The Hive and Lunar Owls both came into their matchup desperate for a win. Both teams had lost five games coming into the contest. The Hive ended up securing a close 74-71 victory.
The difference between the two teams was obvious. Hive head coach Rena Wakama could trust her reserves to play big minutes and contribute on both ends of the floor, while DJ Sackmann had to rely on Aaliyah Edwards, Marina Mabrey, and Skylar Diggins to play most of the game.
After the game, Sackmann said that his team’s fatigue played a big role in the Hive’s game-changing stretch late in the third quarter.
“I think we got really tired, and I didn’t do a good enough job of rotating different bodies in,” Sackmann said in the postgame media availability. “So, that’s on me, for sure. Got tired. Didn’t get stops when we needed to. They made a couple of threes.”
The thing here is, how can Sackmann take his best players out in a close game if the rest of the team hasn’t proven that it can contribute in moments like this?
The Lunar Owls’ role players have struggled so far this season
Rebecca Allen, Rachel Banham, and Temi Fágbénlé round out the Lunar Owls’ roster around Diggins, Mabrey, and Edwards. None of them has looked truly comfortable yet.
Allen had to step into the starting lineup for Diggins, who missed the first three games of the season and played with a minutes restriction after her return, but has struggled to contribute consistently. Her two best games were against the Mist and Vinyl when she scored nine and ten points, respectively. She scored only 14 points over her other five games, but has been solid on the boards and as a defender.
Fágbénlé joined the Lunar Owls in the wake of Napheesa Collier’s injury and had two solid games to start the season. She recorded 4 points and 9 rebounds against the Rose and 8 points and 7 rebounds against the Phantom. Otherwise, she has been very quiet.
Banham is known as a 3-point threat in the WNBA and is also shooting the three well in Unrivaled, converting 43.8% of her attempts. The problem is that she hasn’t provided much else yet.
Sackmann didn’t play the trio much against the Hive. Allen played eight minutes, in which she recorded 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. She didn’t attempt a single shot. Fágbénlé played five minutes and finished with 2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Banham only played just under three minutes. She hit a 3-pointer and grabbed a rebound.
The Lunar Owls’ depth paled in comparison to the Hive’s bench production and will continue to be an issue for the rest of the season.
Hive’s reserves played a strong game
With Saniya Rivers sidelined, the Hive’s bench was short-handed. Monique Billings and Natisha Hiedeman more than made up for that. They combined to score 36 points. Hiedeman went 4-7 from three on her way to a season-high 20 points. Billings was a strong presence in the paint, scoring 16 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
Both closed the game after Wakama opted to play Billings over starter Ezi Magbegor and Sonia Citron said in a huddle that she wanted Hiedeman to close out the game because she had put them in the position to win in the first place.
Having a reliable bench and the option to throw different looks at opponents is often the difference between winning and losing. The Hive had that. Meanwhile, the Lunar Owls’ depth is still questionable.