Stanford women lose top scorer and rebounder but appear deeper

All the signs are pointing up for the Stanford women’s basketball team. The Cardinal lost leading scorer Brittany McPhee and top rebounder Kaylee Johnson, but they appear deeper this season.

One immediate problem, however, is the loss of point guard. Marta Sniezek, a hard-nosed senior who led them in assists last year, tore a ligament in her right thumb last week and is out six-to-eight weeks, head coach Tara VanDerveer said Wednesday at Pac-12 media day.

“It’s hard when you lose somebody with that much experience,” she said.

Her options to replace Sniezek are sophomore Kiana Williams, who is probably better suited to shooting guard; freshman Jenna Brown, a McDonald’s All-American from Atlanta, and freshman Lacie Hull of Spokane, Wash.