Stanford completes sweep of L.A. Pac-12 schools with 72-65 win over USC

Stanford beats UCLA and USC over the weekend

Win » ?#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/WUcDwyN8zQ

— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) December 31, 2017

Stanford, Calif. – Stanford (8-6, 2-0) completed a sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Pac-12 schools this weekend, after a 72-65 victory over Southern California (10-3, 0-2) in Maples Pavilion on New Year’s Eve afternoon. Two days earlier, the Cardinal defeated No. 11 UCLA.

“It’s a good way to end the year, two real big wins [I think] against L.A. schools, both great wins for us” Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said postgame.

The Cardinal overcame a first quarter 12-point deficit and battled the Trojans the rest of the way for the conference win. The contest went back and forth with both teams exchanging leads six times. The game was tied on three occasions, including the third period, when Stanford took control.

Junior forward, Alanna Smith (13 points, 6 rebounds) hit a three-pointer in the third quarter (9:09), giving the Cardinal the lead (36-34) for the first time since early in the first quarter. The Trojans subsequently tied the score immediately after that shot, but Stanford was in the driver’s seat the rest of the way.

Senior guard Brittany McPhee led the Cardinal, scoring 21 points (nine in the fourth quarter) and grabbing eight rebounds.

McPhee expressed why she was able to score so well: “I think it was my other teammates that were hitting shots…so I can get open looks too.”

Freshman guard, Kiana Williams was also an integral component for Stanford winning the game, as she tallied 13 points, including two big threes that kept the team in striking distance of USC.

“Her two threes kind of kept us connected, so we really didn’t get buried early,” VanDerveer said about Williams.

USC senior guard, Sadie Edwards paced her team with 20 points, while junior guard, Aliyah Mazyck, gave them 18 points and 8 rebounds. Sophomore guard Minyon Moore added 17 points plus five assists.

Stanford will be in action next in the state of Arizona with a contest against the Arizona Wildcats on Jan 5 followed by a game at Arizona State on Jan. 7. USC hosts Oregon on Jan. 5.

By the Numbers