BOISE – The Boise State women’s basketball team came in encouraged and optimistic this season despite an 8-21 campaign – the worst in longtime coach Gordy Presnell’s tenure.
But the Broncos found themselves in almost the exact same situation as they did at this time last season following a 71-48 loss to Colorado at ExtraMile.
The Broncos have lost four in a row and five of the past six to drop to 3-6 on the season. Last year around this time they were 1-5 and also losers of four straight.
“It’s a little bit of deja vu,” said Abby Muse who recorded her 100th career block and added six points. “But also, we have been in this spot before and we know that we don’t like it. So I think we’re working really hard to turn it around at the same time.”
Last year’s struggles were to be expected. Boise State lost several players to graduation and the transfer portal the year before. But this season, the Broncos brought nearly everyone back and welcomed a talented freshman class, who coming into Sunday’s game accounted for more than 39% of their scoring.
Yet, with nearly a third of the season already gone by, the hardships have continued. It hasn’t helped that freshman guard Tatum Thompson – Miss Washington State Basketball – hasn’t played this season due to a broken foot. Presnell admitted after the game that he’s still not quite sure what to do with her.
“Do you play someone only 18 games and they lose their year?,” Presnell said. “But we got to build around those guys. They’re the future of our program. … This is the group that we’re gonna go with, and we just have to find a way to get better.”
Especially when it comes to shooting and turnovers.
During this four-game slide, Boise State hasn’t shot better than 36% and has turned the ball over a total of 72 times. Those issues were on display in the second quarter Sunday.
After freshman guard Mya Hansen, who tallied a team-high 11 points including going 3-of-4 from behind the arc, drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit down to six at 24-18 a little more than two minutes into the second quarter, the Broncos came undone.
They went scoreless for the next six minutes and 38 seconds and didn’t have a field goal until senior forward Mandy Simpson’s layin with just 33 seconds remaining in the half. Boise State went 0-9 during that stretch and committed six turnovers. It all allowed the Buffalos (7-2) to go on a 20-0 run that essentially put the game away with a 44-21 lead at the break.
The Broncos shot 34.5%, including just 27.3% from 3-point range, and had 18 turnovers for the game.
“Those are definitely the emphasis,” Muse said. “We also just talk about the little things because the little things add up to big things such as 50/50 balls and free throws. That all builds momentum into those big things, which is something that we talk about a lot and we really stress.”
This is now the third season in a row the Broncos have endured a four-game losing streak. It was something they went four full seasons without in the midst of a run that included four straight Mountain West Conference Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.
“It’s a little tough, but I also think we’ve just been in it and we’re just gonna continue to fight because sometimes you can’t control those things,” said junior guard Mary Kay Naro, who scored nine points. “You just gotta keep fighting. I think that’s what the big mantra to the team is. Because if we don’t, it’s gonna stay the same. So we gotta make some changes, and hopefully, it’ll get better from there.”
Presnell stressed those changes included having more of a post presence, freshmen needing to grow up fast and showing more consistency with both skill work and effort.
Boise State will look to implement those over a crucial four-game stretch before Mountain West play starts up at the end of the month against San Diego State at home on Dec. 29. It will host St. Mary’s (Dec. 10) and Evergreen State (Dec. 12) before going on the road against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Dec. 19) and Texas A&M Commerce (Dec. 20). Those teams are a combined 13-14.
After the four-game skid last year, the Broncos only managed to win back-to-back games twice the rest of the way and lost their last seven. They’ll look to have a much different response this time around.
“It’s a huge stretch,” Muse said. “It’s definitely a momentum builder going into Christmas, going into conference. I think they’re definitely winnable games. So we just need to keep grinding it out like we have been and it’s going to come to fruition for sure.”
Muse picked up her 100th career block with a swat in the third. She thought she had recorded that on Thursday against BYU. But the play was reviewed after the game and deemed to be an air ball instead. The achievement also came a week to the day after Muse surpassed 500 career points.
“That’s a big milestone for her. She deserves it,” Naro said. “She does a really great job and works hard and it’s good to see it pay off.”
The Broncos are hoping for more positive milestones moving forward. Wins would be a nice start.
“It’s a little bit of deja vu,” said Abby Muse who recorded her 100th career block and added six points. “But also, we have been in this spot before and we know that we don’t like it. So I think we’re working really hard to turn it around at the same time.”
Last year’s struggles were to be expected. Boise State lost several players to graduation and the transfer portal the year before. But this season, the Broncos brought nearly everyone back and welcomed a talented freshman class, who coming into Sunday’s game accounted for more than 39% of their scoring.
Yet, with nearly a third of the season already gone by, the hardships have continued. It hasn’t helped that freshman guard Tatum Thompson – Miss Washington State Basketball – hasn’t played this season due to a broken foot. Presnell admitted after the game that he’s still not quite sure what to do with her.
“Do you play someone only 18 games and they lose their year?,” Presnell said. “But we got to build around those guys. They’re the future of our program. … This is the group that we’re gonna go with, and we just have to find a way to get better.”
Especially when it comes to shooting and turnovers.
During this four-game slide, Boise State hasn’t shot better than 36% and has turned the ball over a total of 72 times. Those issues were on display in the second quarter Sunday.
After freshman guard Mya Hansen, who tallied a team-high 11 points including going 3-of-4 from behind the arc, drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit down to six at 24-18 a little more than two minutes into the second quarter, the Broncos came undone.
They went scoreless for the next six minutes and 38 seconds and didn’t have a field goal until senior forward Mandy Simpson’s layin with just 33 seconds remaining in the half. Boise State went 0-9 during that stretch and committed six turnovers. It all allowed the Buffalos (7-2) to go on a 20-0 run that essentially put the game away with a 44-21 lead at the break.
The Broncos shot 34.5%, including just 27.3% from 3-point range, and had 18 turnovers for the game.
“Those are definitely the emphasis,” Muse said. “We also just talk about the little things because the little things add up to big things such as 50/50 balls and free throws. That all builds momentum into those big things, which is something that we talk about a lot and we really stress.”
This is now the third season in a row the Broncos have endured a four-game losing streak. It was something they went four full seasons without in the midst of a run that included four straight Mountain West Conference Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.
“It’s a little tough, but I also think we’ve just been in it and we’re just gonna continue to fight because sometimes you can’t control those things,” said junior guard Mary Kay Naro, who scored nine points. “You just gotta keep fighting. I think that’s what the big mantra to the team is. Because if we don’t, it’s gonna stay the same. So we gotta make some changes, and hopefully, it’ll get better from there.”
Presnell stressed those changes included having more of a post presence, freshmen needing to grow up fast and showing more consistency with both skill work and effort.
Boise State will look to implement those over a crucial four-game stretch before Mountain West play starts up at the end of the month against San Diego State at home on Dec. 29. It will host St. Mary’s (Dec. 10) and Evergreen State (Dec. 12) before going on the road against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Dec. 19) and Texas A&M Commerce (Dec. 20). Those teams are a combined 13-14.
After the four-game skid last year, the Broncos only managed to win back-to-back games twice the rest of the way and lost their last seven. They’ll look to have a much different response this time around.
“It’s a huge stretch,” Muse said. “It’s definitely a momentum builder going into Christmas, going into conference. I think they’re definitely winnable games. So we just need to keep grinding it out like we have been and it’s going to come to fruition for sure.”
Muse picked up her 100th career block with a swat in the third. She thought she had recorded that on Thursday against BYU. But the play was reviewed after the game and deemed to be an air ball instead. The achievement also came a week to the day after Muse surpassed 500 career points.
“That’s a big milestone for her. She deserves it,” Naro said. “She does a really great job and works hard and it’s good to see it pay off.”
The Broncos are hoping for more positive milestones moving forward. Wins would be a nice start.
