Stanford Reclaims Bay Area Bragging Rights with Fourth-Quarter Surge Over Cal
STANFORD - For a moment, it looked like Cal might be ready to tighten its grip on Bay Area supremacy in women’s college basketball. After sweeping Stanford last season for the first time since the mid-'80s, the Bears had momentum - and a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter. But Stanford wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.
The Cardinal responded with a 12-0 run in crunch time and held off Cal for a 78-69 win at Maples Pavilion, flipping the script from last year and sending a clear message: Stanford isn’t going anywhere.
Courtney Ogden Steps Into the Spotlight
Junior forward Courtney Ogden picked the perfect time to have a breakout game. The former five-star recruit poured in a career-high 25 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-12 shooting night. Known early on for her perimeter game, Ogden showed off a more aggressive, downhill style that’s clearly been a point of emphasis in her development.
“Kate has encouraged me to attack the basket more, put my head down and drive,” Ogden said postgame. “I’ve definitely tried to utilize that in games and practice that in practice against our bigs, and it paid off.”
It paid off in a big way. Ogden’s ability to get to the rim and finish through contact gave Stanford the offensive spark it needed, especially in the decisive fourth quarter.
Freshman Frontcourt Steps Up
While Ogden led the scoring charge, Stanford’s underclassmen made their presence felt in the paint. Freshman Lara Somfai delivered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, adding three blocks for good measure. Her activity on both ends helped Stanford control the glass and protect the rim when it mattered most.
Chloe Cardy added 13 points, including three big triples - none bigger than the one that helped stretch Stanford’s lead during the fourth-quarter run. Her steal and layup with 6:39 to go gave the Cardinal a 58-57 lead, and they never looked back.
Stanford’s Grit Shows in the Fourth
This was a game that could’ve slipped away. Cal had just gone up 57-52 after a three-pointer to end the third and a layup to open the fourth.
But Stanford didn’t blink. The Cardinal clamped down defensively, forcing the Bears into a five-and-a-half-minute scoring drought, and capitalized on the other end with timely buckets and ball movement.
Head coach Kate Paye pointed to her team’s conditioning and experience in tight spots as key factors - and it’s hard to argue. Stanford had already battled back from early deficits at Gonzaga and Colorado State this season, and that mental toughness showed up again when it counted.
“We’re driving ahead. We’re not looking in the rearview mirror,” Paye said, referencing last year’s disappointing campaign that ended a 36-year NCAA Tournament streak. At 9-2 and ranked 33rd in the NET, the Cardinal are clearly trending in the right direction again.
Cal Shows Fight, But Misses Key Opportunities
To Cal’s credit, the Bears didn’t go quietly. Freshman forward Taylor Barnes led the way with 16 points, and fellow freshman Aliyhana “Puff” Morris added 12 points and four assists. Morris had a flair for the moment, knocking down a three to close the third quarter and giving Cal its biggest lead with a layup to start the fourth.
But the Bears couldn’t sustain the momentum. They missed eight layups in the final quarter and finished the game shooting just 35% from the field and 25% from three. Despite that, their 69 points were the most Stanford had allowed all season - a testament to Cal’s ability to create offense, even when the shots weren’t falling.
“We just made some mistakes down the stretch that were too much to overcome,” said Cal head coach Charmin Smith. “We have to be better if we’re going to win in the ACC.”
Cal is now 0-4 against Power Five opponents, with previous losses to Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Missouri. Still, Smith believes this team has more to give.
“We can walk from this with some confidence knowing that we competed, that we had the lead more than they did, we did some things right,” she said. “We’re highly disappointed, but we have to get ready for the next one.”
What’s Next
Both teams now gear up for a pivotal stretch in their schedules. Stanford hosts No.
20 Washington on Friday before heading to Chase Center on Sunday for a doubleheader matchup against Oregon. Cal, meanwhile, will face No.
16 USC in that same Chase Center showcase.
It’s a stretch that could define the early part of the season for both programs. For Stanford, it’s about building on momentum and re-establishing itself as a postseason lock. For Cal, it’s about proving it can hang with top-tier competition - and turning close losses into statement wins.
The Bay Area rivalry may have tilted back in Stanford’s favor for now, but with young talent on both sides and plenty of season left, this story is far from finished.