January 26, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Getting better is the goal

by Rick Eymer

Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer has a simple goal for her charges as the second half of the Pac-10 season begins this week.

"We want to play teams better in the second round," she said shortly after the fifth-ranked Cardinal dismantled visiting USC, 94-58, on Saturday night to move into sole possession of first place in the conference. "We want to show improvement."

Stanford also beat UCLA, 100-75, on Thursday night to take care of its two closest rivals in the Pac-10.

The Cardinal (8-1, 17-2) open the second half of conference play at Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m. They go to Washington State for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday.

"It's not going to be an easy road," VanDerveer said. "These are the teams who know us the best and they expose our weaknesses. We'll use the second half of the Pac-10 to get ready for the Pac-10 tournament. We also have to get ready for the NCAA tournament."

In a way, the whole season has been preparation for the postseason. Stanford scheduled difficult road games from the beginning, with trips to Utah and Alaska (where nationally-ranked Minnesota, a potential Stanford opponent, pulled out from the Great Alaskan Shootout), Missouri and Tennessee.

The schedule also included tough nonconference home games against ranked Texas Tech and Boston College.

Stanford not only survived its first 19 games, but has flourished with the rapid development of freshman guard Candice Wiggins, and the return from a stress fracture by fifth-year senior Susan King Borchardt. Add senior Kelley Suminski, a preseason all-conference pick, and they form one of the most formidable trios in the nation.

UCLA's three guards - Nikki Blue, Noelle Quinn and Lisa Willis - could arguably form the best combination. All three are in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and steals.

Wiggins earned her second Pac-10 Player of the Week honor of the season with her contributions to both wins last week. She averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 60 percent from the field and over 81 percent from the foul line.

The Cardinal lead the Pac-10 with a 76.7 scoring average, scoring margin (plus 21.7, good enough for the top 20 in the nation), a field percentage of .467, and a field goal percentage defense of .353.

More importantly, perhaps, is Stanford's 1.15 assist-to-turnover ratio, also the best in the Pac-10. Notably, not a single Cardinal leads the conference in any category - a sign of a multi-faceted team ready to explore their possibilities.

"We're doing all things well," Stanford center Kristen Newlin said. "We're concentrating on the little things."

Pinewood grad Sebnem Kimyacioglu, who came off the bench against both UCLA and USC, has also benefited from the strength of the guard position.

"She had a big weekend," VanDerveer said. "This was huge. Her defense has been great all season and she's a steady player who helps run the offense but I think she felt pressure with her shooting. With Susan back, now she looks relaxed and she's knocking down shots."

Kimyacioglu entered the weekend with a team-worst .296 field goal percentage, but after making six of her 10 shots - five of seven from long range - over the weekend, she improved her percentage to a respectable .330, better than last year and nearing her .373 career mark.

Her weekend totals: 19 points, four assists and four steals.

"We have great shooters on the team and it's all the extra work they put in," said Newlin, whose 14 points against the Trojans were two shy of her career high.

Wiggins, who scored 23 points and had a season-high nine rebounds against USC, continues to play with confidence and seems to have adapted well to VanDerveer's system. She had no trouble breaking down one of the conference's best defenses and only played 24 minutes.

Wiggins' best effort of the season was her 31-point performance (in 38 minutes) against Arizona State in Tempe. The Sun Devils are the Pac-10's top defensive team and to excel like that on their home court shows she is either fearless or foolish and 99 out of 100 observers would choose the former.

"Look at Wiggins. She brings the X-factor," USC coach Mark Trakh said. "She creates her own shots and she disrupted our offense. That's the best team we've played all year. Where do you beat them? They have talent and are extremely well-coached."

And Stanford remains hungry, the trip to last year's Elite Eight a mere appetizer.

"Tara also talks about being aggressive," Wiggins said. "We haven't been as aggressive as we'd like to be. We think about the big picture."

Borchardt and Suminski each had 10 points against the Trojans. Stanford has had four players in double figures in each of the past four games.

Suminski had 19 against the Bruins, while Borchardt had a season-high 14. Wiggins added 19, Brooke Smith had 14 and Kimyacioglu matched her season high with 11.

"I feel good and I'm real happy to be back out there," Borchardt said. "And the best is yet to come."

The .630 percent shooting percentage was the ninth best all-time. The .704 percent in the first half was the best since 1989.

Stanford has won 17 straight at home, and 33 consecutive Pac-10 home games. They've also beaten the Bruins 12 straight.

Borchardt, Suminski, and Wiggins have allowed VanDerveer to relax. They are the floor leaders of the most potent offensive attack in the Pac-10.

"I love the company of these guards," VanDerveer said. "They organize the floor, they pass to each other, they are unselfish and they can all knock down shots. Our offense is orchestrated by these three."

They also combined for 10 of Stanford's 15 3-pointers, one shy of the school record, against the Bruins. Suminski was 5-of-9 from long range and shot .583 overall from the field.

The three guards were also responsible for 13 rebounds, eight assists and six steals.

"That's because of our post players," Suminski said. "They had to double on them and that opened the perimeter."

It helps that Smith, who hit seven of 10 shots, is among the national leaders in field goal percentage at .615 and has a nearly unstoppable hook shot. Smith also finished with a game-high seven assists.

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