Signs of a team hoping to make a special run are present, with true potential bubbling just under the surface. Boise State (14-8, 5-4) has seen both the good and the bad in conference play. Two early losses. A four-game winning streak that put the Broncos on the brink of first place. A forgettable week. And finally, a victory to put the team back on track.
When the dust settled, thanks to a victory over Fresno State the last day of January, Boise State heads to the back half of Mountain West Conference play sitting in fourth place.
After a tough week with losses to UNLV and San Diego State, by a combined 46 points, the win over the Bulldogs was much needed in righting the course. Turnovers, a season-long theme, have reappeared in scary fashion the last two games. Cold shooting spells have harmed the Broncos once again but were overcome in the victory over Fresno State.
Boise State had only eight turnovers against the Lady Rebels. In the loss, however, a 1-13 start and 6-28 first half from the field ultimately doomed the Broncos. They did hit a hot stretch, finishing at 38.3 percent but was too much to overcome in a game where UNLV seemed content in allowing Boise State to shoot elbow jumpers, which the Broncos couldn't hit.
Against San Diego State and Fresno State, the turnovers were simply too much, with Boise State combining for 46. Shooting was better, 42.6 and 42 percent respectively, but too often passes are mishandled in the post or struggles to finish around the rim occur.
One saving grace in the victory was sophomore Tatum Thompson, who scored a career-high 21 points, with seven rebounds and two steals.
Boise State's defense keeps them in most games and often carries the Broncos through long stretches. If more of those mid-range jumpers and easy looks with five feet start to fall, Boise State can make a lot of noise these last nine games and into the conference tournament.
Boise State Broncos leaders
Boise State's defense is holding opponents to 57.9 points per game and 36.7 percent shooting from the field (and 28.8 percent from three-point range). Toss in a plus six rebound margin and 6.4 blocked shots per game and the Broncos are in good shape on defense.
Offense, with some the added joy of decent three-point shooting, averages 63.2 points per game. Shooting is a little low at 40 percent but shot attempts from deep are falling at a 36.2 percent clip.
It's those pesky turnovers, 15.9 per contest, that keep getting in the way.
Sophomore Natalie Pasco leads the team in scoring with 14 per game. Pasco has reached double digits in seven of nine conference games, averaging 17 over the last three games. In this span, Pasco is 12-21 from three-point range.
Overall, she has knocked down 60 this season from deep, shooting 45.8 percent.
Pasco has handled the bulk of the scoring and only Bronco averaging double figures. Six others, however, average 4.7 or more per game.
Sophomore Mya Hansen is up next with 8.4. Hansen has been bitten by the turnover bug the last two games, with 11, and has 69 this season. She is shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc, a number that's dipped as of late thanks to a 4-15 stretch over the last six games.
Scoring for senior Abby Muse is also down the last few games and is averaging 8.0 this season. But it's Muse's rebounding and defense doing the dirty work for Boise State. Muse has 74 blocked shots this season, leading the nation, and has had only one game this season without recording a blocked shot.
Muse's frontcourt running mate, Elodie Lalotte, averages 7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Both have had some excellent chances at the offensive end in recent games and, though finishing has been a problem, something that is bound to turnaround based off the talent of these two players.
Senior Mary Kay Naro scores 4.7 per game but shines in the passing department. In 20 games, Naro has doled out 90 assists with only 40 turnovers. Naro has also found open looks as of late, and it's simply a matter of some of those shots falling.
Thompson and Dani Bayes round out the top scorers. Thompson was due for a breakout game after some shooting struggles in recent games. Thompson averages 5.0 points per game and Bayes averages 7.5.
Bayes, with 34 three-pointers this season, has found a focus in conference play. After going 0-8 in Boise State's first two Mountain West games, Bayes is 16-35 in the last seven.
Depth is a valuable asset with this Boise State squad. I like to consider this team an "old young" one with so many juniors and sophomores contributing. All have been building minutes since they were freshman, even the three seniors, and hopefully the experience will serve the Broncos well to close out the regular season.
Mountain West Conference
Fourth place is a decent spot for the Broncos, though there is a jumble in the four through seven spots. San Diego State and Nevada are also 5-4, with Colorado State sitting at 4-5. The Broncos only face the Rams once, in the final game of the regular season.
UNLV is 8-1 to lead the way, followed by New Mexico and Wyoming, both of who are 7-2. UNLV will get a shot to avenge their only conference loss when they face New Mexico this upcoming weekend.
The Broncos get a chance to recoup, with their next game not until 2/7. Boise State hosts San Jose State, who they defeated by four. Then, it's a home meeting with Wyoming on 2/10. The Broncos lost to the Cowgirls by 14 at the start of conference play.
San Jose State hosts Air Force before traveling to Boise, while Wyoming hosts Nevada and Utah State.
A regular season title might be a little bit of a stretch for Boise State this season but not out of the question. Steadying the offense, with less turnovers and better shooting, will keep the Broncos in the hunt. More so, success will keep the Broncos in the top-five in the league. And this means a first-round in the conference tournament, where we all know in March, anything can happen.
photo credit: Jason Haskins
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