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WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day - Printable Version

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WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day - 81alum - 02-25-2012

Stanford crushed Utah with suffocating defense, although our own offense was somewhat erratic, for Tara's 700th win at Stanford.  Nneka, Grace, Sara, and Lindy were honored after the ceremony and all received enormous ovations as they stood at center court with their families.  Nneka was joined by her parents and all 3 of her sisters, and I wondered if we might be lucky enough to be looking at the long term future of the program.

Grace was inserted into the game with a couple of minutes remaining and hit a three point shot that brought the crowd to its feet.  It seemed like such an absolutely fitting end to the game, for her to make her first points of the season in front of her family and just minutes before a rousing good bye party.

Back to the game.

The first half was one of the best defensive halves Stanford has played this year.  The first two times down the court Utah could not get a shot off before the clock expired.  We even threw a full court press into the mix from time to time.  We had 33 points before they had 10 and it wound up 35-14

The second half did not start out nearly as well.  During the first 10 minutes of the second half Utah got its offense going and outscored us 19-12.  The lead had dwindled to 16 points with quite a lot of time left and Tara began to cycle the starters back in.  Utah slowed down and we began to get some key plays and the game was well in hand again. 

Amber played very well today, with a great defensive performance but also a very good offensive performance.  She hit several mid range jumpers that touched nothing but net and slashed to the basket a couple of times too, winding up with 12 points.  Amber seems to be developing very well as the year ends--very encouraging.

Bonnie got a lot of time (17 minutes) and got 2 points and 2 rebounds.  She picked up 4 fouls though.  I think that was probably the most minutes she has gotten this year.  Tara kept sending her back in--you could tell that she was hoping that Bonnie would start lighting up the 3s, but it just never happened.  I think the jury is still out on her defense.

Utah is actually a little taller than we are and Wicijowski is quite talented.  They seemed to be able to hold us in check for some stretches of the game (beginning of 2nd half), but could not hold back the three headed monster for long.  Nneka, Chiney, and Jos all had 12 points or more, and 28 rebounds between them. 

On the down side, our three point shooting continues to be in a funk.  We were 2-12, with Lindy going 1-3 and Grace 1-1.  Taylor did not play.  The press reports that she has a sore hamstring.  Let us hope that is all it is.  For the second straight game, our assist numbers were low--only 11. 

There were a number of teary eyes in the stands after the game.  It was odd having Senior night not be the last game, though.  I guess it will give us all a chance to get teary eyed again on Wednesday!






Re: WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day - 81alum - 02-26-2012

Two quotes from Elliott Almond's article this morning caught my eye:
http://www.mercurynews.com/stanford-cardinal/ci_20045153?source=rss

Tara was asked about going for 800 Stanford wins:
Quote:"I'm enjoying coaching, I'm enjoying it a lot," said VanDerveer, 58. "That's only three years if you can get 30 (victories) a year."

Then she added, "I've got to hang on for some little sisters."

No one knows whether Chisom and Ernima Ogwumike will blossom into the kind of basketball players older sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike have at Stanford. They were in attendance Saturday to honor Nneka Ogwumike on Senior Day in front of an announced crowd of 4,519.
I thought that comment was encouraging for a few reasons.  Somewhere in the dark recesses of all of our minds is the ugly thought that Tara will retire.  It sounds like we will have her for a few more years at least.

Chiney commented on Grace's three point basket:
Quote:"We saw it coming," Chiney Ogwumike said. "Honestly that was the happiest I felt almost all year."
I'm glad Chiney said that, I was almost embarrassed to make the point in my write up, but the truth is that Grace's basket was indeed one of the most joyful, emotional moments this year.  I think the most knowledgeable people in the crowd--the ones who have followed Grace for four years--came to their feet.  A standing ovation from the crowd (even though the game was long decided) is not a bad way to go out for this hard working, cheerful player who scored 1,851 points in high school.


Re: WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day - washingtonismoney - 02-26-2012

SF Chronicle profiles the upcoming two Ogwumikes: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/25/SPVQ1NCFUB.DTL

Re: WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day - M T - 02-26-2012

With 1:25 left in the game, Tara called a substitution timeout, so the three healthy seniors (Nneka, Lindy, Grace) were all on the floor together.  I guess Amber didn't realize what the plan was when she took a shot rather than set up Grace.  Then, Tara pulled out Amber with Nneka, when normally she would have just pulled Nneka for a round of applause.

I thought Grace was going to get an assist but Jos didn't quite make a basket.  But then Grace got a rebound, and then hit that 3.

I saw Sarah B., Grace, and Lindy going into Arillaga Family Sports Center after the game, and they were clearly in a great mood.

Re: WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day - Yellowlab - 02-26-2012

Lots of nice moments during the Senior Day ceremony.  My favorite was when Tara told us that Nneka told Tara to "keep it together."

Re: WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day / PAC 12 Tournament - FarmDad.01 - 02-26-2012

The only remaining question in terms of tournament seeding is who gets #4, OSU or UCLA. Whichever, I believe the bye teams all advance in the Quarters. In the Semis, USC will upset K.al, which I think qualifies three conference teams for March Madness. A Stanford win in the Finals cements a No. 1 seed, perhaps second overall to Baylor, depending on how much South Bend and UConn beat each other up tomorrow night and in the BEAST tournament.

Re: WBB: Stanford 69 Utah 42 on Senior Day / PAC 12 Tournament - 81alum - 02-26-2012

(02-26-2012, 06:52 PM)FarmDad.01 link Wrote:The only remaining question in terms of tournament seeding is who gets #4, OSU or UCLA. Whichever, I believe the bye teams all advance in the Quarters. In the Semis, the University of South Central will upset K.al, which I think qualifies three conference teams for March Madness. A Stanford win in the Finals cements a No. 1 seed, perhaps second overall to Baylor, depending on how much South Bend and UConn beat each other up tomorrow night and in the BEAST tournament.
We will still have to beat Ca.l in their den next week and then win three PAC-12 games, all in a 6 day stretch, with four of our players injured and possibly a 5th.  We will have 2 or 3 chances where we really could drop a game. So while I hope you are right, I'm not going to be overly optimistic until I see us weather the endurance storm.Â