Stanford Shoots Lights Out in Second Half to Beat Miami, 86-69
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford used a dominant second half and a barrage of three-pointers to take down Miami 86-69 at Maples Pavilion Thursday night.
“Our defense really picked it up in the second half,” Stanford head coach Kate Paye said. “We outrebounded them, we took care of the ball. We got much more aggressive, and four players in double digits.”
The Cardinal was lights out from deep, hitting 14-of-27 three-pointers (51.9%), which was a key factor in building and maintaining their lead. With the ability to share the ball, knock down threes, and lock in defensively in the second half, Stanford secured a key conference win. The victory came without starter, sophomore forward Nunu Agara, who is injured.
Fast Start, But Miami Closes the Gap
Stanford jumped out to an early lead, building an 8-point advantage midway through the first quarter thanks to strong shooting from deep. Chloe Clardy, Brooke Demetre, and Shay Ijiwoye all connected on three-pointers to fuel an 8-0 run.
However, Miami responded behind the sharp shooting of Hanna Cavinder, who scored 12 points in the quarter, hitting two three-pointers and finishing strong inside. The Hurricanes also capitalized on fast break opportunities and solid ball movement, with Haley Cavinder adding five points and three assists.
Miami’s biggest push came late in the quarter, as they went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Haley Cavinder with just over a minute left to bring the game within one. Stanford held on to a narrow 22-21 lead at the end of the first, but Miami’s offensive surge and defensive adjustments allowed them to close the gap after trailing by as many as eight early on.
Back-and-Forth Battle Keeps It Close at Halftime
The second quarter was a back-and-forth battle as both teams continued their efficient shooting. Miami briefly grabbed its largest lead of the game at 29-24 after a 5-0 run capped by a Hanna Cavinder three-pointer. Stanford responded quickly with a 10-0 surge, fueled by Tess Heal’s layup and back-to-back triples from Courtney Ogden, reclaiming a 34-29 advantage.
Miami stayed composed, with Haley Cavinder and Jasmyne Roberts hitting timely baskets to keep the Hurricanes close. A technical foul on Stanford’s Ijiwoye with 2:30 left allowed Miami to take a 40-39 lead after two free throws from Haley Cavinder. Stanford’s Demetre answered with a clutch three-pointer, and Ogden added a layup to put the Cardinal up 45-42.
Cameron Williams scored the final four points of the quarter for Miami, cutting the deficit to one as Stanford led 45-44 at halftime.
How Stanford Built a Double-Digit Lead
Stanford dominated the third quarter, outscoring Miami 23-14 to turn a one-point halftime lead into a double-digit advantage heading into the fourth.
The Cardinal started the quarter with a quick 8-0 run, sparked by a three-pointer from Elena Bosgana and a fast-break triple from Clardy. Demetre added a mid-range jumper, pushing Stanford ahead 53-46.
Miami briefly cut the lead back to seven with a three-pointer from Ahnay Adams, but Stanford responded with another surge. Heal and Bosgana continued their hot shooting, each hitting from deep as part of a 13-2 run that gave the Cardinal their largest lead at 65-51 with just over three minutes left.
Miami struggled to keep pace, as Stanford’s defense forced multiple shot clock violations and turnovers. The Hurricanes managed to score only six points in the paint during the quarter, failing to match Stanford’s outside shooting.
A late three by Demetre capped Stanford’s strong quarter, extending the lead to 68-58 entering the fourth. The Cardinal shot 71% from three (5-7) in the period, while Miami went just 1-3 from deep. With the momentum fully in Stanford’s favor, they entered the final quarter with a firm grip on the game.
Stanford Finishes Strong to Seal the Win
Stanford maintained control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Miami 18-11 to secure an 86-69 victory. The Cardinal’s defense played a major role down the stretch, limiting Miami to just 5-of-11 shooting in the period while forcing six turnovers.
Clardy and Ogden continued to pace Stanford offensively, with Clardy knocking down a three-pointer early in the quarter to extend the lead. Miami struggled from deep, missing all three of their three-point attempts in the fourth.
A key sequence came midway through the period when Stanford put together a 6-0 run, capped by a transition layup from Ogden off a steal by Clardy, pushing the lead to 14 points. Miami attempted to respond, but their offense went cold, scoring just two points over a four-minute stretch.
Free throws from Bosgana and a late three from Demetre helped Stanford close out the game, ensuring they maintained their undefeated record at home against unranked opponents.
Stanford’s Ball Movement Fuels Victory
Stanford once again showcased its commitment to ball movement, surpassing its 20-assist goal in the 86-69 win over Miami. The Cardinal dished out 23 assists, marking the fourth time in the last five games they’ve reached that benchmark. Head coach Kate Paye emphasized the importance of unselfish play, saying, “We have a goal sheet for every game, and 20 assists is one of them. I think we’ve gotten it the past four out of five games… We’re at our best when we’re playing together and moving the ball. And I was really excited about 23 assists.” Stanford’s passing and offensive flow were key to the victory, with Demetre and Clardy leading the way with six assists each.
Top Performers
Stanford:
- Brooke Demetre – 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists
- Courtney Ogden – 18 points, 4 rebounds
- Chloe Clardy – 16 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds
- Elena Bosgana – 15 points, 4 rebounds
Miami:
- Hanna Cavinder – 19 points, 3 rebounds
- Haley Cavinder – 16 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
- Ahnay Adams – 11 points
Next Up
Stanford continues its homestand with its final game of the season against Georgia Tech on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT. The game will be nationally televised on The CW. The Cardinal will celebrate seniors that day.
Miami heads across the Bay to face California on the same day at 7 p.m. PT.
The ACC Tournament begins next week beginning on March 5th with the championship set for March 9th.
