Stanford bounces back to beat USC on Senior Day, 79-59

STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford Cardinal (21-3, 10-2 Pac-12) used a 13-0 start to dominate Pac-12, Southern California (12-11, 4-8) on Senior Day, 79-59, at Maples Pavilion.

Stanford led wire to wire and prevented USC from notching a point for nearly four minutes. At the end of the 10-minute first stanza, USC managed to tally six points on two treys, at a 16.7% clip, trailing 28-6.

“We need to play that way every game,” Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer said. “We’ve started well in a lot of games and we’ve got to continue.”

Although all three seniors in uniform played, sophomore guard, Lexie Hull, topped the team in scoring with 14 points and six rebounds, while freshman forward, Ashten Prechtel netted 11 points and seven rebounds.

As for the upperclassmen, forward Nadia Fingall also tallied 11 points plus five rebounds while guard Anna Wilson chipped in eight points. Juniors Kianna Williams and Alyssa Jerome both added eight points to the cause.

The Cardinal had an advantage as high as 33 points, in addition to holding the Trojans to under 28% overall shooting from the field.

“I would never try to run up the score on anybody, but we lost the last quarter; we’ll need to play better in the second half,” VanDerveer stated.

USC had two players in double-figures: freshman forward Alissa Pili dropped 12 points, and graduate player, Aliyah Jeune contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.

Despite being in control of the entire 40 minutes, Vanderveer still had some concerns.

“At halftime, you have to make sure they don’t get back in it right in the beginning of the second half, then we’re able to play everybody. I think that’s important on Senior Day.”

The Cardinal are back in action next weekend, in the Mountain Time Zone, first in Salt Lake City on Valentine’s Day versus the Utah Utes, then to Boulder to battle the Colorado Buffaloes February 16.

The Trojans host the Oregon State Beavers on February 14, and the Oregon Ducks two days later, February 16.

Superstar champion NFL quarterback, Russell Wilson was in Maples to support his little sister, Anna, on her Senior Day. The football MVP spoke fondly about his sibling, as well as providing an inspirational pep talk for the players, families and the gathered fans.