Three-point barrage downs Dons, 86-66

The Cardinal started this game like people still a little fuzzy from a long weekend in Vegas. The Dons started with a couple of three-point makes and a vigorous, athletic defense. They took a lead that they maintained into the second half, while Stanford seemed to struggle. In fact, Stanford scored only 12 points in the first quarter, and again only 12 in the second, to end the first half trailing 24-28.

Maybe Tara came up with some of those famous "adjustments" during the break. At any rate, although the same players started the second half as started the first, they performed at a different level entirely.

DiJonai got it going with a crisp jumper; then Alanna and Kaylee made layups to tie the score 30-30. Then the threes started falling: Kiana hit one, then DiJonai did, then DiJonai again and Kiana again, then Alexa.

In all, Stanford scored 32 points in the third quarter, a third more than they scored in the entire first half. It wasn't a runaway yet because USF was making threes as well, so the third quarter ended 56-49.

But the Stanford blitz continued in the fourth with threes from Alexa, then Kiana, then Alanna and Alanna again, and DiJonai. That made the final score of 86-66 look like an easy win, but it was only easy for the final five minutes.

Alanna scored her third consecutive double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She went 3-3 from beyond the arc.

DiJonai also had 19 points, plus 5 rebounds.

Kiana led the three-point barrage, hitting 5 of 9 long shots on the way to a personal best of 17 points.

Alexa had 13 points, equaling her personal best.

Kaylee grabbed the game-high 14 rebounds — quite likely the most since her freshman season.

As a group the team hit 15 of 31 three-point tries, or 48%. Eleven of those dropped in the second half — a school record for threes in a half.

The team now heads to Waco to play the Baylor Bears. Their success there will surely depend on which team starts the game, the one from tonight's first half, or that other, much better one. Then comes finals and "dead week" before the next home game.

Here are game reports and commentary:

• No. 16 Stanford women's 3-point record sinks San Francisco, the Associated Press game recap
• Dons Fall to No. 16 Stanford After Early Lead, the USF Athletics game recap
• Sharp Shooting, the Stanford Athletics game recap
• Stanford warms up on 3s, pulls away from USF by Tom FitzGerald (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Stanford women use big second half to beat the Dons from Palo Alto Online
• WBB: Stanford 86 USF 66 from the CARDboard

The game statistics,

And a few photos:

Kiana was tough on defense too

Cardinal and Dons, always friends