UC Riverside looks to Stanford’s historical footnote Saturday

History wrote Saturday’s pregame speech for UC Riverside Coach John Margaritis 12 years ago.

It states that top-seeded Stanford — the team Margaritis’ 16th-seeded Highlanders play in the first round of the NCAA women’s tournament — lost the last time it had a No. 1 seeding, falling to Harvard, 71-67, in 1998.

That loss happened on Stanford’s home court — where Saturday’s game will be played — and made the Cardinal the first (and still only) top-seeded team in women’s and men’s NCAA tournament history to lose to a 16th-seeded team.

So, it can be done, but Margaritis might ditch that approach. “I could tell them for trivia reasons, but I don’t think it matters,” he said.

It may not. Stanford (31-1) is ranked second in the nation, and many expect the Cardinal to face Connecticut in the national championship. Stanford is also one of the best teams the Pacific 10 Conference has produced, with three players averaging near double-doubles.

“As I’ve watched them more and more, I realize I want to call in sick Saturday,” Margaritis said. “They don’t have very many weaknesses, if any.”

His Highlanders lost 12 of their first 15 games, but won 14 of their last 17, including winning the Big West Conference tournament. He said today is about gaining experience, win or lose. “Are we scared?” he asked. “I hope not. I’m not.”

baxter.holmes@latimes.com