Jones, Stanford outlast Colorado in double OT
Haley Jones' take on playing a career-high 50 minutes at elevation.
“It was fun,” the Stanford senior guard said.
Easy to see why: Jones scored 13 of her 23 points over the two overtime periods and the third-ranked Cardinal held off No. 21 Colorado 73-62 in Boulder, Colo. on Thursday night.
Jones also had 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Cardinal (27-3, 15-2 Pac-12), who remain on top of the conference standings with one game left on their regular season schedule. Stanford was picked to win the Pac-12 in the preseason poll.
Lauren Betts, who grew up in Colorado, sent the game into double overtime by hitting one of two free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining. She finished with 14 points.
Jones took control in overtime No. 2, helping the Cardinal outscore Colorado by a 13-2 margin. It was the first double OT game for
Stanford since 2017.
“Feels great. A `W' is a `W' in my opinion, even though we have lots of things to work on,” said Jones, a former Mitty High star. “We learned a lot, but it also proves that we're very gritty
and a tough team.”
Jaylyn Sherrod led Colorado (21-7, 12-5) with 19 points, including the gametying basket with just under 30 seconds remaining in regulation. She briefly left the game in the fourth after appearing to turn her ankle.
Cameron Brink fouled out in overtime after scoring eight points. Her string of reaching double figures ended at 21 straight games. PILI LEADS NO. 8 UTAH TO ROUT OF CAL >> Alissa Pili scored 26 points and Jenna Johnson added 21 to help No. 8 Utah beat Cal 101-76 in Salt Lake City.
Returning from a sprained ankle that kept her out last game, Pili dominated her 26 minutes on the court for the Utes (243, 14-3 Pac-12).
Jayda Curry paced the Bears (13-15, 4-13) with 28 points and Kemery Martin, a transfer from Utah, had 15.
UTAH PROJECTED AS A NO. 1 SEED IN TOURNEY >> Utah would join South Carolina, Indiana and Stanford as No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament if it began now.
The NCAA women's basketball selection committee did its second and final reveal of the teams in line for the top 16 seeds before selection Sunday. South Carolina,
Indiana and Stanford were also listed as top seeds in the earlier reveal.
The top 16 seeds will host first- and second-round games with the regional rounds being played at two neutral sites. Seattle will host half of the Sweet 16 and Greenville, South Carolina, will host the other eight teams.
South Carolina and Indiana were projected as the top seeds in the Greenville Regional with Stanford and Utah in Seattle.
COOKE, NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA BEAT TENNESSEE 7360 >> Zia Cooke scored 19 points and Kierra Fletcher had 15 as No. 1 South Carolina (28-0, 15-0 Southeastern Conference) overwhelmed Tennessee (20-10, 12-3).
Men's basketball
PICKETT LEADS PENN STATE PAST OHIO STATE >> Jalen Pickett scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half, Seth Lundy added 19 points and Penn State (17-11, 8-9 Big Ten) beat Ohio State (11-17, 3-14).