Did Stanford Cardinal's Early Surge Overwhelm SMU Mustangs?

The Stanford Cardinal showcased their dominance with an 87-57 victory over the SMU Mustangs, improving their record to 1-0. The Mustangs, on the other hand, fell to 0-1. The game took place at Maples Pavilion and was attended by 2,796 fans.

First Quarter

The Cardinal set the tone early in the first quarter with a commanding performance that saw them score 31 points. Their aggressive play was highlighted by Hailee Swain's impressive shooting accuracy of 78 percent from the field. This early surge left the Ponies struggling to keep pace as they managed only 6 points.

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, while SMU found some rhythm and scored 23 points, it was not enough to close the gap significantly. Stanford maintained control with a balanced attack led by Lara Somfai who contributed significantly with her efficiency game score of over 20.

Third Quarter

Stanford continued their strong performance into the third quarter, adding another 22 points to their tally. Chloe Clardy stood out defensively with five steals that disrupted SMU's offensive flow and helped maintain Stanford’s lead.

Fourth Quarter

The final quarter saw both teams scoring evenly; however, it was too late for any comeback from SMU as they added only another 14 points. Courtney Ogden’s consistent play throughout ensured that Stanford finished strong despite a quieter offensive output in this period compared to earlier quarters.

Overall, what went wrong for Stanford Cardinal? Not much on this occasion as they executed well across all facets of play against an overwhelmed Mustang team. The defensive prowess shown through ten steals and effective rebounding were key factors in securing this win.

Looking ahead for more action-packed games like these? Catch your next glimpse of Cardinal basketball when they face off against Clemson Tigers at Maples Pavilion on March 1st at 2:00 PM EDT broadcasted live on The CW Network! Share this article if you enjoyed reliving these moments!