SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeanette Pohlen made the biggest play yet to save Stanford’s spectacular season, on a night when the Cardinal was a far cry from its dominant self.
Xavier stood up to mighty Stanford, all right.
Pohlen drove the length of the court for the game-winning layup as the final buzzer sounded, lifting top-seeded Stanford past third-seeded Xavier 55-53 in the Sacramento Regional final Monday night for a third straight trip to the Final Four.
Xavier’s Dee Dee Jernigan missed two open layups in the closing 12 seconds that likely would have sent the Musketeers to San Antonio for their first Final Four.
“I was too anxious,” Jernigan said. “It was like a kid in a candy store. I was too open and didn’t think it was coming out.”
Stanford’s Kayla Pedersen inbounded the ball underneath the Xavier basket to Pohlen with 4.4 seconds left. Pohlen dribbled all the way for the winning shot. The play was briefly reviewed, and then Stanford erupted in celebration once the officials ruled the basket good.
“It was only 4 seconds left, so I had to weave my way in and out,” Pohlen said. “But there was a lot (of time) to keep me going.”
These Musketeers hung with Stanford for all 40 minutes — and the Cardinal needed every bit of grit it had to move on for at least one more.
Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Pedersen added 18 points and 10 boards for the Cardinal (35-1), which survived to win its 26th straight game.
The Cardinal will play in the national semifinals Sunday in San Antonio against the winner of tonight’s matchup between Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Baylor 51, Duke 48
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Phenomenal freshman Brittney Griner caught a pass, spun around and hit a short jumper with 45 seconds left to propel the fourth-seeded Bears (27-9) to their victory over the No. 2-seeded Blue Devils (30-6) for their second trip ever to the Final Four.
The Blue Devils held a 46-38 advantage with 4:59 left before a pair of free throws by Kimetria Hayden launched a 13-2 run for the Lady Bears.
