SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by grinding possessions and cold shooting, the Stanford Cardinal remained undefeated Sunday by overcoming a slow start to defeat the Gonzaga Bulldogs 65-52 at a sold-out McCarthey Athletic Center.

A crowd of 5,584 watched as the visiting Cardinal improved to 5-0 on the young season, while Gonzaga evened its record at 2-2.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Gonzaga seizing early momentum. The Bulldogs came out firing, connecting on three of their first four three-point attempts. A jumper by Allie Turner and a three-pointer from Zeryhia Aokuso helped Gonzaga build a 22-13 lead by the end of the first quarter, marking the largest deficit Stanford has faced this season.

However, the Cardinal defense stiffened dramatically from that point forward. Stanford held Gonzaga to just 11 points in the second quarter, completely flipping the game’s momentum. A 10-0 Stanford run, capped by a Hailee Swain layup, gave the Cardinal its first lead at 29-28. Stanford took a 31-33 advantage into halftime after closing the second quarter on a 7-0 spurt.

The defensive clamps remained locked in the third quarter, where Gonzaga’s offensive woes deepened. The Bulldogs managed only nine points in the period, shooting a dismal 21 percent from the floor as Stanford extended its lead to 48-42.

Gonzaga never seriously threatened in the final frame. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to four points early in the fourth quarter, but Stanford responded with a decisive 8-0 run, punctuated by a Nunu Agara layup, to push the lead to 56-44 and effectively seal the victory.

The game was won on the defensive end, with both teams struggling offensively. Stanford shot 44.6 percent from the field but made only 2 of 10 from beyond the arc. Gonzaga was held to 37.5 percent shooting and committed 17 turnovers, which Stanford converted into 15 points.

Stanford’s victory was anchored by a dominant double-double from Nunu Agara. The sophomore from Minneapolis played 38 minutes, scoring 16 points and pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds to go with two blocks. She was instrumental in Stanford’s interior defense and control of the glass.

She was complemented by a game-high 20 points from guard Chloe Clardy. The Conway, Arkansas, native was efficient from the floor and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, including three clutch free throws in the final minutes. Courtney Ogden also provided a significant scoring punch for Stanford, adding 14 points and six rebounds.

For Gonzaga, Allie Turner led the way with 14 points and a team-high six assists. Lauren Whittaker and Zeryhia Aokuso each contributed eight points, but the Bulldogs’ offense never found a consistent rhythm after the first quarter. Stanford’s defense held Gonzaga to an offensive rating of 71.9 points per 100 possessions, a season-low for the Bulldogs.

Stanford’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert proved critical. The Cardinal attempted 17 free throws, making 13, while Gonzaga went to the line only nine times, converting four.

The Cardinal now return home to Maples Pavilion to face UC Davis on Thursday. Gonzaga, meanwhile, travels to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a neutral-site contest against South Dakota State on Thursday.