SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — The Stanford Cardinal remained undefeated, using a dominant defensive performance to overcome a slow start and defeat the Gonzaga Bulldogs 65-52 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at a sold-out McCarthey Athletic Center.

A crowd of 5,584 saw the Bulldogs roar out of the gate, capitalizing on early Stanford turnovers to build a 22-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. Gonzaga’s offense was fluid, while the Cardinal looked out of sync, committing several unforced errors.

The game turned decisively in the second quarter. Stanford’s defense tightened, holding Gonzaga to just 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the floor while forcing six turnovers. The Cardinal offense, led by Chloe Clardy and Courtney Ogden, began to find its rhythm, outscoring the Bulldogs 18-11 in the period to cut the deficit to 33-31 at halftime.

Stanford carried that momentum into the second half, opening the third quarter on a 13-2 run to seize a lead it would not relinquish. The Cardinal defense was the story, suffocating Gonzaga and holding the Bulldogs to a season-low 52 points. Gonzaga managed just 19 points combined in the second half, shooting a meager 21 percent from the field after the first quarter.

Nunu Agara was the anchor for Stanford, posting a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while adding two blocks and two steals in 38 minutes. Her presence in the paint disrupted countless Gonzaga possessions.

Chloe Clardy led all scorers with 20 points, providing a critical offensive spark, while Courtney Ogden added 14 points and six rebounds. The Cardinal shared the ball effectively, with Hailee Swain contributing nine points and four assists.

For Gonzaga, Allie Turner led the way with 14 points and six assists, but she also committed five of the team’s 17 turnovers. Lauren Whittaker and Zeryhia Aokuso each added nine points. The Bulldogs struggled mightily from the free-throw line, converting only 4 of 9 attempts, and their offensive rating of 71.9 points per 100 possessions underscored a difficult day against a stout Stanford defense.

Stanford improved to 5-0 with the victory, while Gonzaga fell to an even 2-2 on the young season. The Cardinal’s win defied the pregame statistical projections, which had favored the home Bulldogs.

Stanford next hosts UC Davis on Thursday. Gonzaga travels to face South Dakota State in Sioux Falls, S.D., also on Thursday.