It was an afternoon of firsts as the Stanford women’s basketball team played its first game of the 2009-10 season and romped to a 107-49 exhibition win at home over Vanguard University of Orange County on Nov. 1.
First of all, the team was sporting spiffy new warmups – all red with short white sleeves. The starting lineup was familiar, but with a new twist. Senior Jayne Appel and sophomore Nneka Ogwumike switched places, with Nneka rather than Jayne in the center circle for the opening tipoff. Joining them were junior forward Kayla Pedersen, fifth-year guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude and junior guard Jeanette Pohlen.
It took about 2 ½ minutes before either side scored, but Nneka finally made the first basket right after snatching the first rebound. A few second later, senior guard JJ Hones replaced Ros at the point, thus making her first appearance in a game since tearing her ACL against Rutgers last season. She made her first basket – a 3 – early in the second half.
Jeanette made the first 3-pointer of the season about eight minutes into the game. She went on to toss in two more. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Cardinal had poured in 15 3s. The others came from Ros, sophomore guard Grace Mashore and sophomore guard Lindy La Rocque, each with three. Kayla, JJ and senior guard Melanie Murphy had one each. Sophomore center Sarah Boothe, recuperating from foot surgery, did the high-five honors with the bench after each 3-pointer.
The first successful free throw came from Nneka, who made a total of six of nine attempts. As a team, the Cardinal made 10 of 15 FTs.
Freshman forwards Joslyn Tinkle and Mikaela Ruef both made their debuts, and both scored – Joslyn 3 and Mikaela 4. They also contributed rebounds and blocks.
Junior forward Ashley Cimino’s first basket came with slightly more than four minutes left in the game, but it was the one that lifted the Cardinal score to 100.
For the night, all12 healthy players scored. Nneka led the way with 20. Also in double figures were Jeanette, 15; Kayla and Lindy, 11 each; and Jayne and Grace, 10 each. Not playing were Sarah along with senior forward Michelle Harrison and junior guard Hannah Donaghe.
JJ was responsible for the game’s most touching gesture after one of the Vanguard players crumpled to the floor with a knee injury. After the trainers had helped the player get up, JJ stepped in to support her on the way to the locker room. JJ knows only too well what it’s like to suffer a knee injury, for last season’s ACL tear was the second of her college career.
For the record, even though JJ played only nine minutes, the least of any Cardinal, she looked good, running the point with efficiency and of course scoring the 3-pointer as well as dishing out two assists and snaring one rebound.
Mel led the team in assists with 12. Jayne had the most rebounds, nine, plus two blocks and a steal. There were at least two plays when a Vanguard player was going in for a layup only to literally bounce off 6’4” Jayne.
The taller Stanford team – ranked second in the nation -- outrebounded Vanguard 55-33 and had 15 fouls to Vanguard’s 19. Stanford led in steals, 6-2; blocks, 8-1; and assists, 30-9. Stanford had 10 turnovers to Vanguard’s 16.
Because it was an exhibition game, there were none of the other usual participants like the band, cheerleaders or Dollies. However, Betty Ann Boeving was at the announcer’s microphone, making a most welcome return.
Even though it was only an exhibition game against a less than formidable opponent, head coach Tara VanDerveer had to like much of what she saw. She also saw some things that could have been better, but that’s what exhibition games are for – to work out some of the kinks before the games count on the team’s record.
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