March March (March 23, 2005)on for Stanford

Cardinal women easily advance to Kansas City

by Nathan Kurz

If there was any lingering doubt about why Stanford has been able to regain its seat at the table of women's collegiate basketball powerhouses, the Cardinal provided a resounding answer Monday in Fresno.

On a night when Pac-10 Player of the Year Candice Wiggins was held relatively in check, five Stanford players -- led by Brooke Smith's 20 points -- scored in double figures to lead the No. 2 Cardinal to a convincing 88-62 victory over 10th-seeded Utah and a spot in the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four years.

"Brooke has been doing this all season," said Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer. We give her the ball and she delivers. She's a go-to post player. I love it. When our Stanford teams have had great runs, that's what we've had. "This is a big win and we're really excited to be going to Kansas City." Sebnem Kimyacioglu had a season-high 13 points, Kelly Suminski and Azella Perryman chipped in 12 apiece and Susan King-Borchardt added 11 points for Stanford, which won its 22nd consecutive game and has not lost since December. Stanford will likely face three-time defending champion Connecticut in the regional semifinals in Kansas City this Sunday. The third-seeded Huskies, winners of five straight, were heavily favored Tuesday night to beat sixth seed Florida State on their home court in Storrs, Conn.

"We're really excited about what's to come," Smith said. "What's really great about us right now is we're not expecting to win, but we're excited to win."

The Cardinal has to be feeling good heading to Missouri after being reassured that the sparkplug Wiggins doesn't also need to provide the fuel for the engine to keep it running.

After all, Stanford won despite the fact that their star guard failed to reach double figures for only the fourth time all year. She scored only eight points, nine below her average, on 4-of-7 shooting and was hampered somewhat by first-half foul trouble.

"A goal of ours was to limit (Wiggins') points," Utah guard Shona Thorburn said. "We did that, but someone else from their team stepped up when they needed to. That's what good teams do."

In past years, Stanford would have crumbled in the tournament without a monster game from All-American Nicole Powell on the score sheet and on the glass. At any crucial juncture, the Cardinal players would tense up, hand the ball to Powell, stand around and, well, hope for the best.

But instead of cowering, the Cardinal simply embrace the challenge and spread the burden around.

If it wasn't Smith executing a perfect hook in the lane, then it was Kimyacioglu and King-Borchardt draining a three-pointer from the perimeter or Perryman slashing her way to the hoop for an easy bucket. "We had huge contributions from different people," VanDerveer said. "Along with that, the fifth senior (T'Nae Thiel) didn't have to play, which was critical for us." Thiel, sidelined in the postseason by a fractured foot, now has a few more days to rest her injured foot and likely will be ready to play this weekend. Utah hung tough in the first 15 or so minutes, matching Stanford basket-for-basket and staying within five points until Stanford gradually pulled away to build a 37-24 halftime lead. Smith scored 13 points, drawing several triple-teams later in the half, and Perryman added six as Stanford shot behind 54 percent from the field. Similar to their first-round victory, an early second-half Cardinal surge put the game beyond reach. When Kimyacioglu and King-Borchardt nailed back-to-back treys with just over 13 minutes remaining, Stanford's lead had ballooned to 19 and its ticket to Kansas City punched. "The game was tough," Utah coach Elaine Elliott said. "Stanford is great. They have no weaknesses. They're so powerful. They shoot the ball so well. They showed that, and they're my pick." Stanford improved to 8-0 all time against Utah and beat the Utes for the second time this season. The Cardinal won 63-57 in Salt Lake City on Nov. 19 in the season opener for both teams, though Borchardt didn't suit up and Smith played only 20 minutes. Stanford's first-round win last Saturday had a similar end but different means. Wiggins scored 16 of her 29 points in an overpowering second-half outburst that carried Stanford to a 94-57 spanking of 15th-seeded Santa Clara. She was 8-for-14 from the field and added five rebounds, two steals and converted each of her 11 free throws. "This is how she plays," VanDerveer said. "She brings great energy. She is a very special player and a very special person." Stanford led by only 10 at halftime, mostly due to Santa Clara's prolific three-point shooting in the first half. The Broncos made 7-of-12 from three-point range -- and was only 5-for-18 from inside the arc -- in order to keep things close for a while. But the Cardinal surged to start the second half with a 31-3. Stanford doubled its 10-point lead in the opening two minutes as Wiggins scored seven of the Cardinal's first 10 points of the half.

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