Stanford humiliated Cal Friday night to improve to 3-0 in conference play. The 33-point win in round one of the rivalry week was never a real competition and it was a blast to the past when Stanford dominated conference opponents as if they were in Division II.
Very little of real substance can be taken from analyzing this game when Cal only scored five points in the first quarter and three points in the third. Eleven different Cardinal scored and no one played more than 25 minutes. There were a few developments to note, however.
First, Stanford did not let up with its tenacity chasing down loose balls and fighting for rebounds. Rebounding has been a point of emphasis all season -- really for the past couple -- and head coach Tara VanDerveer joked about it after the game. She was in a kidding mood while flanked by Ashten Prechtel and Lexie Hull in the press conference because the Cardinal boxed out and grabbed rebounds (50-29.) When the score was well out of reach early in the second half the Cardinal refused to coast to the finish line.
The return of Lacie Hull to full-go led to an extended period of time in the first half when the Hulls and Jones were on the court together. Their length and versatility was a nightmare for Cal. Prechtel held down the paint and was an effective defender -- forcing bad shots and grabbing six rebounds. That lineup could grow to become a major problem for opponents because everyone can shoot and no one is limited to one spot.
Prechtel's athleticism for her size is a big part of that and this game was important for her to have sustained success. I don't recall VanDerveer choosing to sit Prechtel because of poor play or bad decisions and she gave Stanford 16 productive minutes. She made a three just before the first quarter buzzer and teamed up well with Jones for a pretty score.
Jones' play is not a surprise but she is a joy to watch. She also is posting up more and is very effective in the paint. She led the game with 17 points and did not attempt a three. That's her game. She finds many different ways to attack and make the shot, get fouled or make a pass.
This win was VanDerveer's 500th regular season conference win. It's an incredible accomplishment of longevity and sustained dominance. Many former players were in attendance: Jayne Appel, JJ Hones, Kaylee Johnson, Briana Roberson and others. No coach can reach that mark with more than a few average seasons. Stanford ran roughshod over the conference for years and the win over Cal felt like a return to those days, but one look at the Pac-12 standings shows that is no longer the case. Oregon lost at ASU and Oregon State escaped Arizona with a two-point win. The Pac-12 is the best conference in the country.
Very little of real substance can be taken from analyzing this game when Cal only scored five points in the first quarter and three points in the third. Eleven different Cardinal scored and no one played more than 25 minutes. There were a few developments to note, however.
First, Stanford did not let up with its tenacity chasing down loose balls and fighting for rebounds. Rebounding has been a point of emphasis all season -- really for the past couple -- and head coach Tara VanDerveer joked about it after the game. She was in a kidding mood while flanked by Ashten Prechtel and Lexie Hull in the press conference because the Cardinal boxed out and grabbed rebounds (50-29.) When the score was well out of reach early in the second half the Cardinal refused to coast to the finish line.
The return of Lacie Hull to full-go led to an extended period of time in the first half when the Hulls and Jones were on the court together. Their length and versatility was a nightmare for Cal. Prechtel held down the paint and was an effective defender -- forcing bad shots and grabbing six rebounds. That lineup could grow to become a major problem for opponents because everyone can shoot and no one is limited to one spot.
Prechtel's athleticism for her size is a big part of that and this game was important for her to have sustained success. I don't recall VanDerveer choosing to sit Prechtel because of poor play or bad decisions and she gave Stanford 16 productive minutes. She made a three just before the first quarter buzzer and teamed up well with Jones for a pretty score.
Jones' play is not a surprise but she is a joy to watch. She also is posting up more and is very effective in the paint. She led the game with 17 points and did not attempt a three. That's her game. She finds many different ways to attack and make the shot, get fouled or make a pass.
This win was VanDerveer's 500th regular season conference win. It's an incredible accomplishment of longevity and sustained dominance. Many former players were in attendance: Jayne Appel, JJ Hones, Kaylee Johnson, Briana Roberson and others. No coach can reach that mark with more than a few average seasons. Stanford ran roughshod over the conference for years and the win over Cal felt like a return to those days, but one look at the Pac-12 standings shows that is no longer the case. Oregon lost at ASU and Oregon State escaped Arizona with a two-point win. The Pac-12 is the best conference in the country.
