STANFORD, Calif. (AP) – Emily Clemens scored 15 of her season-high 26 points in the second half and Taylor Higginbotham had 17 points and 10 rebounds to help the Western Illinois upset No. 18 Stanford 71-64 on Monday night for its first win over a ranked team.
Olivia Braun and Morgan Blumer scored 12 points apiece for Western Illinois (10-2), which has won five in a row.
Braun hit a 3-pointer and Clemens made a layup to give the Leathernecks the lead, 55-52, for good midway through the fourth quarter. Kiana Williams hit a three to pull Stanford (6-5) within three points with 1:31 to play, but Higginbotham made two free throws before Braun converted a 3-point play to make it 66-58 with 49 seconds left. Western Illinois made 5-of-6 free throws from there to seal it.
Alanna Smith had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Williams scored 17 points for Stanford. Kaylee Johnson grabbed 18 rebounds for the Cardinal, which outrebounded WIU 57-46, including 24-14 on the offensive glass. But despite being undersized, Western Illinois dominated offensively on the block, outscoring Stanford 34-26 in the paint. The Leathernecks also had a 23-8 edge in points off turnovers.
WIU missed its first 14 shots, scored just three points in the second quarter and trailed 33-24 at the break. Blumer scored eight third-quarter points to help Western Illinois pull within two heading into the fourth.
Western Illinois was plus-12 at the free-throw line, where Stanford shot a season-low 42 percent (8-of-19).
