Jan. 4, 2009

Box Score

Postgame Quotes

Quick Take: Ibekwe and Njonkou

All-Access: Postgame Press Conference

TUCSON, Ariz. - A 17-0 run late in the game was not quite enough for host Arizona as the Wildcats dropped a 70-61 decision to #11-ranked Stanford, Sunday afternoon in Pac-10 play at McKale Center.

Trailing 65-40 with 5:18 to play after two free throws by Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Arizona scored the next 17 points after Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer had emptied her bench.

Reiko Thomas sparked the run, canning a trio of three-pointers among 10 of the 17 points, allowing the Wildcats to close to 65-57 with 47 seconds remaining. Stanford managed to 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch, however, to hold on for the win.

Rebounding plagued the Wildcats in the first half for the second-straight game. Stanford owned a 23-10 edge at the break, pulling down nine offensive rebounds that led to nine second chance points and nine more field goal attempts.

The Cardinal stretched their 7-point halftime lead to 17 over the first eight minutes of the second half as the Wildcats committed seven turnovers and made only 2-of-6 shots. Meanwhile, Stanford began the half 6-of-13 from the field, including three-pointers by Jeanette Pohlen and Rosalyn Gold-Onwude.

Despite making just 7-of-28 attempts from three-point range for the game, the Cardinal did get three long-range bombs from Pohlen in the opening frame. Her efforts opened up just enough space for frontcourt players Ogwumike, who combined for 25 points among 26 for the Cardinal in the paint.

Ify Ibekwe bounced back from a foul-plagued first half on Friday against California and led all players with 23 points and 13 rebounds, her 7th double-double of the season. Thomas added 15 points while Amina Njonkou broke out of a four-game scoring slump with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Pohlen led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points for Stanford (11-3, 2-0 Pac-10), finishing with six assists while hitting 5-of-14 from three-point range. Ogwumike added 14 points off the bench while Appel tallied 11 points and Jillian Harmon added 10.

Arizona (7-6, 0-2 Pac-10) hits the road next week, starting on Thursday, January 8 with a visit to Oregon at 7 p.m. (PST)