Looking back: Part 1 of 3

 

Fran (left) and Haley (right) congratulate Brooke after she scored 17 points, with 15 from 3's, in the Gonzaga victory on Dec. 4. (Stanford Athletics)

The Stanford women’s basketball team and its fans had high hopes for the 2022-23 season, aiming for another trip to the Final Four and perhaps another national championship, but things didn’t turn out that way.

The optimism started even before the first game. Senior forward Fran Belibi, sophomore forwards Kiki Iriafen and Brooke Demetre, and redshirt freshman Jzaniya Harriel were on USA Basketball’s 3x3 team in May and made it to the semifinals.

Senior guard Hannah Jump played for England’s 3x3 Europe Cup qualifiers in June. Freshman guard Indya Nivar was on the US National U18 team that won gold.

Sophomore guard Elena Bosgana played for her native Greece’s U20 team in July. Another Greek, freshman guard  Stavi Papadaki, had a chance to play for her country’s U18 team but decided to go to summer school to adjust to all that is new.

Jeannette joins staff in new post

Jeannette Pohlen, ’11, joined the staff in a new position, director of player development. Among other things, she assumed the duties of retired women’s basketball administrator Amy Tucker.

To increase student attendance, lower level sections 14-16 were reserved for students, causing some season ticket holders to move.

Fans got their first looks at the team during a scrimmage Oct. 29 followed by an open practice Nov. 1.

The team’s first chance to face another team came in an exhibition game Nov. 2, when the Cardinal breezed to a 102-25 win over Vanguard. Starters were junior forward Cameron Brink, Hannah, senior guard Haley Jones at the point, Kiki and junior guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu. All 15 players saw action.

Two wins open the season

Season competition officially began with home wins over San Diego State 86-48 on Nov. 7 and Cal State Northridge 104-40 on Nov. 9. Freshman center Lauren Betts made a strong impression in the latter game with a game high 18 points, 16 of them in the fourth quarter.

The season’s first road trip brought wins over Pacific 98-44 on Nov. 11 and Portland 87-47 on Nov. 13.  Kiki led the team against Pacific with 15 points. Three-pointers hit a season high of 12 thanks to 4-4 by Hannah and the rest by six others.

In the Portland game, freshman guard Talana Lepolo started for the first time, replacing Agnes.

Back in Maples, the team upped its season record to 5-0 by defeating Cal Poly 80-43 on Nov. 16. Hannah was the game’s headliner, matching her career highs of 24 points and eight 3’s. She electrified the crowd by making three in a row during the third quarter.

First loss comes against South Carolina in OT

The initial winning streak ended Nov. 20 when the South Carolina, the defending national champion, defeated Stanford 76-71 in overtime. Stanford had the edge for most of the nationally televised game, but committed some costly errors in the overtime. After the game, associate head coach Kate Paye introduced the five freshmen: Talana, Lauren, Indya, Stavi and walk-on guard Lauren Green.

Back to its winning ways, the team spent the Thanksgiving break in Honolulu for the Rainbow Wahini Showdown and left with three wins: 93-69 over Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 25, 87-50 over Grambling State on Nov. 26 and 65-39 over Hawaii on Nov. 27.

Besides winning the tournament championship and wearing leis, the players enjoyed some fun things like parasailing.

Back in Maples, the team defeated Gonzaga 84-63 on Dec. 4. Brooke was the high scorer with 17 points, 15 of them from five 3’s, including three in a row in the second quarter. In all, the team had 15 3’s.

After the game, associate head coach Kate Paye introduced Elena, the team’s first European player. Elena conceded she had felt some homesickness, but it helped that countrywoman Stavi has joined her, allowing them to converse in Greek.

Two wins end nonconference schedule

Wrapping up its nonconference schedule, the No. 2-ranked Cardinal defeated Tennessee 77-70 on Dec. 18 and Creighton 72-59 on Dec. 20, both at home.

Stanford had to come from behind to defeat the Lady Vols after lagging by as many as 8 points after a scoring drought in the third quarter. Cameron helped to narrow the gap with a trey in the last few seconds.

Although her playing time was limited by fouls, she led the team with 21 points and 17 rebounds. As a result, she was named Pac-12 Player of the Week.

After the game, the crowd got to meet players from Stanford’s 1990 national championship team coached by head coach Tara VanDerveer and including Kate on its roster.

In the Creighton game, Talana led the team with 17 points, including five 3’s.

Up next: Part 2, the Pac-12 season