 |
| Tara (center) issues instructions during a timeout. (Stanford Athletics) |
The Stanford women’s basketball team breezed to a
105-35 exhibition win over Clarke on Nov. 6.
Head coach Tara VanDerveer used all 14 available
players in a mix of veterans and newcomers, giving everyone a chance to thrive.
Sidelined players were redshirt junior guard Jenna
Brown, sophomore guard Jana Van Gytenbeek and freshman guard Jzaniya Harriel,
although she was on the floor for warmups.
Starters were sixth-year guard Anna Wilson at the
point, junior guard Haley Jones, senior guard Lexie Hull, sophomore forward
Cameron Brink and junior forward Fran Belibi.
The first five scores came from the Haley-Fran show.
After that, everyone got into the act. By game’s end, everyone except Lexie had
scored, but everyone contributed in some other way, too. No one played more
than 18 minutes.
Six
score in double figures
Nevertheless, six players were in double figures:
Haley with 14; junior guard Hannah Jump, freshman guard Elena Bosgana and
freshman forward Kiki Iriafen with 11 each; and Fran and Cameron with 10 each.
Kiki also led the team with 11 rebounds.
The team lofted 11 3’s, with three by Hannah; two
each by Anna, Elena and fifth-year forward Alyssa Jerome; and one each by
senior guard Lacie Hull and freshman guard Brooke Demetre.
 |
| Fifth-year guard Jordan Hamilton takes the ball upcourt. (Clarke Athletics) |
The Cardinal outperformed the visiting Pride (from Dubuque, Iowa) in all statistical categories.
Great defense stymied Clarke throughout the game,
and back-door cuts resulted in several baskets.
Post-game
routine changes
After the game, the teams skipped the usual
handshakes or fist bumps and merely waved at each other – part of the COVID
protocol. Then the victory balls flew.
That protocol requires everyone to show an ID and
proof of vaccination at the door. The concessions accept no cash, and orders
are submitted on tablets at each stand.
Because it was an exhibition game, there were no
cheerleaders, band, Dollies or Tree.
The real season starts at 3 p.m. Nov. 11 when
Maryland’s Morgan State comes to call.
Texas is next on the schedule at noon Nov. 14. During a post-game ceremony, the national championship players will receive their rings. The Texas game will be shown on ESPN/2/U.
As the 2,338 fans were leaving Maples, one of them
said, “This is going to be an exciting year.” Judging by what the team
displayed in the Clarke game, she was exactly right.
