There’s nothing inherently unsuitable with lobbying for Stanford’s Cameron Brink as Pac-12 girls’s basketball Participant of the 12 months.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore is within the high 10 within the convention in scoring and rebounding; nationally, she’s within the high 20 in field-goal proportion and blocked photographs per recreation.
However when Stanford is definitely susceptible to dropping, it’s clear that Haley Jones, not Brink, stays the straw stirring the Cardinal combine.
Jones had 10 factors, 4 rebounds, an help and a blocked shot within the fourth quarter Sunday, main Stanford’s rally from 10 factors all the way down to a 66-62 victory at Oregon. It was a clinic beneath duress by the 6-foot-1 junior guard — akin to her Most Excellent Participant efficiency on the 2021 NCAA Remaining 4.
Attending to the basket 4 occasions within the closing 5:24, Jones made 4 layups, the final whereas falling down, and transformed twice for 3-point performs.
“How does she do this?” marveled ESPN announcer Eric Frede after Jones threw in what proved to be the sport clincher whereas almost on her again with 36 seconds left.
She was central to a 17-4 Stanford run that turned a 56-46 deficit right into a 63-60 lead.
The Geese misplaced regardless of main for all however three of the 40 minutes. They dropped right into a second-place tie with surging Washington State.
“We managed that recreation many of the evening,” Geese coach Kelly Graves advised reporters. “Simply didn’t make our personal breaks, didn’t get many calls down the stretch however that occurs within the recreation. They know learn how to win, they've a veteran crew and a coach that is aware of a factor or two about what she’s doing.”
Stanford (23-3/14-0 Pac-12) clinched the Pac-12 regular-season title Friday and has 29 straight wins over convention opponents, together with the 2021 postseason.
The Cardinal is 2 wins away from its eighth undefeated convention season (however first since 2012). No different staff has ever completed that feat.
Jones is averaging 12.6 factors per recreation to Brink’s team-high 13.4, and he or she has taken a slim edge in rebounding (7.9 rpg to Brink’s 7.8). She couldn’t have made a extra dramatic POY assertion going into the ultimate week of the common season, with the Pac-12 postseason awards popping out forward of the convention event.
“We knew that we weren’t enjoying our greatest basketball, however we have been capable of snap out of it, deal with each other and keep tight,” Jones stated.
Stanford has received 15 consecutive video games since dropping to No. 1 South Carolina on Dec. 21.
Washington State ties win data
After beating the Arizona faculties by a mixed 12 factors, Washington State tied the college report for many total victories within the NCAA period (18) and probably the most Pac-12 wins (10). Each data have been initially set in 1990-91.
The Cougars are again in place for a second straight NCAA Match look after beginning the weekend outdoors ESPN’s projected bubble. They're tied for second with Oregon, a half-game forward of No. 8 Arizona.
“This can be a resume-building sort of win,” coach Kamie Ethridge stated after Sunday’s 72-67 upset of Arizona. “We dealt with their strain effectively and bought them out of their system. It reveals that our staff is constant to morph into no matter we'd like them to be to succeed.”
Johanna Teder, 5-foot-8 junior guard from Estonia, adopted up a 20-point efficiency Friday in a victory over ASU with 21 towards Arizona. She was 9-of-14 from 3-point vary for the weekend and scored seven straight factors within the closing two minutes towards the Wildcats, who have been lacking ahead Cate Reese during the last 6:59 on account of a dislocated shoulder.
Arizona State goes 0-3 together with forfeit
Arizona State started the week on a roll, trying to solidify its postseason resume. As an alternative, the Solar Devils went 0-3. They misplaced by forfeit to California on Wednesday — after not making the journey on account of a mechanical challenge with their chartered flight — then have been swept by Washington State and beforehand winless (in convention play) Washington.
“I’m sort of at a loss,” ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne stated. “Clearly I’m not getting it completed for this staff.”
The remark got here after the loss to UW and wasn’t reflective of the choice to not ask her gamers depart after 10 p.m. Tuesday and play a scheduled 1 p.m. recreation at Cal the next afternoon.
“We have been able to play,” she stated. “We couldn’t get there at an affordable time. I don’t know what individuals anticipate these school athletes to do. We didn’t really feel like we might get there and be rested and able to play, have a great likelihood to compete and be secure.
“Actually given the scenario, I didn't assume that (forfeit) would occur, nevertheless it did and that’s nice. In my thoughts, was it cheap for us to point out up and play? No. However they (Pac-12) deemed in any other case, and we respect that call.”
ASU’s Jayde Van Hyfte didn't play towards Washington on account of harm, and the Solar Devils misplaced Gabriela Bosquez to harm within the fourth quarter.
The Pac-12 additionally gave UCLA a forfeit towards Oregon on Jan. 28 for not having sufficient wholesome (non-COVID associated) gamers. In different main conferences, the one forfeits have been by Virginia (twice).
Forfeits influence convention report however not total report.
Graves will get to be dad between weekend video games
Colorado had a 2-0 week, enhancing its postseason standing, whereas UCLA went 0-3 — first dropping in a non-conference make-up recreation to Oregon on Wednesday, then falling to each Mountain groups.
5 groups went 1-1, plus Cal’s 1-2 mark.
Oregon coach Kelly Graves traveled between weekend video games to Gonzaga, the place he beforehand coached, to share Senior Day together with his son Will, a reserve guard for the No. 1 Bulldogs.
Graves drove again from Spokane to Eugene to make his staff’s recreation towards Stanford in time.
“They allowed me to be a dad, and to me that’s a very powerful factor on the planet,” Graves stated of his workers.
On Senior Day at Oregon State, 6-foot-9 Andrea Aquino from Paraguay made her first collegiate look (on account of a medical situation) and scored a basket earlier than being subbed out.
Weekly lowdown
— Participant of the Week nominees: Andrea Aquino (Oregon State), Jayda Curry (California), Mya Hollingshed (Colorado), Haley Jones (Stanford), Gianna Kneepkens (Utah), Nancy Mulkey (Washington), Te-Hina Paopao (Oregon), Johanna Teder (Washington State), Sam Thomas (Arizona), IImar’I Thomas (UCLA), Jordan Sanders (USC).
— Freshman of the Week nominees: Jayda Curry (California), Kiki Iriafen (Stanford), Gianna Kneepkens (Utah), AJ Marotte (Oregon State), Rayah Marshall (USC), Jayda Noble (Washington), Gisela Sanchez (Arizona), Kindyll Wetta (Colorado).
— Forward this week: The common season ends with all however one recreation on Thursday and Saturday. (The schedule was moved up a day to accommodate the beginning of the Pac-12 Match on Wednesday, March 2.) Oregon is at Colorado on Wednesday to start the week. Stanford attracts Washington State at dwelling Thursday.
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