Sun Devils’ skid reaches 5
STANFORD, Calif. — Chiney Ogwumike has been leading Stanford all season. Coach Tara VanDerveer wanted to see others contribute.
“Coach pulled me aside just before the game and said, ‘I have confidence in you,’” Bonnie Samuelson explained after No. 4 Stanford routed Arizona State 69-45 Sunday. “I may not make every shot, but that was nice to hear. I was ready to shoot every time I caught the ball.”
Samuelson scored a career-high 19 points, and Ogwumike scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds.
“We have been working hard in practice to step it up,” Samuelson said. “I think we have been challenged, and a lot of us are stepping up.”
Haley Videckis scored 11 points to lead the Sun Devils (11-13, 3-9), who have lost five straight for the first time since an eight-game skid from Jan. 18 to Feb. 16, 1997.
“Our new kids are getting some baptism by fire,” Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “They are learning some great lessons and we’re trying to stay positive. We had two kids who ever played in Maples Pavilion before, and this is an experience.”
Samuelson reached double figures in points for the third time this season and second time in three games as the Cardinal played without starting guard Toni Kokenis for a second straight game.
“Bonnie gave us great minutes,” VanDerveer said. “It’s especially challenging without Toni, who gives us that extra ballhandler and who can score. We took care of the ball better than we did against Arizona.”
Joslyn Tinkle added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Cardinal (22-2, 11-1 Pac-12), who extended their winning streak to eight with their 11th victory in 12 games. Stanford has beaten Arizona State 14 consecutive times.
Arizona State plays five of its last six games at home after playing 8 of its previous 12 on the road.
The Sun Devils have been without sophomore post player Jada Blackwell the past six games. She left the program for undisclosed reasons.
Forward Janae Fulcher, the Sun Devils lone senior, returned to action after missing the Sun Devils’ game at California on Friday night.
“We have been looking to develop some go-to players,” Turner Thorne said. “Janae has been that person, but she struggled today.”
Stanford guard Alex Green, who began her career as a starter, returned from a torn left Achilles tendon that had sidelined her for 15 months and played for the first time since Nov. 17, 2011.
Samuelson made a season-high five 3-pointers and was 6 of 12 overall. Jasmine Camp, who made a pair of free throws, was the only other bench player to score.
Ogwumike scored 12 points during the final 6 minutes of the first half as the Cardinal went on a 17-4 run to take a 37-20 lead into halftime.
Mikaela Ruef sank one of two free throws to give Stanford a 46-26 edge with over 13 minutes to play.