Elena brings the ball upcourt on her way to a record performance. (Stanford Athletics)
Stanford women’s basketball completed its three-game home stand with
another lopsided win, 84-54, over the UC San Diego Tritons on Nov. 29.
Senior guard Elena Bosgana led the charge with a career-high 26 points on
10-for-10 shooting, tying the school record for single-game field goal
percentage, Stanford Athletics reported. Her performance included 5-5 from
beyond the arc, along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Sophomore forward Nunu Agara was right behind her with 22 points,
including another two of the team’s nine threes.
Both of the others were provided by junior guard Tess Heal with two,
leading to 13 points. Senior guard Brooke Demetre was the other Cardinal in
double figures with 12.
Attendance was reported at just over 3,000 with contingents of UCSD fans
behind its bench and in an upper northeast section.
Few students were there because the school was on Thanksgiving break.
Thus no band, Tree, etc.
The game started with Nunu, Elena, Brooke, redshirt junior guard Jzaniya
Harriel and Tess, who was again filling in for unavailable junior guard Talana
Lepolo.
Four more players got into the action during the first quarter as the
team surged to a 32-4 lead. Still others joined in during the second quarter,
in which junior guard Stavi Papadaki intercepted the ball and raced across the
court to score. This action was selected as the Pepsi Refreshing Moment of the
Game.
By the end of the second quarter, 12 of the 13 available players had
gotten in, and Stanford led 48-16. All 13 eventually got in.
The story changed in the third and fourth quarters as UCSD tightened its
defense and sharpened its shooting to outscore Stanford by one point in each
quarter. Stanford’s turnovers from its sloppy passes and UCSD’s steals marred
its performance.
In all, the team had an uncharacteristic 25 turnovers. That won’t work
against tougher opponents.
At the Behind the Bench, recently retired head coach Tara VanDerveer
praised her younger sister, Heidi, UCSD’s head coach.
Speaking about the game, Heidi said, “I knew what we were getting into,”
especially in the first quarter. “Stanford showed us the pace we have to play
with.”
It helps when teams play well, Tara said, adding that UCSD “competed well
in three quarters.”
Since the game came the day after Thanksgiving, Heidi said that the two
teams had Thanksgiving dinner together in the Stanford Hall of Champions.
The team takes to the road to play Louisiana State at 6 p.m. PT on Dec. 5
and cross-bay rival Cal at 7 p.m. PT Dec. 13 to start ACC competition. ESPN2 will televise the LSU game. The Cal
game will be streamed on ACCNX.
