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Stanford Wins 5th Consecutive Pac-10 Tournament Championship

Shotgun Spratling |
March 12, 2011 | 2:49 p.m. PST

Associate Sports Editor

Stanford's Melanie Murphy and Jeanette Pohlen celebrate after winning the Pac-10 Tournament championship. (Shotgun Spratling)
Stanford's Melanie Murphy and Jeanette Pohlen celebrate after winning the Pac-10 Tournament championship. (Shotgun Spratling)
For the eighth time in the 10-year history of the women's Pac-10 Tournament, the Stanford Cardinal will be taking home the championship trophy.

Behind 15 points from tournament Most Outstanding Player Nnemkadi Ogwumike, and an outstanding second-half performance by freshman Toni Kokenis, Stanford (29-2) defeated UCLA 64-55 Saturday afternoon at Staples Center.

Kokenis had 13 points in the second half, including her own personal 10-0 run in the final five minutes that helped the Cardinal rally from an 11-point second half deficit.

"It was really on instinct," Kokenis said of the run. "We passed the ball really well on offense. I got some open shots and was able to knock them down."

Tournament Bracket

Game 7: Freshman Ignites Second Half Run

Stanford 64, UCLA 55 

Live Stats | Live Game Blog

Recap: Trailing No. 7 UCLA 46-40 with nine minutes remaining in the second half, Stanford showed why they are one of the elite teams in the nation. The Cardinal responded with a 17-2 streak spurred by reserve guard Toni Kokenis, who had the final 10 points of the seven-minute run.

Toni Kokenis drives to the basket against UCLA in the finals of the Pac-10 Tournament. (Shotgun Spratling)
Toni Kokenis drives to the basket against UCLA in the finals of the Pac-10 Tournament. (Shotgun Spratling)
In the first half, UCLA held Stanford to just 34.8 percent shooting and forced 11 turnovers to help them open up a nine-point halftime deficit.

After playing what coach Tara VanDerveer described as one of the team's worst halves of the year, Stanford responded after VanDerveer's halftime adjustments. The Cardinal opened the second half on a 17-8 run by giving the Bruins a dose of their own medicine with pressure defense.

"It was our defense. I think people stepped up and got more aggressive," VanDerveer said.

The Bruins faded down the stretch, turning the ball over 11 times and going more than eight minutes without a field goal during Stanford's 17-2 run.

Quote: "We did an amazing job for 32-33 minutes and then there was the run and you knew it was coming." -- UCLA Bruins head coach Nikki Caldwell

Player of the Game: Toni Kokenis (Stanford)

Coming off the bench, Kokenis provided the spark the Cardinal needed in the second half. After four points in the first half, her 13 second-half points allowed her to set a new career high. She finished the game 7-of-9 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers (both of which came during her 10-0 run). She also had two assists, two rebounds and a steal.  

UCLA's Jasmine Dixon battles with Stanford's Ogwumike sisters in the Pac-10 Tournament championship game. (Shotgun Spratling)
UCLA's Jasmine Dixon battles with Stanford's Ogwumike sisters in the Pac-10 Tournament championship game. (Shotgun Spratling)
What it Means: The Cardinal have now won 57 straight games against Pac-10 opponents, eight in a row over UCLA and five consecutive Pac-10 tournaments. Stanford will almost assuredly receive the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's Spokane regional. For the Bruins, they now wait until Monday to see if they receive a No. 2 seed or fall to a No. 3 seed. 

Throughout the women's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament, we've kept you abreast of all the action. Be sure to check out the rest of Neon Tommy's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament coverage, including the men's tournament.

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To reach Shotgun Spratling, click here, or follow him on Twitter @BlueWorkhorse.

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