Stanford rethinks approach after loss

Michelle Smith (San Francisco Chronicle) reports:

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer has change on her mind and possibly in her lineup as she processes Friday night's 69-56 loss to UCLA and prepares for today's 2 p.m. game against USC.

"We didn't do what we needed to do to be successful, and we're going to need some different people playing and contributing," VanDerveer said.

VanDerveer said she will explore lineup changes to find more support for Candice Wiggins and Jayne Appel, who scored all but 10 of Stanford's points against UCLA.

UCLA finally slays giant

There are many theories about what went wrong for the Cardinal in their game against UCLA last night. Here are comments from several players:

"It's hard to explain a game like this," said Candice Wiggins. "We knew what to expect and that they were a great team who had played great teams close and they are very good at home. Unfortunately bad shooting and getting in the hole early, we were unable to fight out of this one."

"I think our team was sick of playing with teams at the top and not being able to finish," said Lindsey Pluimer, UCLA's only senior. "We learned from those games and you could tell at the end that we were slowing the ball down, using the clock and being patient which came from the Maryland and Tennessee games."

"I thought it was about what we didn't really do, more than what they did," a disappointed Stanford center Jayne Appel said after the game.

"We talked before the game how hard we needed to play," said Darxia Morris, one of six freshmen on UCLA's roster "It doesn't matter how they play. This was really fun. This is big for us."

If you have the heart to read all about it, here are some game reports:

• UCLA finally slays giant by Michelle Smith (San Francisco Chronicle)
• No. 2 Stanford women's basketball team falls to UCLA by Lauren Peterson (Mercury News)
• UCLA women pull upset by Dan Arritt (Los Angeles Times)
• A legendary night by Lara Boyko (CSTV)
• and the AP game recap, photo gallery and the box score from Stanford Athletics.

USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year!

All-American Candice Wiggins (San Diego, Calif.), who was part of four separate USA Basketball teams in 2007 and helped those teams to three gold medals and a flawless 23-0 record, has been named USA Basketball’s 2007 Female Athlete of the Year, USA Basketball announced today.
(More ... )



And from a story in the Los Angeles Times:

• "The thing that impresses me so much is she just finds a way to get it done," said [UCLA coach Kathy] Olivier, whose Bruins will play host to Stanford tonight at 7 at Pauley Pavilion. "A will to win."
• "She's a gamer," said UCLA senior forward Lindsey Pluimer, who began playing against Wiggins while at San Clemente High. "She gets them pumped and ready."

See/Hear the UCLA/USC games

The Cardinal can expect a couple of tough games on their trip to L.A. this weekend.

The Bruins have stumbled to 4th place in the Pac-10 with a 6-7 record. Inconsistent play could be a problem for a UCLA team that will rely on several freshmen, including Nina Earl who scored 31 points and 13 rebounds against the Arizona schools last week. This year's freshman class has been ranked as high as third nationally, so there is plenty of talent, but not a lot of experience. The Bruins only senior, Lindsey Pluimer, will have to provide the leadership if UCLA's record is going to match its talent level. If things come together for the Bruins, they could surprise a few teams at the top of the conference.

After an injury plagued 2006-2007 campaign, Trakh is hoping this year's Trojans can stay healthy enough to improve upon last season's fifth-place finish. Getting Camille LeNoir back from the hip injury that cost her 2006-07 season will provide a big boost to the USC backcourt. Also returning is Brynn Cameron, who should make a name for herself as one of the Pac-10's best three-point shooters. Out again this season is Jackie Gemelos, who came to USC as one of the country's top recruits, but has yet to play thanks to two torn ACLs. USC is currently 5th in the Pac-10 with an 8-5 record. Last week Morgan Medlock had a career game against Arizona with 18 points and 13 rebounds; the team had a school record 13 three's.

You can bet that each team will bring its "A" game this weekend against the #2/#2 Cardinal. Even if you can't head South to see the games, you can watch and/or listen to both of them.

• The Stanford/UCLA game (Friday, Jan 4, 7 p.m.) will be webcast by UCLA All*Access. You need to register, but it's free. Here's the link.
• The Stanford/USC game (Sunday, Jan 6, 2 p.m.) will be webcast by Trojan TV All*Access. It costs $9.95 unless you already have a subscription. Here's the link.
• Both games will be broadcast by KZSU. You can listen on your radio at 90.1 FM or anywhere on your computer.

Shaking things up at the top

Charlie Creme (ESPN) reports that Stanford and Tennessee gave us the game of the season to date, a game that now makes the Cardinal a strong favorite to be on the top line.

Charlie also poses eight questions for 2008, including "Who will win the Jan 26 showdowns?"

Cardinal slog past Washington

The editor of The Bootleg apologizes for the delay in posting this story --New Year's Eve day in his household was rather frantic.

Tardy or not, you'll enjoy Bootleg's Women's Hoops columnist Sue Bair's comments on the #2-ranked Cardinal's convincing, but less than stellar victory over the visiting Washington Huskies at Maples.

Jeanette shines

Jeanette was the one to step up her game this time. She scored a game-high and career-high 20 points, including three of five three-pointers and five of six free throws. She also had four blocks and four assists. "I was really pleased with how Jeanette came in and gave us a spark," said Tara.

Michelle Smith (San Francisco Chronicle) reports that the easy win against Washington (77-42) was a tune-up for Stanford, a chance to vary lineups in search of potent combinations and give starters a chance to rest.

Rick Eymer (Palo Alto Online) focuses on Candice's ascent of the Stanford career scoring record. She played 32 minutes (well, that's 8 minutes of rest) and scored 12 points, enough for her to jump ahead of Nicole Powell into third place. She needs nine points to ease past Val Whiting for second place before setting her sights on Kate Starbird's record 2,215.

David Bush (Seattle Times) reports that the Washington women's basketball team did almost everything it set out to do against second-ranked Stanford on Sunday afternoon. But against the Cardinal you have to do everything and then some.

Here are the AP game recap, photo gallery and the box score from Stanford Athletics.

A recent history of the Tennessee series

In the wake of the now #2-ranked Cardinal's 73-69 overtime victory over the previously undefeated and top-ranked Lady Vols of Tennessee last week, TheBootleg.com’s Women’s Hoops Columnist Tom Knecht (Jr.) looks back at the multiple agonies and the long-awaited ecstasy in the recent history of the storied Stanford-Tennessee women's basketball rivalry. (More ...)

No doubt about #700

As you surely know by now, Tara is the seventh Division I women's basketball coach to reach the 700-win mark. The members of the 700-club (five of whom are still active) and their records are:

• Pat Summitt 957
• Jody Conradt 900
• C. Vivian Stringer 785
• Sylvia Hatchell 763
• Kay Yow 719
• Sue Gunter 708
• Tara VanDerveer 700

Here are some accounts of the 700th win, a rout of Washington State:

• Milestone win for Stanford's VanDerveer, by Darren Sabedra, Mercury News
• VanDerveer gets her 700th coaching victory, by Rick Eymer, Palo Alto Online
• Stanford routs WSU for coach's 700th, by Michelle Smith, San Francisco Chronicle
• The AP game recap, photo gallery and the box score from Stanford Athletics.

Mighty Stanford

It's time to look ahead to the Pac-10 season. Michelle Smith's (SF Chronicle) preview is, "Mighty Stanford, rising Cal, then all the rest".

Darren Sabreda (Mercury News) is more restrained with "Stanford women prepared for Pac-10 play", in which Candice is quoted, ""We are so tough, the toughest Stanford team I have ever played on by far."

And the Washington HeraldNet has an unemotional preview of each of the Pac-10 teams.



The Cardinal's first conference game is on Friday, against Washington State. It's almost certain to be Tara's 700th career win. Be there to share in the celebration of her great achievement!