Watch CBS News

Stanford Defeats Oklahoma, Returns To Sweet 16 In NCAA Tournament

STANFORD (CBS / AP) -- Amber Orrange scored 24 points and Lili Thompson added 19 as Stanford's backcourt mates took the game over in the second half Monday to lead the fourth-seeded Cardinal to an 86-76 victory over fifth-seeded Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Bonnie Samuelson scored 19 points and Briana Roberson provided a spark with 13 points and tough defense to help Stanford (26-9) protect its home court and advance to the Sweet 16 for the eighth consecutive season. The Cardinal will play top-seeded Notre Dame (33-2) in the third round on Friday in Oklahoma City.

Kaylon Williams scored 24 points and Gioya Carter added 20 for the Sooners (21-12), who struggled to generate any consistent offense one game after scoring a season-high 111 points in a first-round win over Quinnipiac.

Oklahoma knew this game would be more difficult, especially on Stanford's home court, and that proved correct once Thompson and Orrange took over.

Thompson hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer at the end of the first half to start a 15-2 run that put the Cardinal up 44-38. Thompson, held scoreless for the first 17 minutes, had nine points in that spurt with Orrange adding two baskets.

Orrange and Samuelson hit consecutive 3-pointers that started an 11-0 run that put Stanford up 13 midway through the second half.

After having their 14-year streak of regular season Pac-12 titles snapped in what was expected to be a rebuilding year following the graduation of Chiney Ogwumike, the Cardinal have stepped their game up at tournament time. They won the Pac-12 tournament title earlier this month before getting the two wins to open the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma, the most inexperienced team in the tournament, played like it against the Cardinal after seemingly not missing any shots in the first round. The Sooners made just 4 of 25 shots in a span of more than 16 minutes starting late in the first half and missed their chance to win and go home to the regional in Oklahoma City.

The only player on her game for most of the night was Carter, who scored Oklahoma's first 12 points. The Sooners built their lead to 25-18 after five straight points by T'ona Edwards.

The Cardinal responded with seven straight points to tie the game at 29 on Thompson's 3-pointer. Thompson then beat the buzzer with another after Oklahoma scored seven in a row to make it 36-32 at the break.

TIP-INS

Oklahoma: The Sooners scored on their first nine offensive trips in the first round against Quinnipiac but came up empty the first three times against Stanford. ... Oklahoma has lost four straight tournament games to Stanford since beating the Cardinal in the second round in 2001 at home.

Stanford: The Cardinal improved to 9-5 when trailing at the half, including wins in the first two tournament games and the Pac-12 title game. ... Stanford improved to 32-4 at home in NCAA Tournament play.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma: Season over.

Stanford: play Notre Dame in third round on Friday.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.