Cardinal survives Buffalo stampede

Wow! That was a wild game! The Buffs employ an uninhibited aggressive style of play that didn't serve them very well tonight. They committed 25 fouls, and the Cardinal cashed in with 27 free throws – nine by Nneka and eight apiece by Jos and Chiney.

The Buffs hung in with the Cardinal pretty well for most of the first half. There was tough defense, unproductive shooting and lots of turnovers on both sides. With 3:30 left in the first half, the Cardinal were ahead 21-18. Twelve of the Cardinal's 21 points were from free throws.

Then the Cardinal went on a 24-2 run that extended seven minutes into the second half. The margin stayed at about 20 points for the rest of the game to a final score of Stanford 68, Colorado 46.

The Buffs made just 32.7% of their field goal attempts – 8% below their season average. Their poor shooting was due partly to strong Cardinal defense and partly to the Buffs' often uncontrolled offense.

Nneka got her double-double: 23 points and 11 rebounds. She is now second on the Stanford career scoring list – 15 points past Kate Starbird. (There is virtually no chance of her overtaking Candice for first place. She would have to average 33 points a game all the way to the Final Four for that.)

Chiney had a great game on both offense and defense: 18 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Highlights of the Cardinal offense were two from beyond the arc by Lindy and one by Toni, two long-g-g-g jumpers by Nneka, and three successful drives to the basket by Amber.

There was little commendable ball-handling in this wild game – each team turned the ball over 19 times. Amber, Toni and Lindy combined for six assists and twelve turnovers.

After the game, the team celebrated their being the first-ever Pac-12 regular season champion.

Here are game reports:

• No. 2 Stanford Overpowers Colorado, 68-46 by Antonio Gonzalez (Associated Press)
• Colorado fouls up Stanford women - for a half by Tom FitzGerald (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Stanford women's basketball extends nation's longest active home winning streak by Stephanie Hammon (Mercury News)
• Stanford Pulls Away From Colorado In Second Half by Troy Andre (CU Buffs)
• WBB: Stanford 68 Colorado 46
• CU Buffs can't hang with No. 2 Stanford Cardinal by Brian Howell (Daily Camera)
• Stanford sails by Colorado after tight first half by Dean McArdle (The Stanford Daily)

The box score and play-by-play,

A gallery of photos by Rick Bale (Stanford Photo),

And photos by Paul Sakuma (Associated Press):

Count the basket ... and one! Toni goes up against Chucky Nneka gets stuffed Jos fights for possession Bonnie, Taylor & Nneka celebrate Sara's last-second rebound and layup Champions