Yamasaki bursts off bench

Michelle Smith, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Saturday, January 22, 2000

Player chafes at not starting, but still leads team in scoring

STANFORD - Perhaps it is a luxury for Stanford to have a player the caliber of Lindsey Yamasaki, sitting on the bench, watching and waiting for her turn to enter the game. But neither Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer nor Yamasaki see it that way.

VanDerveer doesn't appear to view Yamasaki as a luxury, but as a part of the means to a successful end. And Yamasaki would no doubt prefer the amenities of a starting spot and a significant role on the team she carried much of last season.

Friday night's performance against Cal was a start.

Yamasaki was solely responsible for a late first-half run that allowed Stanford to put the game out of reach, as she scored 12 consecutive points to turn a tenuous 11-point lead into a commanding 23-point advantage heading into the half. Stanford eventually won, 83-57.

"I thought she played a very good game," VanDerveer said.

VanDerveer has been clear in her disapproval of Yamasaki's decision to play volleyball, even though the player and the coach agreed on a two-sport arrangement when Yamasaki was recruited out of Oregon.

Yamasaki has been equally clear about her desire to play professional basketball at the end of her college career and that may ultimately lead to a choice of one sport over the other. It has already cost her a starting spot and a significant amount of the playing time she enjoyed last season when she was the team's leading scorer and a Pac-10 All-Freshman team selection.

"What we needed from her last year is not what we need from her this year," VanDerveer said. "It's working the ball more. It's a whole different commitment to defense. She has to buy into a different role. But she really helped us tonight."

Yamasaki has proven willing to buy, if not completely enthusiastic about it.

"I am a person who gets frustrated when I don't play," Yamasaki said. "It's been tough sitting and waiting. I am still working into

my role here."

Yamasaki has played in seven games since joining the basketball team following her freshman season with the Stanford volleyball squad, which reached the national championship game and fell to Penn State. Her 17 points against Cal Friday night was only her second-highest scoring total of the season. She scored 18 in a win at Arizona State on Jan. 6.

But her time on the floor has been sporadic. She played just nine minutes in last week's comeback win over Oregon and has topped the 20-minute mark only twice.

When VanDerveer talks of moving toward a seven-player rotation as her team gets into the heart of the season, she is including Yamasaki in that group.

"I would think she's a part of that, based on what she did tonight," VanDerveer said.

But, VanDerveer still insists, she will not start.

"She has not earned it. Other people are ahead of her. But she can help us," VanDerveer said.

Still Yamasaki is optimistic.

"I'm in a good situation right now," Yamasaki said. "I wouldn't want to go back to where I was."