STANFORD, Calif. -- For the first time since she arrived at Stanford in 1985, Tara VanDerveer will face Idaho, the school that gave VanDerveer her first collegiate head coaching job. Tip-off for the nonconference contest is Sunday at 2 p.m. at Maples Pavilion.
GAME INFORMATION:
No. 7 Stanford (1-0) vs. Idaho (1-0)
Sunday, Nov. 11 • 2 p.m.
Maples Pavilion • Stanford, Calif.
Live Stream • Live Audio • Live Stats
Tickets • Game Notes
THE RUNDOWN:
The Cardinal opened its season Wednesday with a 71-43 victory over UC Davis, giving the Cardinal its 20th consecutive home-opening victory … Over the past 11 seasons, Stanford is 21-1 in its first two home games … The only loss was Nov. 23, 2015, against Santa Clara, 61-58 … Stanford is in the preseason AP poll for the 19th consecutive season and, at No. 7, is one of three Pac-12 teams in the top 10.
VS. IDAHO:
- Stanford is 2-0 all-time against Idaho, but hasn't played the Vandals since they met twice in 1981 in a home-and-home series. On Feb. 11, Ann Miller drove for the go-ahead basket in the final minute of a 71-68 victory in Moscow, Idaho. VanDerveer had just left Idaho and was in her first season at Ohio State. On Dec. 30, Louise Smith had 24 points and 19 rebounds in a 79-65 victory at Maples Pavilion as part of an eight-game winning streak that tied a Stanford record.
- Tara VanDerveer had coached JV's at Indiana and spent a season as an assistant at Ohio State when she received her first collegiate head coaching position, at Idaho in 1978. The program had only one winning season in its four-year varsity history when VanDerveer took over. In her first season, Idaho went 17-8. A season later, the Vandals went 25-6 and earned an invitation to the 1980 AIAW tournament, the precursor to the NCAA's. After two seasons, she became head coach at Ohio State. VanDerveer, whose .750 winning percentage is second in Idaho history, has never coached against Idaho.
- Idaho (1-0) opened with an 88-73 victory over visiting CSUN on Tuesday. Idaho's "Splash Sisters", Mikayla Ferenz (24) and Taylor Pierce (23) scored a combined 47 points. Ferenz is the Big Sky Conference Preseason MVP and the Vandals were picked by coaches to win the conference. Ferenz averaged 22.5 points per game last season. Jon Newlee is in his 11th season as head coach and led Idaho to a 19-14 record last season. The Vandals were second in the regular season and reached the Big Sky tournament final, before losing to Northern Colorado, 91-69. Idaho then lost in the first round of the WNIT to UC Davis, 82-62.
SEASON OPENER:
On Wednesday, Kiana Williams had 14 points and three assists in 18 minutes to lead Stanford past UC Davis, 71-43, in both teams' season opener. Alanna Smith scored 16 points in 15 minutes and freshman Lexie Hull started and had 11 points and 11 rebounds in her collegiate debut. The contest, on Nov. 7, marked the earliest first game in program history.
EXHIBITION RECAP:
Stanford scored the game's first 15 points and never looked back, routing visiting Vanguard 87-36 in its exhibition on Nov. 1. The Cardinal used 13 players and 12 scored. Freshman Lexie Hull started and led the Cardinal with 11 points and five assists, Maya Dodson chipped in 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go with a game-high four blocks and Nadia Fingall took care of the glass with 10 rebounds.
WATCH LISTS:
Alanna Smith, the team's leading returning scorer and rebounder, is on the preseason All-Pac-12 team as well as watch lists for the Wooden Award and the Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the nation's best power forward ... Kiana Williams is on the Wooden Award Watch List and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List, which is given to the country's best shooting guard.