Stanford cruises 109-58
CARDINAL ROLLS IN WARM-UP FOR TENNESSEE
STOCKTON — The big barometer for the Stanford women will come Sunday against second- ranked Tennessee. The game Thursday night against Pacific was merely a warm- up, if even that.
For the third consecutive season, the Cardinal rolled over the Tigers, winning 10958 in a game that was in the bag long before halftime.
It was Stanford’s most productive offensive output since a 111- 59 rout of Howard in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 1997.
But it wasn’t as impressive as Tennessee’s performance a few hours earlier. While No. 12 Stanford warmed up Thursday, the Lady Vols were polishing off a 102- 61 victory over No. 16 Texas in Knoxville, their third win over a ranked opponent in less than two weeks.
Tennessee was on Stanford’s mind Thursday but more so from a fine- tuning standpoint, not a response to the Texas score.
‘‘ We knew we had to come out and play well today and play our game,’’ said center Brooke Smith, who led the Cardinal with 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. ‘‘ It wasn’t necessarily about Pacific. It was about us preparing well. We knew that this game would feed into our next game.’’
Stanford did what good teams are supposed to do. It took less than five minutes to build a double- digit lead and less than 10 to open a 20- point cushion. It took advantage of Pacific’s lack of size, working the ball inside to Smith and Kristen Newlin, and was much too quick along the perimeter.
But at least Pacific ( 1- 5) broke the 30- point barrier, something it failed to do the previous two seasons at Maples Pavilion. Heck, by those standards, the Tigers were an offensive juggernaut Thursday. They had 30 points with four minutes left in the first half.
Still, it was no contest.
The Cardinal led 59- 34 at halftime and then coasted to the finish. It was the team’s 16th victory over Pacific in 19 tries and its eighth in a row in the series.
Coach Tara VanDerveer played all 12 of her players in the opening half and 11 of them scored. It was easily Stanford’s most productive first half of the season and nothing like the game between these teams at Spanos Center three seasons ago, when the Cardinal won 67- 56.
‘‘ I think this is important for us to come up here,’’ VanDerveer said. ‘‘ If you look at the score when we were here a few years ago, I remember having a hissy fit at halftime. I liked the pace that we played, and everyone scored, and it helps our team morale. This is a young team, and this is not how we played in our first game.’’
VanDerveer gave credence to the Pacific game earlier in the week, saying that she was looking for the same intensity that she hopes to see Sunday against Tennessee.
‘‘ There are certain things you have to do — taking care of the ball, making good decisions, rebounding, especially boxing out,’’ VanDerveer said. ‘‘ If they’re not boxing out on Thursday, why do I think they’re boxing out on Sunday? If we’re not sprinting back on Thursday, why am I going to think that someone is going to sprint back on Sunday?’’
She saw plenty of Thursday.
Senior guard Krista Rappahahn, making her first career start, had nine points in the first half and finished with 15. She was 5 of 6 from threepoint range. Candice Wiggins had 16 points. Six Stanford players scored in double figures.
Now, it’s on to Tennessee.
‘‘ They’re a great team and we’re going to have to play well to win,’’ Wiggins said. that Contact Darren Sabedra at dsabedra@ mercurynews. com or ( 408) 920- 5815.