The last PAC-12 Desert Trip is Done
Stanford's final PAC-12 women's basketball season is half over. Stanford has completed their final "mountain trip" and their final "desert trip" with only one conference loss. The Cardinal, picked in the preseason to finish 3rd or 4th, is currently sitting at the top of the of the conference standings - the only team with only one conference loss. But, the next nine games are a continuation of the gauntlet that is PAC-12 women's basketball this season.
The PAC-12, loaded with nationally ranked teams, has been a round robin of upsets. Stanford is the only school that has not lost a conference game to a lower ranked team -- Colorado was ranked above Stanford when they defeated the CARD. Stanford and Oregon State are the only schools that have not lost on their home floor.
The CARD have home games coming up against a USC team that lost today to Washington and a UCLA team that lost today to Washington State. The LA schools will be coming in angry and hungry to salvage their rankings. After that, Stanford travels north to play the Washington schools. Then, there will be the final three home games of the season against Cal, Arizona, and Arizona State before closing out the regular season against a nationally ranked Oregon State team and an always tough Oregon team. Whew, not an easy schedule -- those road games will be tough.
The Desert Trip
By score the games in the desert were the easiest conference games of the year, with the Cardinal defeating ASU by 30 points and Arizona by 32. But anybody who watched knows that they were not truly easy games. Both Arizona schools played tenacious defense, including some hard fouls. Cam had icebags on her face and leg after the ASU game and Arizona forced Stanford in to 16 turnovers. Despite the aggressive defense, Stanford controlled both game from the opening quarter. Brink had double-doubles in both games, getting there against Arizona in the first half! Kiki scored over 20 points in both games but missed collecting her 11th double-double against Arizona by one rebound. In winning both games, Tara VanDerveer reached wins 1204 and 1205 for her record setting career.
What has gone right
Underestimated by the experts in the preseason polls, Stanford has climbed into the top five (maybe higher after this week’s upsets) because of a strong team effort. The Cardinal is continuing to play with pace -- the current average points-per-game (81.7), if maintained, would be Stanford's highest in this millennium! Nationally the CARD are in the top four in free throw percentage, the top five in assist-to-turnover ratio, the top two in rebound margin, the top 20 in points-per-game, the top 10 in scoring margin, and the top 15 in field goad percentage defense. The CARD are led by their dynamic duo -- Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen -- both averaging over 10 rebounds and over 17 points per game! Hannah Jump is also averaging in double figures, plays strong defense, and is this year's "coach on the floor." Jump set the Stanford career record for made-three-pointers earlier this year --so every three she hits is a new Stanford
record!
The Starting Five
Stanford is playing ten deep. Ten players, including all three of Stanford's freshmen, are playing in significant minutes and averaging double-digit playing time. Hannah Jump (32.6 mpg) is the only player averaging more than 30 minutes a game - although floor leader Talana Lepolo (29.4) is close. Lepolo continues to be an excellent floor leader -- her assist-to-turnover ratio ranks in the top 15 nationally. Additionally, Lepolo has started looking for her shoot a bit more often. She averages 5.5 ppg while hitting over 42% of her threes. The team's fifth starter, junior Elena Bosgana, is averaging 7 points and 4.4 rebounds in a bit over 18 minutes a game. She also has 35 assists, 14 steals, and 3 blocks.
One delightful development from the younger players has been their active defense. Red-shirt sophomore Jzaniya Harriel leads the team in steals (19) and has 26 assists, 23 three-pointers (she is shooting 47% from three), 29 rebounds, and four blocks! It is not surprising that she is seeing her minutes go up! Chloe Clardy has 15 steals despite having missed some games due to injury. Junior Brooke Demetre has also seen her minutes go up this year. Brooke has responded by playing tough defense while posting the team's 4th best shooting percentage (45.6%).
The team's other freshmen are also big contributors. Freshman Nunu Agara has the team's third highest scoring percentage (51%) behind only Brink and Iriafen, including the hitting 5 of 11 from three. Courtney Ogden has played in fewer games because of injuries but has looked good when she is on the court. Her 23 assists with only eight turnovers complement her rebounds and steals. Although they don't play when the game is on the line, sophomores Stavi Papadaki and Lauren Green continue to make valuable contributions -- especially on the scout team.
The Team
Questions!
#1: The Stanford team clearly fed off the energy provided by the crowd at a loud, packed Maples Pavilion when they defeated a tough Oregon State team for Tara's record setting win. Can fans pack the gym for the final PAC-12 regular season games against USC and UCLA?
#2: How long will it be before Stanford University gets it right and renames the floor at Maples Pavilion the Tara VanDerveer floor?
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