Cardinal Takes Care of Cal PolyCardinal Takes Care of Cal Poly
Karen Hickey/isiphotos.com
Women's Basketball

Cardinal Takes Care of Cal Poly

Box Score (PDF) Opens in a new window Postgame Press Conference Opens in a new window

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) – Elena Bosgana matched her career high with 15 points and had seven rebounds to lead No. 6 Stanford to another blowout victory, 86-32 over Cal Poly on Thursday night.
 
Kiki Iriafen had 13 points and four rebounds to help keep the Cardinal (3-0) unbeaten. Jzaniya Harriel made four 3-pointers and scored a career-best 14 points with a personal-best of three steals as Stanford extended its winning streak over Cal Poly to nine games.
 
"This was an opportunity for some young players who have really worked hard in the offseason, Jzaniya and Elena, to really shine. And they did," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. "I'm really happy with our bench, how we came out and played hard. This was a great game and we're really excited about how we played."
 
VanDerveer was particularly pleased with the Cardinal's defense. Stanford limited Cal Poly to 2-of-17 shooting from 3-point range and held a 49-29 rebounding advantage.
 
Playmaker Cameron Brink took just two shots, but had three of Stanford's five blocked shots.
 
Annika Shah had nine points for the Mustangs, who have lost three straight.
 
Four days after a 96-64 pounding of then-No. 9 Indiana that moved Stanford up nine spots in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings, the Cardinal dominated Cal Poly (1-4) from the beginning. Stanford led by 56 at one point and moved VanDerveer within 14 wins of breaking Mike Krzyzewski's 1,202 victories as the winningest coach in college basketball history
 
"It doesn't matter the name on the jersey" Harriel said. "Just go out there and play hard no matter who it is, no matter what network's it's on. Just play hard."
 
That's exactly what the Cardinal did, which allowed VanDerveer to reach deep into her bench in the second half. The game was a blowout from the outset.
 
Stanford put up 22 points in the first quarter. Cal Poly didn't get to 22 until the end of the third quarter.
 
The Cardinal ended the first period on a 14-0 run and then closed out the first half with 11 consecutive points to lead 53-15.
 
Up by 51 heading into the fourth quarter, VanDerveer rested most of her starters in the final period.
 
BIG PICTURE
 
Cal Poly: The Mustangs never had much of a chance to get their offense going against Stanford's bigger and quicker defense that outhustled, outmuscled and harassed Cal Poly's shooters and held them to 22.7% shooting.
 
Stanford: The Cardinal continued to show how deep they are, with 10 players scoring at least two points, while five made at least one 3-pointer.