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| The two teams gather at center court before the game. (Bob Drebin/isiphotos.com) |
One of the biggest enticements luring young athletes to Stanford is the promise of a world-class academic education.
Stanford’s women’s basketball players got a different sort of world-class education when they hosted Team USA on Nov. 2 and lost 95-80.
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| Nneka shoots over Cardinal defenders. (Stanford Athletics) |
They were schooled in particular by one of the best players ever to wear a Stanford WBB uniform -- Nneka Ogwumike, ’12. She had game-highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds in just over 27 minutes as she upped her Maples win-loss record to 65-0.
Team USA features some of the nation’s best professional players vying to play in next summer’s Olympics. Nneka was joined in the starting lineup by Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, captain Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, who talked to some Stanford players on the court after the game.
Also with the 10-member squad that afternoon were A’ja Wilson, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Layshia Clarendon, Napheesa Collier and Allisha Gray. Other big names will join them later.
Susan King Borchardt, ’05, who was SWBB strength and conditioning coach for two years, is serving in the same capacity for Team USA and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.
Exhibitions to prepare Team USA for Olympics
Team USA is preparing for the Olympics by playing exhibition games against some of the country’s best college teams, including Stanford. Next up are Oregon State on Nov. 4, Texas A&M on Nov. 7 and Oregon on Nov. 9.
More college games are planned for early next year with the schedule to be announced later.
Stanford’s starters were freshman forward Fran Belibi, junior forward Alyssa Jerome, sophomore guard Lexie Hull, senior guard DiJonai Carrington and junior guard Kiana Williams.
By game’s end, all 13 available players had a chance to see what it’s like to go against the pros. Junior forward Maya Dodson and senior guard Mikaela Brewer are recovering from injuries and didn’t play.
DiJonai and Kiana led Stanford’s scoring with 17 points each. Lexie also was in double figures with 11.
Kiana makes five 3-pointers
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| Kiana attempts a layup. (John Hefti / Associated Press) |
Kiana’s five 3-pointers played a big role in her score. Also scoring from long range were Lexie, DiJonai, sophomore guard Lacie Hull, freshman guard Haley Jones and freshman guard Hannah Jump, all with one each.
Stanford fans had much to cheer for, especially when the Cardinal came out strong and led 20-15 at the end of the first quarter. USA led by only 7 points, 37-44, at the half. Stanford outscored USA 25-24 in the third quarter, ending down by only 6, 68-62, but USA surged ahead to win by 15.
This group of Team USA players had had only one practice before the game. It was the previous day at Stanford with Briana Roberson, ’17, among others facing them on the scrimmage team. Bri works in the IP and litigation departments at Fenwick&West LLP.
Excitement filled the air even before the game began with a long line of people buying Team USA gear at Roscoe’s Corner.
The crowd of 4,119 included the band, Tree, cheerleaders and Dollies as well as a large contingent in the student section. Also on hand was head coach Tara VanDerveer’s mother, Rita.
Loud cheers for players on both teams
Loud cheers erupted as each member of Team USA was introduced, with the loudest saved for last, when Nneka was introduced to a standing ovation. If possible, the cheers were even louder for Stanford.
Senior forward Nadia Fingall and Alyssa served as team captains. When she was playing, Alyssa wore a protective face mask. She reportedly suffered a broken nose while playing for Canada at the Pan American games in Lima, Peru, during the summer.
The teams then exchanged gifts, presumably T-shirts, before the Stanford Mendicants, nine men in red jackets, sang the national anthem.
Some of the other alumnae at the game included Chiney Ogwumike, ’14, who was introduced during the half.
Nneka goes to Stanford bench before leaving game
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| Nneka, followed by Sue Bird, hugs DiJonai after the game. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) |
When Nneka left the game with just over a minute left, she again was loudly cheered. But instead of heading to the Team USA bench, she went over to the Stanford bench, where she hugged the coaches and high-fived each player.
Afterward, she was interviewed by the Pac-12 Network’s Mary Murphy and said, “It’s great to be back here.” She also complimented the Stanford players: “This team looks amazing.”
She and Chiney then headed for the Stanford locker room, presumably to address the team.
The games count for real starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 when Stanford hosts Eastern Washington.
