Sports

Defending National Champion Stanford beats Texas to return to Final Four


SPOKANE, Wash. – The defending women’s basketball national champion Stanford Cardinal secured a return to the Round 4 Finals on Sunday night, becoming the second No. 1 seed reached the national semi-finals this yearwith a 59-50 win over second-seeded Texas Longhorns.

This is Cardinal’s 14th Finals appearance under legendary coach Tara VanDerveer.

“It doesn’t get old,” VanDerveer said after the game. “You’re always happy when you get to Final Four, but sometimes you’re really happy. I’m really happy. It’s a great group to be with, they care about each other, they’ll do anything. I didn’t worry about today’s effort.

“We have great leadership, unselfishness, and I think whoever we play – whether it’s Connecticut or NC State – we’ll be ready.”

First, Stanford had to survive the rematch with the Longhorns. When these teams met in November in Palo Alto, Texas spoiled Stanford’s title night last season with a fourth-half comeback to win Cardinal 61-56 at home.

Stanford took an identical five-point lead for Sunday’s final term. This time, Cardinal stood up in large part to the play of senior Lexie Hull, who scored a high 20 in the game in front of family and friends back home.

The Longhorns cut Stanford’s lead to two as Hull drove behind while being fouled and converted the subsequent free throw into a three-point game. On his next possession, Hull made two free throws to give Cardinal the lead twice.

“It was a big game, no doubt about that,” the Texas coach said.

Although Hull’s twin sister, Lacie, did not score, her play was also the main difference from the game in November. At the time, Stanford was struggling to replace the keeper. Kiana Williams, who left the WNBA after the championship. Cardinal provided seven assists in his lowest season and cracked the ball more than 20 times to Texas pressure.

The first leg remains an issue for Stanford on Sunday, as the team let the ball go 20 times, including 11 times in the second half. But Lacie Hull and Haley Jones – who also had a brace with 18 points and 12 rebounds – had four assists each as Cardinal doubled their November totals.

Hull’s twins are rewarded with a shot at the opponent’s net. Lexie Hull wore a necklace around her neck during the post-game press conference.

“I just remember after the game, I looked out and in most areas of the gym, I knew someone,” she said. “It’s very special. Tara told us at the end of our game in Spokane that if we [won in] Spokane, Lacie and I will get caught in the net. So we’re really excited to have that opportunity tonight and really feel the love and support from everyone. “

As has happened all season, Stanford had important contributions from many players throughout the game. In the third half, centre-back Cameron Brink brilliantly scored all of his 10 points after spending most of the first half in foul situations. Brink quoted VanDerveer asking her at halftime if she wanted to start the third quarter as a motivator.

After falling behind eight people early in the third round, the Longhorns rallied to end the game midway through. VanDerveer responded by going to an area, something Cardinal failed to do in the first three games of the NCAA tournament, tracking Second Spectrum cameras.

“I think it’s just a little bit of a change of pace,” VanDerveer said. “I’m a neural area trainer. I hate 3s.”

The change has paid off. Brink has three blocks and steals the next five as Texas scores just three for the rest of the quarter. Overall, Second Spectrum sees the Longhorns score 12 points out of 19 possessions against the region. In a game between two teams heading into the nation’s longest win streak (23 for Stanford, now 24; 14 for the Longhorns before Sunday), those small margins proved crucial.

Texas also had to lament when it left points on the foul line, when only 11/20 free throws were taken.

“When you’re going to play these games, you have to take the free throws, and we’ve done that to this day,” Schaefer said.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals and VanDerveer players were dancing in celebration. As a way to keep players comfortable, VanDerveer suggested group dancing if the team made it to Final Four. After a one-on-one session with Jones as VanDerveer’s lead teacher in a group that included subs Jordan Hamilton and Kiki Iriafen, the entire team practiced after watching Saturday’s movie.

“I think it just puts people at ease and shows them that I believe in them,” says VanDerveer. “And they know I can’t dance, so they look at me and laugh, so all is well.”

With Stanford having returned to the Finals to defend its title, there’s no question.



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