Women's Basketball Pac-10 Tournament Day 3 Analysis
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On the third day of the women's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament, the top two seeds, Stanford and UCLA finally play. After a double bye the No. 2 and No. 7 teams in the nation, play their first games of the Pac-10 Tournament against a pair of teams that are scrapping to make a conference tournament run in hopes of securing the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
We will be keeping you updated on all of the Day 3 proceedings here. So check back as we update this page throughout the day.
Follow along with all of Neon Tommy's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament coverage.
(All Day 3 women's games are being played at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.)
Nnemkadi Ogwumike helped top-seeded Stanford advance with ease. (Shotgun Spratling)
Game 5: Stanford Routs Arizona
Stanford 100, Arizona 71
Recap: It was domination from start to finish for Stanford as the Cardinal became the first women's team to hit the century mark in Pac-10 Tournament history.
Stanford set a tournament record with 45 first half points, opening up a 21-point lead at halftime by getting the ball inside to the sister tandem of Nnemkadi and Chiney Ogwumike.
The Ogwumikes were able to get Ify Ibekwe, one of the Pac-10's top post defenders, into early foul trouble and took advantage of her absence.
The sisters combined to outscore (36-24) and outrebound (19-16) the entire Arizona team by themselves in the first half.
Stanford was able to cruise to the easy victory in the second half behind the Ogwumikes and their 53 combined points.
Quote: "I came out with a more aggressive mentality. [Coach] Tara [Vanderveer] said we have to put the hammer down and I assumed that role." -- Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford junior forward
Player of the Game: Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Stanford)
If it would have been a closer game, Nnemkadi may have given the tournament single-game scoring record a challenge. However, she only played 13 minutes in the second half, finishing with 32 points and 10 rebounds. She did set the Pac-10 Tournament record for field goals made with 15.
What it Means: The Cardinal advance to the conference final Saturday at 11:30 a.m. where they will meet the winner of the UCLA/Cal game. Stanford has already most likely locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will host the first and second rounds in the Spokane regional.
Arizona must now wait around to see if they receive an at-large bid from the NCAA Selection Committee on Monday. However, they are not currently projected to be one of the 64 teams in the national tournament. If they do not receive an invitation for the NCAA Tournament, they are strong candidates for the women's NIT.
Game 8: Bruins' Pressure Too Much for Cal
UCLA 63, California 50
Doreena Campbell shoots over a Cal defender. (Shotgun Spratling)
Recap: UCLA jumped out to an 11-1 lead to start the game and never looked back. The Bruins wore down Cal with their constant full-court pressure, forcing 19 turnovers.
The Bruins took a 37-23 lead into halftime and never looked back. UCLA starting guards Darxia Morris, Atonye Nyingifa and Doreena Campbell combined for 43 points.
The trio also limited Cal junior guard Layshia Clarendon to only two points on 0-for-6 shooting, including 0-for-4 on 3-pointers.
Quote: "Nikki's got [UCLA] in a great place -- in the championship game and probably a really good run in the NCAA tournament." -- Cal coach Joanne Boyle
Player of the Game: Atonye Nyingifa (UCLA)
Nyingifa filled up the stat sheet for the Bruins. She was tied for the game-high with 17 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting. She fell just one rebound shy of nabbing a double-double, finishing with nine boards. She also contributed four steals on the defensive end.
What it Means: The Bruins will move on to face top-seeded Stanford in the Pac-10 championship game at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning. It is just what the Pac-10 set the tournament up to produce after allowing the top two teams a double bye. UCLA lost both matchups with Stanford this season by double digits.
Cal is not going to receive an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, but the Bears could be candidates for the women's NIT, which they won last season.
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To reach Shotgun Spratling, click here, or follow him on Twitter @BlueWorkhorse.
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