Stanford FBC: Stories of the Season: Cardinal slips past the Ducks

January 15, 2016

Cardinal slips past the Ducks

The Cardinal had a brief lead at the start but then trailed throughout except for three seconds later in the game. Fortunately those were the final seconds of the game, and the Cardinal slipped out of Knight Arena with a 64-62 win.

The Cardinal likely would have had an earlier lead, except that the Ducks had an amazing night of three-point shooting. At the half, with Stanford trailing 32-36, the Ducks were 6 for 11 on threes, and Tara told the TV announcer that the Cardinal needed to step up their defense and, "stop those open threes".

That did not happen. Oregon made six more 3-point baskets in the second half and would have pulled far ahead had not Karlie matched two of them with threes of her own. At the start of the fourth quarter Stanford trailed by four, and still trailed by five at the 5:00 mark. Then layups by Kaylee and Bri made it a one-point game, 60-61, with four minutes left to play.

There followed an extraordinary three minutes of play in which nothing was scored. There were six Oregon possessions and five Stanford possessions, producing in all nine missed shots, three steals and two turnovers; and at the 0:53 mark the score was still 60-61. Then Jillian Alleyne made a free throw to make it 60-62.

Lili made a layup and was fouled, but missed the and-one: tie game, 62-62. On the Oregon possession Kailee got a block and Lili grabbed the rebound ...

... drove the court, and got another layup and foul, but again missed the and-one. Oregon grabbed the rebound and called time so as to inbound by their bench with two seconds to play, but were unable to get a shot off, and Stanford had the win.

With Bird present, but not suited up due to an undisclosed condition, the heroes were an L and three K's:

Lili started slow but ended with 16 points, including the crucial two layups in the final minute.

Karlie led all scorers with 18 points including four of five 3-point shots, which were important in keeping Stanford in the game under the Oregon 3-point barrage.

Kaylee had 16 points on 7-13 shooting, a personal best for field goals made and attempted. On defense, she blocked five shots and stuck close to the formidable Jillian Alleyne

Kailee played 30 minutes, had eight points, a personal best ten rebounds, and was frequently part of a defensive double-team on Alleyne (who ended the night with 14 rebounds, but only one field goal)

Here are game reports and commentary: