Hailee Swain poured in 22 points — 16 of them in a first quarter in which she outscored Saint Mary’s entire team 16-12 — and Nora Ezike added 18, as Stanford picked up its first win of the season with an 87-54 rout of the visiting Gaels in its home opener Wednesday night at Stanford, Calif., GoStanford.com reported.
The win gave the Cardinal a 1-1 record, while Saint Mary’s fell to 0-1. The game turned early: Stanford led by 15 at halftime, stretched the margin to 22 late in the third quarter, and opened the fourth on a 12-2 run that made it 32 before the Gaels could respond.
Swain’s Career Night Matches a 2021 Precedent
Swain’s 22 points were a personal best, eclipsing the 21 she scored Monday against Arizona. That makes her the first Stanford guard with back-to-back 20-point games since Kiana Williams did it in three straight outings against Oregon State (20), UCLA (26) and Utah Valley (20) in March 2021. Swain capped the first quarter with a corner triple on a perfectly executed play as Stanford held for the final shot.
Ezike and the Supporting Cast Fill the Stat Sheet
Ezike recorded career highs in points (18), rebounds (7) and steals (4), going 8-of-10 from the floor. Inés Sotelo Míguez contributed six points plus game-highs of eight rebounds and six assists — two more assists than her previous best of four, a mark she hit twice as a sophomore at Michigan State last season. Shay Ijiwoye added 11 points, five assists (tying a personal best) and a career-high six steals, the most for any Stanford player since Lexie Hull had six in the NCAA Tournament against Kansas on March 20, 2022; Ijiwoye also drew eight fouls. Kennedy Umeh chipped in six points, four rebounds and a career-high three assists, while Alexandra Eschmeyer went 7-of-11 from the field — her single-game high for makes — in a 16-point, seven-rebound effort.
Saint Mary’s Three-Point Barrage Faded in the Second Half
The Gaels kept the first half within reach almost entirely from beyond the arc: 8-of-12 on 3-pointers (.667) while shooting just 2-of-14 (.143) inside the arc across the first two quarters. Stanford’s defense adjusted after the break, holding Saint Mary’s to 2-of-8 (.250) from deep in the second half.
Stanford 87 Saint Mary’s 54: Final. Hailee Swain led the way for the Cardinal with a career high 22 points while Nora Ezike also scored a career high 18 pointe. Nice all around team win for the Cardinal. #Stanford #SaintMarys #ACCWBB
As a team, the Cardinal dominated the interior and the transition game, outscoring Saint Mary’s 50-16 in the paint and 19-1 on fast breaks, while converting 16 steals into a 38-9 advantage in points off turnovers. Stanford’s 22 assists were its most in a game since February 27, 2025 against Miami (23).
What Comes Next for the Cardinal
Stanford returns to action Sunday, November 8, hosting UC Davis at 2 p.m.
