FRESNO, Calif. — Nneka Ogwumike will end her senior season right where she has the rest: at the Final Four.
Ogwumike made it happen with 29 points and nine rebounds Monday night, sending top-seeded Stanford past No. 2 seed Duke 81-69 in the Fresno Regional final for the Cardinal’s fifth consecutive Final Four berth.
Little sister Chiney Ogwumike grabbed 17 rebounds to go with 12 points and freshman Amber Orrange came through with 13 points and four assists as the Cardinal extended their school-record winning streak to 32 games.
Nneka Ogwumike is headed back to the Final Four in her Women’s NCAA Tournament farewell with that elusive championship still in reach. Stanford (35-1), looking for the program’s first title since 1992, will play Sunday night against Brittney Griner and unbeaten Baylor (38-0) at the Pepsi Center.
Chelsea Gray had 23 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists and Shay Selby scored 11 points in her final game for Duke (27-6).
“It was a good run,” SeIby said. “I think this one probably hurt the most. When you’re a sophomore or junior, it’s, ‘Oh, you have next year.’ I have no next year. Hopefully I can say I left something with them that will help them for next year.”
Nneka Ogwumike scored in the lane, on the perimeter, on leaping put backs and even by hitting a 10-foot turnaround jumper late in the first half as the Cardinal built a 40-25 lead at the break.
“It was unfortunate for us. We tried to defend the inside and the outside. They hit some nice shots,” Duke Coach Joanne P. McCallie said.
Joslyn Tinkle made two three-pointers in the opening five minutes and also made an early steal, then hit another three with 4:26 left that put Stanford ahead by 13. She finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
“What I really liked about this game is we got contributions from different people,” Stanford Coach Tara VanDerveer said.
Gray converted a three point play with 10:46 remaining to pull Duke within 52-44, but the Cardinal answered yet again. Toni Kokenis rolled in a three, then Selby, who had a quiet night until midway through the second half, madea three-point play with 9:48 to go to keep her team close. But Duke missed three key scoring opportunities the next time down.
The Blue Devils switched to a zone in the second half, but Orrange and Kokenis successfully drove and passed - and they also handled Duke’s trap press. Kokenis had eight of Stanford’s 21 assists.
“First, we allowed them to get 81 points. We’re not going to beat a team if it doesn’t start on defense,” Gray said. “They’re a very strong group. If one doesn’t have the shot the other one is looking for them.”
Elizabeth Williams, Duke’s 6-3 freshman playing with a stress fracture in her lower right leg, quickly scored to make it 48-39. She scored 12 points while playing much of the game in foul trouble.
Stanford began the game 7 for 11, and the Cardinal limited Duke to one attempt thanks to Chiney Ogwumike’s six rebounds in the opening 8 1/2 minutes. Stanford held a 9-3 rebounding advantage after getting out rebounded 38-36 against South Carolina two nights earlier. That became a focus for both teams in this game.
Duke was held to just 39.7 percent from the floor, going 3 for 14 from three-point range.
Sports, Pages 18 on 03/27/2012