play.
A fast start had its issues, mainly in taking care of the ball. Turnovers are an issue the Broncos can overcome if three-pointers are falling and defense is stalwart. At 16.1 per game, the number of turnovers has fallen in recent weeks. Boise has averaged 14 in their last four games, including only 11 in their victory over the University of San Diego.
Part of the issue is players settling in and making lazy passes, going through the motions on offense instead of playing with a crispness. Some of these mistakes are as simple as a player passing to where a teammate is designed to be, with the opponents expecting this and overplaying, leading to a steal.
This can be partially attributed to finding some more patience and, too, the level of opponents Boise State is playing. Three of those losses are to teams a combined 21-9, including an 11-3 Santa Clara team, an Eastern Washington team with eight wins (and who lost to Gonzaga by only 2), and a 10-win BYU team.
Head coach Gordy Presnell has toyed with different lineups and rotations throughout non-conference, which can lead to continuity issues. But, the depth on this Boise State team is outstanding, and things will improve with a more solidified rotation, I believe. Conference play is the true measuring stick and the Broncos get a good one to start on the road Saturday (12/30) against the Wyoming Cowgirls.
Season stats, leaders
One of the more perplexing losses for the Broncos was a 62-56 defeat to the UC San Diego Tritons (4-7). Boise State bounced back nicely against San Diego the following night, a game where a couple of Broncos had their best outing of the season.
Senior Abby Muse has been a force on defense, and is starting to piece things together on offense. Against the Toreros, Muse delivered a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. She also had two steals, four assists, and six blocked shots. This gives Muse 51 blocks on the season and could very well challenge the single-season record of 93, a mark she set last season.
Muse has three games of collecting 15 rebounds or more this season. She is averaging 10.2, along with 8.1 points per game.
This is good for third on the team, behind Mya Hansen (9 ppg) and leader Natalie Pasco (13.6 ppg). Pasco delivered a season-high 27 points, knocking down six three-pointers, in Boise State's last victory. Boise State has relied on Pasco, who leads the team with 34 threes (46.6 percent) and the sophomore has responded by scoring in double figures in all but two games.
Hansen has also been a threat from deep, knocking down 18 three pointers on 46.2 percent shooting. Hansen is also averaging nearly three assists per game.
That category lead belongs to senior Mary Kay Naro, who has dished out 60 this season. Some more scoring (5.2 ppg) might be nice from Naro but she contributes in so many ways (4.1 rebounds) and plays solid defense (13 steals, 10 blocked shots) that lack of scoring can be overlooked.
The fifth spot in the starting lineup has been a mix of Elodie Lalotte (six starts), Trista Hull (4 starts), and Alyssa Christensen (3 starts). Lalotte (7 ppg), I imagine, will continue to see the bulk of the minutes, if foul trouble is avoided. But Hull and Christensen are more than fully capable of stepping in, with Hull pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game.
Boise State's strength lies in rebounding, plus seven this season, and stingy defense, especially on the perimeter. Opponents are only shooting 28.9 percent from deep against the Broncos and length on the floor is important for Boise State, especially has conference play begins.
Mountain West Conference
Boise State's first opponent will be Wyoming (5-6), who struggled to close out their non-conference play by losing four of their last five games. The Cowgirls average 64.5 points per game but only reached that mark once during the recent stretch and lost 62-43 to Eastern Washington (who beat the Broncos 64-43).
Wyoming averages 13.9 turnovers per game and only shoots 27 percent from deep. Rebounding should also favor the Broncos, though Wyoming has a star in the frontcourt to contend with.
Center Allyson Fertig averages 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, shooting 57.8 percent. Fertig can also wreak havoc on defense, swatting 1.7 shots.
Though the Cowgirls struggle from deep, they have no fear in attempting three-pointers. Malene Pedersen is second on the team in scoring at 10.7 and is 12-40 from three-point range. Tess Barnes leads the team with 17 makes (on 54 attempts).
Wyoming is only a handful of Mountain West teams with a losing record entering conference play. Defending champion UNLV is 10-1, with their only loss by 30 points to Seton Hall. Desi-Ray Young and the Lady Rebels open Mountain West play Saturday at home against Utah State.
The Colorado State Rams are off to a 9-2 start, though they have lost two of their last three games. McKenna Hofschild (22.1 points, 8.5 assists) continues to shine for the Rams, who open on the road against San Diego State.
The Aztecs are 9-4, along with the New Mexico Lobos. New Mexico takes to the road to open conference play against the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Air Force and Fresno State, both 7-6, enter conference play struggling. Air Force has lost five of seven while the Bulldogs have dropped three of four. One team will get the ship righted, as the two face each other in Fresno on Saturday.
The bye this weekend belongs to San Jose State, who is 5-6.
Boise State appears on track for a top-four finish in the league. A regular season conference championship isn't out of the question. They have the talent and depth to get back to the top but, as with any team on the hunt for a title, improvements will be needed. Taking care of the ball is at the top of the list, and a victory on Saturday will kick things off the right way.
photo credit: Jason Haskins
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