⛹️♀️ MORE WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL ⛹️♀️
The Wildcats’ stunning victory was their first in Palo Alto since 2001, a lofty record that looked destined to stand in the early going Friday. Arizona’s momentum from a two-game winning streak dried up as the visitors proved unable to make a field goal in the opening five minutes, allowing Stanford to build an early 7-1 lead. Helena Pueyo got the Wildcats off the mat with a layup, but back-to-back triples from Hannah Jump helped the Cardinal take a 17-9 lead into the first-quarter intermission.
Both sides battled massive roster misfortune in Friday’s tilt, as Stanford’s star center Cameron Brink was declared out with a non-COVID illness while injuries once again ravaged the Arizona rotation down to just seven available players. Kiki Iriafen stepped up with the absence of her star front-court mate, leading the Cardinal in all categories with 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three blocks, and she drilled a pair of free throws midway through the second quarter to restore a seven-point Cardinal lead.
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But Arizona’s taxing, oppressive defense endured despite a shortened rotation and allowed the Cats to overcome inferior shooting with 18 turnovers, pulling within a possession out of the halftime break with a Pueyo jumper. Esmery Martinez, who paced the Wildcats’ upset bid all evening long with 17 points and nine rebounds, pulled her squad even at 34, converting at the rim off another Stanford giveaway. Iriafen would wrestle firm control back to the Cardinal, however, scoring eight of the game’s next 10 points and helping Stanford extend its lead back to double figures in the third quarter’s dying seconds.
An apparent dagger three from Brooke Demetre gave Stanford its 58-49 lead and pushed the junior up to 15 points on the afternoon, but Williams roared back with Arizona toeing the abyss. The McDonald’s All-American drained back-to-back three before converting a jumper to put Arizona ahead for the first time at 61-59. Her banked triple answered an Iriafen equalizer, and the stoic freshman hit 3-4 from the line to reach a game-high 23 points and clinch a historic victory.