MILAN, Italy - Despite holding a nine-point lead in its final game of the 2009 Italy Tour, Stanford women's basketball dropped a 73-62 decision to Sesto San Giovanni Saturday night.

The Cardinal women will enjoy the sights of Lake Como for the final day of its trip before traveling back to Stanford on Monday.

In what was a tough battle against a physical Sesto San Giovanni team, the Cardinal weathered the storm early and held a nine-point lead before inconsistent shooting doomed Stanford. Despite the decision, the Cardinal received solid efforts from Nnemkadi Ogwumike, who scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and Kayla Pedersen, who also notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

With the competitive phase of the trip completed, the Cardinal will now next see action in its exhibition opener Nov. 1 against Vanguard at 2 p.m.

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FLORENCE, Italy - Stanford women's basketball remained unbeaten on its 2009 Tour of Italy this week, garnering victories of 69-67 over Basket Ducato and 93-48 against Giants Marghera on Wednesday and Thursday nights, respectively. The victories keep the Cardinal perfect at 3-0 with the final game of the trip still to come in Milan against Sesto San Giovanni on Saturday night.

The team started Wednesday with some morning sight-seeing in Florence before heading to Pisa for the afternoon. As evening approached, it was time to head to Lucca for the night's game against Ducato. In a tough, physical battle the Cardinal found itself down by 10 in the fourth quarter before mounting its comeback.

Thanks in part to the efforts of redshirt senior Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (25 points) and sophomore Nnemkadi Ogwumike (16 points and 13 rebounds), Stanford bounced back and held on for the thrilling two-point win. Following the game, the Cardinal toasted a game well-played by sharing a meal of pizza with its opponents.

The following night, Stanford dispensed with any drama and cruised to a 93-48 rout of Giants Marghera. Five players scored in double figures for the Cardinal led by Ogwumike's 26 points, as Michelle Harrison posted 20, Lindy La Rocque scored 13, Grace Mashore scored 12 and Ashley Cimino posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The team will now pack up for the final leg of its journey, traveling to Milan where it will end the trip's game schedule Saturday night against Sesto San Giovanni.

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Sept. 7, 2009

ROME, Italy - The Stanford women's basketball team got its 2009 Tour of Italy off to a victorious start Monday night in Rome, scoring a 75-45 victory over Fortitudo Basket Pomezia. Sophomore Nnemkadi Ogwumike posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cardinal in the win.

Junior and Wade Trophy Player of the Year candidate Kayla Pedersen just missed a double-double of her own, scoring 15 points and pulling down nine rebounds Monday. Fellow juniors Melanie Murphy and Michelle Harrison also performed well, with Murphy dishing out six assists from the point and Harrison scoring eight points and grabbing eight rebounds.

The team checks out of Rome Tuesday morning and will head to Florence for some sight-seeing before next seeing action Wednesday night against Basket Ducato.