Cardinal lose to LSU in OT after leading most of the way

 

Brooke defends against an LSU layup. (Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)        

Playing in front of more than 10,000 fans, most of them rooting for the host, Louisiana State University, the Stanford women’s basketball team went toe-to-toe with the undefeated and then-ranked No. 5 LSU on Dec. 5 only to lose 94-88 in overtime.

Except for the first 15 seconds, when LSU hit a three-pointer, Stanford surged ahead and led 28-15 at the end of the first quarter. The team held a lead until the fourth quarter’s final seconds, when LSU scored two points to tie at 80-80.

Sophomore forward Nunu Agara led the charge with 29 points and 13 rebounds. According to Sports Reference, Nunu is the first DI player to have 29 points and 13 rebounds in a true road game against an AP top-five opponent since Nov. 21, 2021.

Three of her teammates scored in double digits with 19 by senior guard Brooke Demetre, 16 by senior guard Elena Bosgana and 15 by redshirt junior guard Jzaniya Harriel.

The four top scorers were again joined in the starting lineup by junior guard Tess Heal, filling in for junior guard Talana Lepolo, who reportedly has knee and ankle problems. The TV announcer said she didn’t make the trip to Baton Rouge.

Her absence left 13 available players, with eight getting into the game.

Stanford out-rebounded LSU, but 15 turnovers led to 14 LSU points. It also hurt that Brooke was bothered by leg cramps in the final moments.

The visitors made nine 3’s, with three each by Brooke and Jzaniya, two by Nunu and one by Elena.

Among those cheering for Stanford was Nneka Ogwumike, ’12, who plays professionally with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. She was wearing a Stanford sweatshirt.

The next game is at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Cal, just an easy drive across the bay. This will be the team’s first ACC contest.

The team stays home to host UT San Antonio at noon Dec. 16, and then takes a bus to Chase Center in San Francisco to play Ohio State at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20 before the holiday break.

ACCNX will stream the Cal and UTSA games, while FS1 will carry the Ohio State game.

Another lopsided home win; Tritons fall

 

Elena brings the ball upcourt on her way to a record performance. (Stanford Athletics)

Stanford women’s basketball completed its three-game home stand with another lopsided win, 84-54, over the UC San Diego Tritons on Nov. 29.

Senior guard Elena Bosgana led the charge with a career-high 26 points on 10-for-10 shooting, tying the school record for single-game field goal percentage, Stanford Athletics reported. Her performance included 5-5 from beyond the arc, along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Sophomore forward Nunu Agara was right behind her with 22 points, including another two of the team’s nine threes.

Both of the others were provided by junior guard Tess Heal with two, leading to 13 points. Senior guard Brooke Demetre was the other Cardinal in double figures with 12.

Attendance was reported at just over 3,000 with contingents of UCSD fans behind its bench and in an upper northeast section.

Few students were there because the school was on Thanksgiving break. Thus no band, Tree, etc.

The game started with Nunu, Elena, Brooke, redshirt junior guard Jzaniya Harriel and Tess, who was again filling in for unavailable junior guard Talana Lepolo.

Four more players got into the action during the first quarter as the team surged to a 32-4 lead. Still others joined in during the second quarter, in which junior guard Stavi Papadaki intercepted the ball and raced across the court to score. This action was selected as the Pepsi Refreshing Moment of the Game.

By the end of the second quarter, 12 of the 13 available players had gotten in, and Stanford led 48-16. All 13 eventually got in.

The story changed in the third and fourth quarters as UCSD tightened its defense and sharpened its shooting to outscore Stanford by one point in each quarter. Stanford’s turnovers from its sloppy passes and UCSD’s steals marred its performance.

In all, the team had an uncharacteristic 25 turnovers. That won’t work against tougher opponents.

At the Behind the Bench, recently retired head coach Tara VanDerveer praised her younger sister, Heidi, UCSD’s head coach.

Speaking about the game, Heidi said, “I knew what we were getting into,” especially in the first quarter. “Stanford showed us the pace we have to play with.”

It helps when teams play well, Tara said, adding that UCSD “competed well in three quarters.”

Since the game came the day after Thanksgiving, Heidi said that the two teams had Thanksgiving dinner together in the Stanford Hall of Champions.

The team takes to the road to play Louisiana State at 6 p.m. PT on Dec. 5 and cross-bay rival Cal at 7 p.m. PT Dec. 13 to start ACC competition.  ESPN2 will televise the LSU game. The Cal game will be streamed on ACCNX.