2022 - 2023 Schedule/Season

bullwinkle wrote:Alex is just an amazing player.   She's not as tall as most of her opponents. She is certainly not as big and hefty.  Nowadays, she gets double and triple teamed to prevent her from getting the ball or stop her from scoring if she does get it.  She gets pushed, shoved, slapped, and roughed up trying to score or rebound. And yet, she finds a way to perform every game.  She deserves every accolade she gets.  We'd be incredibly fortunate to have her back for another year.

I differ with the characterization of Alex somewhat. Yes she is most of what is claimed, most particularly "an amazing player." But declaring  that "[s]he certainly is not big . . ."  misses perhaps Alex's most noticeable attribute. Have you looked at the shoulders on that young lady; they are wide and well muscled, big. A linebacker's shoulders. She is big where it counts. She is not "hefty" but strong as can be without being hefty.

Sandberg wrote of Chicago that it was the "City of Big Shoulders," "stormy, husky, brawling." Alex's play on the court is reminiscent of some of Sandberg's words. And, like Chicago, she is in essence the center of commerce of the Pilots, both offensively and defensively.

Regardless, we would indeed be fortunate to have Alex back next year.

Can't believe I wrote this but there you have it.

A couple of notes, Lucy Cochrane did not sit on the bench at Pacific as far as I could tell. I am assuming she was not in Stockton. Is it possible that Lucy has suffered a set back? Or not? We will find out on Thursday if not before. I hope Lucy is suited up and plays Thursday.

There was mention above that Burnham and Shearer had found their stride as players. I would note that Frawley and Meek have played quite well of late too. Last year we had Rose Plug to pick up after Haylee went down: this year it will need to be more of a collective effort, and so far it has been.

bullwinkle wrote:Alex is just an amazing player.   She's not as tall as most of her opponents. She is certainly not as big and hefty.  Nowadays, she gets double and triple teamed to prevent her from getting the ball or stop her from scoring if she does get it.  She gets pushed, shoved, slapped, and roughed up trying to score or rebound. And yet, she finds a way to perform every game.  She deserves every accolade she gets.  We'd be incredibly fortunate to have her back for another year.

Implied in the comment above is that Alex has outsized hand eye(and hand foot given the number of pivots and moves in the paint) coordination, good basketball instincts and notable determination and grit, competitiveness, to succeed as she does. I agree.

Watching her score last night was enjoyable, and included a display of virtually every way a player can score.

Welcome back Lucy

The three point shot has become quite the weapon for the Pilots.

Go Pilots.

The  San Francisco announcer who said he had been announcing USF games for 30 years or so, indicated sometime in OT, that Alex Fowler, in his view, was "one of" the best players to come through the conference during those 30 years. He also described her, as we know, as adept at many facets of the game. Nice compiment.

Had to listen again to get that right.

He also interjected that he had never seen a team go on an 18-0 run, as did the Pilots, to overcome a deficit, so late in a game.

Mckelle Meek has picked up her play. She is an asset to the team.

Emme Shearer's 3 point shooting was important to the Pilots in the 4th quarter and in overtime, as was her defence.

Alex Fowler also aided Pilot efforts last night.

Tess Heal is a handful and is without doubt a rising star in this conference. It will be a tall order for the Pilots to keep her in check on Saturday.

Well shootfire ladies. Nice win over a skilled opponent fresh off their win over the Zags, as indicated.

Impressive. Nice to see Lucy starting again and detering shots in the middle. Really nice game Kaitu'u.

To crow a little: we're pretty good. 12-1 in conference.

Is Fowler the odds on favorite to win conference player of the year? 26 points today.

You would think that Coach Meek is a serious candidate for COY.

Go  Pilots.