Cold-shooting Cardinal take care of Cal

It wasn't the Cardinal's finest game of the season. They missed 21 of their first 25 shots, 14 in a row at one point. But fortunately the inexperienced Bears were even worse offensively. The final score was Stanford 79, Cal 58.

Nneka, aka Ms. Putback, played a great game. She scored the game-high 24 points and had a career-high 16 rebounds. She also had three assists, two blocks and a steal.

Kayla also had a double-double – 16 points and 10 rebounds.

In spite of a dismal field goal percentage, Jayne never gave up and ended with 13 points – and six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Mel, in her second game back from her knee injury, was red-hot. She tied her career-high eleven points, had one three-pointer, and played terrific defense on Natasha Vital. In a play that brought the Maples crowd to its feet, she grabbed a defensive rebound, tore down the court, and made a no-look pass to Nneka who layed it in the basket.

The Cardinal continued their careful free-throw shooting and hit 80% of them – 20 of 25. They lead the Pac-10 with 74.2%.

Here are the game reports:

• Stanford bad start has a good-enough finish by Michelle Smith, LeftCoastHoops
• Ogwumike rises to the occasion in win over Cal from Palo Alto Online
• Stanford's experience wears down young Cal women by Jake Curtis
• No. 2 Cardinal Take Care Of Cal, 79-58 from the Associated Press
• Still absorbing the gauntlet by Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle

The box score and play-by-play,

The press conference video with Tara, Kayla, Nneka and Mel,

And more photos:

Jayne drives to the basket Jayne & DeNesha Stallworth anticipate a rebound Jayne & Kayla enjoy the final minutes of the game Nneka & JJ enjoy the final minutes of the game