Given the shifting nature of the game's lineups, I'm not going to bother doing a play-by-play breakdown. Instead, I'll talk a bit about the game in general and McCallie's comments.

McCallie noted that she was pretty exhausted after the event, after hosting Game Day the previous day. However, she said it was well worth it, loving the "game-day atmosphere" and appreciating the support from the crowd. She wanted to push the team in this scrimmage and give the players substantial minutes. She was especially impressed with Chante Black's intensity, given that she played all 40 minutes. McCallie also praised veterans Abby Waner, Wanisha Smith and Carrem Gay for their intensity. In speaking of the Gay vs Joy Cheek battle for the starting forward slot, McCallie noted that this game would go a long way in sorting out that battle. Rebounding will be one of the key criteria for McCallie, both because of its importance in her schemes and because it's a tangible, objective measure of effectiveness. In this game, the fact that Gay had 14 rebounds and Cheek 5 pointed to Gay's aggressiveness and toughness. McCallie did note that any of the four posts could be starters on any given day, and that the competition only makes the team better.

There were no easy baskets surrendered in this game, right from the very start when Krystal Thomas blocked three shots in the first four minutes of the game. The team looked a bit tight from the perimeter, with several airballs and decent-looking shots that just rimmed out. To start the third quarter, the team went into a matchup zone and promptly nailed a bunch of threes in the corners. The matchup's one weakness is that it always allows open looks from the corner, so it's no surprise that McCallie was able to teach her team how to attack the defense. Still, if it's going to be effective during the season, the players will have to be able to rotate over a bit more crisply.

McCallie noted that while the first blue team configuration had four players who will be likely starters (Black, Gay, Smith, A.Waner), it didn't mean that this was a lineup locked in stone (since E.Waner was the fifth starter for that group). That group also had Karima Christmas on their team coming off the bench, and they went up against K.Thomas, J.Thomas, Cheek, Mitchell, Mitch and Jackson. In the second quarter, K.Thomas teamed up with Gay and Black with Cheek, and Krystal went wild without Gay there to help Black in the post. After the team started 1-14 from the three point line, they heated up in the third quarter. Part of that was the aforementioned matchup zone, but it was also a matter of players hitting open shots and getting in rhythm.

The big question mark coming into the season is point guard, and that certainly played out as expected in this game. Wanisha Smith and Abby Waner both handled the ball a little, but didn't really play point. Jasmine Thomas, Emily Waner and Brittany Mitch all saw extensive minutes running the team. Looking at stats, Thomas had 6 assists and 5 turnovers, Mitch 2 assists and 5 turnovers, and Waner 5 assists and 4 turnovers. Waner was 2-8 from the field, Thomas 4-11 and Mitch 2-7. There's no obvious choice based on these stats, but Thomas had the most assists and it was clear that she made plays that no one else could. We'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks of practice, but she's the odds-on favorite to get the starting job.

After the game, McCallie and the seniors addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support and encouraging them to keep coming to the games. Then came an autograph session for the new team posters, where many familiar faces were seen. All told, it's clear that the team is intense and focused, but is still searching for an identity. McCallie has emphasized that she expects leadership to come from every player, but that hasn't quite played out yet. Still, the team is missing a figure like Lindsey Harding who is both simultaneously stern and caring, and is willing to take a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. I expect as roles are determined, leadership will sort itself out.