After one of its best starts to a conference season in program history, it’s tough to know where Stanford women’s basketball could focus on improving. The No. 3 Cardinal (18-2, 9-0 Pac-10) is the only undefeated team in the Pac-10, having outscored its opponents by a school-record 321 points over nine conference contests. No opponent has come closer than 26.
But as the Cardinal opens its back nine at Arizona State (13-6, 5-4) tonight, Stanford can start counting the games left before the postseason on its fingers, and that means getting better is still a major goal.
“I think if we just focus on the different things we’re good at, which is a lot of things… I think we can keep moving up the curve,” said junior forward Nnemakdi Ogwumike. “I don’t really see any downhill from here, we’re just getting better and better each day.”
Stanford’s versatility has been a huge part of its record-setting dominance this season, with strong play on the perimeter adding some flexibility for a team that, over the past few seasons, relied heavily on interior play from the likes of recent graduate and All-American Jayne Appel.
Senior point guard Jeanette Pohlen is making a run at her own All-American honors this season, scoring double-digit points in 17 games and averaging a team-best 16.5 per game. She’s made 57 three-pointers this season on 43.5 percent shooting, and had her 100th assist of the season against Oregon State last Saturday. Just yesterday, she was added to the State Farm Wade Trophy Watch List, signifying that she could be nominated for the sport’s highest individual award.
Pohlen’s banner season has been complemented by the solid play of junior shooting guard Lindy La Rocque, who’s started in 13 straight games after getting the call just three times in her past two seasons. Pohlen may have more court time and assists, but La Rocque is a nimble ball handler, boasting a team-best 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Stanford’s unusually excellent guards have opened things up for Stanford’s traditional strengths, the post players.
“It avoids doubles and clogs in the paint,” Ogwumike said. “It’s always great to have great guards because they facilitate the offense, and when you have guards that can score, it’s the best thing ever. There’s not much rebounding you have to worry about because all their shots are going in, and it’s just a lot of fun for everybody.”
Pohlen does miss shots, but Ogwumike’s remark was nearly true in the team’s last outing against ASU. Stanford hosted the Sun Devils on Jan. 8, and beat them in an 82-35 rout, humbling a team that amassed a 10-3 record beforehand. Pohlen put up a game-high 18 points in just 24 minutes, shooting 7-for-10 from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
ASU has endured a month of alternating wins and losses since then, splitting its last six contests. Most recently, the team edged out USC in a 62-61 nail-biter in Los Angeles. Senior forward Becca Tobin had 12 points in the contest, including 10 in the second half and the game winner, as the Sun Devils moved into a three-way tie with USC and Cal for third place in the Pac-10.
Stanford may be facing ASU on the road this time, but the trip will be a homecoming of sorts for one Cardinal player. Senior forward Kayla Pedersen grew up in Fountain Hills, Ariz., and has a history of good performances in nearby Tempe. In her three previous visits, she’s averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 46.0 percent shooting.
Pedersen recently became Stanford’s all-time leader in career minutes, surpassing Virginia Sourlis’ mark of 4,148 set from 1982-1986.
“Kayla can do anything you ask her,” Ogwumike said. “And most minutes played, that’s just the number-one indicator of how much we need her. She’s a very wise player and very experienced… she’s definitely a scholar of the game.”
Stanford plays ASU tonight in Tempe at 5:30 p.m., and then heads to Tucson to face the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday at 1 p.m.