Hailee Swain Scores 22 as Stanford Beats Saint Mary’s 87-54

Stanford Basketball Claims First Win Over Saint Mary’s

Hailee Swain scored 22 points and Nora Ezike added 18 as Stanford secured its first victory of the season with an 87-54 home-opening win against Saint Mary’s on Wednesday night.

Swain set the tone early by pouring in 16 of her game-high 22 points during the first quarter alone. She outscored the Gaels by herself 16-12 in the opening 10 minutes, capping the period with a corner triple off an executed play as the Cardinal held for the final shot. The performance marks her second straight 20-point game, following a 21-point outing against Arizona. She is the first Stanford guard to post consecutive 20-point games since Kiana Williams accomplished the feat in March 2021.

Hot Shooting From Deep Keeps Gaels Close Early

Saint Mary’s stayed within striking distance during the first half largely due to its perimeter shooting. The Gaels opened the game making 8-of-12 shots from beyond the arc for 66.7 percent, while struggling inside with a 2-of-14 mark from two-point range across the first and second quarters.

Stanford built a 15-point lead by halftime before extending the margin to 22 points late in the third quarter. The Cardinal then opened the final period on a 12-2 run to push the advantage to 32 points. In the second half, Stanford’s defense clamped down on the perimeter, holding Saint Mary’s shooters to just 2-of-8 from deep.

Career Nights Fuel Cardinal Domination

Ezike recorded career highs with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four steals while shooting 8-of-10 from the floor. Inés Sotelo Míguez contributed six points alongside game-highs of eight rebounds and six assists, eclipsing her previous personal best of four assists set last season at Michigan State.

Shay Ijiwoye chipped in 11 points, five assists, and six steals. Her six steals marked the highest total for a Stanford player since Lexie Hull recorded six against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament on March 20, 2022. Alexandra Eschmeyer added 16 points and seven rebounds, shooting 7-of-11 from the field for a single-game high in made field goals. Kennedy Umeh contributed six points, four rebounds, and a career-high three assists.

Statistically Dominant Team Performance

Stanford finished the night with 22 team assists, its highest single-game total since recording 23 against Miami on February 27, 2025. The Cardinal had 16 steals and outscored Saint Mary’s 38-9 in points off turnovers.

Inside play heavily favored the hosts, as Stanford held a 50-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 19-1 edge on fast breaks. The Cardinal returns to action on Sunday, November 8, to host UC Davis at 2 p.m.

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