[Deejaatee]

Wow, thanks DeeJaaTee!  That is some great info and analysis.  Glad to hear your take on Eschmeyer.  What do you think was up with Swain?

I think Swain is playing as she should as a freshman who is used to being able to use her speed to get past people. Now she is starting to learn that the people at this level, even from the smaller schools are faster than she is used to. And the defenses they play are more geared to take away people who can drive like she can. It was interesting to see the difference between her and Clardy live from just a few feet off the court. Clardy is scary fast down the court, and moves with purpose. When she decides to go, like on the steal and fast break, or the last play, she is really quick and decisive. On the other hand, Swain is fast but not yet fully under control. She seems to hesitate just enough to lose her advantage going to the basket. Plus, she is not a very good 3-point shooter yet, so defenders play farther off of her. When she has open court, she is good. When she has to get through traffic, she is not there yet. But, she has lots of potential that shows that as the season moves forward, she will learn and we will see more of her. And, she is still learning on the defensive side, so more reasons for Coach to meter her time.

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Somfai's 16 rebounds is impressive.

Not just impressive, it's nearly unprecedented.  Searching back to the 2009-10 season only one other Stanford freshman has had 16+ rebounds in a game (Kaylee Johnson, who did it 4 times back in the 2014-15 season and who is Stanford's all-time frosh rebounds leader). Cameron Brink and the Ogwumike sisters never did it their freshman year.  (Although Jane Appel had one 17 rebound game in February of her freshman year.)

Somfai's 8.9 rebounds per game is currently 2nd among all Stanford Freshman.  Granted the competition will get tougher, but it's a great start for her on the boards.

Freshman Records - Rebounds Per Game
Rank Reb/G Player Season
1. 9.6 Kaylee Johnson 2014-15
[8.9 Lara Somfai - through 11/29/25]
2. 8.7 Katy Steding 1986-87
3. 8.5 Nicole Powell 2000-01
4. 8.4 Kayla Pedersen 2007-08
5. 8.4 Evon Asforis 1985-86
6. 8.4 Jeanne Ruark 1978-79
7. 8.0 Chiney Ogwumike 2010-11
8. 7.5 Jayne Appel 2006-07
9. 7.4 Val Whiting 1989-90
10. 6.8 Jill Yanke 1985-86

It was fun to see Somfai increase her intensity and energy in the second half. I imagine the coaches talked to her at halftime about her lack of rebounding in the first half. Because there were moments when she got every rebound on like 8 trips down the court after that. It was part of the overall uptick in energy and aggressiveness that the entire team brought at the end of the game.

[Deejaatee]

Wow, thanks DeeJaaTee!  That is some great info and analysis.  Glad to hear your take on Eschmeyer.  What do you think was up with Swain?

I think Swain is playing as she should as a freshman who is used to being able to use her speed to get past people. Now she is starting to learn that the people at this level, even from the smaller schools are faster than she is used to. And the defenses they play are more geared to take away people who can drive like she can. It was interesting to see the difference between her and Clardy live from just a few feet off the court. Clardy is scary fast down the court, and moves with purpose. When she decides to go, like on the steal and fast break, or the last play, she is really quick and decisive. On the other hand, Swain is fast but not yet fully under control. She seems to hesitate just enough to lose her advantage going to the basket. Plus, she is not a very good 3-point shooter yet, so defenders play farther off of her. When she has open court, she is good. When she has to get through traffic, she is not there yet. But, she has lots of potential that shows that as the season moves forward, she will learn and we will see more of her. And, she is still learning on the defensive side, so more reasons for Coach to meter her time.

---

Somfai's 16 rebounds is impressive.

Not just impressive, it's nearly unprecedented.  Searching back to the 2009-10 season only one other Stanford freshman has had 16+ rebounds in a game (Kaylee Johnson, who did it 4 times back in the 2014-15 season and who is Stanford's all-time frosh rebounds leader). Cameron Brink and the Ogwumike sisters never did it their freshman year.  (Although Jane Appel had one 17 rebound game in February of her freshman year.)

Somfai's 8.9 rebounds per game is currently 2nd among all Stanford Freshman.  Granted the competition will get tougher, but it's a great start for her on the boards.

Freshman Records - Rebounds Per Game
Rank Reb/G Player Season
1. 9.6 Kaylee Johnson 2014-15
[8.9 Lara Somfai - through 11/29/25]
2. 8.7 Katy Steding 1986-87
3. 8.5 Nicole Powell 2000-01
4. 8.4 Kayla Pedersen 2007-08
5. 8.4 Evon Asforis 1985-86
6. 8.4 Jeanne Ruark 1978-79
7. 8.0 Chiney Ogwumike 2010-11
8. 7.5 Jayne Appel 2006-07
9. 7.4 Val Whiting 1989-90
10. 6.8 Jill Yanke 1985-86

It was fun to see Somfai increase her intensity and energy in the second half. I imagine the coaches talked to her at halftime about her lack of rebounding in the first half. Because there were moments when she got every rebound on like 8 trips down the court after that. It was part of the overall uptick in energy and aggressiveness that the entire team brought at the end of the game.