Cardinal crushes Cornell

This game was not expected to be a challenge, but any possible doubt was erased when the Cardinal went on an 18-0 run to make the score 23-3 with two minutes left in the first quarter. There was some doubt among the fans whether Cornell could break into double digits in the half, but they did, ending the half at 53-13.

The Big Red never stopped competing as hard as they could, but even in the fourth quarter, playing against the end of the Stanford bench, Cornell was outscored 20-10 on the way to the final score of 93-38.

Each of the fourteen Stanford players had at least nine minutes on the floor. Twelve of the fourteen scored, and five had double-digit scores: Alanna and Erica with 12; Lili and Karlie with 11; and Kaylee with the only double-double, putting 11 rebounds together with 10 points, three blocks, three assists and a steal for her best outing so far this season.

Especially noteworthy among the fourth-quarter outings by bench-sitters was Kiran. She was 3-4 from long range, emphatically corking every Cornell attempt at a run.

The Cardinal was almost perfect on free throws, making 21 of 24. Lack of pressure has a most gratifying effect.

In other Pac-12 action today, the Tennessee Lady Vols came out of their slump and handed the Oregon State Beavers their first loss of the season, 53-50.

Here are game reports and commentary:

• No. 15 Stanford women defeat Cornell 93-38, the Associated Press game recap
• No. 15 Stanford Downs Women’s Basketball, the Cornell Athletics game recap
• Team Effort, the game recap from Stanford Athletics
• Stanford women overpower Cornell 93-38 by Tom FitzGerald (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Five players reach double figures in Stanford's hoops win by Rick Eymer (Palo Alto Online)
• WBB: Cornell at Stanford from the CARDboard

The box score and play-by-play and

A gallery of photos by Bill Dally (Stanford Photo),