First look at the new edition

With its first exhibition game a mere four weeks away, the Stanford women’s basketball team went through its paces at an open practice Oct. 9 in Maples Pavilion.

Regular practices started Oct. 6, so it’s far too early to make predictions. Nevertheless, the three-hour afternoon session gave an estimated 50 fans some tantalizing previews of this 2010-11 team. It also gave them a look at how head coach Tara VanDerveer and her topnotch staff are starting to mold these 14 talented scholar-athletes into one cohesive, championship-seeking team.

There always are question marks at the beginning of a season as freshmen – three of them this year – try to fill the roster gaps left by graduation. The 2010 departures were led by two terrific starters, center Jayne Appel, now playing professionally with the San Antonio Silver Stars, and fifth-year guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, known for her outstanding defense. Ros, who reportedly works for Tesla Motors, attended part of the practice.

Another observer of note was guard Candice Wiggins, ’08, who is on campus completing her undergraduate degree while rehabbing from Achilles tendon surgery. She plays professionally with the Minnesota Lynx.

The practice began as the players ran onto the court and formed a circle with the coaches at center court. They then expanded their circle with senior guard Jeanette Pohlen leading them in individual dribbling exercises, followed by two-player passing drills led by assistant coach Kate Paye.

Individual work continued with shooting drills from the 3-point and free-throw lines. For the most part, the guards were at one end of the court, while the forwards were at the other.

More than an hour was devoted to basic skills such as running, passing, setting screens, dribbling, shooting, defending, rebounding, inbounding and moving the ball. It was during these drills that fans got a taste of Tara’s creativity. She introduced several complex drills that required some time to master, but eventually they went smoothly.

During one such drill, Kate advised all the players to be aware of their footwork so that they would be ready to shoot no matter where they were in relation to the basket.

Other drills involved various combinations of players – groups of two or three, for example. During another stretch, Kate worked with the guards at one end while associate head coach Amy Tucker and assistant coach Bobbie Kelsey worked with the bigs. Tara kept a close watch on the proceedings as she moved between them.

As the afternoon progressed, three male practice players joined the women in varied full- and half-court scrimmages. During one water break, fifth-year senior guard Melanie Murphy, whose participation is limited while she recovers from post-season knee surgery, talked animatedly with the men, apparently giving them pointers.

The session ended with free-throw practice at eight baskets arrayed around the court, followed by running from one end of the court to the other and then to closer marks along the floor. Freshman guard Toni Kokenis was the first to finish.

After another center-court circle for some final words from the coaches, the team waved to the fans and adjourned to the locker room.

Their next assignment came shortly thereafter, when they signed autographs for a long line of admirers at the Fan Fest preceding the Stanford vs. USC football game (won by Stanford).

As I said, it’s too early to make any concrete predictions about the season. Still, there were some impressions worthy of mention.

First, the coaches work well with the team. Every so often, one of them would talk quietly with an individual, demonstrating moves or giving advice. This was especially apparent with the freshmen. Likewise, returning players sought individual advice. On the other hand, the coaches were quick to shout out praise for good moves by individuals.

Second, the freshmen -- Toni, guard Sara James and forward Chiney Ogwumike -- will make positive contributions. They showcased their skills during the summer recreation program at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco, but it was apparent that they needed the fine-tuning that they’re getting from their Stanford coaches.

Third, the three returning starters – Jeanette, senior forward Kayla Pedersen and junior forward Nneka Ogwumike – seem ready to lead the team on another winning run. All three showed their savvy, maturity and skill during the practice.

Fourth, the other returning players – seniors Ashley Cimino, forward, and Hannah Donaghe, guard; junior guards Grace Mashore and Lindy La Rocque; red-shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe; and sophomore forwards Mikaela Ruef and Joslyn Tinkle -- seem determined to contribute as much as they can. There were many signs of progress from them.

Fifth, the entire team works hard, very hard. Even though they seemed to be enjoying themselves and each other, everyone was focused during the drills.

Sixth, the coaches will have a hard time deciding how to allocate playing time.

Finally, the fans are in for another great ride.!

A toast to the season ahead

“We’re looking forward to a great year.” That’s how head coach Tara VanDerveer and her staff view the upcoming Stanford women’s basketball season, she told fans at the fifth annual Fast Break Club wine tasting and social on Sept. 12 at Vino Locale in Palo Alto.

About three dozen fans enjoyed the pleasantly sunny afternoon as well as the wine, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks provided by Vino Locale owner Randy Robinson, who donated 10 percent of the afternoon’s bottled wine sales to the club.

This year’s event was about a month earlier than last year’s, which followed the team’s trip to Italy. Since the team had played four games there, the coaches had had a good look at the returning players and their improvement.

The players are just now returning to campus, so the coaches haven’t had a chance to assess their progress or to see the three freshmen in action. Instead, Tara talked about the coaches’ successful recruiting for the 2011-12 season.

“We have five players who have (verbally) committed,” she said. They are guards Bonnie Samuelson from Huntington Beach, Amber Orrange from Houston and Jasmine Camp from Chamblee, Ga.; and forwards Taylor Greenfield from Huxley, Iowa, and Erica Payne from Concord’s Carondelet High School, the prep alma mater of Jayne Appel, ’10.

Even though they have said they’re coming to Stanford, their commitment doesn’t become official until they sign letters of intent in November. In the meantime, there’s the possibility of one more. “It’s all really, really good,” Tara said.

As for this coming season, Tara noted that her staff is intact, with the return of associate head coach Amy Tucker and assistant coaches Bobbie Kelsey and Kate Paye. Both Amy and Bobbie were at the social, but Kate had another commitment.

Their expertise and experience will be invaluable. “This is probably the most competitive schedule that we’ve ever had,” Tara said, noting that several opponents were in last year’s NCAA tournament.

At the head of the list is UConn, which defeated Stanford for the national championship in San Antonio in April. Also figuring prominently is Xavier, which lost to Stanford in the regional final in Sacramento. The game was tied when guard Jeanette Pohlen – in one of the most memorable moments in Stanford WBB history -- ran the court in the final 4.4 seconds and scored the winning basket.

Jeanette was among the nine players who attended summer school. The others were fellow senior Kayla Pedersen, juniors Nneka Ogwumike and Linda La Rocque, red-shirt sophomore Sarah Boothe and sophomore Mikaela Ruef, along with incoming freshmen Sara James, Toni Kokenis and Chiney Ogwumike.

Besides the coaches, staff members at the social included Eileen Roche, director of basketball operations, and Sarah Boruta, videographer. And there was another familiar face – Lauren Greif, a recently graduated Cal guard who is an intern this year.

Also serving as an intern is Sha'Rae Gibbons Mitchell, a recently graduated UC Santa Barbara guard. She and Lauren will help the staff with film sessions; film practices; break down films and maintain the database; burn and edit DVDs, prepare pre-game, halftime and post-game reports; create and update playbooks and drill books; manage Facebook and Twitter; assist with pre-game clinics; generate and distribute mailings to recruits; and do “anything that comes up in the course of the day,” Eileen said in a follow-up e-mail.

Arriving later in the afternoon were Krista Rappahahn, ’06, and her new husband, David Birnie. Krista is a Stanford med student.

One of the changes that fans will notice at Maples Pavilion is that rather than the portable baskets used in the past, the baskets will descend from the ceiling. Therefore, fans seated behind them will have a better view of the action.

The players will begin an eight-hour-a-week training regimen on Wednesday, Sept. 15. They will spend two of those hours with the coaches and the other six hours in conditioning and weight-lifting. Regular practices start Oct. 5. “The 5th is early enough for me,” Tara said, adding that the team wants to keep going until April.

Fans will get their first look at the team at a practice and autograph session Oct. 9 before the Cardinal football team plays USC at home.

An open practice followed by a barbecue at Jimmy V’s is planned for Oct. 30. “By then things should be very interesting,” Tara said.

Eileen said she will e-mail details to FBC members.

End of the line

The five Stanford players in the San Francisco Pro-Am women’s basketball league saw their summer season come to an end Aug. 8 when their Golden State team lost 75-70 to the Mission Recreation Center team. This was Golden State’s second loss to Mission Rec in the best-of-three championship series at Kezar Pavilion.

Unlike the Aug. 7 game, which saw Golden State losing 77-61, this game was much more competitive and better played, especially by the Stanford women. Together they scored 53, or 75.7 percent, of their team’s points.

According to my unofficial count, freshman forward Chiney Ogwumike led the way with 16 points, followed by sophomore forward Mikaela Ruef with 13, red-shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe with 12, and freshman guards Sara James and Toni Kokenis with 10 and two respectively. Chiney and Mikaela were the top rebounders among the Stanford women with 11 each, followed by Sarah with five, Sara with three and Toni with two. Sarah, Chiney, Mikaela and Sara had one steal apiece.

Golden State led 33-31 at the half, then fell behind 48-40 with 15:33 to go. At 12:31, however, the score was tied 50-50. At 3:16 the score was 70-66 in Golden State’s favor, but the team never scored after that.

Chiney fouled out with 5.2 seconds to go, but it was a deliberate foul, a desperation move in hopes of getting the ball at the end of a very close game. Sara had four fouls, Sarah three, Mikaela two and Toni one. As he did the day before, the Mission Rec coach drew a technical foul after arguing with a referee about a call. The Golden State coach sent Sara to the free throw line, where she sank both shots.

All five Stanford women were on the floor together for less than a minute in the first half, but there were many stretches with three and a few with four. Sarah, Chiney and Sara all started. After controlling the opening tipoff, Sarah scored Golden State’s first basket – a sign that she was not to be denied after being shut out in the previous game.

The Stanford women also were responsible for some plays that would look right at home at Maples. In one particularly nifty no-dribble sequence in the first half, Mikaela passed the ball to Sarah, who quickly passed it to Chiney, who scored, was fouled and made the free throw. Twice during the second half, Mikaela made a defensive rebound and lobbed baseball passes to speeding Chiney, who scored. I didn’t keep track of assists, but all of the Cardinal women did well in that category.

The crowd wasn’t quite as large as the day before, but it included three Stanford starters: senior forward Kayla Pedersen, senior guard Jeanette Pohlen and junior forward Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney’s sister.

Although the Stanford women were undoubtedly disappointed, the loss means they’re out of the playoffs and can head for home Aug. 14, when the summer session ends. They’ll return to the Farm for limited practices starting Sept. 15, followed by the first day of fall classes Sept. 20 and regular practices Oct. 5, associate head coach Amy Tucker said earlier this summer. Judging by their Kezar games, I’d say they’ll all make positive contributions during the coming season.

Chiney

Toni

Sarah

Mikaela

Sara

Unfamiliar experience for Cardinal fans

Fans of Stanford women’s basketball aren’t accustomed to seeing their team lose. On the rare occasion when it does, the score is relatively close – or so it has been in recent years. Therefore, it came as a shock to see a team stocked with Stanford players lose by 16 points after trailing by as much as 20.

That was the case Aug. 7 when Golden State lost to Mission Recreation Center 77-61 in the first championship game of San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am play at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco. The two teams meet again Aug. 8 in the two-of-three competition.

Of the nine Golden State players in uniform on Saturday, five were from Stanford – red shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe, sophomore forward Mikaela Ruef, freshman forward Chiney Ogwumike and freshman guards Sara James and Toni Kokenis.

Back: Coach Chris Valentino, Natalie Jones (Arizona/Germany), Lena Gipson (Santa Clara), Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford), Sarah Boothe (Stanford), Mikaela Ruef (Stanford), Jackie Sheppard (UCLA), Coach Steve Neal. Front: Dellena Criner (Nevada/Poland), Sara James (Stanford), Toni Kokenis (Stanford), Rometra Craig (USC).

Mission Rec fielded only seven players, but their quickness and sharp shooting, especially from the free-throw line and the 3-point arc, were too much for Golden State.

Back: Coach Rudy Russell, Whitney Sutak (Santa Clara), Nicole Harris (Cal Berkeley), Lauren Bell (Pepperdine), Kamilah Jackson (Hawaii), Jazmine Jackson (Pepperdine), Coach LaRyan Russell. Front: Toni Russell (USF/Montenegro), Amanda Lassiter (WNBA/Spain).

For its part, Golden State was plagued by fouls, turnovers, poor shooting and lack of teamwork. Too often a player would try to get to the basket by herself instead of passing off to a more open teammate.

The closest Golden State came to good team play was when all five Stanford players were on the court, but that happened for only slightly more than two minutes in the first half. They have been playing pickup games on campus with teammates who are in summer school, so they presumably have a good notion of teamwork. However, they don’t practice with their Golden State teammates. For its part, Mission Rec reportedly does practice together.

Moreover, Golden State hadn’t played for two weeks because it was the No. 1 seed. During that time, Mission Rec played and won two games to earn its spot in the finals.

Chiney, Sarah and Sara were in the starting lineup, but Sarah picked up her second foul at 17:16 and went to the bench, followed by Sara for the same reason at 15:01. Both returned to action later.

According to my unofficial figures, Mikaela led her Stanford teammates with 12 points and 10 rebounds, closely followed by Chiney with 12 points and nine rebounds. Toni had three points, three rebounds and a steal, while Sara had two points and five rebounds. Sarah was held scoreless, but she had four rebounds. They all played good defense and showed a lot of quickness.

The score was 30-24 in Mission Rec’s favor at the half. Then within the span of 75 seconds, Mission Rec was up 37-24. Mission Rec also was called for two technicals during the game, one on the coach and one on a player.

The game drew a large crowd of Stanford fans, including Sara’s parents and the family dog, Sadie. Also in the stands were Left Coast Hoops writer Michelle Smith (this is her report) and four Stanford players – senior forward Kayla Pedersen, senior guard Jeanette Pohlen, junior forward Nneka Ogwumike and junior guard Lindy La Rocque.

The second and possibly deciding game is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at Kezar Pavilion, 755 Stanyan St. at Waller at the east end of Golden Gate Park. Admission is free. There’s paid parking next door. Allow plenty of time for heavy traffic.

If Golden State wins, the deciding game will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14.

Big threesome powers team to victory

Three Stanford bigs powered their Golden State team to an 83-74 win over Bay City in San Francisco Women’s Pro-Am competition July 17 at Kezar Pavilion.

Though limited by four fouls, red-shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe led the way with 18 points, along with five rebounds and a steal. Most of her points came from nifty shots under the basket. She also ran the floor well.

Right behind her in the scoring column were sophomore Mikaela Ruef and freshman Chiney Ogwumike with 17 each. Fresh off being named Gatorade Female Prep 
Athlete of the Year on July 14, Chiney made it a double-double with 10 rebounds plus a steal. She showed strong athleticism in getting to the basket.

Mikaela, who had her best game this summer, added six rebounds and two steals. The two forwards also had two 3-pointers each.

Also scoring in double figures was freshman guard Sara James with 12 points, including two 3’s, to go with four rebounds and one steal.

Fellow freshman guard Toni Kokenis had two points but showed her defensive prowess with six rebounds and two steals. All of these numbers are unofficial.

Sara, the only Cardinal to start, was stationed in the center circle for the opening tipoff, which she controlled. Chiney and Sarah joined her with 17:42 to go in the half and Golden State trailing 7-0. Sarah immediately scored the first points for Golden State, which began surging ahead. Most of that surge resulted from the gradual addition of Stanford players until all five were on the court at 11:04, but Sarah had to go to the bench at 10:00 when she picked up her second foul.

Golden State led 44-34 at the half. Bay City crept closer several times when the Stanford bigs were on the bench, but as soon as they returned, they took control.

It was fun to see 6’ 5” Sarah and 6’ 3” Chiney going against Cal’s 6’ 3” DeNesha Stallworth in the paint. Cal’s 5’ 7” Eliza Pierre tossed in two 3’s when Mikaela was late on defense. Eliza followed them up with cartwheels as she ran down the court. She was called for unsportsmanlike conduct the second time, but there was no penalty. One suspects that Cal head coach Joanne Boyle won’t let her keep that move in her repertoire.

As usual, there was a good turnout of vocal Stanford fans. The cheering section included Sara’s parents and the family dog, Sadie, a terrier mix that came from the SPCA about eight years ago. She was a hit with fans of all ages.

Chiney’s parents and two younger sisters also were in the crowd, as well as her older sister, junior forward Nneka Ogwumike. Nneka arrived with senior forward Kayla Pedersen and junior guard Lindy La Rocque.


Regular play in the recreational league ended with the 4-1 Golden State in first place even though two other teams also had 4-1 records. According to the league’s Web site, a point system was used to determine first place.

Therefore, Golden State won’t be back in action until the championship games at 2 p.m. Aug. 7 and 8. If a third game is needed, it will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 14. Admission to all games is free.

The games are played at Kezar Pavilion, 755 Stanyan St. at Waller at the east end of Golden Gate Park. Paid parking is available in an adjacent lot.

Nneka, Kayla and Lindy crack up over one of Mikaela's 3-pointers

Erika, Lindy and Olivia

Stanford players lead team to victory

For the first time this summer, all five Cardinal players who signed up for the San Francisco Pro-Am women’s basketball league played at Kezar Pavilion. In the process, they led their now-3-1 Golden State team to an 86-77 victory over still-winless Bay Pride.

All five also showed up in my unofficial scoring column with freshman guard Sara James leading her team with 15 points, including three 3’s. Two forwards, freshman Chiney Ogwumike and sophomore Mikaela Ruef, were close behind with 12 points each. Mikaela’s total included two 3’s.

Red-shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe chipped in 10 points, while freshman guard Toni Kokenis added 4. Thus the fivesome accounted for 53 of their team’s 86 points.

They also contributed rebounds, led by Sarah’s 12. Chiney had six, and Mikaela and Sara had five each, while Toni had three. As for steals, Chiney had three, Sara and Toni two each, and Mikaela one.

Sarah and Sara started the game. Chiney joined them with 17:33 to go in the first half, followed by Mikaela at 16:28 and Toni at 15:08. Thus all five Stanford players were on the court until 12:10, when Sara and Chiney went to the bench after picking up their second fouls. All of them were in and out after that, but no one fouled out. Chiney came close with four fouls, and Sarah had three. Mikaela had two, while the guards had one each.

Bay Pride fielded only five players, who thus had to play the entire game, while Golden State had 10. Nevertheless, Bay Pride kept the score relatively close, especially in the second half. Fouls and traveling calls caused Golden State the most problems.

It was fun to see the five Stanford women playing together. One could also sense the rapport that’s developing among them. The rapport also was evident as senior forward Kayla Pedersen, senior guard Jeanette Pohlen and junior forward Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney’s sister, arrived to cheer for their teammates.

Sarah, who didn’t play last season while recovering from foot surgery and who had missed last week’s game, once again impressed the fans with her quickness in transition and her toughness under the basket. She missed a few easy shots early in the game but regained her touch later on, making some close but tough shots. Mikaela, who had joined her teammates just last week, seemed more focused this time.

The three freshmen continued to impress. Sara is not only a scoring threat but also a bulldog on defense. One could picture her as the defensive successor to the graduated Rosalyn Gold-Onwude. Even though fouls have limited Chiney’s playing time, she shows tremendous promise. More than one fan commented that she and Nneka are likely to give most opponents more than they can handle, especially when Kayla, Jeanette and other returning players are added to the mix. Toni, like Sara, is fast, tough and apparently fearless. It’ll be fun to see how these three contribute once they’ve had the benefit of working with the Cardinal coaches.

Golden State’s final regular game is at noon Saturday, July 17. Playoffs are scheduled July 24 and 31, Aug. 7, 8 and possibly Aug. 14. All games are at Kezar Pavilion, 755 Stanyan St. at Waller on the east side of Golden Gate Park. There’s paid parking next door. For more information go to SF Bay Area Pro-Am.

Freshman class shows class

Stanford WBB’s incoming crop of freshmen once again showed great promise in San Francisco Pro-Am play Saturday, July 3, at Kezar Pavilion.

Even though their Golden State team lost 83-76 to the Mission Recreation Center team, forward Chiney Ogwumike and guards Sara James and Toni Kokenis gave some three dozen Stanford fans reason to cheer.

According to my strictly unofficial count, Sara led the scoring with 26 points plus seven rebounds, followed by Chiney with 22 points, 12 rebounds and two steals, and Toni with 9 points and four rebounds. Sophomore forward Mikaela Ruef, who missed last week’s game, contributed 3 points, nine rebounds and one steal. All four of them started the game. Red-shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe, who was so instrumental in the team’s victory last week, missed this game.

The buzz among fans before the game was that this was their first chance to see Chiney in Bay Area action. Last week she was busy leading her USA U18 team to a gold medal against Western Hemisphere teams in Colorado. After controlling the tipoff Sunday, she showed some nifty moves both offensively and defensively. She had to take a seat with 16:57 left in the first half because she picked up two quick fouls. The tenor of the game seemed to change after that, but improved when she returned later in the half. She had only one more foul after that.

She also contributed a 3-point shot, as did Toni, while Sara had three. Both guards showed a lot of hustle while taking the ball up the court, driving to the basket or dishing out assists. They also showed some tough defense. Sara fouled out with under 22 seconds left in the game, but it was an intentional foul when the score was 79-74 in Mission Rec’s favor.

Overall, though, Golden State had some problems. For one, only eight players showed up, while Mission Rec had 10. Moreover, Mission Rec appeared to field more experienced players. For example, its two leading scorers, both with 19 (according to the San Francisco Chronicle), were Santa Clara University alumna Whitney Sutak and Amanda Lassiter, listed with WNBA/Spain experience in the program.

Although I don’t have numbers, Mission Rec appeared to outrebound Golden State. Golden State also was plagued by turnovers, many of them from errant passes. Golden State’s defense often left Mission Rec players open for successful 3s.

The Stanford boosters included Sara’s parents, Mikaela’s mother and Chiney’s big sis, forward Nneka Ogwumike, who had celebrated her birthday the previous day. With her was junior classmate Lindy La Rocque, guard.

Golden State, now 2-1, plays again at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, and at noon Saturday, July 17. Playoffs start July 24 and continue July 31, Aug. 7 and 8, and possibly Aug. 14.

The games are played at Kezar Pavilion, 755 Stanyan St. at Waller on the east end of Golden Gate Park. There’s paid parking next to the pavilion.

For details go to SF Bay Area Pro-Am.

Mikaela and Chiney get ready to play

Sara launches one of her three-pointers

Toni stops and pops

Chiney puts up a shot over Whitney Sutak

Cardinal moms Katie Ruef and Kelly James

SF Pro-Am whets fans’ appetites for 2010-11

Some two dozen fans of Stanford women’s basketball got a tantalizing glimpse of the upcoming season as three Cardinal players helped to lead their SF Bay Area Pro-Am team to victory June 27 at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco.

Returning red-shirt sophomore center Sarah Boothe and incoming freshman guards Sara James and Toni Kokenis all started for the Golden State team, which defeated the San Francisco team 88-71. Although their team now has a 2-0 record, this was the Cardinal players’ first appearance. They were arriving on campus for summer school the previous weekend.

Sarah was playing in her first competitive game since her freshman year. She sat out all of last season after undergoing foot surgery, but she was practicing toward the end of the season. Sara and Toni were both making their Bay Area post-high school debuts.

As the teams were warming up, Sarah did some of the Cardinal’s familiar stretching exercises. She then controlled the tipoff. The game was nip-and-tuck for the first few minutes, but Golden State began to move ahead, leading 48-30 at the half.

All three Stanford women played well with lots of hustle. Sarah led the way with 14 points despite sitting out with four fouls for about 3 ½ minutes in the second half, then fouling out with 2:45 to go. Although this recreational league doesn’t keep stats other than scoring and fouls, by my reckoning Sarah – the tallest player on either team -- had at least eight rebounds plus one block and a steal.

Toni contributed 13 points to go with at least eight rebounds along with four steals and no fouls. She wasn’t afraid to drive to the basket and moved the ball well up the court. Sara, whose parents were at the game (she’s from El Dorado Hills), chipped in 8 points, at least three rebounds and one steal. She, too, moved the ball well.

All three ran the floor well. Sarah made most of her baskets in the paint, while the two guards scored from farther out or drove to the basket. All three shared the ball well and seemed to sense when to pass and when to shoot. They played aggressive defense, especially the two guards. Sarah often set screens.

The Stanford women were involved in several offensive plays that would have been right at home at Maples. I didn’t keep track of assists, but they seemed to recognize that passing the ball to a teammate who scores is just as valuable as scoring themselves.

Sophomore forward Mikaela Ruef and incoming freshman forward Chiney Ogwumike are on the Golden State roster but weren’t at the game. Mikaela was reportedly attending a family get-together, while Chiney was in Colorado awaiting her USA U18 team’s gold medal game later that afternoon. You can read about her accomplishments in Stories of the Season.

Golden State plays again at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 3; 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10; and noon Saturday, July 17. Playoffs are scheduled for the last two Saturdays in July, the first Saturday of August and, if necessary, August 14.

Kezar Pavilion is at the east end of Golden Gate Park with hourly paid parking next door. For directions and other information, go to SF Bay Area Pro-Am.

Toni grabs a rebound

Sara launches a three

Sarah goes up for two

Thanks for the memories – A look back at 2009-10, Part 2

After compiling a 28-1 regular season record with no losses at home, it was time for the Stanford women’s basketball team to gear up for championship play.

Tournament time

The Cardinal came home from the Galen Center in Los Angeles with the Pac-10 tournament championship trophy after downing Arizona 72-52 on March 12, Cal 64-44 on March 13 and UCLA 70-46 on March 14. Thus Stanford made Pac-10 history with its combination of an undefeated conference season and the tournament championship.


In addition to the trophy, the team brought home individual honors. Sophomore forward Nneka Ogwumike was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Senior center Jayne Appel and junior forward Kayla Pedersen were named to the all-tournament team. Just before the Cal game, Jayne was honored as the Toyo Tires Pac-10 Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Because of a sprained ankle, Jayne didn’t start against Arizona or Cal, so freshman forward Joslyn Tinkle got the nod. However, Jayne played in both games and contributed her share of points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. All 14 dressed players (sophomore center Sarah Boothe did not play all season after foot surgery) got into action against Cal. They included freshman forward Mikaela Ruef, who recorded the first 3-pointer of her college career.

Jayne did start in the championship game and amassed 15 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. As the victorious Stanford players and staff began cutting down the nets, head coach Tara VanDerveer broke with tradition. Instead of making the final cut to remove the net herself, she handed the scissors to fifth-year Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, who triumphantly held the net aloft.


Fans, the band, cheerleaders, Dollies and Tree gave the team a sendoff from their hotel for all three games. During the sendoff for the final game, UCLA players and coaches had to thread their way through the enthusiastic crowd to reach their bus.

The big dance

By virtue of winning the Pac-10 tournament, Stanford got an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Its overall record and strength of schedule resulted in the second No. 1 seed overall. The Cardinal also hosted the first and second rounds. Before playing, they showcased their skills during a one-hour open practice March 19.

Stanford took care of UC Riverside 79-47 in the first-round game March 20. All 14 uniformed players saw action.

In the second-round game against Iowa on March 22, Ros played her final game at Maples in memorable fashion. She scored a team-high and career-high 26 points in the 96-67 victory. Not only that, she opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, then scored five more in succession. She went on to record one more 3 plus two other baskets and a free throw to go with one rebound, five assists, one block and one steal in 33 minutes. When she went to the bench for the last time, the crowd gave a roaring ovation to go with a hug from Tara.

The other four starters also scored in double figures – Jayne in her last Maples game with 16, Nneka with 23, and Kayla and junior guard Jeanette Pohlen with 11 each. Once again, everyone got to play. Thus the team completed its second consecutive undefeated season at Maples – 46 home games.

Off to the Sweet and the Elite

Two busloads of fans joined others wearing Cardinal red as Stanford advanced to the regional – aka the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight – at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Preceding the first game on March 27, fans gathered at Bella Bru Cafe for a buffet on the outdoor patio. They then proceeded to the nearby arena, where their team tended to business, defeating 5-seeded Georgia 73-36. The starters were all on the bench with 6:16 to go and their team ahead by 36. Again, all 14 dressed players got onto the court.

Two more busloads of fans went to the Xavier game on March 29, but they weren’t nearly as relaxed. Stanford led 26-24 at the half, in part because Xavier’s taller post players made life difficult for Jayne, Kayla and Nneka. After Jayne fouled out in the second half, a fan yelled, “Do it for Jayne,” referring to the senior’s oft-stated wish for a national championship.

Then came the storybook finish – one that will go down as one of the greatest plays in the history of Stanford women’s basketball. With just seconds to go and the score tied 53-53, a Xavier player missed two easy layups. Kayla rebounded the second one and immediately called a time out. In the huddle, the coaches called what turned out to be the perfect play.

With only 4.4 seconds left, Kayla inbounded the ball to Jeanette under the Xavier basket. Jeanette streaked down the court and made the winning basket. In fact, the ball was in the air when the buzzer sounded, but it had left her hands in time. Thus the game didn’t go into overtime, jubilation broke out on Stanford’s half of the court, Jeanette was mobbed by her joyous teammates, and Stanford was on its way to its third consecutive Final Four with a 55-53 victory.

Two days later, the team was packed and ready to go to San Antonio. Before going to the airport, the players were given an enthusiastic send-off by about 100 fans, the band, cheerleaders, Dollies, Tree and media types. “Our team has worked extremely hard to get here,” Tara told the crowd. “We’re not just going to Texas for the barbecue.”

Deep in the heart of Texas

The weather was hot and humid in San Antonio, but the hundreds of Stanford fans, along with fans from Baylor, UConn and Oklahoma, enjoyed the River Walk, Alamo and other attractions. Prior to the Oklahoma game on April 4, Stanford fans gathered at the team’s Hotel Contessa for a social and send-off. After a 10-minute serenade by the band, the team headed to the bus while clapping to “All Right Now”. Once everyone was aboard, the bus took off, escorted by two police motorcycles with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

The Alamodome atmosphere was noisy and electrifying as fans from all four schools milled about wearing their teams’ colors. Stanford and Oklahoma started off the evening’s action. Nneka paced Stanford to its 73-66 victory over the Sooners with a breathtaking 38-point, 16-rebound performance.

Few fans left after that game because they were eager to see how undefeated UConn would fare against Baylor with its 6’8” freshman phenom, Brittney Griner. No problem – the Huskies prevailed 70-50.

Two days later, Stanford fans gathered for a buffet and rally at Rio Rio Cantina restaurant near the team’s hotel. After enjoying Tex-Mex appetizers and other refreshments, the fans walked to the hotel for the send-off. Standing in front of the hotel, the team joined the fans and band in chanting, “This is our year. This is our team.” Then it was onto the bus, which again had a police escort.

The championship game was preceded by an impressive flag ceremony presented by military personnel from nearby bases. The crowd included Vice President Joe Biden and members of his family – thus necessitating stricter security at the gates.

Since UConn was the top No. 1 seed and Stanford was the second No. 1 seed, the Cardinal were in their red road uniforms for the first time since the regular season. The first half was low-scoring and ended with Stanford ahead 20-12, giving fans reason for cautious optimism.

UConn began to rally in the second half, especially after Jayne hobbled to the bench after aggravating her ankle injury. After retaping and a pain shot, she returned to the game. She gritted it out but finished the game scoreless for the first time in her college career. Still, she had seven rebounds and two assists in her 30 minutes. She also diverted defensive attention from her teammates and no doubt inspired them with her toughness. It later was revealed that she had been diagnosed with a stress fracture on March 21.

The final score was 53-47 in UConn’s favor. It was the closest margin of victory in the Huskies’ two-season, 78-game winning streak and its first by single digits.

Two days later, Jayne was in New Jersey with her parents and associate head coach Amy Tucker for the WNBA draft. It soon became apparent that she would be back in San Antonio because the Silver Stars, drafting fifth, made her their first-round choice. She then spent several days in Connecticut, where the USA National Team was training. Though she remained on the sidelines, she said she learned a lot. She also was reunited with Kayla and Nneka, who were there with the younger USA Select Team.

One final gathering

Before completing her travels and settling in San Antonio, Jayne joined her teammates one last time as friends, family and fans honored them at the bittersweet annual awards banquet at the Stanford Faculty Club on April 22.

Although the coaches usually announce the most outstanding player, best defensive player and most improved player, they decided to forgo those awards because of the team’s impressive record and the numerous individual honors garnered during the year.

In addition to its 36-2 overall record and Pac-10 championship, the team recorded the most rebounds ever – 1,719 total, or 45.2 per game, an 11.8 margin over opponents. It held opponents to a record-low 53.9 points per game and a record-low field goal percentage of .339 per game.

After praising each of the 15 players individually, Tara opened the floor to the three departing seniors – forward Michelle Harrison, Jayne and Ros. All three spoke emotionally of what an honor it was to play for Stanford and advised the underclassmen to savor every moment because the time goes fast.

Following a season highlights video by Bud Anderson, director of creative video, Sarah presented the Lizard Lung Award to junior guard Hannah Donaghe, the first upperclassman to receive her teammates’ lighthearted award for gullibility. Sarah was last year’s winner.

After dinner, as people mingled in the dining room, the team and coaches posed for their last pictures together. Then it was time for the 12 returning players to think about going back to their rooms, setting their alarm clocks for a 7 a.m. strength and conditioning workout, and getting ready for the 2010-11 season – which looks mighty promising once again.

Thanks for the memories – A look back at 2009-10, Part 1

Wow, what a ride the Stanford women’s basketball team and its fans took during the 2009-10 season. Compiling a 36-2 record overall, the team made history with its first combination of both an undefeated Pac-10 regular season and the Pac-10 tournament championship. From there, the team marched through the NCAA tournament at home and in Sacramento before going on to its third consecutive Final Four and the championship game in San Antonio in April.

All along the way, the team and individual players broke records and won well-deserved honors. Here’s a look back at how it all unfolded.

Pre-season events

Fans who couldn’t wait for the season to start got their first tantalizing taste of what was to come as they watched incoming freshman forwards Mikaela Ruef and Joslyn Tinkle in the Bay Area Pro-Am games during July and early August at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco. What they saw was promising indeed, as both players showed their overall scoring abilities as well as their 3-point shots and rebounding.

In the meantime, sophomore forward Nneka Ogwumike went to Thailand with the USA U-19 team and helped lead it to a gold medal in the FIBA games. Classmate Sarah Boothe, center, was to have gone, too, but a foot injury forced her to withdraw. In addition, juniors Jeanette Pohlen, guard, and Kayla Pedersen, forward, helped the USA team win gold at the University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Except for the two freshmen, who were barred from the trip by NCAA rules, the rest of the team gathered on campus for 12 hours of practice in early September before embarking on their 10-day trip to Italy. There they won three of their four games against mostly older players and had a terrific time touring the country.

Fast Break Club members got a chance to hear all about it from the coaches and staff during the fourth annual wine tasting at Vino Locale in Palo Alto on Oct. 11. Head coach Tara VanDerveer wasn’t there because she was giving a clinic for her sister Heidi, head coach at Occidental College. However, associate head coach Amy Tucker and assistant coaches Kate Paye and Bobbie Kelsey all commented that, based on the trip to Italy, “the team is looking awesome,” as Kate put it. How right she was.

Fans saw the team in action during an open practice in early October. Then came the first exhibition game, a 107-49 romp over Vanguard in Maples on Nov. 1. The scoring included 15 3-pointers, thanks to Jeanette and Kayla; senior guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude; red-shirt junior guards Melanie Murphy and JJ Hones; and sophomore guards Grace Mashore and Lindy La Rocque.

The Cardinal won its second exhibition game, also at home, 107-55 against UC San Diego on Nov. 8.

The season starts

The first two regular season games were both on the road, and both resulted in victories – 89-56 over Old Dominion on Nov. 13 and 81-66 over Rutgers on Nov. 15.

Back in the friendly confines of Maples, the Cardinal topped Pepperdine 99-50 on Nov. 19. After the game, FBC members had a chance to meet Joslyn. The Missoula, Montana resident, whose father is the University of Montana’s men’s basketball coach, said she had made official visits to Oklahoma, Texas, Duke and Georgia before visiting Stanford. “I was sold,” she said, noting that she decided that Stanford was “where I would be most happy outside of basketball.”

A short road trip to UC Davis on Nov. 22 led to another victory, 76-51. Then it was back to Maples for a five-game home stand starting with Utah and a 60-41 victory on Nov. 27 After that game, the FBC heard from alum Angela Taylor,’93, now vice president and general manager of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Gonzaga was the next to fall to the Cardinal – 105-74 on Nov. 29. Scoring a team-high 30 points, Kayla joined the 1,000-point club. Nneka was just behind her with 29 points. Afterward, Mikaela told the FBC that she started playing basketball in kindergarten and received a basketball for Christmas when she was 5. Hailing from Beavercreek, Ohio, Mikaela still is close to family since several relatives live in the Bay Area.

After taking a two-week break for finals, Stanford defeated visiting DePaul 96-60 on Dec. 13. Halftime saw the return of those fan favorites, the agility dogs from Ace Dog Sports. The game also was noteworthy because senior center Jayne Appel snared her 1,000th rebound, joining the illustrious company of Nicole Powell, ’04, and Val Whiting, ’93.

Afterward, the team and fans gathered at Dallmar Court for the annual auction, a fun fund-raiser with “Back in the Saddle” as its western theme. A life-size black horse standing near the auctioneer’s stage was an eye-catcher. One of the most popular auction items was a colorful team quilt made by Lindy’s mother, Beverly, who also had made one for the 2008 auction. That first one sold for $800, but the new edition sold for $975.

Duke, ranked seventh in the nation at the time, was the next to fall, 71-55, in Maples on Dec. 15. The FBC’s post-game gathering was held in Maples for the first time. “This was a big win for our team. This is a really special team,” Tara said.

The final game of the five-game home stand brought a 67-52 win over Tennessee on Dec. 19. The Lady Vols had arrived with a 9-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking, while the Cardinal had an 8-0 record and a No. 2 ranking – a spot that the team held from the pre-season and all season thereafter.

After the game, both teams gathered in a circle. “It was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” Jeanette told the FBC later. The game had attracted in a crowd of 6,809, close to a full house. “The crowd and the excitement were just great,” Tara said.

Just four days later, on Dec. 23, the team was in Hartford, Conn. to meet the defending national champion and undefeated UConn Huskies. Stanford led at the half but fell 80-68 to a team that had been knocking off its opponents by 20 points or more. It turned out to be Stanford’s only regular season loss.

After Christmas break, the team took a short road trip to Fresno State, where the score was 68-46 on Dec. 30.

Pac-10 play gets under way


The new year was just 2 days old when the Pac-10 season began with Stanford’s 79-58 win over Cal in Maples. A highlight in this game came courtesy of Mel. On a fast break play, she made a no-look pass to Nneka, who promptly scored. Afterward, junior guard Hannah Donaghe was the FBC’s guest. She hadn’t played thus far because she was rehabbing from knee surgery, but she had been cleared to practice.

A quick trip to Los Angeles netted two more wins – 82-62 over USC on Jan. 8 and 65-61 over UCLA on Jan. 10.

Hannah was in uniform for the first time but didn’t play Jan. 14, when Washington State fell 80-43. Lindy made the highlights video by intercepting a pass in WSU’s backcourt, running it back to the Stanford arc and nailing a 3-pointer. Junior forward Ashley Cimino made the first 3-pointer of her college career late in the game.

Washington gave the Cardinal more trouble than expected on Jan. 16, but fell nevertheless, 66-51. The team was without starting guard Jeanette Pohlen, who had aggravated a sprained ankle, so Lindy started in her place.

Oregon was the site of the next two wins – 63-47 over Oregon State on Jan. 21 and 100-80 over Oregon on Jan. 23.

Visiting Maples on Jan. 28, Arizona State managed to do something no other team had done previously in the season. It led at the half – 29-25. Just slightly more than three minutes into the second half, Kayla hit the basket that put her team ahead, and there was no looking back after that. Final score – 71-48. Speaking to the FBC afterward, former Chronicle sports writer Michelle Smith predicted that Stanford, Tennessee and UConn would go to the Final Four (she was right on two counts).

The 83-62 victory over Arizona on Jan; 30 was the team’s 40th consecutive home win. Even though Arizona led 42-40 at the half, Stanford stormed back to outscore them 43-20 in the second half. In a departure from tradition, the team wore its red road uniforms rather than its home whites to call attention to the earthquake disaster in Haiti.

The entire team joined the FBC afterward for Fan Appreciation Day. Douglas Lee and Kelly Noonan, who have been loyal boosters for many years, won the Fan Spirit Award.

The two LA teams came to visit the following week and fell again – UCLA down 74-53 on Feb. 4 and USC down 77-39 on Feb. 7. During the UCLA game, Jayne scored 23 points, a season high for her. Her performance was marred with just under 8 minutes to go in the second half when she was ejected for what was called a flagrant foul on Jasmine Dixon. It wasn’t intentional, Jayne said later. Dixon and UCLA head coach Nikki Caldwell concurred.

The USC game was highlighted by a ceremony honoring members of the 1989-90 team, which won the first of Stanford’s two national championships. The ceremony took place right after the 1 p.m. game to allow fans time to watch the football Super Bowl.


“This was our Super Sunday,” Tara told the crowd. “I’m proud of this year’s team,” she said, but the 1990 team showed the way with its “commitment to excellence…. It set the standards.” The night before, that 32-1 team and the present team had a dinner that the present players said was both inspirational and educational.

Besides honoring the championship team, the game featured a major milestone when Jayne surpassed the Stanford rebounding record of 1,143 set by Nicole Powell in 2004. Jayne’s 1,444th rebound came with 7:34 to go in the first half. She finished the game with 13 rebounds for a career total of 1,153 – and counting. She also chipped in 15 points, two assists and one block. Hannah got her first playing time.

Then it was off to the Pacific Northwest, where the team downed Washington 58-36 on Feb. 12 and Washington State 98-67 on Feb. 14.

The Oregon teams came calling the next weekend. The fun started Feb. 18 when the Cardinal dismantled Oregon 104-60, a game in which all five Stanford starters reached double figures. Kayla gets credit for the play of the game – inbounding the ball by deflecting it off a Duck’s back, then catching it and scoring.

Mixed emotions dominated the next game on Feb. 20 as Stanford defeated Oregon State 82-48 and clinched at least a share of the Pac-10 season title. It also was Senior Night, a chance to honor the four members of the Class of 2010 and fifth-year player Ros.

The game itself opened fittingly with Jayne scoring the game’s first points just 15 seconds after tipoff. About 11 minutes later, she scored her 2,000th career point, vaulting herself into Stanford’s exclusive 2,000-point/1,000-rebound club. Its only other members are Val Whiting and Nicole Powell. All of her classmates got on the scoreboard, too. Near the end of the game, all five – Jayne, forward Michelle Harrison, guards JJ Hones and Melanie Murphy, and Ros -- were on the court.

After the game, they were honored with a moving video, then were introduced individually with their families. Later, at a packed Dallmar Court, Amy enumerated the seniors’ accomplishments – four Pac-10 season championships, three Pac-10 tournament championships (soon to be four), two Elite Eights (soon to be three) and two Final Fours (soon to be three). Their win-loss record, starting with the 2006-07 season, was 122-15, about 89 percent of their games – and still counting. The final tally was 133-16 after the national championship game.

The next weekend, Stanford went to Arizona and returned with two more wins – 62-43 over Arizona State on Feb. 25 and 75-48 over Arizona on Feb. 27.

A busload of fans traveled to Berkeley to watch their team topple Cal 63-48 for the final regular season game on March 6. Jayne didn’t play because of a sprained ankle, but her family and friends filled an entire section. They were obvious because of their red T-shirts inscribed “House of Jayne.” Joslyn started in Jayne’s place.

After that, it was tournament time – coming in Part 2.