Cheering from afar

    

    Lexie takes a jump shot in front of the socially distanced bench. (Stanford Athletics)

All 12 available players got in on the fun Nov. 25 as the No. 2-ranked Stanford women’s basketball team romped over its guests, Cal Poly, 108-40, to open what is probably the strangest season ever.

Former stars are among the cutouts. (Stanford Athletics)

Although there were some cutouts of people, including former players, no fans were in the stands at Maples Pavilion to take in the excitement and cheer for the team. Instead, we fans clustered in front of video screens at home --- and cheered.

And, wow, was there a lot to cheer.

Double figures from five players

Five players were in double figures: Junior guard Lexie Hull with 19 points; freshman forward Cameron Brink with 17; sophomore guard Haley Jones, looking sharp after missing much of last season with an injury, with 16, plus 10 rebounds for a double-double; sophomore guard Hannah Jump with 15; and senior guard Kiana Williams with 13.

Haley returned to action and
  had a double-double. (Tony Avelar/AP)

Six players had 3-pointers: Lexie with four; Kiana and Hannah with three each;  freshman guard Jana Van Gytenbeek with two; and freshman guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu and sophomore forward Ashten Prechtel with one each for total of  14.

The starting lineup featured Kiana, Lexie, Haley, fifth-year guard Anna Wilson and sophomore forward Fran Belibi. No one played more than 26 minutes (Kiana).

Rebounding was impressive, 48 for Stanford, 34 for Cal Poly.  Perhaps the only weak point was the free-throw shooting, 18 of 31.

Freshmen make impressive debut

One of the big takeaways from this game was the polished play by the freshmen, Cameron, Jana and Agnes. Together they scored 34, slightly less than a third of the team’s total. They had 16, or a third,  of the rebounds. Like their teammates, they passed and ran the floor well.                                                                                                    

The sophomores showed big improvement from last season.

As an indication of the team’s depth, the bench had 56 points, more than half of the total.

Besides the empty stands, there were other changes. The team huddled in a socially distanced circle.

Masks and social distancing everywhere

Everyone on the bench, including the coaches and staff, wore a mask. The bench was actually socially distanced folding chairs.

The referees were masked. When the game was over, the two teams passed each other without touching.

There was some piped-in crowd noise, though not much, along with a recording of the band playing “All Right Now” at the end.

Tara with her megaphone. (Tony Avelar/AP)

  Head coach Tara VanDerveer shouted out her   instructions using a small megaphone. 

  Associate  head coach Kate Paye was not with the   team but sat in the balcony. In the post-game   press   conference, Tara said that Kate’s latest COVID test   results had been lost.

 All of this was necessitated by the coronavirus   pandemic that has sickened millions and killed   hundreds of thousands just in the United States, let alone the rest of the world.

Players won’t go home for holidays

Most of the few students who were on campus left after the end of fall quarter and won’t return until the winter quarter starts Jan. 11.

Kate sits in the balcony next to cardboard cutouts. (Tony Avelar/AP)

However, SWBB players won’t go home for the holiday break, Kate said in an email before the game. They’re remaining in Mirrielees House, which has apartment-style rooms with full kitchens and bathrooms.

As for Thanksgiving, it was to feature a practice followed by take-home Thanksgiving meal packages. “Lots of sacrifices,” Kate said in her email.

The home game against Pacific on Nov. 29 was canceled because a Pacific player had a positive test. Stanford Athletics said it’s looking for a replacement.

The Washington teams are scheduled to visit the following weekend, Dec. 4 and 6, times TBD.

  

Virtual tipoff with caution, enthusiasm

Ashten drives toward the basket, defended by Fran in a practice.

Yet another change wrought by the coronavirus pandemic manifested itself in a virtual season tipoff rather than an open practice Nov. 14.

During an hour introduced by radio announcer Kevin Danna, the coaches and players appeared via Zoom as they talked about the season and its challenges.

Kevin introduced head coach Tara VanDerveer, noting her many accomplishments in 35 years at Stanford. Among them are 1,094 wins, just four shy of the record set by the late Pat Summitt at Tennessee.

With an empty Maples Pavilion as her backdrop, Tara noted that the team had just completed a practice that she termed “very exciting.” “This team, our coaches are winners.”

Coaches, staff introduced

She introduced those coaches, starting with associate head coach Kate Paye, who has been with the team for 14 years.

Kate named the three things she’s noticed about the team. First was improvement. Players are in better shape and they’re shooting better.

Second was “how well everyone is supporting each other.”

Third, she said the players are appreciative and grateful to be back in the gym. (As Tara noted later, COVID restrictions had required practices and workouts to be outside.)

Introducing new assistant coach Katy Steding, Tara said she was the first recruit she signed at Stanford, and she was on the 1990 national championship team her senior year.

Changes Katy noted since returning to the Farm included “how massive the campus seems.” She’s impressed by the players and said to Tara, “You still keep them really well oiled.”

The other new assistant coach is Britney Anderson, who received “incredible rave reviews,” Tara said.  Britney said, “I’m enjoying being around these incredible women” as well as the campus and weather.

Tara named the rest of the staff, including Eileen Roche, director of basketball operations, and thanked her “for all her hard work” in assembling a schedule.

Tara also named Ali Kershner, sports performance coach; Katelin Knox, athletic trainer; and Celia Marfone, video coordinator, who’s living in the dorm with the players. Completing the staff are Amy Tucker, basketball administrator, and Samantha Dodd, assistant director finance and administration.

Freshmen get their due

Up next were the freshmen, starting with guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu, Stanford’s second Australian after Alanna Smith, ’19.  A four-time medalist with an Australian national team, Aggie is “a terrific defender.”

Cameron will sport 22 on her jersey.

Forward Cameron Brink is a two-time Oregon high school champion with “good timing and shot-blocking,” Tara said. Cameron worked with former Stanford player and sports performance coach Susan King Borchardt, ’05. Cameron said Susan taught her that “preparation is key.”

Guard Jana Van Gytenbeek holds the Colorado state record for assists and is a 3-point leader, Tara said. One of Jana’s pastimes is scuba diving. She’s gone down as deep as 110 feet and has a shark’s tooth for Tara.

Summing up the freshmen’s experience so far, Tara estimated that they have learned as many as 50 plays.

Sophomores tell what they’ve done

First up for the sophomores was forward Fran Belibi, who shot 58 percent last season and worked out with men during the summer. “I’ve improved my shot the most,” Fran said.

Forward Ashten Prechtel, who was sixth player of the year, advised the freshmen to be confident.

Haley is back after recovering from an injury.

Guard Haley Jones, who can play four of the five positions, played only 18 games last year before being sidelined by an injury. She said it was hard being out, but since her recovery, she’s been working on her shots.

Guard Hannah Jump, a 3-point specialist, focused on getting in shape, a goal helped by working out in a neighbor’s swimming pool.

Hulls try to stay in shape; Jenna out

Junior guard Lexie Hull, who led the team in rebounds last year, said she and her twin, guard Lacie, tried to stay in shape.

Lacie, a top defender, said of the freshmen, “They’re picking things up very fast, (and) all have something different to offer.”

The other junior, guard Jenna Brown, who wasn’t in the session, is redshirting after an injury.

Seniors provide leadership

Senior forward Alyssa Jerome, is “a real encourager,” Tara said. Alyssa said she practiced her shots on a hoop in her back yard to get around Canada’s COVID restrictions.

Tara said the seniors organized small weekly Zoom sessions to connect players when they couldn’t be on campus.

Guard Anna Wilson, a fifth-year senior, is playing her best to date, Tara said. Anna said it wasn’t easy getting that fifth year even though she wanted it. The NCAA turned her down at first, but she appealed and won.

Kiana is looking forward to a great year.

Guard Kiana Williams, who started 33 games last year, is becoming more vocal, Tara said. “I think it’s going to be a great year,” Kiana said.

Senior forward Maya Dodson is on the roster, but is opting out of playing this season as allowed by the NCAA because of the pandemic. The NCAA said student-athletes who opt out this season will retain a year of eligibility. That means Maya may return if she wants to.

With this team, Tara said, “Going into the gym every day is an absolute pleasure.”

Some of the new rules that the players must follow are that they have to sit 10 feet apart in the locker room and get their food to go in their dorm.

Nneka joins in

After Tara excused the players to tend to academics, Nneka Ogwumike, ’12, made a guest appearance. She was among the alums and others who spoke to the team during the summer.

She plays professionally with the Los Angeles Sparks and serves as president of the WNBA Players Association.

Tara told Nneka she enjoys this team. “We started from behind” with no one on campus in the summer. Still, the team has shown experience, depth and competitiveness, she said, adding that she’s pleased with the sophomores’ improvement.

Kevin cited the Pac-12’s depth, with Stanford No. 2 in a pre-season poll and several other conference teams in the top 20.  Tara said she’s not concerned about the other teams. “We just have to stay healthy … There’s a good vibe in the gym.”

“You’ve got to be a strong family” in light of the required isolation, Tara said.

Playing without fans in the stands for the WNBA season, Nneka said, “We had to be our own energy” and looked to the bench for support.

Relief for Kiana

Because Anna and Jana can play the point, Tara said she’s glad Kiana will get more rest this season. “We’re counting on everyone stepping up their game.”

As a side note, Tara said she’s pleased with former assistant coach Lindy La Rocque, ’12, who left this season to become head coach at UNLV.  “She’s going to do a terrific job.”

Nneka, Lindy’s teammate and classmate, said she was an on-court coach during their days together.

Tara mentioned the recently signed recruiting class for next season: Elena Bosgana, Brooke Demetre, Jzaniya Harriel and Kiki Iriafen.

In the meantime, Tara wants the team to stay connected with fans even though they can't attend games. One way is that most games will be televised. "It's a tough road right now, but we're going to get through it together," she concluded. 

Stanford Athletics photos