Despite leading lowly Le Moyne just 16-10 after the first 10 minutes, Stanford caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 34 points and finishing the half at 57.1% from 3-point range. The Cardinal were never threatened the rest of the way, and the Paye era began with a breezy 107-43 win.
Paye took over in April for Tara VanDerveer, who led Stanford’s bench for nearly four decades. But Paye looked comfortable filling the shoes of her mentor, whom she served under as an assistant coach for 17 seasons and eight Final Four runs.
“That was a great start,” Paye said after her debut. “Our team really made a statement. What I’m most excited about is how much our team improved from our exhibition game against Cal State LA. We really focused a lot on our defense. We got our 3-point shot going tonight, and I’ll be really honest, I’m not surprised.”
Stanford (1-0) set a new school record with 18 made 3-pointers and finished the game shooting 52.9% from beyond the arc. The Cardinal scored at least 28 points in each of the final three quarters of the contest.
Junior guard Jzaniya Harriel had a career night, connecting on 6 of 7 shots from deep and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line to compile a game-high 24 points. In a matchup where everything was falling for Stanford, Harriel was the tip of the spear.
“I feel great,” Harriel said. “This season there’s been a lot of change, obviously, coaching change. We lost our three leading scorers, but it’s really about everyone stepping into these new roles and really just owning them. Tonight was a good night because my teammates were finding me and I was knocking down that 3, but it can honestly be anyone’s night.”
In a very real sense, it was everyone’s night for the Cardinal. All 13 healthy Stanford players got into the game and played at least three minutes.
Ten of 13 players who touched the floor scored at least 2 points, including the first career buckets for freshmen Shay Ijiwoye, Harper Peterson and Kennedy Umeh.
The only one who didn’t see action? Santa Clara transfer guard Tess Heal, who is healing – pun intended – from reported back spasms. Heal averaged 19.5 points per game last season at Santa Clara and could add another dimension to Stanford’s potent offensive attack.
“We’re expecting Tess back soon,” Paye said after the game.
It was Paye’s night most of all, but it was also VanDerveer’s chance to watch her star assistant take the reins of the program for the first time. Paye, as she said she would, checked in with VanDerveer before the game.
With Paye knowing the program inside and out, things were business as usual for Stanford’s first impression.
“Tara came over and said hi to all our coaches and cheered our team on,” Paye said. “I know that there’s nobody cheering harder for our team than Tara. It was great to have her in the locker room after, and it’s really, really special.”
Stanford’s 3-point ace in the hole may not be this sustainable – at one point, the Cardinal were shooting 60% from distance. But Paye thinks this team may be uniquely suited for Boston Celtics-esque explosions from time to time.
“We have great shooters. We spend a lot of time shooting in practice,” Paye said. “Our team knows what a good shot is. What’s really exciting is our team is unselfish. There are a lot of possessions out there where there are extra passes. Five players are touching the ball, really searching for the best shot.
“I tell our team all the time, ‘As long as you are taking great shots, they will go in, and we will shoot a great percentage, because we do have excellent shooters.’”
Stanford probably won’t be able to put up 107 points in every game the rest of the way. But the Cardinal can take a page out of VanDerveer’s playbook and push the tempo, something else they excelled at on Monday night.
Stanford finished with 13 fast-break points. Those quick scores, coupled with 54 points from 3, were more than enough to beat Le Moyne on their own.
“That’s what really got us going,” Paye said. “Elena (Bosgana) got some steals, (Harriel) got out in transition. We really want to push the ball, and that certainly is a hallmark of Tara’s style of play. We want to get out and run. The best Stanford teams have always been really up-tempo running teams, and that should be a strength of ours.”
Stanford Cardinal's Courtney Ogden (40) makes a 3-point basket over Lemoyne’s Mia Yanogacio (3) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New Stanford Cardinal head coach Kate Paye gets a hug from former longtime Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer before their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Shay Ijiwoye (6) brings the ball downcourt as she’s guarded by Le Moyne’s Emily Florvil (23) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The Stanford Cardinal bench cheers Stanford’s Jzaniya Harriel (32) makes a 3-point basket in the second half of their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Mary Ashley Stevenson (22) shoots a reverse layup in the second half of their NCAA game against Lemoyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal head coach Kate Paye talks with her team during a timeout in the second half of their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Chloe Clardy (13) is fouled by Le Moyne’s Amya McLeod (21) in the first half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Kennedy Umeh (45) loses control of the ball as she’s guarded by Le Moyne’s Emily Florvil (23) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New Stanford Cardinal head coach Kate Paye, right, greets former longtime Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer before their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal's Elena Bosgana (20) steals the ball from Le Moyne’s Megan Bodziony (22) as Nunu Agara (3) looks on in the first half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New Stanford Cardinal head coach Kate Paye, left, stands with her team for the national anthem before their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Mary Ashley Stevenson (22) loses control of the ball as she’s double teamed by Lemoyne’s Heady Roberts (24) and Megan Bodziony (22) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal's Nunu Agara (3) makes a layup in the second half of their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Former longtime Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer, center, cheers with former Stanford player Cameron Brink, top left, during their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal's Nunu Agara (3) shoots a 3-point basket over Le Moyne’s Haedyn Roberts (24) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The Cardinal made 18 3-pointers for a school record. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal's Kennedy Umeh (45) goes to the hoop against Lemoyne in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal head coach Kate Paye talks with Kennedy Umeh (45) in the second half of their NCAA game against Lemoyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal's Elena Bosgana (20) puts up a shot as she’s guarded by Le Moyne’s Mia Yanogacio (3) in the first half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Chloe Clardy (13) brings the ball downcourt as she’s guarded by Lemoyne’s Michelina Lombardi (5) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford Cardinal’s Chloe Clardy (13) shoots past Lemoyne’s Megan Bodziony (22) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Former longtime Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer leaves after their 107-43 NCAA win against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New Stanford Cardinal head coach Kate Paye, left, stands with her team for the national anthem before their NCAA game against Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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Stanford Cardinal's Courtney Ogden (40) makes a 3-point basket over Lemoyne’s Mia Yanogacio (3) in the second half of their NCAA game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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