Nunu Agara’s Dominant Performance Powers Stanford in Exhibition Win Over Cal State LA
STANFORD, Calif. — Powered by sophomore forward Nunu Agara’s 25-point, 13-rebound effort, Stanford took down Cal State LA 91-70 in an exhibition game Wednesday night at Maples Pavilion. Agara showcased her versatility, contributing both in the paint and from beyond the arc to lead six Cardinal players who scored in double figures.
She commented that working on her three-point shot was among the things she improved upon over the summer, but “I think I’ve always kind of had it. But…it wasn’t just my job last year.”
This season, Agara said she is “just being more, a little bit more aggressive in my shots. I’m a decent shooter from out there, so I’m taking it when I have it.”
Her coach was pleased overall with the team’s shooting three-point shooting.
“We have excellent shooters on our team,” Stanford head coach Kate Paye said. “We feel that’s going to be a real strength, our three-point shooting. I think that’s something that’s an overall improvement from our team from last year; just when you’re in the gym, I think that’s a testament to the players on a team. They spent a lot of time in the offseason working on their shot, and they saw that with Nunu. I mean, I think we had, let’s see …we had six different people hit threes….So, I think that’s going to help us really spread the floor.”
Competitive From the Outset
The game started as a tightly contested back-and-forth, with Cal State LA’s Gabriella Rones answering Agara’s opening jumper with a three-pointer. Agara, who scored Stanford’s opening points, showcased her versatility early on with a mix of inside and perimeter play, scoring 15 points in the first half alone. Cal State LA kept up the pressure with aggressive shooting from Gabriella Rones and Sofia Fidelis, the latter finishing with a team-high 18 points.
Paye praised Cal State LA’s competitiveness and offense in her postgame opening remarks:
“First, I’d just like to compliment Cal State LA on a great game. They played last night at Arizona. They played them very tough, and they flew in this morning. Their flight was delayed, and they had to change their shootaround time, but they still showed up, and they played very, very well. I mean, they shot the lights out, and we know that they’re a very experienced team, they’re a Division II NCAA tournament team, and they had our team’s total attention.”
Stanford Establishes Control in Second Quarter Surge
With a slim one-point lead at 32-31 midway through the second quarter, Stanford closed the half on a 16-5 run that ultimately decided the game. Agara, who scored 15 first-half points, hit a pivotal three-pointer with just under two minutes remaining in the half, giving the Cardinal its first double-digit lead. Stanford went into the break leading 48-36.
Stanford’s efficient shooting shone through, with the team hitting 46.9% from the floor and an impressive 91.3% from the free-throw line. Agara led the way, going 12-of-13 from the line and tallying seven of her 13 rebounds on the offensive glass.
Depth and Balance Power Stanford in the Second Half
In addition to Agara’s performance (she also had five assists), five other Cardinal players reached double figures. Chloe Clardy, Elena Bosgana, and Jzaniya Harriel each contributed 11 points, while Brooke Demetre and Courtney Ogden added ten apiece. Ogden hit a critical three-pointer in the third quarter and another in the fourth, helping Stanford extend its lead to as much as 21 points by the game’s end.
Despite Cal State LA’s scrappy play and aggressive defense, Stanford’s size and depth proved insurmountable for the Division II Golden Eagles, who struggled to close the gap in the final quarter. Rones and Fidelis continued to attack from the perimeter, combining for five three-pointers, and the Golden Eagles shot an impressive 42.3% from beyond the arc, yet they could not sustain the pace against Stanford’s high-powered offense.
Up Next
With the exhibition season complete, Stanford now prepares to host Le Moyne for its regular-season opener on Nov. 4.
Key dates in nonconference play include:
- Washington State – Nov. 7
- Gonzaga – Nov. 10, coinciding with Tara VanDerveer Court dedication (ESPN2)
- UC Davis – Nov. 13
- Indiana – Road game on Nov. 17
- LSU – SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 5 (ESPN2)
- Ohio State – Neutral-site game at Chase Center on Dec. 20 (FS1)
ACC Schedule Highlights
Stanford’s debut in the ACC will be televised nationally, with notable games including:
- SMU – Jan. 2 on ACC Network
- Clemson – Jan. 5 on ACC Network
- NC State – Jan. 12 on ESPN
- Duke – Jan. 19 on ESPN or ESPN2
- North Carolina – Feb. 2 on The CW
- Notre Dame – Feb. 6 on ESPN
Paye said the team was excited to compete in the ACC:
“We are so excited. It is a great women’s basketball conference, great teams, great players, great coaches. We know that great competition helps our team and makes us better and gets us ready for the NCAA tournament. You know, change is good. It keeps it on your toes. Our team is excited to play some new opponents. Go to some new venues. Obviously, we recruit nationally. We have a lot of alumni on the East Coast, you know, and in the Southeast. And I know Courtney Ogden from Atlanta is excited. We’re gonna be going back there.”
