Oct. 19, 2012

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2012-13 Stanford Women's Basketball Schedule

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford Women's Basketball gave fans a first glimpse at the 2012-13 squad as part of tonight's "Friday Frenzy" event at Maples Pavilion.

The Cardinal women, 12-time defending Pac-12 champions and participants in five straight Final Fours, took to the court on which it has not lost for five years running in an open scrimmage followed by a 3-point shooting contest.

Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball Tara VanDerveer welcomed the crowd to the event, talking up her charges and encouraging fans to buy their tickets now for the 2012-13 Stanford Women's Basketball season. Facing off against one another with some practice players thrown into the mix, the Cardinal put on a fine exhibition for its fans, drawing cheers and applause with each bucket.

Fans got their first chance to see Cardinal freshmen Tess Picknell, Kiran Lakhian and Denia Ebersole in full-court action, as well as the return to action of redshirt junior Mikaela Ruef and redshirt freshman Jasmine Camp, both of whom missed the majority of last season due to injury.

Following the scrimmage, the team picked four of its top sharpshooters to compete in the 3-point contest. Up first was a sophomore vs. senior battle as Taylor Greenfield and Joslyn Tinkle squared off. The players went nearly shot-for-shot but in the end Greenfield would win the shootout 8-7 to advance to the final.

The next matchup, between Bonnie Samuelson and Sara James, saw even more drama. Samuelson held a comfortable lead for much of the 60 seconds before James found a rhythm late, forcing a 7-7 draw. As fans clamored for a 30-second shootout to settle the tie, VanDerveer upped the stakes by declaring a sudden-death alternate-shot faceoff.

James, shooting first, drilled her shot. Samuelson coolly answered. Undaunted, James knocked down another, and was again answered by Samuelson. In the third sudden-death round, James missed, and Samuelson drained her shot to advance to the final against Greenfield.

In the sophomore vs. sophomore final, it was all Samuelson as the Huntington Beach native upheld her position as Stanford's top 3-point shooter in 2011-12 with the win.

With their time on the court coming to a close, the team lined up for introductions for their fans, who showered the team with a big round of applause. Junior All-America forward Chiney Ogwumike took the mic, thanking the fans for their attendance and support, and promising another season full of thrills, wins and memories.

The women's portion of the night was followed by the Stanford men's team playing its annual Cardinal-White Game, won by the Cardinal squad, 52-44.