SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Erica McCall had 18 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven blocks and No. 15 Stanford used a decisive second-half run to sweep its weekend road swing, this time beating Utah 72-54 at the Huntsman Center on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Cardinal (22-6, 12-4 Pac-12) locked up a top-four seed and first-round bye at the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle.
McCall's seven blocks set a new personal best and are now tied for second in Stanford single-game history with Joslyn Tinkle, who had that many in games at UC Davis and South Carolina early in the 2012-13 season. Kristen Newlin holds the top mark with eight at Washington State on Jan. 2, 2004.
In addition to McCall's robust line, Kaylee Johnson scored in double figures for the fifth time in the last six games with 13 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Marta Sniezek tied a career high with six assists against just one turnover to go along with her 4-of-9 effort from the floor.
TURNING POINT » Stanford was up eight, 48-40, late in the third when Tanaeya Boclair hit a jumper for Utah (15-12, 7-9 Pac-12). But the Cardinal would go on a 17-1 run over the next eight minutes to take a 65-41 lead on a Lili Thompson free throw with 4:32 left in the fourth. The Utes missed 13 straight shots during the run and turned the ball over four times, while Stanford went 6-of-15 during the spurt.
ONE OF THE BEST » Second in the nation in field goal percentage defense, Stanford had another stout effort at that end of the floor against the Utes. The Cardinal limited Utah to 26.1 percent from the field, the ninth opponent it has held under 30 percent this season. Utah started the second half making just two of its first 24 shots (8.3 percent) and finished 6-of-33 from the floor (18.2 percent) in the final 20 minutes.
SWATS » McCall's seven blocks were part of an 11-rejection effort for Stanford on Sunday. It was the Cardinal's fifth game this season with at least that many, a new school record. Its 2000-01 squad had four games with at least 10 blocks. Stanford entered Sunday seventh in the nation in blocks per game.
MORE MCCALL » Stanford's junior captain has a career high 56 blocks this season and is now 10th in school single-season history in that category. Only Jayne Appel, Chiney Ogwumike and Joslyn Tinkle have ever had more than 60 in a year for the Cardinal.
PAINT AND TURNOVERS » A game after making 50 percent from deep, Stanford converted just one of its 11 3-point attempts on Sunday, but held a 36-26 edge in the paint and a 22-6 edge in points off turnovers. The Cardinal's eight turnovers tied a season-low. Stanford has scored more than 20 points off opponent miscues in each of its last four games.
SNIEZEK SETS OTHERS UP » Freshman Marta Sniezek's six assists tied a career high from Jan. 29 against Washington. She is averaging 4.0 assists in Stanford's last eight games and has a 2.29 assist-to-turnover ratio over that span. Her four made field goals were also a personal best and her eight points were her most in conference play.
ONE FROM 1,000 » Stanford moved to 999-310 all-time with the win and is one shy of becoming the seventh women's basketball program to reach 1,000.