Cardinal women set defensive record in 62-49 win over Colorado

Stanford forward Francesca Belibi (5) shoots against Colorado center Quay Miller (11) during the first quarter at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Sun Jan 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sunday, January 22, 2023

No. 24 Colorado attempted 66 shots in Sunday’s women’s basketball game against Stanford. The No. 4 Cardinal blocked a school-record 14 of them on their way to a 62-49 Pac-12 win at Maples Pavilion.

With the win, Stanford (19-2 overall, 7-1 Pac-12) took over sole possession of first place in the conference. Along with a dominating defensive effort, the Cardinal also hit 17 of 22 free throws and scored 19 points off turnovers.

Cameron Brink had six of those blocked shots to go with 14 points and five rebounds. Hannah Jump led the Cardinal with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Haley Jones had 11 points, three assists and a game-high 16 rebounds.

Jaylyn Sherrod was the Buffaloes’ scoring leader with 16 points, followed by Quay Miller with 14 and Aaronette Vonleh with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Colorado (15-4 overall, 5-2 Pac-12). Sherrod also had three steals.

The Cardinal opened the first quarter with a 12-0 run, eventually building a 16-4 lead. Colorado, which trailed by as many as 17, battled back to cut its deficit to 10 in the fourth quarter.

Stanford hosts Oregon State on Friday night.

Stanford Cooks Oregon on the Farm to Earn Second Conference Win, 71-64

The Stanford Cardinal forward Harrison Ingram (55) reaches in for the basketball with the Oregon Ducks guard Will Richardson (0) driving the ball at Maples Pavilion at Stanford on Sat Jan 21, 2023 (USA Today photo)

By Michael Roberson

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (7-12, 2-7 Pac-12) roasted the Oregon Ducks (11-9, 5-4 Pac-12) inside the friendly confines of Maples Pavilion, 71-64.

The first half was a tussle with both teams leading at one time, but never in double digits. As a matter of fact Stanford had the largest advantage (9) with a 7-0 run and Oregon possessed a 5-0 run, but only led 3-0 to begin the contest.

The Ducks cut the deficit to one several times, but had to settle for being behind by five at recess, 42-37.

No player on either squad scratched double-figures; however, Cardinal’s senior forward Spencer Jones led his team with eight points, while senior guard Jermaine Couisnard topped the Ducks with nine points after 20 minutes of action.

Part two of the Pacific 12 Battle presented Stanford going on an 8-0 jaunt and ballooning their lead to 13 within the first five minutes of the second 20 minutes of regulation.

Although the Ducks continued to peck away at the lead, the Cardinal stood tall and won the game by seven, 71-64.

Stanford’s three leading scorers each tallied double-figure points: The aforementioned Spencer Jones finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals. Sophomore forward Harrison Ingram contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and also two thefts. Senior guard Michael Jones offered ten points and five rebounds to help sweep both schools from the Beaver State.

Oregon was represented with three players with double-digit scoring and one with that category for rebounds. Jermaine Couisnard paced all scorers (18), senior guard Rivaldo Soares (13) and junior guard Keeshawn Barthele-my (11). Their senior center N’Faly Dante chipped in 9 points and grabbed 14 boards.

Stanford is next in action Wednesday, January 25, as they host a non conference game versus the Chicago State Cougars, while Oregon goes back to Eugene to host the Colorado Buffaloes Thursday, January 26.

No. 4 Cardinal women bounce back with 74-62 win over No. 8 Utah

Stanford forward Cameron Brink, left, and Utah forward Alissa Pili compete for possession of the ball during the first half at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Fri Jan 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, January 20, 2023

Stanford bounced back from its first Pac-12 women’s basketball loss of the season, as the No. 4 Cardinal defeated No. 8 Utah 74-62 Friday at Maples Pavilion.

Though the Cardinal (18-2 overall, 6-1 Pac-12) lost starting point guard Talana Lepolo to an ankle injury early in the first half, Indya Nivar filled in and effectively ran the Stanford offense, scoring four points and getting three assists.

Cameron Brink led the Cardinal with 25 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Haley Jones also scored 25 points while grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking two shots.

Hannah Jump, who hit her first five shots, added 13 points for Stanford, which lost to USC last Sunday, snapping a 12-game winning streak

The Utes (15-2 overall, 4-2 Pac-12) were led by Alissa Pili and Gianna Kneepkens with 25 and 19 points, respectively. Utah, which had been averaging 86.8 points per game, has never defeated a top-five opponent.

Utah had leads of 10-2 and 12-5 early before the Cardinal came back with a 7-0, 1:15 run. Stanford held the Utes to 10 points in the second quarter and 12 in the fourth.

Stanford is 11-1 at home this season.

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Stanford Breaks Oregon State’s Teeth and Capture First Pac-12 Victory, 67-46

Oregon State forward Glenn Taylor Jr., right, drives to the basket while defended by Stanford guard Michael Jones during the first half at Maple Pavilion in Palo Alto on Thu Jan 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (6-12, 1-7 Pac-12) made it impossible for the Oregon State Beavers (7-12, 1-7 Pac-12) to chew through their bark and finally obtain a conference win, 67-46.

The Cardinal never trailed the initial 20 minutes of the game. At one point they went on a 9-0 run and led by as much as 17 points, then kept a nine-point advantage at intermission, 31-22.

Stanford senior forward Spencer Jones led all players in scoring at the midway juncture (13) while converting three 3’s.

The second half started off with the industrious rodents biting into the lead, reducing the deficit to one point at the 17:33 mark of the second stanza. Oregon State accomplished this feat by garnering a 16-0 run encompassing the end of the first half and beginning of the second half.

The Cardinal staved off the Beavers attack and pushed the lead up to as high as 24 points on a 17-0 run themselves. They were never threatened again in the contest.

The Jones “Brothers,” Spencer and Michael both led the way for the Cardinal with 18 points apiece and four bombs from beyond the arc, respectively. Sophomore forward Maxime Raynaud gave his squad 12 points and six rebounds, while fellow second year underclassman Harrison Ingram tallied eight points, eight rebounds and six assists for the cause,

Sophomore forward Glenn Taylor Jr. led OSU with 11 points, as their only player in double-figure scoring.

Stanford will host the Oregon Ducks Saturday, January 21, and Oregon State crosses the Bay (Berkeley) to challenge the California Golden Bears Sunday, January 22.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal hope to end 5 game skid against OSU Thursday

The Stanford Cardinal Maxime Raynaud (42) gets his reverse slam on. Raynaud led Stanford in scoring Sat Jan 13, 2023 with 16 points against the Washington State Cougars in Pullman. The Cardinal host the Oregon State Beavers on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto (photo by Stanford Cardinal)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1In the last three seconds in Saturday’s game the Stanford Cardinal (5-12) couldn’t get the last shot to fall with three seconds left to lost the Washington State Cougars at Pullman 60-59.

#2 Maxime Raynaud led Stanford in scoring with 16 points with eight rebounds. Raynaud has been a contributor for the Stanford offense.

#3 Harrison Ingram and Spencer Jones each had 14 points. Ingram had nine rebounds and six assists, Jones had eight rebounds.

#4 Stanford led WSU at the half 34-31 with two 9-0 runs but couldn’t stop the Cougars late in the game in the one point loss.

#5 After three straight road games the Cardinal returned to Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto to host the Oregon State Beavers this Thursday for a 8:00pm tip. Head coach Jerod Haase is hoping to get back in the win column.

Join Michael for the Cardinal MBB podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

USC women stun No. 2 Cardinal 55-46

Southern California guard Kayla Williams, left, and guard Okako Adika celebrates after USC upset Stanford 55-46 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Sun Jan 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sunday, January 15, 2023

Southern California pulled off a major upset in women’s basketball Sunday, as the Trojans defeated No. 2 Stanford 55-46 in Los Angeles, snapping the Cardinal’s 12-game winning streak in the process.

Destiny Littleton led USC with 18 points and six assists, Okako Adika scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Taylor Bigby and Kayla Williams scored nine points apiece as the Trojans (13-4 overall, 3-3 Pac-12) snapped a 14-game losing streak to Stanford.

It was Southern California’s first win over the Cardinal (17-2 overall, 5-1 Pac-12) since the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament.

USC had it going defensively, holding the Cardinal to four points in the first quarter, and leading by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter. The Trojans forced six turnovers while holding Stanford to 2 of 10 shooting in the opening 10 minutes, building an 11-4 lead.

The Cardinal tied the game at 19-19 with 1:09 left in the first half, but USC’s 5-0 run gave the Trojans a 24-19 halftime lead.

Clarice Akunwafo put the exclamation point on USC’s day at the end of the third quarter. With three seconds remaining in the period, Akunwafo blocked a shot by the Cardinals’ Lauren Betts, then hustled upcourt to sink a 24-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Trojans a 43-33 lead.

Cameron Brink scored 11 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for the Cardinal, which also saw its streak of 39 straight conference wins come to an end. Haley Jones had 12 rebounds for Stanford, but was held to eight points.

Though the Cardinal held USC to 27 percent shooting from the field, the Trojans compensated by hitting 8 of 19 behind the arc and sinking 17 of 26 free throws. Stanford hit only 4 of 21 3-point attempts.

The Cardinal return home on Friday to host No. 10 Utah, opening a four-game homestand at Maples Pavilion.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Daniel Dullum: Stanford Women continue to roll; Cardinal bring 11 game win streak to UCLA tonight

The Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink (22) tries to take the ball past the Cal Bears defense at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sun Jan 8, 2023 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

#1 The only way the Stanford Cardinal (16-1) were going to stop the Cal Bears (10-5) Leilani McIntosh was for the Cardinal to rely on Cameron Brink to match each of her shots as time was running out and the Cardinal just got by the Bears 60-56.

#2 Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer knows about being road tested and the Cal Bears were no exception they gave it all they had but fell short. VanDerveer knows the game against the Bears helps build character as the Cardinal prepare in UCLA tonight.

#3 It was a big night for Brink who scored 25 points and 17 rebounds with three blocked shots. Brink is having a year looking at the year she’s having she very well could wind up in the WNBA someday.

#4 Haley Jones had 12 points with 11 rebounds was one of two players to finish in double figures against Cal on Friday night and Brink and Jones have been a great tandem.

#5 The Cardinal prepare for tonight’s game against the UCLA Bruins (14-2) who just defeated the USC Trojans (11-4) last Sunday. The Cardinal and Bruins match up for an 8:00pm tip off at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Join Daniel Dullum for Cardinal podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Washington dominates in 86-69 win over Cardinal

Washington Huskies Keion Brooks Jr forward (1) gets a jump on the Stanford Cardinal at Alaskan Airlines Arena in Seattle on Thu Jan 12, 2023 (USA Today photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Thursday, January 12, 2023

Washington had five players in double-figure scoring on Thursday, as the Huskies defeated Stanford 86-69 in Pac-12 men’s basketball before an announced crowd of 5,692 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.

Braxton Meah led the Huskies (10-8 overall, 2-5 Pac-12) with 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Keion Brooks Jr. was next for Washington with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Koren Johnson added 15 points, followed by Cole Bajema and Kenyon Menifield with 11 points each.

Spencer Jones scored 12 points to lead the Cardinal (5-11 overall, 0-6 Pac-12). Max Murrell and Ryan Agarwal each scored 10 points, while Harrison Ingram scored nine points and had nine rebounds. Brandon Angel had three assists, and Spencer and Michael Jones each had six rebounds.

The Cardinal took a 7-0 lead to open the game, but Washington tied the game at 15-15 seven minutes later, eventually building a 47-29 lead at halftime. Stanford got no closer than 52-37 after Spencer Jones hit a 3-pointer at 17:57 of the second half.

Menifield hit 1-of-2 free throws at 16:11 to give the Huskies a 57-37 lead.

Stanford was held to 34 percent shooting from the field (24 of 70); the Huskies hit 33 of 59 (56 percent), including nine 3-pointers. Washington also dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint, as well as 20 points off of 12 Cardinal turnovers.

The Cardinal travel to Pullman, Wash., on Saturday to face Washington State. Tip-off is at 5 p.m.

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: Cougars play catch up on Cal 66-51; Cal just missed getting third straight win

Washington State forward DJ Rodman (11) celebrates his basket during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against California, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. (AP News photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael it looked promising but the Cal Bears (3-14) couldn’t hold on and fell apart on offense and defense to the Washington State Cougars (8-10) 66-51 on Wednesday night in Pullman.

#2 Cal was down at halftime 31-30 but the Cougars opened the second half with a 12-0 run and the Bears couldn’t even catch up.

#3 The Cougars had a 23 point lead just before garbage time kicked in and the Bears just were left with just no chance to catch up and get back in this one.

#4 To say the least the Bears melted down in the second half and they just simply couldn’t stop the Cougars who were just having their way in scoring. The Cougars were just simply blowing past the Cal defense and whole different story then the first half.

#5 The Bears head to Seattle to face the Washington Huskies (9-8) who are on a five game losing streak. Michael get your take on how you see these two teams on Saturday night a 3:00pm tip at Alaskan Airlines Arena.

Join Michael for the Cal Bears podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears game wrap: Bears fail to get third straight win in second half melt down to Cougars 66-51 at Wazzu

Cal Bears head coach Mark Fox said that the team just didn’t hold it together in the second half and let the game get away against the Washington Cougars on Wed Jan 11, 2023 at Pullman WA (AP News photo)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

The hot hand of the Washington State Cougars (8-10) DJ Rodman who was responsible for hitting four three pointers Wednesday night in Pullman. Rodman who finished up with 14 points to help defeat the Cal Bears (3-14). Mouhamed Gueye like Rodman scored 14 as both finished tied for the leading scoring category for the Cougars.

The Cougars Justin Powell finished third in scoring with 12 points and rounded out the WSU players who finished in double figures. The Bears made seven of their last field goal attempts in first half action. The Bears Grant Newell and DeJuan Clayton both help cut Washington State lead down to a point at the half 31-30.

The Cougars in the second half broke out with a 15-2 run with Kymany Houinsou making a lay up against the Bears 15 seconds into the second half. Rodman made the Cal defense melt like butter hitting three three pointers in two minutes and 12 seconds and you could see that was taking a toll on the Bears for any chance to get back in this game.

The shots were not falling for Cal going 2-12 to start the second half and the Bears never got within single digits to catching the Cougars for the rest of the way. Marcel Roberson was the only Bear to finish in double figures and wound up with a career high 11 points.

Cal’s shooting was way down finishing with 28.6% 8 for 28 and went 0-11 on three pointers. The Cougars simply took Cal out of their game when the opened the second half with a 12-0 run. After Roberson in scoring all single digit finalists Obinna Anyanwu, Kuany Kuany, and Grant Newell all with seven points, Clayton and Lars Thiemann finishing up with six points each.

The Bears go onto Seattle to face the Washington Huskies who are in a three game losing streak for a 3:00pm tip off on Sat Jan 14th at Alaskan Airlines Arena on the University of Washington campus.