The Stanford Cardinal overcame a fourth-quarter deficit against No. 7 Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, avoiding another stunning upset on their home court similar to the 2023 loss to Ole Miss. Cameron Brink, the Pac-12 player of the year, got into foul trouble, leaving Kiki Iriafen to lead the Cardinal. Iriafen scored 41 points, tied for ninth all-time in a single NCAA Tournament game, and added 16 rebounds and four assists. Thanks to her efforts, Stanford managed an 87-81 victory in overtime, qualifying for the Sweet 16.
Iriafen proved indispensable for Stanford, tackling every challenge superbly. She scored in a variety of ways against Audi Crooks and the No. 7 Cyclones to take her tally to a staggering 41. She constantly scored on jumpers, outpaced her defender from a distance, effectively posted up, and went through tough contact to finish the job. Iriafen also provided a significant defensive contribution, limiting Crooks into 3-of-21 shooting as Iowa State collectively managed only 12 of 27 on layups.
The game was in the balance for 45 minutes as Stanford relied heavily on Iriafen’s contributions. The lead wasn’t more than two possessions after the first quarter, with 12 ties and 18 lead changes occurring. However, with just 31 seconds left, and Stanford trailing by 1, Brooke Demetre’s three-pointer turned the tide. Demetre secured the rebound after Addy Brown missed the potential tying bucket and Stanford could finally breathe with their victory almost cemented.
The encounter began with Iowa State gaining the upper hand with their excellent shooting from beyond the arc and composed playmaking by senior guard Emily Ryan. Despite this, Stanford regrouped in the second quarter and relied on Iriafen and shooting guard Hannah Jump’s play designs to narrow the deficit to two, hinting at a tantalizing second half.
Emily Ryan’s dribbling and step-back jumps added 36 points to Iowa State’s score but her 10 turnovers eventually favored Stanford. Stanford also had the likes of Brink, who contributed five blocks in her 22 minutes of play and added eight points and eight rebounds. Stanford shooting guard Hannah Jump capitalized on every opportunity to score 15, while Demetre delivered crucial buckets at vital moments.
Despite a nail-biter, Stanford narrowly avoided a major setback, thus dispelling any doubts about their mental strength and resilience. Coach Tara VanDerveer and her staff expertly navigated the game keeping Iriafen in form and effectively managing their bench. Ultimately, it was the impressive offensive execution and Iriafen’s outstanding performance that carried Stanford to victory. The team now look forward to their Sweet 16 match against the winner of No. 3 NC State vs No. 6 Tennessee.
