Arizona Shocks Third-Ranked Stanford with Late 3-Pointer in 68-61 Victory – Sky Bulletin
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In a dramatic upset, the Arizona Wildcats managed to take down the No. 3 Stanford Cardinal with a score of 68-61 this Friday night on Stanford’s own turf—a feat that hadn’t been achieved by the Wildcats in over two decades.
Even with a limited roster of just seven dressed players, Arizona overturned a string of seven consecutive losses against the Cardinal. Arizona’s victory also came despite a recent triple-overtime battle with Washington. The Cardinal were without their star forward Cameron Brink who was sidelined due to an illness not related to COVID-19.
Jada Williams was the standout for Arizona, putting up 23 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds. Esmery Martinez supported the effort with 17 points of her own.
Up until this game, Stanford had dominated the series, claiming victory in 15 of their last 16 encounters with Arizona.
Despite entering the final quarter at a deficit (45-37), Arizona surged back to gain the upper hand following a pivotal jumper from Williams with two minutes left. Kiki Iriafen of Stanford, who had a strong performance with 21 points and 15 rebounds, managed to level the score with a layup, but Williams’ decisive 3-pointer and subsequent free throws sealed the deal for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats demonstrated resilience, keeping pace with Stanford throughout the first half and maintaining a tie early in the third quarter. However, Iriafen’s contributions helped the Cardinal to advance before Arizona’s stunning turnaround in the fourth.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: This was the Wildcats’ first victory at Stanford since 2001, marking a significant win for the team. Before this game, they had only one road win in the conference and hadn’t seen an away victory since their clash with Arizona State in December.
Stanford: The Cardinal’s loss shakes up the Pac-12 leaderboard, breathing life into the hopes of three teams tied for second place—No. 9 Oregon State, No. 7 USC, and No. 11 Colorado.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Set to face Cal on the coming Sunday.
Stanford: Prepares to host Arizona State also on Sunday.
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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
FAQs
- How many points did Jada Williams score for the Wildcats?
- When was the last time Arizona won at Stanford prior to this game?
- Was Cameron Brink available to play for Stanford in this game?
Jada Williams led the Wildcats with 23 points in their victory over Stanford.
Prior to this victory, the Wildcats had not won at Stanford since 2001.
Cameron Brink missed the game due to a non-COVID-19 illness and did not play against Arizona.
Conclusion
In what was undeniably a pivotal moment for Arizona Wildcats women’s basketball, their triumph over the third-ranked Stanford Cardinal not only broke a long-standing winless streak on Stanford’s court but also adds a new dynamic to the race for supremacy in the Pac-12 standings. Jada Williams’ clutch play underscores her role as a game-changer and may very well be the catalyst for more remarkable performances from the Wildcats as they progress through the season.
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