No. 10 Bruins Fall to Top-Ranked Stanford at Pauley

Dec 21, 2020

LOS ANGELES - Michaela Onyenwere led all scorers with 19 points, adding seven rebounds, but the 10th-ranked Bruins dropped a 61-49 decision to No. 1 Stanford on Monday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.

The Bruins (5-2, 3-2 Pac-12) had the top two scorers in the game, as Emily Bessoir accounted for 15 points, which tied a season best, adding five boards. Charisma Osborne posted seven points, five rebounds and four assists. Lindsey Corsaro dished out six assists, while Lauryn Miller grabbed six rebounds and tied a career high with four steals.

Stanford (7-0, 4-0) guard Anna Wilson opened the scoring with a triple off a loose ball, but Natalie Chou followed with a strong and-one lay-in to tie the score (8:32). Stanford rattled off six-straight points to take a 9-3 lead before Bessoir knocked down a triple from the top of the key to make it a three-point game (5:55). Kiana Williams and Francesca Belibi answered with buckets for the Cardinal, putting Stanford ahead 14-6 at the first media stoppage. Consecutive buckets from Bessoir and Onyenwere cut the lead to 14-10, but Stanford stormed back with five-straight to go up 19-10 late in the first quarter. The teams would exchange points and the Cardinal would take a 21-12 lead into the second quarter.

Onyenwere was hot to start the second quarter, scoring four-straight points to bring the score to 21-16. Osborne knocked down a triple to make it a two-point game, but Stanford answered with a pair of lay-ups to push its lead back to 25-19 (5:52). The Bruins trailed 25-21 out of the second quarter stoppage before Bessoir connected from the elbow to make it a two-point game (4:04). Bessoir then connected on a triple from the corner to put UCLA up 26-25 before Stanford sophomore Haley Jones hit a floater in the paint to give the visitors the lead right back (2:38). The Cardinal would end the half on a 6-0 run and take a 31-26 lead into the break.

Onyenwere hit consecutive baskets to open the second half, helping the Bruins trim the deficit to 33-31 (8:51). Stanford, however, kept its foot on the gas and extended its lead to 39-31 at the 6:42 mark in the third quarter. A transition lay-up from Osborne cut Stanford's lead to 39-33 before a timeout on the floor. After cold spells from both teams, Wilson and Osborne exchanged lay-ups to make it a 41-35 contest late in the third quarter. Stanford's Cameron Brink converted in the paint and Bessoir followed with a pair of free throws to send the game into the fourth quarter (43-37).

After a quick bucket from Stanford, Bessoir answered with a triple to cut Stanford's lead to 45-40 early in the frame. The Cardinal led 48-43 before Camryn Brown scored a transition lay-up to cut the lead to three (6:56). Brink continued to be a force inside, scoring six-straight points to put Stanford up nine (5:20). A lay-up from Onyenwere cut the lead to seven, but Belibi answered at the other end with a bucket in the paint. Lacie Hull knocked down a triple on Stanford's next possession, all but icing the game with 1:47 to play, as the Cardinal won by a dozen.

UP NEXT
The No. 10 Bruins hit the road for a trip to Oregon after the winter holiday break. The team has matchups scheduled against Oregon State on Jan. 1 and Oregon on Jan. 3. Game times and television information are still being determined.