Chiney Ogwumike leads Stanford past Florida State

AMES, Ia. – Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike counted her blessings from a trip to Iowa with two NCAA victories, 44 points scored and a birthday dessert.

Ogwumike, an All-American forward, scored a game-high 21 points Monday and No. 2 seed Stanford beat No. 10 Florida State 63-44 in an NCAA women's basketball tournament second-round game at Hilton Coliseum.

On Selection Monday a week earlier, Ogwumike learned she'd head to the Midwest to open NCAA play. She turned 22 Friday, munching on cheesecake with fresh strawberry filling.

"A week ago, I never knew I'd celebrate my birthday in Iowa," Ogwumike said. "We had a great time in Iowa. It was unexpected, but very fun."

Stanford routed South Dakota 81-62 Saturday in a first-round game.

The winners piled up a 32-16 halftime lead, thanks to 16-0 and 10-0 runs separated by one Florida State basket. Ogwumike, a senior All-American forward, also had a team-best nine rebounds. Teammates Lili Thompson (14 points) and Bonnie Samuelson (11) also scored in double figures.

Stanford (31-3) advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The team's next game will be at home against the winner of Tuesday's Florida-Penn State game.

The Cardinal held Florida State to a season-low 44 points. Florida State finished 21-12. Natasha Howard led her team with nine points but was held 11 under her average.

Stanford's Taylor Greenfield, who played high school basketball at Ballard of Huxley, made a successful homecoming. She's the lone Iowan on her college roster.

"They really had no idea (about the state)," Greenfield said. "I talk about Iowa all the time. When they got here, they said, 'OK, you weren't lying.' "

Greenfield did not score Monday but pulled down three rebounds and had a steal.

Ogwumike, a senior who has 2,673 career points, scored 12 points in the opening half, making five of six field-goal attempts. Florida State made seven of 28 shots and Howard was held scoreless.

Howard was held to four-of-13 shooting for the game. Florida State shot 18-of-58, including three 3-pointers in 20 tries.

"All year long, our nemesis has been outside shooting," Florida State coach Sue Semrau said.

Florida State made six of its first seven shots in the game. Stanford switched to a zone defense, and its foe made one more basket in the rest of the first half.

"It was definitely the turning point for our team," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said.

Stanford has a 73-25 record in NCAA tournament history, which includes two national championships.

Ogwumike's inside presence was balanced by long jumpers. Bonnie Samuelson hit three 3-pointers and Lili Thompson added two more.

"It makes us difficult to guard, when Chiney is getting her points and we're hitting from the outside," Thompson said.

Florida State's Howard will graduate as the school's leading rebounder and the second-leading scorer.

She averaged 20.8 points this season, evolving into a scorer.

"We always thought she'd be Robin, not Batman," Semrau said.

Official attendance was 4,118, though the number of fans in the seats was considerably smaller.

Stanford had a built-in crowd base from Greenfield's family and friends.

"I think I had everyone from my town here," Greenfield said.

Stanford's players packed their bags for the trip home.

"We wanted to win to get back to our fans, to get back to our school," Ogwumike said.

Naughton also writes for the Des Moines Register, a Gannett property.