Stanford Experience Tells Against UCLA

When two Stanford starters were injured, Kate Starbird responded with a 27-point game to help crush UCLA, 74-62, at Pauley Pavilion on Friday night.

Stanford, 15-1 and 3-0 in the Pacific 10, didn’t wobble when senior point guard Jamila Wideman suffered a sprained ankle late in the first half or when it lost forward Vanessa Nygaard with 6:10 to play because of a twisted knee.

UCLA (7-5, 1-2) was never in it, despite an 18-point, 10-rebound game by freshman forward Takiyah Jackson.

Before 3,343, Stanford played eight players at least 11 minutes each, finally wearing down the freshman-dominated Bruins.

UCLA actually outrebounded the third-ranked Cardinal, 46-36, but couldn’t match the victors with game savvy.

“Their depth really showed tonight. . . .” Coach Kathy Olivier said. “They lose Wideman, send in a freshman [Milena Flores] for her and it never even fazed them.”

Starbird had 18 points by halftime, and made a crucial play with two seconds left in the first half.

The Cardinal was already up, 43-29, when UCLA lost the ball under its basket. Starbird took a half-court pass and scored a layup while being knocked to the floor by the Bruins’ Carla Houser. Starbird made the free throw, giving Stanford a 46-29 intermission lead. --EARL GUSTKEY

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USC 91, California 57--Tina Thompson scored 19 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Trojans, who started the second half with 14-0 run in defeating the Bears before 705 at the Lyon Center.

Adrain Williams had 12 points and 13 rebounds for USC (9-3, 3-0), which led, 34-31, at halftime.

California (5-7, 1-2) was led by Liz Rizzo’s 11 points.