UNLV women’s basketball to play No. 2 Stanford on Saturday

Lindy La Rocque received lots of unsolicited offers for help from Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer, her former coach and boss, before her first season as coach of the UNLV Lady Rebels.

La Rocque received a different kind of overture Tuesday night. After learning Monday that UNLV’s scheduled Saturday game against Utah Valley was canceled and that Stanford was scrambling after it was announced athletic activities that involve physical contact or take place indoors were temporarily banned in Santa Clara County, Calif., VanDerveer called her former player and assistant with a solution.

The two quickly agreed to play each other. So UNLV (1-1) will take on No. 2 Stanford (1-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. No fans are allowed, but the game will be live streamed on the Mountain West Network and an audio broadcast will be available at UNLVRebels.com.

“The stars aligned a little bit to make it happen,” La Rocque said. “Tara’s done so much for my career. I’d lay anything on the line to help her out.”

Stanford, La Rocque admits, holds “a very large place” in her heart. It’s where the former Durango High School standout appeared in four Final Fours. It’s where she ranks 10th all-time in games played (138), right above WBNA champion Candice Wiggins.

Even as a player, however, her destiny was obvious. VanDerveer said when the staff would forget a drill in practice they knew La Rocque could come up with it.

“I knew she was going to be a coach from the minute she was a freshman,” VanDerveer said.

VanDerveer later helped that coaching career along by hiring La Rocque as an assistant in 2017. La Rocque stayed until March, when she was hired by UNLV. Stanford went 82-22 during that time.

After all that success, it’s no wonder VanDerveer’s teachings have stuck with her. La Rocque said one thing she learned from her former coach was the importance of preparation and having a plan A, B, C and D for every scenario. She also pointed to the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm,” (often used by the 67-year-old VanDerveer) as key to her philosophy.

“At her age, if she can live by that and abide by that, why can’t I?” La Rocque said. “That was something that she repeated to us over and over when I was a player and then I just ingrained that in my own personal habits. I have to be excited and enthusiastic about everything that I’m doing. Because if I’m not, then why am I doing it?”

La Rocque said she was cordial and made sure the Cardinal were comfortable in Las Vegas — Stanford will stay and play Washington at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday — but her on-court reunion with her alma mater should be highly charged. The two sides obviously know each other well.

“She sure knows what we’re doing,” VanDerveer said, adding UNLV has been “fabulous” accommodating her team on short notice. “I told her I recognized some of the plays they’re running. We’re really excited to play. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

No. 1 South Carolina lost to No. 8 North Carolina State on Thursday, which means the Cardinal could get the top spot in the next poll.

Stanford had five players score more than 10 points its first game and returns last year’s leading scorers in senior guard Kiana Williams and junior guard Lexie Hull. The Cardinal’s experience and depth will be a tough obstacle for a Lady Rebels team with just one returning starter.

La Rocque, however, appears undaunted. She knows UNLV doesn’t get to host one of the best teams in women’s college basketball often. The Lady Rebels haven’t faced an opponent ranked this high since 1984. She’s excited for the opportunity.

“I’m confident,” La Rocque said. “I don’t think probably anyone else in the country thinks that we can win. Our message is: Why not us?”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.