Stanford forward Chiney Ogwumike (13) battle for a rebound against Tennessee forward Bashaara Graves (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, in Stanford, Calif.STANFORD, Calif. – Tara VanDerveer had one simple message for her players before facing Tennessee: “If we rebound, we win.”
Chiney Ogwumike and Co. delivered in that department, and on offense, too.
Amber Orrange scored on a left-handed layin and was fouled with 25.8 seconds left and converted the free throw, helping seal No. 6 Stanford’s 76-70 victory against third-ranked Tennessee on Saturday that handed the Lady Vols their first loss.
Ogwumike had 32 points, a season-best 20 rebounds – 11 on the offensive end – and three blocks as Stanford held off a late Tennessee rally.
“This game really boiled down to we had Chiney,” VanDerveer said. “Chiney had a monster game. She’s a warrior for us. She doesn’t have as much help around her as (big sister) Nneka did.”