Balanced offense beats the Bears

Updated Feb 6: Added 23 field goals video

As in the prior game, both teams were determined on defense. Stanford's offense in the first half was sluggish and erratic and the Cardinal ended the half behind by seven, 27-34. The Cardinal's usual top performers were not doing well: Lili had no points, Karlie had no points and three fouls. However, Kailee had 9 points and Kaylee 10.

The game turned decisively in the third quarter. Stanford opened with a three-pointer from Lili, then more scores from Kaylee, Brittany, and Erica, and kept Cal from scoring any points at all until the 4:00 minute mark. At the end of the quarter, the score was 42-38, a 15-4 run by Stanford.

Cal closed the gap to two points in the fourth quarter but Lili, Brittany and Erica kept scoring enough to maintain the lead.

Five Stanford players scored in double digits. Bird had her 14th double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Brittany scored 12, Kaylee 11, Kailee 10 and Lili 10. Kailee scored her 10 points on five field goals, her personal best

Bird's, Brittany's, Kaylee's, Kailee's and Lili's 23 field goals

Kailee's, Kaylee's and Bird'a defense kept Cal's excellent freshman Kristine Anigwe from making a basket in the second half, an important element in the final result.

The Cardinal point guards scored a total of just three points, but their fine ball-handling was another important element in the victory. Bri had six assists and zero turnovers. Marta was three and one.

Here are game reports and commentary:

• Balance lifts No. 25 Stanford women over California 60-55, the Associated Press game recap
• No. 15 Stanford women's basketball beats Cal, the Pac-12 game recap video
• Bears Fall Short in Battle of the Bay Upset Bid, the Cal Athletics game recap
• Front court fuels win, the game recap and more from Stanford Athletics
• Stanford women beat Cal again by John Shea (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Cardinal women beat Cal, make a bold move in Pac-12 hoops by Rick Eymer (Palo Alto Online)
• Cal women’s basketball loses, 60-55, to No. 15 Stanford after lackluster 2nd half by Hooman Yazdanian (The Daily Californian)
• Bears Lose to Stanford, 60-55 by Viet Nguyen (The Bear Insider)
• WBB: Stanford 60 C.al 55 from the CARDboard

The box score and play-by-play,

A gallery of photos from Golden Bear Sports,

And "This was a huge win for us," said Bird in a postgame video interview.