Can the Cardinal's Sharpshooting Overcome Wildcats' Tenacity at Maples Pavilion?
The Stanford Cardinal, unranked and undeterred, delivered an impressive performance against the number 4 ranked Arizona Wildcats with a final score of 100-82. The Cardinal now stand with a more favorable record after this conference game, while the Wildcats must reflect on their second loss.
At Maples Pavilion, home to the Stanford Cardinal, an attendance of 4,155 witnessed a game where precision met persistence. The Cardinals showcased remarkable accuracy from beyond the arc with a three-point shooting percentage of 64 percent. Their offensive efforts were complemented by an equally strong defense that registered six blocks throughout the game.
The Wildcats were not without merit; they fought back valiantly and managed to put up 82 points against their hosts. Arizona's resilience was evident in their points in paint totaling 46 and second-chance points standing at 17. However, despite these efforts and maintaining possession for equal time as their opponents, they fell short as they could not match Stanford's scoring efficiency.
Stanford's tactical execution was apparent in their assist-to-turnover ratio of over two, signifying effective ball movement leading to scoring opportunities. This was bolstered by their commendable free throw percentage of approximately 86 percent which contributed significantly to their total score.
Arizona did manage to out-rebound Stanford slightly with a total rebound count of 35 compared to Stanford's 36 but couldn't capitalize on these additional opportunities as effectively as needed. Their steal count stood at eight indicating aggressive defensive plays but it wasn't enough to disrupt the rhythm that Stanford had established early on.
As for individual performances from the Cardinal side that deserve mention – there were several players who contributed significantly across various aspects of play including assists where they tallied up an impressive total of twenty-five for the game.
Looking ahead for fans eager to follow their team’s progress: The next challenge awaiting Stanford will be away from home against UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on January third at six o'clock PM Pacific Time. This upcoming matchup can be viewed nationally on ESPN2 channel two hundred nine ensuring fans won’t miss any action from this anticipated encounter.