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Toni Kokenis was clutch from the foul line, Mikaela Ruef hit a go-ahead basket in the final minute and Chiney Ogwumike was, well, she was Chiney Ogwumike.

The combination was just enough for the top-ranked Stanford women's basketball to beat No. 21 South Carolina, 53-49, at the raucous Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, where more than 8,000 fans screamed with each possession.

This is the third time in program history, all since Tara VanDerveer took over, that Stanford has started 10-0. The last time came in the 1991-92 season. The 1989-90 team opened the season 20-0. Stanford won national titles in 1990 and 1992.

The Cardinal now heads to No. 10 Tennessee for another tough road matchup on Saturday, facing the Volunteers for the first time without their legendary head coach, Pat Summitt.

Stanford had to consider itself a little bit lucky escaping with a victory over the Gamecocks, who also gave the Cardinal fits in last year's NCAA tournament.

"We had a target on our back and that's one of the things we have to expect when we come into games like this," said Ogwumike, who recorded yet another double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Stanford nearly let this one slip away. The Cardinal led the majority of the game before the Gamecocks grabbed a two-point edge with 2:32 remaining to play.

Ogwumike gave Stanford the lead with a go-ahead three-point play and South Carolina tied it when Aleighsa Welch hit one of two foul shots.

That's when Ruef stepped in, stepped up and threw up a shot that just did get over the rim and into the basket, giving Stanford the lead for good.

"Coach says every possession counts and they counted tonight," said Ogwumike, who produced her Pac-12 leading eighth double-double.

The Gamecocks got within 51-49 late, but Kokenis sealed it with two final foul shots. She made six straight down the stretch and was 7 of 7 in free throws overall.

"I'm proud of our team, and proud how Toni and Chiney really stayed with things," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. "You're in a very hostile environment, great crowd, great atmosphere."

The Cardinal shot over 40 percent as a team but Ogwumike had a big say in that, making 8 of 16. The rest of the team shot .355 (11 of 31).

Kokenis finished with 15 points, despite a 4-of-13 shooting night. She more than made up for it with some gritty defensive work and the clutch free throws.

Amber Orrange added 11 points, including a key basket in the final minutes that kept the Cardinal from sinking.

Stanford recorded a season-worst 18 turnovers and was held 25 points below its season average through the first nine games.

Joslyn Tinkle, who averaged over 15 points coming in, missed her only shot attempt of the game, but had seven blocks.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who was VanDerveer's point guard on the 1996 Olympic team, said VanDerveer taught her to be a student of the game.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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