Swish Appeal: All Posts by Sydney WebbBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2017-03-19T00:44:41-04:00https://www.swishappeal.com/authors/sydney-webb/rss2017-03-19T00:44:41-04:002017-03-19T00:44:41-04:00Texas A&M’s amazing rally stuns Penn
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<img alt="NCAA Womens Basketball: Texas A&amp;M at Tennessee" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0evREj0MkYLeBh5Qd5_Etmv6QYU=/0x0:2441x1627/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53766345/usa_today_9874152.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Saul Young-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>Penn jumped on Texas A&M early in the game to create a huge lead as they attempted to pull off an upset. With plenty of time on the clock, the Aggies slowly but surely chipped away at the lead. By the end of the game, Texas A&M had staged the biggest comeback win in tournament history.</em></p> <p id="Co0eFh"><strong>Los Angeles, CA —</strong> After an intense battle between UCLA and Boise State in Game 1 of the day, Texas A&M and Penn took their positions in the combat zone, muscles tensed with excitement and hearts beating with intention. </p>
<p id="CcGB3X">The game was off to a thrilling start, with both teams firing at the hole relentlessly. Aggie star Taylor Cooper had the first successful shot, with Anriel Howard following her lead with another made shot.</p>
<p id="McZI6T">Penn was adamant to get the points back immediately. Sydney Stipanovich became an apparent superstar within the first few minutes of the opening quarter alone, with quick hands and even quicker feet --this whirling-dervish was hard to stop. </p>
<p id="TcLsi9">Texas A & M took control of the ball after a Quaker possession to kick off the game, but they were not able to completely dominate between the paint with the relentless attack from forward Kendall Grasela, covering the court on defensive ends, and taking the ball back to the hoop to add to the scoreboard. </p>
<p id="AZbRFC">With the first quarter ending with a 21-11 score with Penn in the lead, the ferocity of the game was set on full volume --and the court was their sound system. </p>
<p id="fdE9ee">At the beginning of the second period, the heart and desire of every player on and off the court was oozing and diffusing throughout the Pavilion. Each player wanted it. Each team wanted it. Each fan wanted it. With shots from Penn’s Anna Ross exciting the crowd, the Quakers clearly had their eye on the prize: upsetting the Aggies. </p>
<p id="32f8Pd">As the game drew closer to the half, the stakes of the game were obvious in the tone of Coach Gary Blair’s voice. Despite his encouraging words and game plan, Texas A & M failed to execute his game plan, allowing the Quakers nine more points within three minutes. </p>
<p id="4JNtjw">After the field goal lead of a rude awakening seemed to jolt the Aggies back to life, they slowly added to the scoreboard too, with Jasmine Lumpkin scoring a shock-clock buzzer-beater two-pointer, and Curtyce Knox following her teammate’s lead with a beautiful three. </p>
<p id="CA6Qkg">At the half, the team that would be cheering victory seemed to be a complete mystery with the score 36 to 24, Penn in the lead. It was anyone’s game, and the enthusiasm from both sides proved this one would be a nail-biter.</p>
<p id="hkeqn0">Penn's hot-shot Beth Brzozowski opened the third with a beautiful play for a stunning shot and immediate rebound after gaining possession from the Aggies. This put the fans in the stands over the moon with their growing lead and raising the blood pressure of the individuals dressed in maroon and white. </p>
<p id="RAWan4">Michelle Nwokedi also added to the 44-30 lead with an assist from Stipanovich, who was no stranger to scoring throughout the game, either. </p>
<p id="s7VlD6">When the whistle blew at the start of the fourth, the teams looked like the game had just begun. They say every thing is bigger in Texas, and even though they had some points to make up, the spirit of the team was no exception. The fight for possession was strong, but Penn dominated the ball. </p>
<p id="OhLLwr">Stipanovich was hungry yet again, and made her way to the hoop for Penn, pushing her team further in the lead. Junior Aggie Khaalia Hillsman, started to get things going as she knocked down two of her own shots as Texas A & M cut into the Quakers' lead. </p>
<p id="Znfvb4">In the last minute and a half of the game, the battle that had seemed to favor Penn was now right back to being anyone’s victory. With only four points between Texas A& M and the Quakers, the 59-55 scoreboard had the entire arena at the edge of their seat as Penn clung to its small lead. </p>
<p id="ptaLkR">After a foul called against Penn, possession was given back to Texas A&M, and almost as in slow motion, Danni Williams threw the ball towards the backboard, and with a “swish” of satisfaction, the Aggies could taste the win with their comeback cut to 59-58. </p>
<p id="MsNRty">The next possession, Williams hit Hillsman, and another two was through the hoop. The game that had looked like it was Penn’s win for more than two-thirds of the playing time was their win no longer. </p>
<p id="xocbCA">With two free throws made by Cooper, Texas A & M was in the lead --and it’s the only time it mattered. The tug of war was finally over, with a final score of 63-61, making Texas A & M the proud winner of this incredible battle. </p>
<p id="ciHhSI">The Aggies came back from being down by as many as 21-points to mark the biggest comeback in the NCAA Tournament. Texas A & M will advance to play UCLA on Monday. </p>
<p id="BVK6jD"> </p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/ncaa/2017/3/19/14965918/ncaaw-tournament-2017-texas-a-m-largest-comeback-history-pennSydney Webb2017-03-18T22:39:13-04:002017-03-18T22:39:13-04:00Happy to assist the Bruins
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<img alt="NCAA Womens Basketball: UCLA at Baylor" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vJSbkocK54PFtCM8riiaNzaGPpA=/0x771:2230x2258/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53764575/usa_today_9683256.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>Behind the play of Jordin Canada and Monique Billings, the UCLA Bruins were able to blow past Boise State. The Broncos matched the Bruins in the third but ultimately couldn't overcome its first half deficit. </em></p> <p id="Ku7CLz"><strong>Los Angles, CA —</strong> As the anxious fans, players, and coaches entered Pauley Pavilion on the beautiful UCLA campus, the energy and anticipation for the game seemed to be as high as these incredible athlete’s stature. Going into day two of the NCAA Tournament with a fairly even matchup between the UCLA Bruins (23-8 ) and Boise State (25-7), these teams each proved throughout the regular season that they each equally deserved to be exactly where they were --competing with the best of the best. </p>
<p id="z8M5dp">The royal blue/orange and gold/light blue combinations drenched the stands, and with the sound of the first whistle, it was show time.</p>
<p id="FnBdC2">And show time it was. </p>
<p id="7uGviu">Within the first three minutes of the game, UCLA star Monique Billings scored the first bucket, hungry to start the game off with digits on the scoreboard. Teammate Lajahna Drummer added to the UCLA tally immediately, leaving no room for Boise State to attack. As Billings would say post-game, “You can’t overlook anyone in March--these games--they really are madness.” </p>
<p id="PKkFYc">After racking up the first 15 points in the game with a zero on the scoreboard for the Broncos, this seasonal state came out of<em> winter </em>and officially <em>sprang</em> into action with an aggressive comeback led by Marta Hermida. With the loud squeaks and shrieks of rubber soles on the floor as confirmation of the team’s steady hustle. </p>
<p id="oqE97e">Despite the small comeback, the court became UCLA’s playground during the first quarter, and this game seemed like it was in favor of the Bruins with a first quarter finish of 20-12, but was still a true tug-of-war between these two warrior-filled teams. </p>
<p id="riw3ER">As the second period began to commence, UCLA continued to take the lead, with Billings and Kari Korver leading their team with their beautiful baskets. Marijke Vanderschaaf and Brooke Pahukoa of Boise State did not let these points tally without a challenge, pushing the Bruins to their limits and making them work --but UCLA was ready for the push-back. </p>
<p id="QmkRO6">By intermission, the Bruins were up 44-27.</p>
<p id="QbR3TT">At the start of the second half, with 15 seconds into the game, UCLA started off strong once again and powerful with the first chance to the basket. The fans and the player’s energy seemed to unite as one as the cheers and jeers of “U-C-L-A Fight-Fight-Fight” were chanted back, from the court to the bleachers. </p>
<p id="bJRRsW">After consecutive turnovers from Boise State’s bad case of butterfingers, the Bruins picked up another bucket and a three-pointer immediately from Jordin Canada and Korver. Canada would later credit her game success to her incredible teammates during the press conference.</p>
<p id="DoYTga">“They make me the player I am, they’ve pushed me past my limits--and I couldn’t appreciate them more for that.”</p>
<p id="d3JKoV">After a time-out called by UCLA, the team was even more energized, only allowing sporadic opportunities for the Broncos, with Pahukoa taking the initiative to score two field goals for her team. With a third quarter finish of 64-47, it was an uphill battle for Boise State to try and come back to pull off the upset-win. </p>
<p id="nqsSZU">Time seemed as if it was standing still at moments where the teams looked like they were moving at the speed of light --down to one end of the court and back again. </p>
<p id="Q4klxo">Once again, Billings scored the first points of the period. While her point total was high, racking up 19 on the night (7-10, 5-for12- from the freethrow line) her foul count was high as well. Immediately following scoring, she picked up her fourth personal foul which sent her to the bench. Boise State continued to wrangle on the court in hopes to cut their deficit as Billings headed to the sidelines. However, Kennedy Burke and Paulina Hersler stepped up in her absence to defend the paint for the Bruins. </p>
<p id="iPaTZn">With a final score of 83-56, the Bruins walked away as the victors. </p>
<p id="H6w7zw">As Coach Cori Close said post-game, it wasn’t just skill that brought UCLA the victory, but she credited her win to the mindset of the team. “We’ve stressed it from the beginning,” she said, “the key for us was falling in love with the process of preparation, and falling in love with making a play for someone else.” </p>
<p id="H2Iv8D">Looks like this key worked like a charm. The UCLA Bruins will advance to play again Monday against the winner of Texas A & M and Pennsylvania</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/ncaa/2017/3/18/14965908/ncaaw-tournament-2017-ucla-smash-boise-stateSydney Webb