STANFORD, Calif. – After three video games of routing opponents together with a prime ten squad, No. 6 Stanford (4-0) confronted its hardest contest this season, surviving a tenacious Duke (3-2) in an time beyond regulation recreation, 82-79 at Maples Pavilion Sunday afternoon.
They have been very bodily, I believe they gave us all we may ask for and extra,” Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer mentioned of the Blue Devils. “What an important early season recreation to be enjoying them, and for them to return out right here. Simply need to praise them and their employees on an important, nice preparation and clearly the sport may have gone both approach however I believe we actually confirmed some actual toughness.”
Coach by former WNBA and Olympic champion Kara Lawson, Duke recovered from a dismal first quarter to outperform Stanford within the third and fourth quarters. Junior ahead Kiki Iriafen, who’s having a breakout season, obtained issues began with 4 factors early. The Cardinal had a double-digit lead midway by way of the primary quarter, 14-2. Iriafen completed the interval with 12 factors and her workforce had a 30-17 lead heading into the second interval.
Duke clawed again within the second quarter as each groups have been sluggish offensively within the second ten minutes. The protection of the Blue Devils stymied the Cardinal and the guests outscored the house workforce 18-13 earlier than the half with a balanced effort from sophomore guard Ashlon Jackson, sophomore guard Taina Mar, freshman ahead Delaney Thomas, and freshman guard Oluchi Okananwa.
At halftime, Stanford held an eight-point benefit, 43-35. The Cardinal shot 54% (15-28) from the ground within the first half whereas Duke’s discipline aim share was 42% (14-33).
A rejuvenated Blue Devils group started the third quarter going toe-to-toe with Stanford. After two treys from Jackson and a driving layup from graduate pupil ahead Camille Emsbo, the guests have been inside one level of the house workforce, 51-50. With 47 seconds left within the interval, Jackson hit one other three-pointer to tie the sport. After getting fouled by Stanford freshman ahead Nunu Agara, Jackson went to the road and made two free throws to provide Duke its first lead of the sport.
With a 55-53 lead, Jackson and her teammates continued their pursuit of a attainable upset within the fourth stanza. Whereas Stanford outscored Duke 18-16 within the final ten minutes of regulation, it was solely sufficient to tie issues up.
With the rating at 71 all and after a timeout by Duke, Jackson tried a trey for a attainable game-winner however failed. Cardinal senior ahead Cameron Brink saved her workforce within the combine within the final quarter with a scrappy mixture of protection and offense, blocking photographs and making energy strikes within the paint.
The time beyond regulation interval was a back-and-forth contest with Stanford unable to tug away till the final 1:32, ending with three free throws to finish the competition. Alas, for the younger Blue Devils, the extra skilled Cardinal bested them 11-8 within the further 5 minutes for a hard-fought victory.
Brink led all scorers with a career-high 29 factors, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Iriafen was not far behind with 27 factors and 9 rebounds. Grad pupil guard Hannah Bounce, who was prolific from past the arc within the first half, completed with 15 factors and 5 rebounds.
Duke had 5 gamers in double figures led by Jackson who put up 22 factors that included three treys. Thomas added a career-high 14 factors, and Okananwa and Emsbo had 12 every plus 9 and 4 rebounds, respectively. Mair added 11 factors and 6 rebounds.
“We really feel actually good about our program,” Lawson mentioned postgame about her workforce’s promising future. “You already know, we’ve been constructing for a bit of bit now and bringing in gamers, younger gamers from highschool. A few years in the past, our sophomores have been a prime ten class.” The fourth-year coach added that her rebuilding of a storied program have to be executed “the suitable approach.”
As for her workforce’s effort in taking a prime ten workforce to the brink: “We’ve obtained to learn to compete in these environments. And now, we’ve obtained to learn to win in these environments. And that’s an enormous distinction.”
Duke heads house to face MEAC foe North Carolina Central to face on Nov. 26 adopted by a contest on the SEC’s Georgia on Nov. 30.
Stanford will spend the Thanksgiving break in Las Vegas competing within the Ball Dawgs Basic. The Cardinal face Belmont on Nov. 22 adopted by a recreation in opposition to Florida State or Northwestern on Nov. 24.
