By: Joe Lami
STANFORD, Calif.–The Stanford Cardinal are headed to Nashville for their sixth Final Four in the last seven years, after they defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 74-65 in front of a packed home crowd of 6,145 on Tuesday night. This will be the 12th time in program history, and the 11th under Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer where the Cardinal will be advancing to the Final Four.
The Tar Heels controlled much of the first half, after Stanford was on the board first. Both teams shot poorly for the first couple of minutes. At the first media time out North Carolina was leading 5-2, with the Tar Heels shooting 40% from the field, and the Cardinal only 20%. Out of the timeout the Tar Heels pored it on, knocking down the next six of seven shots. Five of which came from beyond the arc to give UNC a 22-9 lead 8:10 into the game. Alisha Gray was the difference maker in the run as she shot four for four from the field, three of which came from the three-point line.
Stanford would come right back however, in the next four minutes they went onto a 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 26-20. Stanford would get North Carolina’s lead within one point with 4:25 left in the first half, when Chiney Ogwumike would make a lay-up. Ogwumike was held to a season low four points in the first half, as the North Carolina defense was very aggressive with her down low. As Head Coach of the Tar Heels, Andrew Calder, would say “Being physical to Ogwumike is the key to beating her.” At some points of the contest three different Tar Heels would be guarding the All-American to shut her down. The Tar Heels would go into the halftime break with a 36-30 lead.
The first half saw some tremendous shooting, especially from beyond the arc. North Carolina shot just over 53% from three-point land, knocking down seven of 13 shots from long range. On top of Gray’s three, Xylina McDaniel would hit two. Stanford wasn’t as strong from long distance, but the three’s they hit came at crucial times keeping them in the game. Amber Orrange and Bonnie Samuelson both knocked down two.
Stanford made their push to comeback in the first couple of minutes of the second half. A 18-6 run powered by amazing three-point shooting would be enough to give them the 48-42 lead. Mikaela Ruef would be the one to do it as well, making it a big shocker. Ruef came into the game with only six three-pointers in her entire career, knocked three of them down with 15-minutes remaining in the second half. “We played the percentages, Ruef made the threes and changed the game, she was the x-factor tonight” said Calder.
The amazing outside shooting from Ruef would eventually open up the play down low for Ogwumike. Once being triple-teamed, she was able to get single coverage and take over, scoring 16 points in the second half, on route to her 26th double double of the season. “It was the best game that she (Ruef) had played in a Staford uniform” exclaimed Stanford Head Coach, Tara VanDerveer.
Stanford would gain their biggest lead at eight just over the halfway point of the second half, but the Tar Heels weren’t finished yet. They went on 17-8 run to retake the lead with four minutes to go. The Cardinal regained their composure after a 30-second timeout taken, giving them one final push to win the game. Stanford was up three with 92-seconds remaining when UNC began to foul. The Cardinal were perfect on their foul shots to up their lead to nine to end the game.
Five Stanford scorers got into double figures, the most since Jan 27. Ogwumike lead the way for Stanford with 20 points. Ruef was right behind her with 17, and ended just one rebound shy of completing her second double double in as many games. Orrange was next in line, as she finished with 14, she was also the only Stanford player to play all 40 minutes. Samuelson knocked down three 3-pointers on her way to 13 points. The three 3-pointers up Samuelson’s tournament total to 14, giving the lead in the tournament. Lili Thompson was the final player to hit double figures for the Cardinal, as the Freshman finished with ten points in 38 minutes played.
UNC’s Gray tapered off in the second half, scoring only four points, as the Stanford defense targeted in on her. She still lead the way for the Tar Heels with 19 points. The only other double figure scorer for UNC was Diamond DeShields, who finished with 13, nine of which came in the second half.
The Cardinal finish out their season perfect at Maples Pavilion, as they move onto Nashville. Next up for Stanford is the number one team in the country in Connecticut. UConn was the first team to beat Stanford this year, in the second game of the season. “I think we improved a lot since the first time we played them, and we’ll be ready for whatever game plan the coaches give us” commented Thompson in preparation for UConn. VanDerveer added that “playing them already help us.”
Sports Radio Service 