Stanford Cardinal's Defensive Struggles Allow Duke Blue Devils to Capitalize at Maples Pavilion

The Stanford Cardinal faced off against the Duke Blue Devils in a closely contested matchup at Maples Pavilion. The game ended with a 67-60 victory for the visiting team, bringing Stanford's record to 0-1 and Duke's to 1-0. Despite a strong effort from both sides, it was the Blue Devils who managed to pull ahead in the final quarter.

First Quarter

The opening quarter saw Stanford Cardinal taking an early lead with a score of 15 points compared to Duke's 12. The Cardinal showcased their defensive prowess with Lara Somfai contributing significantly by blocking two shots and securing five rebounds. However, turnovers began to plague their efforts as they struggled to maintain possession.

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, the Blue Devils found their rhythm and outscored Stanford by six points, ending the half with a narrow lead. Talana Lepolo provided crucial assists for Stanford but also committed four turnovers which hampered their offensive flow. The team's shooting accuracy dipped as they converted only 42 percent of their two-point attempts.

Third Quarter

The third quarter was evenly matched as both teams scored 17 points each. Hailee Swain emerged as an offensive force for Stanford, scoring nine points while maintaining an impressive field goal percentage of 44 percent. Despite her efforts, Duke capitalized on fast-break opportunities and maintained pressure on defense with eight blocks throughout the game.

Fourth Quarter

As tensions rose in the final period, Duke managed another surge by adding another 19 points while holding Stanford to just 15. Sunaja Agara stood out for her all-around performance contributing significantly across various stats including rebounds and steals but it wasn't enough to close the gap created by earlier turnovers totaling nineteen for Stanford during this encounter.

With this result now behind them; fans can look forward eagerly towards seeing how things unfold when next up against Boston College Eagles scheduled January fifteenth at Silvio O Conte Forum Chestnut Hill Massachusetts broadcasted live via ACC Network Extra starting promptly six PM Eastern Time!

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