CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Courtney Ogden scored 21, Chloe Clardy returned from a two-game absence to add 12 points and nine boards, and Stanford fought its way to 77-71 overtime road win at No. 16 North Carolina on Sunday.
The Cardinal’s performance was a big response, coming one game after its 28-point loss at NC State on Thursday. The win was the program’s first ranked road victory since a 67-63 result at No. 11 Oregon State on Feb. 29, 2024, and Stanford’s second Quad 1 win of the season.
Stanford rarely led in regulation but never let the Tar Heels get too far in front. The Cardinal had two leads in the first quarter and went back ahead 23-21 on a Hailee Swain layup with 4:57 to go in the second, but Reniya Kelly hit a jumper on UNC’s next trip down to tie it, and Stanford wouldn’t lead again until overtime. North Carolina’s largest lead was seven.
North Carolina matched its largest lead with 7:38 to go, 57-50, before Stanford started chipping away. Clardy made a layup, so did Ogden, and when Alexandra Eschmeyer sank her free throw to complete a 3-point play and cap a 7-1 run, Stanford was down just one, 58-57, with 4:48 remaining in the fourth.
The Cardinal was down four with under two minutes to go when Ogden got the offensive rebound on a Clardy’s missed 3-pointer and kissed it off glass while fading to the left baseline to make it a two-point game. Stanford had five offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter after tallying four across the first three quarters.
Stanford tied it with 36 seconds left when Shay Ijiwoye drove middle, drew two and fed Lara Somfai with a perfect bounce bass to make it 65-65. Both teams missed their final opportunities to end it in regulation.
Lanie Grant made a free throw to put UNC up one in overtime, but that would be the only time the Cardinal trailed. The Tar Heels’ Nyla Harris made a bucket to tie it at 69-69 with 2:11 on the clock for her team’s only field goal of the extra period. Stanford closed on an 8-2 run behind baskets from Clardy and Ogden and four free throws from Talana Lepolo to put it away.
Stanford’s defense held North Carolina to 4-of-16 shooting (.250) in the fourth quarter and overtime.
While Ogden and Clardy were big late, freshmen Lara Somfai, Hailee Swain and Alexandra Eschmeyer combined to score 21 of Stanford’s 29 in the first half. Somfai finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, Swain seven points and Eschmeyer 10, her first game in double figures since Nov. 6.
Clardy’s nine rebounds were a career high and the Cardinal won the battle of the boards 40-28. Lepolo had a season-high seven assists and just one turnover. Stanford tied a season best with 17 assists on its 27 baskets.
The Cardinal returns home to host Wake Forest on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.