Stanford Wins a Rematch With Texas and a Trip to the Final Four

SPOKANE, Wash. — The reigning champions are again within the Last 4. No. 1-seeded Stanford beat No. 2 Texas, 59-50, on Sunday to succeed in its fifteenth N.C.A.A. event nationwide semifinals.

The Cardinal had been cheered on by a Spokane Enviornment crowd decidedly of their court docket due to followers of the Hull twins, Lexie and Lacie, who grew up in Spokane. Lexie Hull was the sport’s main scorer with 20 factors on 7 of 14 capturing.

The sport was chippy, bodily and quick from the tip-off, with all sides blocking pictures and making robust appears. It was precisely the tempo and elegance the Longhorns sought, although Stanford nonetheless discovered methods to attain. Lexie Hull significantly appeared to feed off the group’s enthusiasm for her and her sister, scoring 5 factors within the recreation’s first six minutes and ending the primary half with 12.

“You’re at all times pleased to go to the Last 4, however typically you’re actually pleased,” Stanford Coach Tara VanDerveer stated. “I’m actually pleased. It’s a nice group to be with, they care about one another, they’ll do no matter. Whoever we play — whether or not it’s Connecticut or N.C. State, we’ll be prepared.”

Free throws had been traded beginning early within the recreation, as had been robust defensive performs. At one level, Lacie Hull blocked a shot for a steal on one finish, after which Texas’s Aliyah Matharu took a cost in transition on the opposite. The primary quarter ended 14-14 after Haley Jones hit a tricky buzzer beater, however Texas had held Stanford scoreless for 5 minutes earlier than that.

The Cardinal made simply 39.3 % of their pictures from the ground within the first half, however went into the locker room with a 3-point lead — partially due to poor free-throw capturing from the Longhorns. Any time Texas would lose endurance and begin taking part in too aggressively, Stanford would make it pay both by making its free throws or by discovering an open participant alongside the baseline.

“We knew tonight was going to be tremendous bodily, and it undoubtedly was,” Lexie Hull stated. “It got here all the way down to who was grittier.”

It seemed like Stanford might need discovered some separation early within the third, when Lauren Ebo, the Longhorns’ main rebounder, picked up her second and third fouls within the first two minutes of the quarter, and Stanford ahead Cameron Brink scored 5 straight factors in that very same interval.

However Texas stored getting stops, even when it couldn’t constantly convert them into factors, and tied the sport once more. The senior guard Audrey Warren contributed essential 3-point pictures to maintain the Longhorns inside putting distance, and performed spectacular protection on Haley Jones.

“That protection may be very taxing,” Jones stated. “I’m excited to get again and bathe and get to mattress.”

Jones was capable of carry Stanford’s lead again as much as 5 factors by the tip of the third quarter, when she was fouled capturing a 3-point shot and made all her free throws. A 5-point lead is strictly what the Cardinal had introduced into the fourth quarter of their first matchup towards the Longhorns this season — a defeat to Texas on their residence court docket in November for one in all solely three losses this season.

The push and pull continued within the fourth, however the Longhorns had been by no means capable of get again forward and replicate their early-season upset. Texas got here inside 2 factors within the closing minutes, however continued to be haunted by missed free throws. The Longhorns completed 11 of 20 from the free-throw line.

Stanford received its twenty fourth consecutive recreation, the longest energetic streak in Division I. Cameron Brink excelled within the second half, shutting down Texas’ inside offense with six blocks.

“They did sufficient issues to beat us, and that’s what nice groups do,” Texas Coach Vic Schaefer stated. “We had a nasty fourth quarter scoring the basketball, and apart from that we left all of it on the ground.”

Jones completed with a double-double due to her consistency on the line, the place she shot 10 of 11. Jones had 18 factors and 12 rebounds and was named essentially the most excellent participant within the Spokane regional.

In the end, Stanford took management of the low-scoring recreation, and efficiently avenged its loss. Texas was eradicated within the spherical of 8 for the second straight yr.

“We’re listening to his postgame speak, and we’re like, ‘However that is solely the primary yr,’” freshman Rori Harmon stated, alluding to Texas’ different younger gamers. “I’m upset about this one, however I’m prepared for extra.”