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Women's Basketball

No. 5 Stanford Edges UCLA, 80-78

Box Score

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Stanford continued its 10-game winning streak, thanks largely to Nicole Powell.

Powell scored 23 points and made the winning basket with 2.3 seconds left, as the fifth-ranked Cardinal defeated UCLA 80-78, Friday night.

UCLA's Michelle Greco made two free throws with 27.3 seconds left to tie the score. After Powell's six footer, UCLA (11-6, 6-2 Pac-10) was unable to get off another shot before time expired.

"I just tried to make sure we got the last shot at the end of the game," Powell said. "I just took it to the basket, and I was fortunate enough to make it."

Bruins coach Kathy Olivier was impressed.

"A big-time shot from a big-time player," she said.

Olivier said when she saw Powell look up, she knew immediately Powell would take the shot.

UCLA's defensive options against Powell were limited, Olivier said.

"Do you take a chance and run someone at her, double her, and leave someone wide open?" Olivier said. "I don't think we could have done that tonight because they were hitting their 3s."

Powell missed the first nine games of the season because of a bulging disk in her lower back. Despite not starting, she led the team with a 15.8 points-per-game average entering the game.

A basket by Chelsea Trotter completed a 10-0 run and put Stanford up 62-58 with 8:04 left. Kelley Suminski's 3-point basket with 3:54 remaining gave Stanford (15-1, 7-0) its biggest lead of the half at 73-68.

UCLA cut the lead to one 24 seconds later after back-to-back baskets by Jamila Veasley and Nikki Blue.

Trotter tied a career-high with 17 points for Sanford, Sebnem Kimyacioglu had 15 points, and Suminski finished with 12.

Greco finished with 28, 16 in the first half. Blue scored all 16 of her points in the second half for the Bruins, who have lost six straight to the Cardinal.

Powell's 3-point basket at the buzzer gave Stanford a 38-36 halftime lead.