Impressive exhibition

An exhibition game against the No. 1 team in the country — No. 1 in the NAIA, that is — went just fine for the No. 7 Stanford women Thursday night.

The Cardinal had their way with Vanguard University from the opening tap at Maples Pavilion, and there were many positive signs for Stanford.

Nadia Fingall looks trimmer and much improved, Maya Dodson is smoother around the hoop, and the Hull twins, freshmen Lexie and Lacie, showed they can shoot, pass and handle the ball. The other heralded freshman, guard Jenna Brown, missed the game with a minor ankle injury.

Meanwhile, mainstays Alanna Smith and Kiana Williams had no trouble scoring. And the Stanford defense was sound for the most part in the 87-36 rout.

The Lions, from Costa Mesa (Orange County), shot 18 percent from the floor. The much bigger Cardinal ruled the boards 59-34

Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer used 13 players, and 12 of them scored. Lexie Hull led the way with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds.

“It was a solid first game,” said Lexie Hull, a 6-foot forward who was a two-time Washington state player of the year in high school in Spokane. “I was excited just to get through it. The first college game is an exciting and nerve-racking experience.”

Dodson had 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Fingall and Williams had nine points each.

“There’s a difference going from a freshman to a sophomore,” Dodson said. “It’s a lot easier. You know what to expect. You don’t have to think as much. It’s easier finishing around the rim and not thinking too much about my moves.”

As to when the 6-3 forward will throw down the first dunk of her college career, she said, “I gotta clear it with Tara to make sure it’s the right time in the game, make sure we’re up. Hopefully, if I get the right opportunity, I’ll dunk it.”

VanDerveer was generally satisfied. “We missed some bunnies, but I thought the freshmen did really well,” she said. Briefly: Senior point guard Marta Sniezek remains out with a thumb injury . ... The Cardinal open the season against UC Davis at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Maples . ... Former Stanford guard Karlie Samuelson is an assistant coach for Vanguard, but she wasn’t on hand because she’s playing professionally in Belgium.