Jan 16, 2003
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Every time Nicole Powell gets on the court she feels more comfortable, and she's beginning to look like the All-American she was last year.
Powell, playing in her fifth game since returning from a back injury, scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as No. 6 Stanford beat Washington State 85-56 on Thursday night for its 26th consecutive Pac-10 victory.
"Just having another week of practice makes me feel more comfortable handling the ball," said Powell, who recorded her second double-double of the season and the 22nd of her career. She also has six triple-doubles.
"Nicole did a good job of pushing it," said Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.
T'Nae Thiel added 11 points and Sebnem Kimyacioglu 10 for the Cardinal (5-0, 13-1), who won their 19th straight at home, the second-longest active streak in Division I, despite a season-high 28 turnovers.
"We played well defensively and shot the ball well," said VanDerveer.
Jessica Perry scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Cougars (0-6, 0-14), who lost their 26th straight conference game and extended their overall losing streak to 38.
"The coaches keep telling me to attack and be aggressive," said Perry. "When I do that it opens things up for me and my teammates."
Bianca McCall added 12 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and her second in a row.
Stanford has never lost to Washington State in 35 meetings, and has beaten the Cougars by 10 or more 29 times.
"There are a lot of streaks but I just want to win a game," said Washington State's first-year coach Sherri Murrell. "I don't care who it's against. We're getting better; it's just not showing up in the win column."
Washington State is missing two key players in center Candace Fields, out for two weeks with a left foot stress fracture, and guard Kim Dugan, who is sidelined for the season with a broken left wrist.
The Cougars were held to fewer than 60 points for the 11th time.
"Sure it gets frustrating," said Perry. "But this is a challenge and you have to be tough."
Stanford took a 14-4 lead less than four minutes in, as the Cougars missed 11 of their first 12 shots. Washington State shot 27.6 percent in the first 20 minutes.
The Cardinal upped their lead to 31-11 with 7:36 left in the first half, and took a 44-21 edge into halftime despite 17 turnovers in the half.