Amber Orrange came to play and was within one rebound of becoming the fourth Stanford player to record a triple-double in a game. That’s good news for the Stanford women’s basketball team. It means she’ll get a few more chances at it before the year has been played out.
Orrange scored 19 points, recorded 10 assists and grabbed nine rebounds, just missing joining Jennifer Azzi, Sonja Henning and Nicole Powell in an elite group of triple-double producers, and the third-ranked Cardinal opened its season with an 83-71 victory over host Boston College on Saturday.
Senior Chiney Ogwumike recorded 30 points and had 14 rebounds for her 59th career double-double. She also raised her career point total to 1,800 while helping Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer earn her 895th career victory.
Stanford heads to Connecticut to take on the top-ranked and defending champion Huskies on Monday night.
The Eagles grabbed an early 18-13 advantage. Orrange scored five of the next seven points as Stanford went ahead and never looked back, eventually scoring 28 unanswered points in the first half to take a 44-24 lead into halftime.
“I liked the way we came out with energy and got Stanford back on their heels a little back,” Boston College coach Erik Johnson said. “It turns out that Stanford has a Hall of Fame coach, a Player of the Year candidate who showed how good she is and they made great adjustments.”
Mikaela Ruef added 10 rebounds and eight points, helping Stanford dominate inside. Ruef (4) and Ogwumike (10) combined for 14 offensive rebounds and the Cardinal finished with a 44-26 rebounding advantage.
Powell recorded six triple-doubles during her career, five during her sophomore season. Her last two came in consecutive NCAA tournament games in March of 2002.
Stanford’s eight triple-doubles is tied with Kansas State for most by any one team.
Field hockey
Two late goals by Liberty’s Natalie Barr were the difference as No. 10 Stanford fell to the Lady Flames, 2-1, Saturday in the NorPac tournament championship game in Lynchburg, VA.
The Cardinal (16-5) dominated a majority of the game, controlling possession and the pace of play. Stanford, which held an 11-2 penalty corner advantage over Liberty (17-4), was able to convert on just one corner opportunity.
It was that kind of a day for the Cardinal which outshot Liberty 15-7 and spent a majority of its time in the offensive zone, generating numerous scoring opportunities.
With the victory, Liberty claims its first NorPac Championship in program history and earns the NorPac automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Stanford will find out its NCAA Tournament fate Sunday at 7 p.m. PT during the NCAA selection show.
Despite the loss, the Cardinal has a good case for an at-large bid, with a strong strength of schedule and four wins against top-20 opponents.
Stanford boasts one of the nation’s best defenses and has been ranked 13th or higher in every Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll this season, including a No. 6 ranking for two consecutive weeks.
Stanford opened the game strong, generating five shots and four penalty corners in the first 14 minutes of play. The Cardinal controlled a majority of possession in the first half and dictated the pace of the game.
The defense continued to shut down any sustained Liberty attack, coming under pressure primarily in transition situations.
Dulcie Davies made a big save on Liberty’s second penalty corner opportunity in the 52nd minute, diving to her right to send the shot wide and keep the score knotted at 0-0.
The game opened up when Stanford was forced to play a man-down for five minutes after Fran Tew was issued a yellow card at 55:12. Liberty capitalized on the opportunity and scored a goal at 57:23 to take a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinal eventually broke through when Alex McCawley scored in the 65th minute on Stanford’s 11th penalty corner opportunity of the game.
Barr responded less than two minutes later at 66:11 with her second of the game, a backhand shot from the center of the circle into the left corner of the goal to give Liberty the lead.
Stanford pulled Davies from goal for an extra attacker in the final minutes but was unable to find the equalizer and dropped just its second NorPac Championship match in the past seven years.
Anna Simmons and Maddie Secco were named to the NorPac All-Tournament team.
Cross country
Stanford freshman Danielle Katz won the Doc Adams cross country invitational and led a Cardinal-affiliated sweep of the top seven places in the women’s race at Putah Creek Reserve.
Katz made a bid to be included in Stanford’s regional team by winning the 6-kilometer (3.73 miles) race in 20:57 and leading the first-place Cardinal to a perfect 15 points.
It was the first collegiate victory for the former Los Gatos High standout in her second official meet for the Cardinal.
Emma Fisher, a Stanford freshman running unattached to preserve a redshirt season, was second in 21:04 and was followed by four consecutive Cardinal’s, led by third-place Claudia Saunders (21:08).
The 8K (4.97 miles) men’s race was won by former Stanford runner Justin Marpole-Bird in a duel with Stanford redshirt Thomas Graham, running unattached, 24:07 to 24:08. Stanford-affiliated runners took the first four places and six of the top seven.
Joe Rosa, Stanford’s No. 1 runner most of last season, ran his first race of the year after an injury and placed third in 24:13. He ran unattached and likely will redshirt.
Stanford sophomore Jack Bordoni was the top official collegiate runner, placing ninth in 24:38. Stanford had four official runners, but did not field a complete men’s team.
Stanford next competes at the NCAA West Regional on Friday at Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento. While the No. 6 Stanford men’s team seems set, the No. 18 women’s lineup possibly could be influenced by the Doc Adams results.
Men’s water polo
Freshman Jackson Kimbell scored four goals to pace 12 different Stanford goal scorers as the fourth-ranked Cardinal cruised to a 24-7 nonconference win at Chapman Saturday.
Stanford ran its winning streak to six and will look to close the weekend 3-for-3 Sunday when it takes on No. 7 Long Beach State at noon in an Mountain Pacific Sports Federation contest.
In addition to Kimbell’s four goals Adam Abdulhamid and Sacred Heart Prep grad Paul Rudolph each posted hat tricks.
Bret Bonanni, Alex Bowen, Reid Chase, Conner Cleary and Kyle Weikert scored twice apiece and single goals were scored by Griffin Bolan, Nick Hoversten, Adam Warmoth and Charlie Wiser.
Menlo School grad Scott Platshon got the call in the cage Saturday and made nine saves in the contest.
The Cardinal scored six times in the first period and eight times in the second to race to a 14-5 halftime lead.
By Stanford Athletics/Palo Alto Online
By Stanford Athletics/Palo Alto Online
By Stanford Athletics/Palo Alto Online