Dominance on Display

            Two more games, two more wins -- defeating Pacific 98 - 44 on Friday and University of Portland 87 - 44 on Sunday. To date the preseason has provided ample evidence that our team belongs among the elite women's basketball programs this season.  The CARD is talented, tall, and deep.  

 

            Stanford's first loss -- of a quarter

 

     One measure of how thoroughly the Cardinal has dominated opposing teams in their first four games is that the 4th quarter against Portland was the first quarter of the season that the CARD did not win. It was 19 to 20 with Portland hitting a 3 pointer in the last few seconds. In their first four games Stanford has outscored opponents by an average of 49 points, shot 56.3 % from the floor while holding opponents to 26.6%, out rebounded opponents by 21.5 per game (48.2 to 26.8), and assisted on 55 more baskets than opponents (22 vs 8.3 per game).  The CARD also shot over 42% from the 3 pt line while holding opponents to 26.6 % and averaged 8 blocks per game.  Furthermore, all 15 players have played in every game averaging at least 3 minutes per game.  Only three players, Haley Jones (22.5), Hannah Jump (21.8), and Talana Lepolo (20) have averaged more than 20 minutes per game.

            One of our early questions, which freshman will be the first to get a starting nod and when will it happen, has been answered.  Talana Lepolo had her first start in game four.  Lepolo is, as Tara says, a natural point guard.  She brings the ball up the court effectively, even against pressure, has great court vision, and runs the offense well.  Her 11 assists to zero turnovers in her first game foreshadow what is likely to be an impressive career, filling a real need. It also appears that having Lepolo take up the point guard role frees Haley Jones to deliver the full performance -- scoring, rebounds, and assists -- that we have come to expect from her.  Perhaps it is a coincidence, but Haley's first double digit scoring game was Talana's first game starting at point guard.  

 

            Cameron Brink likes going home

 

            There is always a question of how a player will respond to playing in front of a home crowd.  Brink clearly enjoyed it. Her stat line for 21 minutes of play was 12 points, 9 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 2 assists to go with zero turnovers and only one foul! The only weak spot has been her 57% free throw percentage.  She can hit them -- we look forward to seeing her improve that stat.  

 

            The tough tests are coming

            

            There is one more tune up against Cal Poly before the big test against South Carolina at noon on Sunday, November 20.  That should be quite a game.  Dawn Staley has said she thinks her team is better than last year's -- but from all appearances so is the Cardinal.  The question is, which team has improved more.  Let's show up and give the home team the support they deserve.  

            Following that game, Stanford is off to Hawaii for three games in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown over Thanksgiving weekend.  That includes two teams, Florida Gulf Coast and U. of Hawaii, that participated in last year's NCAA tournament.  Following the Hawaii trip, the Card come home and play Santa Clara, then three tough teams -- Gonzaga, Tennessee, and Creighton -- before opening Pac-12 play December 23 against CAL, led by Jayda Curry.  Fasten your seat belts -- or better yet -- get ready to stand and cheer!

 

            Questions for the week

 

1.  How many players will be in the rotation when the season heats up?

            So far, all 15 players have played in every game.  That's easy to do when a team is winning by a ton.  But, what will the rotation look like when the competition gets stiffer?  Tara has been pushing pace hard with the idea that players can sub out to prevent fatigue.  And, when the bench includes Fran Belibi, Ashten Prechtel, Brooke Demtre, Elena Bosgana, Indya Nivar, and Lauren Betts it is hard to imagine not going 11 deep regularly. 

 

2.  How often will we see Cameron Brink at the 3?

            Stanford has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to "bigs." Brink, Iriafen, Belibi, Prechtel, and Betts are all players who belong on the floor.  Figuring out the combinations to get them out on the floor requires a hall of fame caliber coach -- luckily we have one.