FanPost

WBB: UVA 11 of 15 from the Arc-Wins 71-63

Another game in which a State basketball team leads for the majority of the game, sometimes by 8 in the second half, and in the end loses. UVA took the lead with about three minutes left and went on for the win.

With State's remaining schedule, winning six conference games for this team will be difficult. State is 3 and 5 in conference and 12 and 9 overall.

UVA dominated the stats shooting 47% from the field (23 of 49), 82% from the line (14 of 17), 73% from the arc (11 of 15) and totaled 37 rebounds (5 offensive).

What kept State in the game was UVA's 16 turnovers. State only had 10. State shot 40% from the field (26 of 65), 71% from the line (5 of 7), 24% from the arc (6 of 25) and totaled 30 rebounds (8 offensive).

For State, Carlee Schuhmacher had 13 points on 6 of 16 from the field while Jennifer Mathurin had 14 points on 5 of 12 from the field (4 of 10 from the arc). Domnique Wilson had 18 points on 7 of 15 from the field. Miah Spencer again totaled only 4 points on 2 of 8 from the field.

For UVA Mikayla Venson had 22 points on 7 of 8 from the field and 6 of 6 from the arc.

State had their chance, with the team playing well for much of the game. However, with the game on the line, the team no longer could make a basket.

State's problem: Last year when State played their four out/one in offense, a part of that offense was to throw the ball over the defense to six-five Markeisha Gatling who many times caught it over her shoulder and made a bank shot. With six-one Carlee Schuhmacher and six-one Chelsea Nelson playing center, that type of offense is not available. In the ACC many of the centers are six-three or more, making it impossible to lob the ball over the defense into six-one centers. As such, State uses some high post picks and slashing to the basket to try and give the number four and five players at the basket bank shots.

Schuhmacher does have a reliable mid-range shot and against Virginia made a number of those. Shots under the basket are less reliable even when Schuhmacher rolls across the lane to attempt a left hand bank shot. Nelson also has added a mid-range shot. If State had a taller accomplished center, Schuhmacher might be better at the four position where the defenders are not as tall and she could use that mid-range shot more effectively. At center late in games, taller defenders work harder taking away the effectiveness of Schuhmacher's mid-range shot and strongly contesting any bank shot. Schuhmacher was 4 of 7 in the first half, but ended up shooting 6 for 16 for the game.

State needs a legit center. I have written before that Schuhmacher is talented, but at six-one playing center in the ACC where the centers are taller remains difficult.