The basis of the rout is clear in one stat, field-goal percentage: Stanford 44%, Arizona 21%. Before this game, Stanford was second nationally in field goal percentage defense (.306). That has now dropped to .299.
The Wildcats' low shooting percentage was due in part to nine blocks by the Cardinal. But any advantage the Cardinal gained from blocks, they gave right back in the form of sloppy ball handling — turnovers were Stanford 23, Arizona 13. With turnovers, Arizona was actually able to take more shots, 53 to Stanford's 43, but they could not get the ball to fall, and that was due to the smart, tenacious Stanford defense forcing them to take late shots and awkward shots.
Cast-iron defense was a team effort, but there were individual highlights on offense.
Brittany scored 21 points on six of 10 shooting (three of six from beyond the arc). This was a welcome breakout for Brittany — her season-high and within three of her personal best.
Alanna scored 16 points, most of them from hitting four of five three-point shots. In all, eight Cardinal players scored, but only Brittany and Alanna reached double digits, and nobody had a double-double.
Here are game reports and commentary:
- McPhee leads No. 11 Stanford women over Arizona 59-34, the Associated Press game recap
- Stanford women's basketball tops Arizona to open Pac-12 play, the Pac-12 game recap video
- Cats Drop Pac-12 Opener to No. 11 Stanford, the Arizona Athletics game recap
- McPhee Magnificent, the game recap and more from Stanford Athletics
- WBB: Stanford 59 Arizona 34 from the CARDboard
- Stanford earns payback, routs UA women's team by 25 by Daniel Ganoa (Arizona Daily Star)
- McPhee, Smith help Stanford women defy Pac-12 hoop odds from Palo Alto Online
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