No. 8 Stanford's fast start buries Utah (Feb 12, 2017)

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Alanna Smith scored 16 points and No. 8 Stanford ran off 18 consecutive points in the first quarter on the way to an 87-51 victory over Utah on Sunday.

Five different players scored as the Cardinal (22-4, 12-2 Pac-12) transformed a 9-7 lead into a 20-point margin in a span of less than 5 minutes to stay in a tie for first place in the conference standings.

Karlie Samuelson and Brittany McPhee each had 13 and Briana Roberson scored 10 for Stanford.

Utah (15-10, 4-10) shot 0-for-8 and turned the ball over 5 times in a stretch of 11 scoreless possessions in the first quarter. The Utes ended the drought when Tilar Clark made a free throw with 2:02 left in the first quarter but they went 13 more than minutes without a field goal deep into the second quarter, missing 16 straight shots.

Paige Crozon scored 13 points to lead the Utes, who had more turnovers (22) than field goals (20).

BIG PICTURE

Utah still cannot compete with Stanford, winless in 22 games in the all-time series. The Utes are 0-10 vs. the Cardinal since joining the Pac-12 and 0-9 at Maples Pavilion.

Stanford did what good teams are supposed to do against overmatched opponents, taking immediate charge against the Utes and never letting them back in the game. The Cardinal led 31-8 at the end of the first quarter and 43-20 at halftime.

UP NEXT

Utah returns home to face Oregon on Friday.

Stanford faces rival Cal twice this week, beginning Thursday at Berkeley.