Last time the Stanford women’s basketball team took on Oregon State they scratched out a 67-60 nail-biter at home. Stanford didn’t let OSU hang around in Thursday’s rematch though, scoring early and often en route to a 78-45 waxing of the Beavers in Corvallis.
National Player of the Year candidate Nnemkadi Ogwumike led the Cardinal brigade with 27 points. The senior forward kept pace with Oregon State by herself in the first half, matching OSU’s 16 total points with 16 of her own.
Nneka was joined in double digits by her sister Chiney, who compiled 10 points. Junior forward Joslyn Tinkle commanded the glass, collecting 14 rebounds.
With the win, the No. 3 Cardinal (23-1, 14-0 Pac-12) remained perfect in conference play and clinched at least a tie for the inaugural Pac-12 championship. It would be Stanford’s 12th conference title in a row.
Oregon State (17-8, 8-6) had its six-game winning streak snapped by the loss. The previous victories all came against conference foes, and had vaulted them into third place in the Pac-12.
Alyssa Martin was the only Oregon State player in double figures with 11 points. The Beavers leading scorer, freshman Ali Gibson, was held to just four points in the contest.
Points in the paint were key for Stanford. The Cardinal outscored the Beavers 36-24 in the lane as it won its 25th straight against OSU.
The Cardinal also played stout defense, especially in the first half. The Beavers entered the game second in the conference in field-goal percentage, sporting an impressive 41 percent against Pac-12 opponents. However, Stanford’s high-energy defense held OSU to just six of 25 (24 percent) shooting in the first half, and two of 16 (12.5 percent) shooting from behind the arc in the game.
Both teams’ offenses were sluggish to start the game, and five minutes into the half the score was just 4-0 Stanford. However, the Cardinal picked up the pace and started finding the bottom of the net at a torrid pace.
After trading baskets, a three-pointer from freshman sharpshooter Bonnie Samuelson sparked a 13-2 Cardinal run that put the team up 23-7. Senior Lindy La Rocque, who had nine points against the Beavers, capped the run with her own three-ball on an assist from Samuelson, who also had nine points.
Stanford stretched its lead throughout the rest of the first half and went into the locker room with a 20-point advantage, 36-16.
Nneka Ogwumike continued to dominate in the second half, scoring 11 of Stanford’s first 13 points in the period. Oregon State hung with the Cardinal through the first eight minutes though, not allowing the lead to grow any larger.
Samuelson again ignited Stanford with a deep three, and the Cardinal outscored the Beavers 17-6 over the next six minutes to secure the win.
The Cardinal travel down the road to Eugene to grapple with University of Oregon on Saturday. The Ducks are 6-8 in conference play and coming off an 83-71 loss to Cal.
Stanford and Oregon tip off in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday at 1 p.m.