Publication Date: Friday, January 13, 2006
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Stanford puts 39-game home Pac-10 win streak on line
Stanford puts 39-game home Pac-10 win streak on line
(January 13, 2006) Cardinal takes on a much-improved Cal team on Saturday
by Rick Eymer
The character of the Stanford women's basketball has evolved into a satisfying combination of experience, youth and exuberance - all traits of a successful program.
The 14th-ranked Cardinal (5-1, 10-4) has begun rolling, winning its past four games heading into Saturday's 2 p.m. matinee with Cal (4-2, 12-4) at Maples Pavilion.
The current winning streak takes on significance in the fact Stanford has won, including a road victory in Oregon, without the presence of 6-foot-5 junior center Kristen Newlin, who has been out with a stress reaction in her left femur.
"We're hoping she'll be able to do something this week and possibly she could play," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said on Monday. "It has been hard without Kristen but Brooke (Smith) has done a nice job rebounding. Candice (Wiggins) has been playing with a lot more focus; the whole team is more focused."
If Newlin is back in time for the Bears, it would give her some time to get back into the flow of things before the Arizona schools come visiting next weekend.
Stanford likely has enough to extend its home conference winning streak -- which stands at 39 games -- against a young Cal team which features a trio of freshmen as its leading scorers.
That may not be the case in the future. The Bears are in the midst of their best season in 13 years and their future is sparkling bright.
The emergence of freshman point guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude has also given Stanford hope for the next few years. Her steadiness has allowed Wiggins to move to her more natural spot as the shooting guard.
"She's come a long way quickly," VanDerveer said of Gold-Onwude. "She's the reason why we've been successful the past couple of games. She's gained the team's confidence in running the offense and she's shown great maturity."
Gold-Onwude leads the Pac-10 with a 2.10 assist-to-turnover ratio, while Wiggins took advantage of the new lineup to take over the conference scoring lead with a 20.3 average. Smith is fourth at 17.1.
Jillian Harmon, who has found a home in the starting lineup because of her consistent play, is also a freshman but it's hard to think of her as a rookie. She's been an aggressor from the moment she walked on campus and fits in like a veteran.
Harmon would be leading the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio but she is three assists shy of qualifying.
Saturday's game may just be a preview of the Pac-10 All-Freshmen Team with Gold-Onwude and Harmon going against Cal's Devanei Hampton (who leads the Pac-10 in offensive rebounding), Alexis Gray-Lawson and Ashley Walker (conference leader in blocked shots and third in rebounding).
"Ashley has been one of the biggest surprises all year," Cal assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. "She's been amazing. She's the most consistent player so far. She's definitely a presence."
VanDerveer is also looking for some consistency and would like to get more production from her bench, particularly from Eziamaka Okafor, Cissy Pierce and Clare Bodensteiner.
"We have been relying on Candice and Brooke too much," VanDerveer said. "Kristen would give us more balance but we need contributions from different people."
Saturday's contest also features the top defensive team and the top offensive team. Stanford scores at a 78.6 pace while the Bears allow 55.1 per game.
"They have two superstars in Wiggins and Smith," Gottlieb said. "We have to force the big two into taking tough shots and not let anyone else be a superstar. They are too good and too deep in stay in one defense. We have to mix some things up."
Gottlieb also mentioned the local rivalry angle, and that just may play into the series in the coming years. Cal's freshman class is rated among the nation's top 10 classes and the Bears seem to be on their way to a spectacular turnaround season.
The rivalry has been lopsided for a long time. Stanford has won 11 straight and 26 of 27 overall and has lost once to Cal at home since 1987.
Cal has more wins already than in any season since the 1992-93 team finished 19-10. The four conference victories matches last season's total.
"Cal is very athletic and balanced but we have to come out and do the things we need to do," VanDerveer said.
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