If any recreation over the rest of the 2024 NCAA Girls’s Basketball Match surpasses Stanford’s 87-81 time beyond regulation win over Iowa State by way of clutch performs and pleasure, we’re in for an all-time March Insanity. The second-round showdown on Sunday night time was an instantaneous traditional and is well the front-runner for the very best recreation of the match.
The Cardinal have been surprised within the second spherical of final 12 months’s match, and almost suffered the identical destiny this time round. Kiki Iriafen wouldn’t let it occur although, as she poured in a career-high 41 factors to go together with 16 rebounds, 4 assists and three blocks. And neither would position gamers Talana Lepolo and Brooke Demetre, who every hit clutch 3-pointers in time beyond regulation to resist a hot-shooting Cyclones workforce led by Emily Ryan. Ryan hit six triples en path to a career-high 36 factors of her personal, and the Cyclones went 12 of 19 from downtown as a workforce.
There have been 12 ties and 18 lead adjustments on the night time, the final of which got here with 19 seconds to play and gave Stanford the lead for good. With the victory, the Cardinal are on to the Candy 16, the place they will face the winner of NC State and Tennessee on Friday. Earlier than then, let’s have a look again on the 5 greatest moments from Stanford’s thrilling win.
5. Brink with phrases for the ref after fouling out?
This recreation was billed as a showcase between Iowa State’s star freshman Audi Crooks, who went off for 40 factors within the Cyclones’ first-round win over Maryland, and Stanford senior Cameron Brink, who’s projected to be the No. 2 general choose within the WNBA Draft subsequent month.
Because it turned out, this was an evening to overlook for each facilities. Crooks completed with simply 10 factors and eight rebounds on 3-of-21 taking pictures, whereas Brink spent many of the recreation in foul hassle, and was restricted to eight factors and eight rebounds herself — although she did add 5 blocks.
She thought it ought to have been six blocks late within the fourth quarter, however the officers disagreed and issued her her fifth foul with 2:11 to play in regulation. As she walked off the ground in disbelief, Brink appeared to have some sharp phrases for the ref closest to her.
4. Iriafen’s shot on the buzzer in regulation rims out
With 6.1 seconds to play, Stanford had the ball and an opportunity to win in regulation. There was little question about the place the ball was going, and so they bought Iriafen remoted on the elbow. She tried to make use of her athleticism to drive previous Crooks, however the freshman moved her ft effectively, slid proper and minimize off the angle to the basket. Iriafen was compelled to fade away, however nonetheless bought a clear have a look at the basket from simply exterior the paint. On one other night time, she wins the sport on the buzzer, however this time the ball rolled off. Time beyond regulation.
3. Ryan’s whirling 3 in OT
Ryan has been a key participant for Iowa State ever since she arrived in Ames again in 2019, however in her first 118 profession video games, she had by no means had an evening like this. The senior was working the present as each a scorer and a facilitator, and was instantly chargeable for 46 of the Cyclone’s 81 factors. The perfect of the bunch got here early in time beyond regulation when she introduced the ball up the ground and dribbled a circle round Stanford’s protection. There have been no fancy strikes, she simply stored on dribbling till she was all of a sudden broad open on the wing. Her 3 caught nothing however web and gave the Cyclones the lead.
2. Brown and Lepolo’s back-to-back 3s
A couple of minutes into the additional body, Iowa State was trailing by two and had the ball beneath the basket. Ryan heaved the inbounds go as much as Addy Brown on the prime of the important thing, and the ahead wasn’t ready round. Brown got here off a display and buried a pull-up 3 to place the Cyclones up 72-71.
Down on the opposite finish of the ground, Stanford wanted a response, and bought one instantly. Lepolo introduced the ball up the ground, gave it to Hannah Leap and continued to the nook. She bought the ball again from Leap and drained a 3 of her personal. Simply 12 seconds after Brown had put Iowa State in entrance, Stanford re-took the lead, 74-72.
1. Brown and Demetre’s back-to-back 3s
With just below a minute to play Iriafen hit a pair of free throws to place Stanford in entrance by two factors. On the following possession, Iowa State went again to Brown, who had the new hand in time beyond regulation. The freshman was not afraid of the second, and drained one other 3 on the prime of the important thing off the feed from Ryan. Her fourth 3 of the sport put Iowa State up 81-80 with 31.1 seconds remaining.
As soon as once more, although, Stanford had a solution. It appeared as if they have been establishing a play to get Iriafen posting up in the course of the lane, however the ball went first to Demetre on the prime of the important thing. As a substitute of dumping the ball right down to Iriafen, who did have her defender sealed, Demetre let it fly.
Her shot was pure, and put Stanford again in entrance, 83-81. The Cardinal wouldn’t path once more, and held on for the season-saving win, which will not be forgotten any time quickly.