 |
| Cameron looks for an opening against UConn defenders. (Stanford Athletics) |
Returning to campus
from the Final Four in Minneapolis with heavy hearts on April 2, Stanford women
basketball players got a pleasant surprise: Several dozen fans waving red
pompons were there to greet them as they got off their bus.
The fans were there
on short notice. Stanford staffers who coordinated the event had told the
coaches about it, but the players didn’t know.
Five fans waved large
photos of the five graduating players: sixth-year guard Anna Wilson, fifth-year
guard Jordan Hamilton, fifth-year forward Alyssa Jerome and senior guards Lexie
Hull and Lacie Hull.
Tara thanks fans for their welcome
Head coach Tara
VanDerveer thanked everyone for turning out. “We had a great season (with) a really
special team. … We’re excited about what we accomplished,” and the returning
players will work hard in the off-season.
What the team
accomplished was a 32-4 overall record, an undefeated Pac-12 season and the
Pac-12 championship. No loss was by more
than five points.
It was hoping to win
a second consecutive national championship, but UConn dashed those hopes by
winning 63-58 in the semifinal game April 1.
Played in front of more than 18,000 people, the game was a
nail-biter with six lead changes, two ties and only three brief leads for
Stanford.
Low scoring to start
It got off to a slow
start for both teams, who ended the quarter with UConn up 12-9.
Neither team shot
particularly well overall: 34.8 percent for Stanford and 36.8 percent for
UConn.
UConn’s defense was
disruptive, limiting Stanford to just four 3’s: two by junior forward Ashten Prechtel
and one each by Lacie and junior guard Hannah Jump.
On the other hand,
UConn had 19 turnovers while Stanford had 11.
Haley, Cameron in double figures
Junior guard Haley
Jones led the team in scoring with 20 points plus 11 rebounds. Sophomore
forward Cameron Brink with 15 points was the only other Cardinal in double
figures.
Lexie, who usually
scores in double digits, had only four points, perhaps because she was feeling
the effects of a bloody nose that sent her briefly to the bench to be tended
to.
Trying for a comeback
in the final few minutes, Stanford players deliberately fouled in hopes that
the Huskies would miss at the free throw line and Stanford could snare the
ball.
Unfortunately that
strategy didn’t work. For the game overall, UConn made 16 of 20 free throws
while Stanford made 8 of 13.
Lexie, Haley, Cameron earn honors
Despite the loss,
Stanford had much to be proud of, including honors for three players.
Lexie was named the
Senior CLASS Award winner as the most outstanding student athlete in Division 1
women’s basketball. She was the third Cardinal to do so, after Candice Wiggins,
‘08, and Nneka Ogwumike, ’12.
Lexie also won the
Elite 90 award for highest grade point average at the Final Four. She has a
3.88 GPA and will graduate with a master’s degree in management science and
engineering.
On top of that,
Stanford was the only school with two WBCA All-Americans: Cameron and Haley.
Stanford previously had two All-Americans in the same year with Nneka and
Chiney Ogwumike in 2012. Haley was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Fans will have a
chance to say one final goodbye to this team at the spring banquet at 11 a.m.
April 10 at the Arrillaga Alumni Center.
