Back to the Weekly Home Page

Classifieds

Palo Alto Online

Powell's back a concern

by Rick Eymer

The Stanford women's basketball team suffered through a series of critical injuries the past few years and still managed to remain competitive in the Pac-10 and in the NCAA tournament.

This year may prove far more challenging until the injury situation of All-American Nicole Powell clears up.

For now, Powell's status is unclear as Stanford works toward its exhibition opener next Saturday against Love and Basketball.

Powell suffers from a bulging disc in her lower back and there wasn't anything she could put her finger on that triggered the injury.

"One day toward the end of July I started not feeling right," she said Wednesday at the Pac-10 media day in San Jose. "As my back got sorer I wondered what was going on. It got to the point I couldn't move."

The injury persisted to the point where it affected her while sitting at her desk in Portland, Ore., while serving an internship. She wasn't able to maintain her offseason conditioning.

"At first I kind of panicked," said Powell. "I've never had a serious injury except for a severely sprained ankle in high school. I wondered what was happening to me. I couldn't work out or lift weights. I couldn't do anything to keep myself in shape."

Now she doesn't know when she'll return to the Stanford lineup.

"Optimistically I'd like to be ready for the start of the season," she said. "But if it's not perfect by the first game (Nov. 22 against visiting Rutgers) so be it. I'm not going to try and do too much. Even if it takes six weeks I want to be careful with it."

Her father (Lawrence) suffered from a herniated disc and it took a year to heal. Powell hopes it doesn't take that long for her, though she's ready for that eventuality.

"Playing with pain is not a problem," she said. "I want to make sure I'm healthy for the rest of my life, so we're doing this right. There is a possibility it might not heal right away so we'll have to take it game by game."

On a team without any seniors, Powell was expected to assume a leadership role. She's one of just two juniors - with Katie Denny - on the roster, though both Chelsea Trotter and Susan King, neither a stranger to injury, are redshirt sophomores.

"I know people are looking at me but I don't think I've realized I have an impact," said Powell. "I kind of did my own thing last year because we had several seniors on the team. This year I'm trying to fulfill a leadership role."

Powell hasn't practiced with the team yet, spending her time in the pool and thinking about her place with the Cardinal, whom are favored to win their third straight Pac-10 title. Stanford went 18-0 in conference play last year, and then lost to Arizona State in the championship game of the inaugural Pac-10 tournament.

"I feel like I'm joining the group," Powell said of her injury. "Susan and Chelsea have had to go through surgery. That's the last thing I want, but it's always a possibility if the back doesn't get any better. In a way, this makes me appreciate everything a little better. This is nothing like Chelsea sitting out a year or Susan sitting out two years. Watching those two work hard to get back makes going through this a lot easier. In reality I think it's a minor setback."

Powell hasn't been able to do much of anything for six weeks, and just began shooting earlier this week. It's given her a lot of time for other things.

"It is weird. Kate Paye (former Stanford great and current WNBA player) practices with us and she asked me how it felt to be a normal student," said Powell. "I do kind of like not having to lift weights at 7 a.m. on Fridays.

"I've done a lot of reflecting about what I want to accomplish," she added. "This is what I did last year and can I do it again? Is there more pressure on me? Do I have to be even better to accomplish the same things?"

What Powell has accomplished in her first two seasons is impressive. Forced to assume point guard duties, all she did was lead the Pac-10 in rebounding the past two years. She also led in assists last season. She has 581 career rebounds, 16th on the Stanford all-time list. She has recorded six career triple-doubles, the only player in Pac-10 history to record more than one triple-double.

"The whole question for the team is being healthy," said Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer. "That will be critical."

In addition to Powell, freshman Eziamaka Okafor has a knee injury that will keep her out of the lineup for the start of the season.

Stanford should be bolstered by the return of King, Trotter and what VanDerveer calls her "most versatile team I've ever had."

Sophomore Sebnem Kimyacioglu, a product of Pinewood School, should see more action this season.

"She's a big time player," said VanDerveer. "She's our most improved player."

Portola Valley resident Rometra Craig transferred to USC from Duke and should give the Women of Troy a lift as they try to unseat Stanford.

"She will definitely help us," said USC coach Chris Gobrecht. "She is not only a talented player but a tireless worker. Her impact will be major. She's an excellent athlete who gives us depth at guard."