It all looked easy to Stanford.
The number 1 of the overall seed had few problems against the state of Missouri No. 5 and rose to the Elite Eight with an 89-62 win. The cardinal has no shortage of options, can keep spinning in offensive power and is used to being out and about in a bubble experience.
Stanford has scored at least 13 3-point hits in each of its three tournament games, a mark that South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has made noted in the other half of the bracket. Their team efficiency has not diminished and their defensive starts have not started after taking the lead 49-26 at halftime. They hit shots, they stop shots, and they shoot through opponents to their 21st elite eight berth.
Stanford will play the Louisville # 2 winner against Oregon # 6 in the other part of the Alamo region. The game is betting on ESPN at 7 p.m.
Wilson Keys balanced attack
Anna Wilson, a fifth year guard, led a career offensive day. Typically the cardinal’s defensive engine – her said ESPN’s Holly Rowe breathlessly “I love playing defense” at halftime – Wilson was near perfect in the tournament from the ground.
She was a total of 5-for-6 for 13 points with six rebounds, three steals and two assists. All four of her field goals in the first half were good.
Wilson, the younger sister of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, hit both shot attempts in the first round and was 4-5 in the second round, with all three 3-point attempts being made.
The second guard, Hannah Jump, led the team from the bench. She poured 17 in 6v9 shooting and made five out of seven 3-pointers. Senior Kiana Williams scored 16 with four rebounds and four assists. Their games in the first quarter put Missouri State in insurmountable deficit.
The story goes on
Cameron Brink didn’t let the bears get near the basket much. The 6-foot-4 freshman striker had five blocks and tipped in seven points.
Haley Jones scored eleven with eight rebounds, one less than the team high of nine by 6-foot-5 striker Ashten Prechtel off the bench. Jones and Prechtel each had five assists at team level.
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