With Grit, Stanford Beats the Odds on the Road

 

Warren Grimes

On the road, Stanford overcame adversity with an inspiring 75-74 overtime victory over a strong Virginia Tech team.  Stanford trailed for most of the game, including the fourth quarter, but went on a late game run to tie the game in regulation, and win it in extra time.  This game was, in many respects, a satisfying reverse image of Stanford’s early season overtime loss to LSU.

On paper, Tech should have won this game.  They came into the contest with a 16-9 record, compared to Stanford’s 13-12 record.  Stanford had won only one road game all season.  This was a game in which grit was Stanford’s secret weapon. 

Stanford won despite the unavailability of its star Nunu Agara.

Stanford won despite shooting just 26% from the three-point line and only 61% from the foul line.

Stanford won despite the foul trouble of its two senior scorers: Elena Boscana played just over 10 minutes and had only 3 points while Brooke Demetre played 27 minutes, with just 5 points.

Stanford won despite being substantially outrebounded (32 boards to Tech’s 42).

Stanford won with defense.  That was especially true in the fourth quarter, when Stanford held Tech to 16 points while disrupting their offensive flow with steals and turnovers that produced points and a tie game at the end of regulation.  Chaos-generating turnovers were a winner for Stanford.  Tech had 22 turns, with many leading to Stanford scores. 

The underclassmen really were the difference makers in this game, scoring 65 of Stanford’s 75 points.  Playing 43 plus minutes, Chloe Clardy had a career high 30 points, including 3 of 7 three pointers, one of which finally erased Tech’s late fourth quarter lead.  Clardy also contributed 5 assists and 3 steals.  All of Stanford’s 9 steals came from underclassmen, with 2 each from Shay Ijiwoye and Kennedy Umeh.  Courtney Ogden was in double figures with 15 and Ijiwoye had 10 points, including vital overtime lay ups and two late seconds free throws that sealed the deal.

Special recognition goes to Mary Ashley Stevenson, who has been starting in place of Agara.  Stevenson’s statistical line was modest, with 6 points, 7 boards, and 2 assists.  But she played mistake free basketball (no turnovers) for 43 exhausting minutes.    

Stanford is a team without a high margin for error.  It won against Tech despite poor outside shooting and tepid rebounding.  The determination and focus the team displayed was a high point and should be a confidence booster.  With or without Nunu Agara, let’s hope that the game provides momentum for a team that hopes to extend its three-game winning streak and get deep into the ACC tournament.