March 25, 2003
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Corrin Von Wald scored 19 points, including six free throws in the final minute, as Minnesota defeated third-seeded Stanford 68-56 in the second round of the West Regional Monday night.
The Cardinal were the third No. 3 seed to lose Monday, along with Mississippi State and North Carolina.
The sixth-seeded Golden Gophers (22-11) ended Stanford's 26-game home winning streak, including 15 straight this season. The Cardinal hadn't been beaten in Maples Pavilion since losing to Tennessee on Dec. 16, 2001.
Stanford (27-5) couldn't overcome sloppy ballhandling, long shooting droughts and the foul trouble of star forward Nicole Powell, who only played 31 minutes and finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Lindsay Whalen added 13 points and six assists, Shannon Schonrock 12 points and Kadidja Andersson 11 for Minnesota, which overcame a slow start on offense to shoot 42 percent.
Sebnem Kimyacioglu made a 3-pointer and was fouled by Whalen with 2:32 left, converting the free throw for a four-point play that brought Stanford within 58-53. But the Cardinal couldn't hit key shots the rest of the way to give itself a chance for the comeback.
Kimyacioglu was the main spark in the second half for Stanford, scoring seven straight points to bring the Cardinal within 48-46 with 8:09 to play. She finished with 14, including three 3-pointers. T'Nae Thiel's 3-pointer at 7:23 pulled Stanford within 50-49 before Minnesota scored eight unanswered points.
The Golden Gophers built a 37-29 lead on Andersson's three-point play with 16:47 left . Minnesota led by 10 at one point before Thiel's jumper with 15:06 left ended a 10-minute span without a field goal by Stanford going back to the first half.
A big reason for Stanford's offensive woes was the presence of 6-foot-2 Minnesota center Janel McCarville, who forced the Cardinal to take perimeter shots.
McCarville finished with 11 rebounds, seven points, three steals and a block.
Stanford went 5:06 without a score before Powell came back in and scored nine straight.
The Golden Gophers held the Cardinal without a field goal over the final 4:46 of the first half and used a 6-0 run to take a 31-29 halftime lead.