Bronco stampede stuns the Cardinal

The Broncos brought their best defensive game ever to Maples tonight and defeated the Cardinal, 61-58, for the first time since 1998.

The Broncos' aggressive, wide-spread zone defense completely flummoxed the Cardinal, who never got into an offensive rhythm. The Cardinal couldn't penetrate to the basket, their 3-pointers weren't falling (until late in the game — way too late) and their free-throw shooting was pathetic (10-of-17 for 59%).

The discombobulated Cardinal turned the ball over 26 times (four shy of Stanford's single-game record) in their attempts to solve the Bronco defense.

The Broncos made good use of those additional possessions and of superior offensive re-bounding (23 to 16). They weren't shooting very well (31% to the Cardinal's 36%), but they took 71 shots to the Cardinal's 53.

Lili had her third straight 21-point game, and Bird had her fourth straight double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds), but that wasn't quite enough to prevail over the determined Broncos.

Here are game reports and commentary:

• Santa Clara women stun No. 13 Stanford 61-58, the Associated Press game recap
• Women's Basketball Knocks Off No. 10 Stanford on the Road, the Santa Clara Athletics game recap
• Broncos beat Cardinal, the game recap and more from Stanford Athletics
• Cardinal women suffer rare home basketball loss to Broncos by Rick Eymer (Palo Alto Online)
• No bucking up needed here: Santa Clara Broncos shock No. 10 Stanford by Carly Grenfell (Swish Appeal)

The box score and play-by-play,

A gallery of photos by Nhat V. Meyer (Bay Area News Group),

The press conference audio, with Tara, Lili and Bri,

And a few of Nhat V. Meyer's photos:

Alanna fights for the ball

Bird takes a shot

Bri drives into the Bronco defense

Brittany takes a shot

Lili launches one of her five 3-pointers

Jubilant Broncos