Chandler Smith scored 20 points, including two late free throws, as Gonzaga beat No. 8 Stanford 79-73 Sunday. Katie Campbell and Jill Townsend scored 15 points each for Gonzaga (8-1).
SPOKANE — Chandler Smith and Gonzaga were ready when No. 8 Stanford turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter Sunday.
Smith scored 10 late points to help the Bulldogs hold off the Cardinal for a 79-73 women’s basketball victory.
“We knew they were going to make a run,” said Smith, a senior from Brewster who finished with 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting. “They have such a great coach. Luckily it worked out today.”
Katie Campbell and Jill Townsend each had 15 points for Gonzaga (8-1). The Bulldogs’ only defeat this season was against No. 1 Notre Dame.
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“If we play the right way, we can compete with anyone,” Townsend said. “It’s a huge win.”
Gonzaga carried a 58-41 lead into the final period, but Stanford closed to three points down on Dijonai Carrington’s three-point play with 4:17 remaining. Smith then responded with two foul shots for the Bulldogs.
“We did tighten up a little bit,” Smith said. “We wanted to get some defensive stops. My goal was to get to the free-throw line. I knew they were going to foul.”
Carrington’s layup with 37 seconds left trimmed Gonzaga’s lead to 74-71, but Smith hit a jumper and two more free throws to help close it out.
Kiana Williams had 18 points for Stanford (6-1). The Cardinal won each of its first six games by at least 22 points.
“We were just not aggressive,” coach Tara VanDerveer said. “They really got on the glass.”
Stanford was out-rebounded 38-24. The Cardinals also shot 44 percent (25 for 57), compared to 54 percent (26 for 48) for the Bulldogs.
“Rebounding, we’ve been talking about that all week,” Townsend said. “Stanford is one of the best in the country. We had to beat them on that.”
Gonzaga made 19 of 22 free throws, while Stanford went 14 of 24 at the line.
Campbell made five three-pointers. Gonzaga was 8 of 13 from long range.
NOTES
• Having four players score in double figures didn’t help the Eastern Washington women as the Eagles (1-5) dropped a 68-58 decision at home against Fresno State (4-2). Violet Kapri Morrow topped EWU with 16 points.
• Seattle University captured the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay at the Husky Invitational swim meet at the King County Aquatic Center. The team of Mitchell Crossen, Ian Keane, Alex Roderick and Greg Raper finished in 3:04.95. Raper also had a second in the 100 free in 45.41 and Jack Neton took second in the 200 breaststroke in 2:03.69.