In what has been a topsy-turvy start of the season for a number of the country’s top programs, No. 3 Stanford became the latest top-five school to be upset, falling on Sunday to Gonzaga 96-78.
The Bulldogs (8-2) led by four at halftime, and blitzed the Cardinal (8-1) in the third quarter, outscoring their opponent by 16 points to take a 20-point lead into the fourth.
Stanford star forward Cameron Brink made each of her four first-half field goal attempts, but she sat out the entirety of the game’s second half due to illness, according to the school.
What went right for Gonzaga?
Stanford had been one of the nation’s top defensive teams this season, ranking in the top 20 in both opponent two-point and three-point percentage. On the road against Gonzaga, it struggled. The Bulldogs shot 56.6 from the field and 42 percent from three, while only amassing seven turnovers. Senior Brynna Maxwell, a first-team All-WCC guard last year, led the Bulldogs with 27 points, while senior forward Yvonne Ejim added 25 points and 12 rebounds. In all, five Gonzaga players scored in double-figures and the Bulldogs led for almost the entirety of the contest.
Gonzaga had been 2-12 all-time against Stanford. Sunday’s victory not only marks its first win in the series since 2018 but also the…
