The annual Awards Banquet on April 6 at the
Arrillaga Alumni Center would more aptly be called the annual Appreciation
Event.
No awards have been handed out in several years, and
this time, unlike past years, there was no banquet. Instead there were drinks
and desserts like ice cream and pastries like cookies, brownies and cream puffs.
Still, more than 100 people were there, including the
players, staff and others associated with the team. It was a chance to socialize with other fans
and chat with the dressed-up players.
It also was a chance to see just how tall most of
them are. Some wore high heels, making them even taller and towering over
almost everyone else.
Head coach Tara VanDerveer opened the evening by
ticking off the team’s accomplishments such as 10 wins against ranked
opponents, the nation’s third longest streak of going to the NCAA tournament
and second nationally in blocks as a team among many others.
Many
thanks during the program
Throughout the program she thanked everyone who has
helped the team in any way.
She also introduced the players and enumerated each
one’s accomplishments, starting with the
freshmen. She noted that guard Stavi Papadaki will return to Greece during the
summer to play for her country’s U20 team. Center Lauren Betts had the highest
field goal percentage, more than 50 percent, on the team. Tara also praised
walk-on guard Lauren Green and fellow guards Indya Nivar and Talana Lepolo.
Next came the sophomores. This group was missing
guard Jzaniya Harriel, who is red-shirting after not playing last season and
wasn’t feeling well.
Tara said that guard Elena Bosgana is always smiling
and tripled her playing time from last year. Like Stavi, she will return to her
native Greece during the summer to play for its national team.
Forward Kiki Iriafen played in every game and was
fourth in scoring and third in rebounds. It was forward Brooke Demetre’s
birthday, so the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to her.
The juniors were next. Guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu
increased her scoring five times from past seasons and shot 42 percent from
beyond the arc, second on the team.
Forward Cameron Brink was the team’s leading
scorer, rebounder and blocker. Her 297 blocks ranked second in the nation. She
sank 85 percent of her free throws and made 48 consecutive free throws to end
the season. As a Wooden Award finalist, she went to Los Angeles the next day in
conjunction with the honor. The trophy went to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
Seniors
honored
Finally, attention turned to the four seniors. Guard
Haley Jones, who amassed an impressive record over her career, wasn’t there
because she reportedly had already left for New York for the WNBA draft on
April 10.
Calling themselves the Funky Four, the seniors compiled
a 63-9 record in the Pac 12 over their four years.
Guard Hannah Jump set the single-season record for
3’s, making them in 31 of 35 games this season. Taking advantage of the extra
year of eligibility granted because of pandemic disruptions, she said she plans
to return next season, a statement that drew loud cheers from the crowd.
Forward Ashten Prechtel is graduating with both a
bachelor’s and a master’s degree in management science and engineering. She has
declared for the WNBA draft and has said that if she doesn’t get drafted, she
hopes to play in Europe.
Forward Fran Belibi, who dunked in several games,
also dunked as part of every pre-game warmup routine. A human biology major who
wants to become a physician, she will attend grad school at Harvard.
She, like Hannah and Ashten, spoke to the fans and
thanked them for their support throughout the years.
Players
earn Pac-12 academic honors
When introducing the players, Tara noted that five are
on the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll: Elena, Brooke, Kiki, Agnes and Ashten.
Hannah was the Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. Freshmen aren’t eligible for
the honor roll.
A video of season highlights – and there were many -- concluded the program. It featured all of the players at various times and most of the games through the first round victory over Sacred Heart in the NCAA tournament. It concluded with some of the fun activities the players enjoyed during the season.
Tara closed the program with a look at next season
when Duke and Indiana are scheduled.
Next season might have an unexpected look. The day
after the banquet, it was reported that Agnes and Lauren Betts have entered the
transfer portal. Later it was reported
that Indya also had entered the portal. Thus the roster suffers a big loss.
