The Stanford women’s basketball team began their pre-season with a 91-70 win during its exhibition game against Division II California State University, Los Angeles. This kicks off a season where they now lack key pieces in their prior success, including former head coach Tara VanDerveer, Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink and star forward Kiki Iriafen. Stanford begins the season unranked for the first time in 25 years, so they look to reassert their dominance as they head into the regular season.
Nunu Agara steals the show
Coming into the year, sophomore forward Nunu Agara was expected to be one of Stanford’s top contributors. The Minnesota native brings a physical presence around the rim that Stanford lacks without Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen.
Agara certainly displayed her physical prowess in Wednesday’s exhibition game, drawing 25 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in Stanford’s 91-70 win against Division II Cal State LA.
Agara’s presence inside should allow her to draw multiple defenders on screen-and-rolls and dribble-drives, forcing the defense into rotation and allowing the Cardinal easier shot opportunities.
Agara hit a three-pointer during the second quarter, demonstrating the versatility of her game.
“I think I’ve always kind of had it, but it wasn’t just my job last year,” she said. “My job was to get the ball to Cam and Kiki. I’m a decent shooter from out there, so I’m taking it, when I have it, and when I don’t, I pass it.”
Stanford struggles on defense
Beginning the game, Stanford appeared to be having difficulty establishing a lead. Their overall coverage behind the arc was lacking, allowing Cal State LA to shoot 42% from the three-point line and 44% in their overall shooting percentage throughout the game. Sophomore guard Chloe Clardy demonstrated her quickness and agility, proving to be a dominant full-court defender. Her dominance was much needed for the Stanford team, which struggled with their defense behind the arc last year.
While Stanford was able to draw away from Cal State LA in the third quarter, holes in Stanford’s defense remained apparent. Agara appeared assertive, doing a great job protecting the paint. However, the sophomore transfer from Purdue, Mary Ashley Stevenson, had trouble defending the smaller Cal State LA.
“We needed to tighten up on people. They were kind of shooting in our face,” said head coach Kate Paye. “We made an adjustment to how we were playing screens midway through the second quarter. Maybe we could have done that sooner. Just [being] more aggressive on the ball.”
Rotation coming into the year
With junior point guard Talana Lepolo and freshman point guard Shay Ijiwoye not dressed, Stanford had an eight-man rotation during Wednesday’s game against Cal State LA. Clardy, Stevenson, Agara, Tess Heal, Courtney Ogden, Jznaiya Harriel, Brooke Demetre and Elena Bosgana all played consistent minutes for Stanford. When Lepolo returns to full health, she will likely take up minutes.
The starters were Bosgana, Demetre, Harriel, Heal and Agara.
Paye said during media availability last week that she expects to have a nine to 10 man rotation this season.
While it appears the players previously mentioned will be a part of that rotation to start the year, there will still be ample opportunities for freshmen Ijiwoye, Harper Peterson and Kennedy Umeh to get minutes as well.
Other notes
Paye said after the game that the team expects to have Lepolo and Ijiwoye to be back before Monday’s season-opener against Le Moyne.
The head coach also said during the post-game press conference that the team anticipates having more players in the rotation going forward. Paye specifically brought up all three freshmen in Lepolo, Ijiwoye and Peterson as players who will have more consistent playing time going forward.