First Game is One for the Record Books
In Stanford's blowout win over Le Moyne everybody "dressed" for the game and Head Coach Kate Paye earned a positive entry in the record books! Coach Paye got her first head coaching win, the team set a Stanford record for 3-point field goals with 18, players Jzaniya Harriel and Chloe Clardy scored career highs in points, and sophomore transfer Mary Ashley Stevenson grabbed double digit rebounds. Harriel and Clardy were joined in double digit scoring by rising star Nunu Agara (18), and senior Elena Bosgana (19). Senior Brooke Demetre, a vocal leader, turned in a solid eight-point, three-rebound, three-assist, one-block performance.
All four of the team's newcomers dressed for the game scored at least one point and pulled down at least one rebound. (Junior transfer Tess Heal was on the bench with what appeared to be an upper body injury.) The freshmen Kennedy Umeh, Shay Ijiwoye, and Harper Peterson gave us a glimpse of the talent that had them among the nation's top 100 recruits. Umeh provided a presence in the paint, recording five points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in her less than seven minutes on the floor. Peterson went two-for-two from three-point range in her 4:54 on the floor. Ijiwoye put the speed and "hops" that coaches have described on display in her almost 13 minutes of playing time. The 5'6" Shay skyed for a defensive rebound and dished out three assists while adding significant "zip" to the Card's push up the floor.
Talana Lepolo in her first game exposure since off-season knee surgery, and talented sophomore Courtney Ogden didn’t have big numbers on the stat sheet but each made positive contributions on defense. Courtney demonstrated unselfishness on a particularly nice pass to Ijiwoye leading to her first basket. Even players who rarely get floor time made noteworthy contributions. Stavi Papadaki had two assists, a steal, and an impressive block that got the bench and the fans on their feet cheering. Lauren Green grabbed a rebound and showed off the defensive intensity that earns her respect in practice. This was truly a team party!
It's the finish that matters!
What was perhaps most impressive about Stanford's dispatching of the clearly overmatched Le Moyne team was the Card's efficiency as they played with pace and ball movement. The team shot 55% overall, 53% from three, and 69% of made baskets were assited (25 of 37). Even more impressive, the team had more steals (9) than turnovers (6).
Those gaudy numbers hide the fact that for fans at Maples the opening minutes were a bit more nerve racking. At the five-minute mark Stanford trailed by two points (6 to 4). Somewhere around that time, a glance at the stat board showed Stanford shooting 11% from the floor. Stanford closed the quarter with a flurry of threes (two by Harriel and one each by Clardy and Demetre) to take a 16-10 lead and bring the shooting percentage up to a respectable (but not impressive) 31%. From there the CARD never looked back. With the "new season" jitters settled, Stanford went on a tear, scoring 34 points in the second quarter while holding Le Moyne to 12!
Going Forward
The rest of the season is not going to be as easy as the rout of Le Moyne, a team only a few years removed from Division II. Stanford, not ranked in the Preseason Top 25 for the first time in over 35 years, faces three ranked teams in the preseason (LSU, Ohio State, and Indiana). The next two foes for this week-- Washington State and Gonzaga -- are teams that have played the CARD tough, especially Gonzaga. The Gonzaga game, when Tara VanDerveer Court will be dedicated, should be a real test. If Stanford is 3-0 by this time next week, we can be confident that the CARD's performance this year will be better than the 7th place in the ACC predicted by the pundits.
Some Important Roles for Fans
As Stanford, under the leadership of Head Coach Paye, navigates the new landscape of college athletics there are several important things fans can do to help. First is SHOW UP! Basketball players love playing in front of packed houses. They love it even more when the house is packed with their fans.
In addition, this new world is fueled by money. Part of supporting Stanford Women's Basketball is supporting Stanford Athletics. That means not just buying tickets but also considering a donation to the Buck/Cardinal Club (originally the "Buck a Month Club). Membership requires a donation of any size. Women's Basketball season ticket holders who donate at least $500 to the Buck/Cardinal Club receive parking passes with larger donations receiving additional benefits. Generally donations made in a current academic year receive benefits the following year. Buck Cardinal Donations: (https://give.stanford.edu/athletics?utm_source=gostanford&utm_campaign=buck_cardinal)
A new way to support the women's basketball is to give to Stanford's recently formed "Collective" -- Lifetime Cardinal. Fans can join Lifetime Cardinal, select the sport they want to support, and select the size of their donation. There is also a Lifetime Cardinal merch store. Currently only players in women's basketball, men's basketball, and football receive NIL money from Lifetime Cardinal but they plan to add more sports as support grows. Lifetime Cardinal: https://lifetimecardinal.com/pages/contact
Questions
One of my favorite parts of writing this blog is the chance to pose questions for myself and my fellow fans. Here goes with the first set for this year.
1. Can Kate Paye manage a smooth transition to the role of Head Coach?
In the past, new coaches taking over from legends have not had spectacular results. Texas took a long time to return to high rankings after Jody Conradt retired. Tennessee hasn't been back on top since Pat Summit retired. Other less renown programs have also struggled. More recently new coaches have had better luck, especially if they have both professional experience and spent time as a coach at that school. For example, Notre Dame has remained relevant since Niele Ivey took over for Muffet McGraw. So, what will be Kate's story?
2. Who will be this year's stars?
Of course I have been asking this question already and we already have some answers. Nunu Agara has quickly established herself as a team leader and rising star. It's too early to know just how good Nunu can be - but we predict that she will have a great season. Jzaniya Harriel's three-point scoring and steady guard play suggests that she may be the next rising star. She is currently ranked near the top on three-pointers nationally. Will she still be there next week? I wouldn't bet against it.
Of course, things like All Star rankings and national prominence require more than being the best or one of the best players on your team -- it requires your team doing well enough to get media coverage. If Stanford can shine in the ACC, our stars will shine.
3. Will Stanford fans show up?
Women's basketball is finally getting the national attention and respect it has long deserved. The question is, can that happen for Stanford? Over 15,000 Bay Area residents signed up for Valkyrie tickets -- but Stanford WBB is nowhere near a season ticket sellout and too many fans are getting older...
It doesn't help that the CARD have lost last season's marquee players and legendary head coach. But last year's team played in front of half empty stands despite having two All American's and the winningest coach in college basketball. Some people may still have the memory of where Stanford was 20 years ago when good seats weren't available...or maybe it's just the peninsula. Maybe we should all try bringing a friend to the game...I don't know.
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