Tara called for people to step up, to be more aggressive. The Cardinal did just that tonight — big time! Stanford 75, UCLA 49.
The Cardinal's smothering defense held the Bruins (the top scoring team in the Pac-12) to 31% shooting and a season-low 49 points. They out-rebounded the Bruins (the top rebounding team in the Pac-21) 36-25, forced 19 turnovers and stole the ball nine times.
The Cardinal's offense combined lots of gutsy drives to the basket with a rejuvenated outside game. They made 53% of their field goal attempts, including six of seven three-pointers.
Chiney led the way with 25 points and 13 rebounds (her twelfth double-double of the season), but she had lots of help from her teammates tonight.
Jos had some trouble getting up for jumpers in the paint, perhaps because she tweaked her ankle a few days ago, but she more than made up for that by finding her three-point shot — she hit four of four from beyond the arc. Three of them were in the last two minutes of the game, and the already ecstatic crowd went wild. She scored 16 points in all and had six rebounds.
Amber didn't spend much time dribbling the ball on the perimeter tonight. She drove to the basket instead and made 70% of her shots for a total of 15 points. She was an absolute pest on defense. She stole the ball five times.
Toni was on top of her game tonight — energetic and decisive. She was the "blew-by-you" Toni that we haven't often seen this season. She scored just six points, but also contributed six assists, four rebounds, a steal and relentless defense. She sank a three-pointer seven minutes into the game that gave the Cardinal a lead they never relinquished.
Sara started tonight, for just the second time in her career, and played with great energy and determination for most of the first half. She began the Cardinal scoring (after the Bruins had taken a four-point lead) with a drive to the basket and a layup that brought the crowd to its feet.
Mikaela made life tough for the Bruin Bigs tonight. She grabbed five rebounds, scrambled for loose balls, and blocked one shot. She contributed a field goal, a free throw and three crisp assists to the Cardinal offense.
And so the Cardinal begins another winning streak at Maples. At KZSU's postgame interview, Jos said, "We're not gonna let anyone else come in here and take what we want!"
Here are game reports and commentary:
- No. 6/6 Stanford Hands UCLA First Pac-12 Loss by Rick Eymer (Associated Press)
- Stanford women right the ship, rout UCLA by Elliott Almond (Mercury News)
- Stanford throttles UCLA 75-49 by Tom FitzGerald (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Cardinal women return to form with Pac-12 win over Bruins by Rick Eymer (Palo Alto Online)
- Stanford women tied for first after beating UCLA by Jake Curtis
- WBB: Stanford 75 UCLA 49 from the CARDboard
- Stanford trounces UCLA to end streak by Michelle Smith (espnW)
A game highlights video from Stanford Athletics,
A game highlights video from Pac-12 Networks,
A post game interview of Chiney from Pac-12 Networks,
A gallery of photos by Richard C. Ersted (Stanford Photo),
And photos by Dave Cortesi:
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