Stanford working to capitalize on experience in Italy

Stanford had its first practice Monday since returning from an invaluable trip to Italy that included five games in 10 days and countless memories off the court ...

Read more from Jacob Rayburn (Cardinal Sports Report).

Stanford Athletics new Home of Champions

Dallmar Court in the Arrillaga Family Sports Center has been repurposed to become Stanford Athletics splendid new "Home of Champions".

This article from Advent, the company that designed the Home of Champions, describes some of the interesting technology and displays: Former basketball gym becomes Stanford Athletics ‘Home of Champions’

The Home of Champions is set to open to the public next Saturday, Sep 23,from 11-6. Thereafter, it will be open on weekdays from 10-4 (except closed on Tuesday) and on weekends from 11-4.

Cardinal loses game five

The Cardinal led by one at the half (29-28), and the game was tied (54-54) at the end of regulation, but Vigarano won the overtime period (10-3) and the game (64-57).

Alexa was the Cardinal's leading scorer today with 13 points on 5-10 shooting, including 3-7 three-pointers. Kaylee grabbed 11 rebounds, her best performance of the week. And DiJonai had another strong game with eight points and eight rebounds.

Alanna, Brit and Estella did not play.

Karlie made six of her 11 shots, including two of five three-pointers for a total of 16 points. She also had five steals.

Here is the Stanford (and Karlie) box score.

Waiting for game five

Before the result of the Stanford/Vigarano game is made known, here is a bit of fuzzy news clipped from the pregame video:

Brit and Alanna are sidelined. But three of Vigarano's players, including two starters, are also sidelined due to fatigue or illness.

Karlie's shot is unmistakeable,no matter how fuzzy.

Neither Brit nor Alanna is wearing a boot or showing any other visible sign of injury.

Here's the pregame video:

Cardinal loses game four in Italy

Famila Schio, which has placed either first or second in the Italian Serie A1 League for the past six seasons, gave the Cardinal a drubbing today: 71-45

DiJonai again led the Cardinal in scoring (but with only nine points) and in rebounding(10). Here are the Stanford stats.

Following the game, Famila Schio posed with the Cardinal for the official photo:

And then gifted them with a huge basket of goodies and a memorial plaque:

Earlier today, SWBB posted 30 more photos to album Italy 17 — mostly taken in Orvieto and Florence — beginning with this one of Maya taking in the view from Orvieto's city wall:

And here is the pregame video:

Cardinal loses game three in Italy

The Cardinal moved on from Florence to Venice today and played a game in the evening vs Reyer Venezia, the Italian Serie A1 League team based in Venice.

This is the pre-game video:

It was a close game for three quarters, at which point Reyer was ahead 55-54. Then Reyer blew past Stanford with a 22-8 fourth quarter and won 77-62.

For the third game in a row, DiJonai was Stanford's leading scorer — with 13 points this time. Here are the Stanford stats.

The Cardinal will spend two more days in Venice before returning home on Friday. They will enjoy some grand sight-seeing and play two more games against Italian Serie A1 teams: Famila Schio on Wednesday and Pallacanestro Vigarano (Karlie's team) on Thursday.

Trip to Italy, days 4 & 5

Yesterday, the Cardinal travelled north from Rome to Orvieto, the gorgeous city on a hill, ...

... where they took a brief walking tour:

... then continued on to Florence:

They toured Florence on Sunday and took a bus to Lucca in the evening to play their second basketball game. There are no Cardinal alums on the Lucca team this season, although Jillian Harmon and Kayla Pedersen played there last season and the one before. Jillian came to Lucca to watch the game:

The teams warmed up, listened to each other's national anthem, and exchanged t-shirts before the game:

Lucca beat Stanford 60-58.

Here are the Stanford stats and the game report from Lucca: Lucca wins the Memorial Coast woolen yarn

If I've interpreted Google's inept translation correctly:

Lucca took a big lead (20-10) in the first quarter and kept that margin through the second and third quarters. Stanford began to closely e the gap in the fourth quarter. DiJonai (who was again Stanford's top scorer) tied it up at 55-55 with 1:36 left to play. Then Lucca pulled ahead again to 59-55. Brittany sank a three-pointer and Lucca made a free throw to end the game at 60-58.

By the way, Lucca is a top-notch team. They won the Italian Women's Basketball Series A! league championship last season.

Cardinal wins first game on third day in Rome

The Cardinal spent their third day in Rome touring the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel:

Day 2: Vatican City pic.twitter.com/9JXNNDNswS

— Shannon Coffee (@shanncoff) September 8, 2017

In the evening, they defeated Stella Azzurra Basketball Adademy 89-29. The Cardinal had a significant height advantage — Shannon had a 14-point/16-rebound double-double. DiJonai led the Cardinal scoring with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-3 three-pointers. Here is the Cardinal box score

The Cardinal has landed

... in Rome, as the team begins its summer trip.

Jacob Rayburn (Cardinal Sports Report) reports:
Italy trip will be full of great food, sightseeing and invaluable games

See more photos in SWBB album Italy 2017.