Stanford women’s basketball (9-7, 1-4 ACC) suffered a loss to No. 21 NC State 81-67 on Sunday at Maples Pavillion. The losing effort marked the first home loss of the season for the Cardinal.
A third-quarter collapse, where Stanford was outscored 34-15, ultimately doomed the home team. Sophomore guard Chloe Clardy led the Cardinal offense with 17 points, with senior guard Elena Bosgana adding 14 points and six rebounds.
Bosgana jump started the Stanford offense, dropping in an early jumper after winning the tip-off. The senior from Athens, Greece, followed up with a key assist to Clardy in the corner for a three-pointer, putting Stanford ahead early.
Bosgana’s contributions were not limited to offense. A perfectly timed, mid-quarter steal snapped an NC State run and briefly shifted momentum back to the Cardinal. However, mistakes began to pile up. A traveling violation by senior forward Brooke Demetre and missed wide-open opportunities kept the Wolfpack right on Stanford’s heels.
Enter Tess Heal. With just under a minute remaining in the opening quarter, the junior guard from Melbourne, Australia, drove inside and converted a tough and-one, capping the first quarter with a scrappy basket to expand the Stanford lead to 18-12.
The second quarter saw Stanford struggle to find its rhythm. Turnovers and two traveling calls disrupted the Cardinal’s offensive flow, allowing NC State to seize the lead. Facing tighter defense, Bosgana was unable to replicate her scoring success from the first quarter.
Heal became the steadying force. She snapped a Stanford scoring drought with a mid-range jumper, but the Cardinal’s shooting woes persisted, with Bosgana and Demetre missing pivotal three-point attempts. By halftime NC State found themselves up 34-28, and the shooting percentages told the story: Stanford managed just 21.4% from beyond the arc compared to NC State’s 41.7%.
The third quarter opened with a glimmer of hope as Bosgana scored on a quick layup as Stanford’s offense flashed a burst of energy. NC State’s Zoe Brooks, however, answered with a scoring spree, including two three-pointers that widened the gap.
Heal once again provided a spark off the bench. Out of a timeout, she drove to the basket and scored over NC State’s defense effortlessly. A few possessions later, she drained a three-pointer, reigniting hope for the Cardinal. Heal finished the game with nine points and five rebounds.
The final quarter showcased Stanford’s resilience as they outscored NC State 24-13 to close the game. The final push was not nearly enough as turnovers and missed opportunities proved too much to overcome. The Stanford offense committed 18 turnovers, while NC State struggled with ball control as well, finishing with 12. However, the key difference was NC State’s ability to capitalize, scoring 23 points off turnovers compared to Stanford’s six. The Cardinal’s failure to convert the Wolfpack’s mistakes proved costly.
Looking ahead, Stanford heads on the road for another ACC matchup against Wake Forest on Thursday. Stanford will aim to avoid becoming the first ACC team to lose to the Demon Deacons this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at LJVM Coliseum.