Stanford cruises past Arizona

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman guard Lisa Griffith gets stripped by Stanford player while going to the basket. Third-ranked Stanford beat Arizona last night 90-65.

Stanford simply shot the lights out in the second half and Arizona had to sit back and watch, as the Cardinal won 90-65 in front of the 4,123 in attendance, the largest crowd in UA women's history at McKale Center.

Stanford, the No. 3 team in the nation, made 12 three-pointers and out-rebounded the Wildcats 51-39 proving why they are considered one of the favorites to win the NCAA Tounament that Arizona is striving so hard just to get into.

"When you get all five starters scoring in double figures and a sub goes out and gets a double-double against you, it's kind of hard," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "I really didn't think they had too many open three-point looks, but what can I say, they were hot."

Stanford got one three from off the backboard and even 6-foot, 7-inch reserve Chandra Benton stepped out and hit one herself. Meanwhile, Arizona only made 3 of its 16 long range attempts.

"When they are hitting their threes, it's really frustrating," UA freshman Lisa Griffith said. "It kind of breaks your back. Especially against Stanford, it's tough to come back from."

Arizona battled its way to within 10 at halftime after trailing by as much as 16, but by five minutes into the second, the Wildcats' trailed 56-34.

"I thought that our offense took over in the second half," Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said. "I was disappointed with how we played in the first half, I hope the second showed how we can play."

Adia Barnes broke her own single-season point total with her 29 points, she needed only 17 to surpass her previous 522 point total. Griffith added 10 points on 3 of 11 shooting.

"How Adia scores that many points with the same move at 5 foot, 11, just amazes me," VanDerveer said. "She must just work really hard."

Arizona (21-7, 11-6 in the Pacific 10 Conference) struggled all game keeping up with the atletic ability of Stanford's post players. Particulary Kristin Folkl, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

"They killed us on the inside," UA's Marte Alexander said. "They work so well together. They just have the total game and were just keeping up with them."

Stanford's senior point guard Jamilla Wideman should get some of the credit. Her three, three-point shots in the first half forced Arizona to extend its defense.

"Arizona has a freshman point guard, we have a senior. That's like night and day," VanDerveer said.

Stanford's player-of-the-year candidate, Kate Starbird, lead the team with 15 points.

Arizona put up 73 shots, but made only 24 of them and the team's 12 assists was five below its average.

"There were things that we didn't do, but we played with our heart and that is all you can do," Barnes said.

Arizona plays California tomorrow in McKale Center at 2 p.m. in its final game to show the NCAA committee it belongs in the field of 64.

In VanDerveer's parting words she said she doesn't think Arizona is the bubble team many are calling them

"I don't consider them a bubble team, I think it's ridiculous that people do," she said. "I think that they will be some team's nightmare in the NCAA Tournament."

The only thing left in Arizona's hands, thought, is Saturday's game.

"We are just going to go at Cal with all our frustrations," Griffith said. "On scale of one to 10, we are going to play like a 12 against them."