April 4, 2009
Stanford Press Conference Quotes
Connecticut Press Conference Quotes
Appel Nabs State Farm Coaches All-America Spot
Card, Huskies In Semi Rematch | Season Statistics | Postseason Central
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - It was a busy Saturday for the Stanford women's basketball team at the Final Four in St. Louis, as the team watched one of its own be honored as an All-American, met with the media, and entertained the fans at the Scottrade Center.
The day started bright and early as the team loaded up the bus and headed a few blocks east to the Renaissance Grand & Suites Hotel to watch the State Farm Coaches' All-America event, where Jayne Appel was honored as the program's eighth All-American.
From there, the team took a breakfast break, watched some film on Sunday's opponent, Connecticut, then bussed for a closed practice session.
Following that, the Cardinal headed to the Scottrade Center, where head coach Tara VanDerveer was joined by Appel and sophomore forward Kayla Pedersen on the dais to take questions for the media at the afternoon press conference.
While the trio was on the dais, the rest of the team was in the locker room chatting and interacting with local and national reporters alike, as Stanford beat writers Elliott Almond of the San Jose Mercury News and Michelle Smith of the San Francisco Chronicle, along with the AP's national women's basketball writer Doug Feinberg, espn.com's Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel, and Connecticut beat writers floated around the room.
Once the locker room closed, it was time for the open practice for the public. Stanford put on shooting contests, worked on its layups and entertained the crowd as the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band played a medley of hits to add to the festival-like atmosphere.
Tonight the Cardinal will bunker down, watch some more film, and look forward to gameday Sunday.