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| The dressed up team gathers for one last group photo. (Stanford Athletics) |
Fans of Stanford women’s basketball got one last
chance to honor the team at the annual spring banquet Apri110 at the Arrillaga
Alumni Center.
However, it was the first time in two years that it took
place in person rather than on Zoom. As head coach Tara VanDerveer pointed out,
it was the first in-person banquet for the juniors.
Framed jerseys of the six seniors were displayed at
the front of the room as Tara went to each of the more than 20 tables to thank
people for coming.
After everyone had been to the buffet tables, Tara
served as emcee for the program.
It included a multitude of thanks to an array of
people starting with the administration, continuing through all of the staff
people who comprise the team behind the team, and ending with the coaches.
Sponsors also were thanked.
Players
tower over almost everyone
As players and fans mingled before taking their
seats, I was struck by one thought, “These players stand out in the crowd.”
Most of them are more than 6 feet tall and most were wearing heels. When I
stood next to freshman forward Kiki Iriafen, the top of my head was just barely
above her elbow.
Tara noted that, thanks to people who joined her in pledging $10 or some other amount for the three-pointers made by all teams in the recent NCAA tournament, more than $300,000 was raised for Ukrainian relief .
Now “we have a lot to celebrate,” Tara said as she
listed the qualities in this team’s DNA.
First, it’s a team of winners, amassing the best
winning percentage in more than 20 years, going undefeated in the Pac-12 season
for the eighth time and winning the Pac-12 tournament for the 15th
time. It defeated seven ranked teams.
It’s also a team of streakers with 24 wins in a row,
its 22nd Elite Eight and other accomplishments.
It’s a team of defense that allowed no opponent to
score more than 74 points and blocked 222 shots.
Resilience is also part of its DNA as some games had
to be played in empty arenas and others with missing players because of COVID
protocols.
Players
earn academic, athletic honors
In introducing and praising each player, Tara noted
that nearly all of them earned academic in addition to athletic honors.
She started with the freshmen. Looking over the
dressed-up foursome, she said, “Everyone up here could be a model.”
Guard Jzaniya Harriel, who’s red-shirting this
season, served on the scout team in practices.
Guard Elena Bosgana had the challenge of guarding
some of the team’s top players while amassing a 3.6 GPA. She will play for her
native Greece in international competition this summer.
In making the transition from high school to college
play, guard Brooke Demetre paid attention to detail, Tara said.
Kiki earned numerous defensive honors.
Tara also talked about how so many players have
worked hard to improve between their freshman and sophomore seasons and cited
Jeanette Pohlen, ’11, as someone who did just that. Now she’s a coaching intern
with the team.
The three American freshmen will play in a 3-on-3
tournament this summer, Tara said.
Sophomores
merit praise
Turning to the sophomores, Tara started with guard
Agnes Emma-Nnopu, whom she wants to become a member of what she calls the
Lockdown Club: Ros Gold-Onwude, ’10; Susan Borchardt, ’05; associate head coach
Kate Paye, ’95; and sixth-year guard Anna Wilson, all terrific defensive
players.
Tara cited the six 3’s that guard Jana Van Gytenbeek,
filling in for junior guard Hannah Jump,
scored against Arizona as an example of the team’s “next woman
mentality.”
Forward Cameron Brink led the team in scores,
rebounds, double-doubles and blocks with 91. “This is rarefied basketball air,”
Tara said.
Tara
calls juniors the Final Four
Turning to the juniors, Tara said they call
themselves the Funky Four, but she calls them the Final Four.
Forward Fran Belibi., a humanities major, had the
team’s best scoring average, 59 percent, and is known for dunking.
Forward Ashten Prechtel, majoring in management
science and engineering, is valuable on defense and got the steal that sealed
the lead over South Carolina in last year’s semi-final game.
Hannah, who made 83 3’s, was always one of the first
to arrive and last to leave practice. She’s a psychology major.
Guard Haley Jones led the team in assists and had
the team’s first triple-double since 2002. “The bigger the game, the bigger she
plays,” Tara said, noting that she has accrued many honors. This communications
major also is “a patient dance instructor,” she said, referring to the line
dance that Tara and the team performed after defeating Texas in the Elite
Eight.
Seniors
express thanks, love
After Tara called the six seniors to the podium,
each one had a chance to speak. They were unanimous in thanking the fans and
coaches and expressing their love for their teammates.
Unfortunately, red shirt guard Jenna Brown, a
political science major, missed two and half seasons with an injury and grueling
recovery. “Jenna has entered the transfer portal as a
graduate senior transfer,” Kate said in an April 11 email.
Guard Jordan Hamilton was the team’s first graduate
transfer (from Northwestern), but easily made the transition to Stanford.
Fifth-year forward Alyssa Jerome, whom Tara dubbed
Coach Jerome, is likely to become a real coach, Tara said. She’s earning a
master’s degree in community health with a 4.0 GPA. She played the second most
games in Stanford history.
The most games, 160, were played by Anna, who’s “a
great example for our younger players.” She’s earning her master’s in art
practice.
Tara then turned to the Hull twins, guards Lexie and
Lacie, who were offered scholarships by then associate head coach Amy Tucker
when they were high school sophomores.
In planning practices, Tara said, the motto is
“don’t let them guard each other.” “They’re extremely competitive.”
Lexie had the most steals this year and won many
honors. She’s a management science and engineering major who’ll graduate with
both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
In the WNBA draft the day after the banquet, April
11, Lexie was drafted No. 6 overall by the Indiana Fever, joining another
Stanford alum and former teammate, Alanna Smith, ’19.
Lacie is the only player who has played in every
game her entire career. Tara praised her willingness to play point guard in
some games this season. She’s graduating in June with an undergraduate degree
in product design and a master’s in management engineering and science.
Video
brings back memories
Then followed a video with highlights from
throughout the season and by every player. It brought back happy memories.
Closing the program, Tara said the outlook for next
season is bright with three promising freshmen coming in and 70 percent of the
scoring returning, among other harbingers.
She also revealed that a Thanksgiving tournament in
Hawaii and home games against Gonzaga, Tennessee and South Carolina are on the
schedule.
