ONE ON ONE: NICOLE POWELL

Last season, Nicole Powell became only the third player in Stanford history to twice earn Kodak All-America honors, despite missing the first nine games of the season because of a bulging disc in her lower back. She is the all-time school leader in rebounds per game, third in points per game, third in free throw percentage, fourth in total rebounds, sixth in assists, eighth in 3-pointers made and 12th in total points. The diversity of those statistics is evidence of her reputation of being a versatile player who can play any position on the floor. The 6'2'' 21-year-old senior from Phoenix, Ariz., also has an impressive resume with USA Basketball. Last summer she earned a silver medal at the Pan Am Games.

Women's Basketball: How is your back?

NICOLE POWELL: It's doing well. I haven't had any issues with it as of late. I've been lucky so far.

I do a lot of stretching and a lot of core stuff. We do it as a team, anyway. We do a lot of abs and core workout. On top of that, I do other things to try and strengthen the muscles around that area.

WB: What did it mean for you to come back from injury last season and still have an All-American season?

NP: It was really awesome. The accolades and awards at the end of the season were kind of unexpected. I was just happy to be out there playing with our team. Even though we didn't do as well as we wanted in the tournament, we still had a really successful season.

WB: Your bio says you can play any position on the floor. Which one do you like the best and which one do you feel you play the best?

NP: I like playing on the perimeter more than playing on the inside. I don't really have a position, especially this year. Coach (Tara VanDerveer) has kind of put me everywhere already. I don't think I play one position a lot better than another.

WB: How do you feel you are mentally stronger by having played point guard?

NP: In the aspect of being really aware of what's going on out there on the floor. It's important when you're playing that position in particular to be aware of how everybody else is doing. You have to know everybody's position. You have to be vocal. You have to keep people together and keep everything organized on the floor. Those are aspects I've tried to carry over even when I'm not at the point guard position.

WB: You played with USA Basketball again last summer. What does that bring to your game?

NP: Playing with USA Basketball is, first of all, a great experience. You're playing with talented players from all over the country - people who bring different things to the floor. People who have some really great talents that you don't get the chance to play with year-round on your college team. Also we got to play against some really great competition. We were playing against professional women this summer. It helped me to bring my game up to a different level, because playing against that level of competition - the physicality and that kind of intensity - it was a great opportunity to learn.

WB: Now that you're in your senior year, how would you say Stanford has been absolutely the right place for you?

NP: The campus life here is incredible. I enjoy our campus immensely. The people I've had an opportunity to meet and make friends with have been great. I've had the chance to have some really cool teachers and study some different things. Even if I didn't play basketball, this is the place I'd want to go to school.

WB: Why Urban Studies for your major?

NP: The major itself is kind of a mixture of things. That's what I like about it. It's different. My track includes economics. I've had the chance to take some really interesting history classes and sociology classes as well as political science. Right now I'm in an architecture class. I've had a chance to experience a lot of different areas. To read more about Nicole Powell, log onto www.WBmagazine.com.

Copyright Ashton International Media, Inc. Feb 2004
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