November 16, 2024

Aggies try but can't stifle Cardinal

 

                        Junior guard Tess Heal gets one of her two blocks. (Stanford Athletics)

After the euphoria of three lopsided wins fueled by a barrage of 3-pointers, the Stanford women’s basketball team returned to earth but still defeated UC Davis 69-56 on Nov. 13 at home.

Because of the Aggies’ defense, 3’s were harder to come by, only five.

Sophomore forward Courtney Ogden contributed two. The others came from senior guards Elena Bosgana and Brooke Demetre plus redshirt junior guard Jzaniya Harriel.

Scoring was led by sophomore forward Nunu Agara with 25 points plus 10 rebounds for a double-double, the first of her career.

Courtney with 16 and Brooke with 11 also were in double figures.

The starting lineup was the same as in past games with Nunu, Elena, Brooke, Jzaniya and junior guard Talana Lepolo.

All 14 players were available, but with the game so tight throughout that only 10 played.

Witnessed by 2,499 fans, the game started inauspiciously with a turnover, the first of 16, on Stanford’s first possession.

When the first quarter ended, the score was 17-11 in Stanford’s favor. More than halfway through the second quarter, though, Stanford had added only 2 points to its total, while Davis scored another 5 points. At the half, Stanford was up 29-21.

Davis actually outscored the host team in the third quarter, which ended with Stanford up by only 2 points, 49-47. Stanford could have been behind by then, but Courtney buried a buzzer-beating 3.

In the fourth quarter, Stanford had an 11-point advantage to win the game.

After this four-game home stand, the team ventures on its first road trip, visiting Indiana University at 11 a.m. PST Nov. 17.