PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Stanford Cardinal used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the visiting Santa Clara Broncos for a 79-58 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Maples Pavilion.

A crowd of 2,289 watched as the Cardinal, fueled by a commanding double-double from freshman center Alexandra Eschmeyer, improved to 2 wins and 0 losses on the young season. The Broncos, coming off a high-scoring opener, fell to an even 1 win and 1 loss.

The game was competitive through the first twenty minutes, with Stanford holding a narrow 33-27 lead at halftime. The Broncos hung tough in the first half, trailing by just six points after Santa Clara scored 12 points in the opening quarter and added 15 more in the second. Stanford countered with 17 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second to maintain a slim advantage.

Any hopes of a Santa Clara upset, which Interstat’s ELO system had pegged at just a 3.40 percent probability, were extinguished in the third quarter. The Cardinal seized control of the contest out of the break, erupting for 22 points in the period while holding the Broncos to 15. The surge extended Stanford’s lead to 13 points heading into the final frame.

Stanford put the game completely out of reach with its most prolific offensive quarter in the fourth, pouring in 24 points. Santa Clara managed 16 points in the final period, but it was not nearly enough to mount a comeback against the Cardinal’s relentless attack.

The story of the night was Stanford’s formidable frontcourt. Alexandra Eschmeyer, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Boulder, Colorado, was a force in the paint. In just 22 minutes of action, she recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while also swatting away four shots. Her presence altered countless Santa Clara attempts and solidified the Cardinal’s interior defense.

She was joined in the double-double club by fellow post player Lara Somfai. The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Adelaide, Australia, posted 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in her 24 minutes on the floor, adding a blocked shot of her own. The combination of Eschmeyer and Somfai provided Stanford with an overwhelming rebounding and defensive advantage.

The Cardinal’s offensive effort was balanced and efficient, with four other players scoring in double figures. Point guard Talana Lepolo, a native of Alameda, California, led all scorers with 16 points and dished out four assists while playing a team-high 38 minutes. Nunu Agara, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Minnetonka, Minnesota, just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. The backcourt duo of Hailee Swain from Marietta, Georgia, and Chloe Clardy from Conway, Arkansas, each provided significant contributions. Swain tallied 13 points and five assists, while Clardy added 12 points and three assists.

For the Santa Clara Broncos, Maia Jones led the scoring charge with 16 points in 24 minutes of play. Ava Schmidt provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, and Ashley Hawkins directed the offense with nine points and five assists in 33 minutes. Tyler Gildersleeve-Stiles added six points in a reserve role.

The victory continues a strong start for Stanford, which opened its season with a commanding 87-42 win over UNC Greensboro on Monday. The Cardinal will look to build on its perfect start when it hosts Cal Poly on Sunday. The team then embarks on a difficult road trip to face Washington State and Gonzaga before returning home for a stretch that includes a high-profile matchup against Tennessee in early December.

Santa Clara, which exploded for 108 points in a season-opening win over Stanislaus State on Monday, faced a much stiffer test in its first road game. The Broncos now head to Texas for a contest against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday. They will then play seven of their next eight games at home, including a quick-homing tournament with Wyoming and Arizona State, before a three-game trip to Hawaii over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The game underscored Stanford’s depth and talent, particularly in the post, as they methodically dismantled a Santa Clara team that had shown potent offensive capabilities just days prior. The Cardinal’s ability to control the paint and accelerate after halftime proved to be the decisive factor in securing the 21-point victory.