STANFORD, Calif. – Following a game in which nothing went right offensively, four players scored in double figures as No. 9 Stanford cruised to a 72-52 home victory over the Utah. Lili Thompson and Brittany McPhee contributed 16 points apiece, with Karlie Samuelson adding 13 on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, and Erica McCall chipping in 11.
Despite spotting Utah (11-3, 2-1 Pac-12) a 5-0 advantage in the early going, the Cardinal (12-3, 2-1 Pac-12) clawed back and led by one at the end of the first period thanks to five straight points from McPhee to close out the quarter. Stanford trailed just once more over the final 24 minutes, outscoring Utah by 19 during that span.
TURNING POINT » Emily Potter's layup tied the game at 30 on the first possession of the third quarter, but Stanford went on an 8-0 run to put the Utes in a hole for good. Thompson keyed the spurt with four points, and also assisted on Erica McCall's first basket of the game. McPhee's runner put the Cardinal up 38-30, and Utah never pulled closer than six thereafter. All told, Stanford tallied 25 in the third to lead by 15 heading into the final frame.
TARA VANDEVEEER » I don't know that there was necessarily a halftime adjustment, but we wanted to run more and got out in transition better. The second half was when (Brittany McPhee) really got us going. She got out in her lane, she was rebounding and getting on the glass - working hard.
MONEY MCPHEE » McPhee, a native of Normandy Park, Wash., more than doubled her season average, pouring in 16 points off the bench for the Cardinal. The sophomore is averaging 13.7 points in her first three Pac-12 contests. McPhee, a guard, added five rebounds. She averages about three per game and has a season high of six.
BRITTANY MCPHEE » I just came in focusing on the team, because that was the emphasis before the game. So I just wanted to do whatever would help us win.
1K WITHIN REACH » Thompson's trey with 2:13 left in the fourth gave her 16 points for the game and 999 for her career. Only 35 players in Stanford history have eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, with Amber Orrange (2012-15) the last player to do so.
BACK ON TRACK » After recording its lowest point total ever (31) against Arizona State on Monday, the Cardinal scored 30 in the first half en route to a 20-point victory over the Utes. Stanford is now 19-0 all-time against Utah, and has won the last seven matchups by 20.0 points.
BRIANA ROBERSON » I don't think we sulked (after the Arizona State loss) and, as Tara would say, throw ourselves a pity party. I think we've moved forward very well and stuck with it.
CAREER NIGHT » Roberson, who had started the previous 14 games, came off the bench on Friday to deliver a career-high eight assists against one turnover.
ON THE PLUS SIDE » With the win, Stanford avoided dropping below .500 in conference play for the first time since 2001, when VanDerveer's squad lost three of its first four league games.
BLOCK PARTY » Following a quiet first half, McCall came alive in the final two quarters, scoring 11 points and grabbing nine rebounds. She made her presence felt on the defensive end in the third when she blocked three Ute shot attempts. McCall's double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) was her ninth of the season.
TARA VANDERVEER II » It was really great to see (McCall) step in the second half. She loves to block shots, so (opponents) are going in at their own risk. She'll go after it. But I was most proud of her free throws, she was 5-of-6 from the free throw line. And when she didn't play well in the first half, it didn't faze her. She showed resilience, showed some grit.
NEXT UP » Colorado visits Maples Pavilion at noon on Sunday, after which Stanford will hit the road to take on conference foes in Oregon and Los Angeles before returning home on January 29.
