March 2, 2012

Game #29

No. 2/2 Stanford Cardinal (27-1, 17-0 Pac-12)

- at -

California Golden Bears (22-7)

Sunday, March 4, 2012 - 6 p.m. PT
Haas Pavilion (11,877) - Berkeley, Calif.
Series History: Stanford leads 57-17
Last Meeting: Jan. 28, 2012 (Stanford 74, California 71 - OT) - Stanford, Calif.
TV: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (P-x-P: Jim Watson, Analyst: Mary Murphy)
Webcast: None
Radio: 90.1 KZSU (P-x-P: Sam Fisher, Joe Lami)

Game Notes vs. California

California Game Notes

STANFORD, Calif. - The 2011-12 regular season comes to an end with Battle of the Bay II as No. 2 Stanford visits Berkeley to take on California Sunday at 6 p.m. PT. Sunday's game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area with Jim Watson on the call and Mary Murphy serving as analyst. The game will also be carried over the airwaves on 90.1 KZSU with Sam Fisher and Joe Lami on the call.

Last Time Out
The Cardinal tuned up for Sunday's clash with a 76-52 victory over Seattle University at Maples Pavilion Wednesday night. The victory closed out Stanford's fifth straight undefeated home season and extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 79 games. Nnemkadi Ogwumike posted her 15th double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Chiney Ogwumike (18 points), Joslyn Tinkle (14 points), Bonnie Samuelson (12) and Amber Orrange (10) rounded out the Cardinal scorers in double figures. Stanford shot 50.9 percent from the field and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the line, marking just the third time in program history that the Cardinal had shot 100 percent from the line with a minimum of eight attempts in a single game. The Cardinal also nailed seven 3-pointers, led by four from Samuelson and a pair from Tinkle.

Scouting California
California (22-7, 13-4 Pac-12) has won four in a row and seven of its past eight heading into Sunday's rivalry battle. With Lindsay Gottlieb in her first season at the helm, the Golden Bears, who have clinched second place in the Pac-12, are led on the court by Layshia Clarendon (12.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Gennifer Brandon (8.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg).

All-Time Against California
Stanford leads the all-time series against California, 57-17, and has won 39 of the past 42 games. The Cardinal is also 10-1 against the Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion since 2000-01.

Stanford In The Polls
Stanford moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Polls this week.

In The Pac-12 Statistical Rankings
Through March 1, Stanford ranks in the Pac-12's top three in: scoring (77.5 ppg - first), scoring margin (+23.0 - first), field goal percentage (45.8 - first), field-goal percentage defense (33.9 - first), 3-point field-goal percentage defense (23.8 - first), free-throw percentage (75.5 - first), defensive rebounding (29.7 - first), assists (17.18 apg - first), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34 - first), rebounding (44.9 - second), rebounding defense (33.3 - second), rebounding margin (+11.6 - second), offensive rebounding (15.3 rpg - second), offensive rebound percentage (41.9 - second), defensive rebound percentage (70.9 - second) and turnover margin (+1.9 - second).

Individually, Nnemkadi Ogwumike leads the conference with 21.6 points and is second with 10.6 rebounds a game and an 82.2 free-throw percentage, while ranking fifth with a 54.1 field-goal percentage. Chiney Ogwumike is second with a 59.7 field-goal percentage, third with 10.1 rebounds a game, and fourth with 16.1 points per game. Toni Kokenis (2.32) leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio. Joslyn Tinkle leads the pac-12 with a 90.3 free-throw percentage and Taylor Greenfield is second with a 38.9 3-point field-goal percentage.

In The National Statistical Rankings
Through March 1, Stanford ranks in the national top 20 in: assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34 - third), 3-point field-goal defense (23.8 - third), scoring margin (+23.0 - fourth), turnovers per game (12.8 - fifth), scoring (77.5 - sixth), rebounding margin (+11.6 - sixth), field-goal percentage (45.8 - eighth), field-goal percentage defense (33.9 - eighth), assists (17.18 - 10th) and fouls per game (13.6 - T-18th).

Individually, Nnemkadi Ogwumike is 10th in the country with 21.6 points a game, 14th with 10.6 rebounds per game and 13th with a 54.1 field-goal percentage. Chiney Ogwumike is fifth with her 59.7 field-goal percentage, while Toni Kokenis (2.32) is 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Stanford Will Take Nation's Longest Home Winning Streak Into 2012-13
Stanford Women's Basketball took ownership of the longest running home winning streak in the nation back on Feb. 18, and with Wednesday's 76-52 win over Seattle University, ended the 2011-12 home season with the streak at 79 games. The Cardinal has now posted five straight undefeated home seasons, and went 16-0 at Maples Pavilion in 2011-12.

Let's Not Make This One As Close
Heading into Sunday's return matchup with California, the Cardinal will aim to not let this game get as nervy as Jan. 28's clash at Maples Pavilion. On that day, the Cardinal and Golden Bears needed overtime to decide a winner in the slugfest, with Stanford coming out on top, 74-71. Chiney Ogwumike posted a career day with 27 points and 19 rebounds to help pace the Cardinal to victory.

The Latest Evidence In Nneka Ogwumike's Case For National Player Of The Year
Senior forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike's national player of the year and All-America campaign continued Wednesday against Seattle University, as she scored 19 points with 11 rebounds, her 15th double-double this season, in her final home game. The senior forward, who has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week three times this year, leads the Pac-12 in scoring (21.6 ppg), and is second in rebounding (10.6 rpg) and free-throw percentage (82.2). She also ranks in the national top 20 in scoring (10th), rebounding (14th) and field-goal percentage (13th).

Another Unbeaten Senior Class
Stanford's Class of 2012, consisting of Sarah Boothe, Lindy La Rocque, Grace Mashore and Nnemkadi Ogwumike, etched its name into Cardinal lore Wednesday by becoming just the second class to go undefeated at Maples Pavilion all four years. This class, which has reached three Final Fours (so far) and won four conference titles, has led the Cardinal to a 129-11 record (.921).

Big Boards From The Bigs
Stanford got a, ahem, huge contribution on the rebounding front from its three bigs Wednesday night, as Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and Joslyn Tinkle combined to grab 25 of Stanford's 38 rebounds. On the year, the trio averages a combined 26.3 rebounds a game.

Orrange Continues To Shine
Freshman point guard Amber Orrange showed once again Wednesday night that her comfort level running the Cardinal offense has continued to deepen. The Houston, Texas native matched her season high with nine assists against Seattle University, and went 4-for-6 from the field, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds. Over the past four games, Orrange has been on fire, shooting 65.2 percent from the field while averaging 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.00 assists.

Reppin' The 406
Missoula, Mont. native Joslyn Tinkle scored 14 points with six rebounds in Wednesday's win over Seattle University, continuing her strong form since joining the starting lineup full-time on Jan. 12. Over her 15 starts this season (the past 14 games, along with the Nov. 11 opener at Texas), Tinkle has averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds while posting shooting figures of 45.8 from the field, 33.3 percent from behind the arc and 89.1 from the line, making her a key all-around threat for the Cardinal. After making both of her free-throw attempts in Wednesday's game, Tinkle has now made 21 straight and leads the Pac-12 with a 90.3 free-throw percentage.