Nov. 2, 2006
STANFORD, Calif.- Senior Brooke Smith scored a game-high 28 points in 23 minutes to lead five Cardinal players in double-figures during Stanford's 103-57 rout of Chico State on Thursday night at Maples Pavilion in the first of two exhibition games this week.
Leading 49-36 at the half, Stanford overwhelmed a physical Chico State squad over the final 20 minutes. The Cardinal outscored the Wildcats 54-21 in the second half, receiving production from its bench as all 12 available players saw court time.
Reserve Michelle Harrison, along with starters Kristen Newlin and Cissy Pierce, each scored 12 points. Jillian Harmon added 10 points and eight boards for the Cardinal, who shot 56.3-percent while holding a commanding 53-28 rebounding edge.
The Cardinal also benefited from a 29-43 mark from the charity stripe, compared to the Wildcats' 10-14 clip. Smith led all Stanford players with nine free throw attempts, making six to go along with a dominating 11-14 performance from the field that included a number of easy put-backs and lay-ups.
Stanford's offensive output was even more impressive, considering Candice Wiggins scored just two points in 10 minutes of playing time. The two-time Kodak All-American left the game midway through the first half with a foot sprain and did not return. Wiggins, who watched the second half from the bench, will be evaluated again Friday.
The Cardinal had little problems otherwise, controlling tempo throughout the game while holding former Cardinal standout Molly Goodenbour and her gritty Wildcat club to just 34.4-percent shooting on the evening.
Chico State scored the first basket of the game for its only lead at 2-0 before Stanford responded with 15 unanswered points.
Two free throws from Jennifer Borror at the 12:50 mark cut Stanford's lead to five at 17-12, only to see the Cardinal respond with a 16-4 scoring run. Pierce and freshman JJ Hones factored into the surge, combining for 10 points as Stanford jumped out to its biggest first half lead of 33-16.
However, Chico State battled back and cut the Stanford lead to single-digits at 39-31 with 2:47 remaining. Markisha Coleman's lay-up with one second left put the Cardinal ahead 49-36 at intermission.
Stanford was able to outlast Chico State in the second half and pull away for the victory. A lay-up by Harmon with 18:44 remaining in the second half gave the Cardinal its first 20-point lead at 56-36.
It was all Stanford from that point on, with the lead stretching to 30 points by the 11:36 mark and then 40 points just eight minutes later.
A lay-up from Coleman with 2:22 on the clock allowed Stanford to reach the 100-point plateau, leading 100-57.
Chico State was led by Amber Simmons' 18 points while Niki Simons contributed 11 points.
Stanford hosts Love and Basketball on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 12 p.m. in its final exhibition. The season opener is scheduled for one week from today, against Loyola Marymount in the Preseason WNIT.
NOTES: Statistics from both of this week's exhibition games will not count toward regular season totals...Candice Wiggins scored her only bucket of the game at the 10:31 mark to give Stanford a 25-12 lead. After faking a three-point attempt, Wiggins stepped forward and canned a short jumper in the face of a Wildcat defender...Freshmen JJ Hones, Melanie Murphy and Michelle Harrison combined for 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists...Both exhibition games will feature the use of an experimental three-point line (extended to 20 feet, six inches) and 10-second backcourt violation...Cissy Pierce, who has made one start in 54 career games, received the starting nod tonight in the backcourt. She was 5-6 from the field with 12 points and dazzled the crowd with some flashy passing and finesse moves in the second half...Stanford shot 63.3-percent in the first half.