PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Stanford Cardinal, facing a determined Washington Huskies team that led for more than 35 minutes, unleashed a dominant fourth-quarter performance to escape with a 67-62 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Friday night at Maples Pavilion.

A crowd of 2,533 watched as Stanford, which trailed by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, outscored Washington 25-12 in the final period to improve to 10-2. The Huskies, who had won four of their last five, fell to 9-2.

The game’s decisive shift came in the final frame, where Stanford’s defense catalyzed its offense. The Cardinal forced eight Washington turnovers in the quarter, converting those miscues into critical transition opportunities. After Washington’s Avery Howell hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 56 with 2:20 remaining, Stanford closed on an 11-6 run, with seven of those points coming from the free-throw line in the tense final minute.

Stanford’s comeback was a collective effort, led by forward Lara Somfai of Adelaide, Australia. The 6-foot-3 sophomore scored a team-high 14 points, including six in the fourth quarter, and was a persistent force inside. Guard Hailee Swain of Marietta, Georgia, added 13 points, and forward Courtney Ogden of Atlanta contributed 12 points and key defensive plays. Guard Chloe Clardy of Conway, Arkansas, chipped in 11 points, all in the first half, to keep Stanford within striking distance.

Washington was led by its backcourt duo. Guard Sayvia Sellers of Anchorage, Alaska, scored 13 points and dished three assists, while guard Elle Ladine of San Francisco added 11 points. Forward Avery Howell of Boise, Idaho, played all 40 minutes, contributing 13 points and steady leadership. Forward Brynn McGaughy of Spokane, Washington, provided a strong interior presence with 11 points, and guard Hannah Stines of La Mirada, California, matched that with 12 points.

The Huskies controlled the game’s tempo for long stretches, using an active defense to build a lead. They held a 16-13 advantage after a first quarter marked by early turnovers from both sides. Stanford struggled to find an offensive rhythm, and Washington extended its lead to 27-21 by halftime despite shooting struggles of its own.

Washington’s best stretch came early in the third quarter. A 9-2 run, capped by a Sellers layup, pushed the Huskies’ lead to 36-23, their largest of the night. They took a 50-42 lead into the final quarter, having scored 23 points in the third.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged entirely to Stanford. The Cardinal intensified its defensive pressure, particularly on the perimeter, disrupting Washington’s offensive sets. A 10-2 Stanford run to open the period, fueled by consecutive layups from Somfai and Shay Ijiwoye, erased the deficit and tied the game at 52 with 8:13 to play. From there, the teams traded blows in a physical, back-and-forth contest featuring six ties and five lead changes.

With the score knotted at 58, Ogden hit a crucial jumper in the lane with 1:08 remaining to give Stanford a lead it would not relinquish. Washington had chances in the final minute, but a traveling violation and a missed three-point attempt stalled its momentum. Stanford sealed the game at the line, with Ogden and Clardy combining to hit five of six free throws in the final 37 seconds.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the final minute with Stanford clinging to a 63-61 lead. After a Washington miss, Stanford’s Talana Lepolo of Alameda, California, found Somfai for a clutch baseline jumper with 37 seconds left, extending the lead to four and forcing Washington into a desperate final possession that resulted in a turnover. That basket, following multiple offensive rebounds by Stanford to extend the possession, represented the decisive blow in a game defined by resilience and late execution.

Stanford now looks ahead to a matchup with Oregon on Sunday in San Francisco. Washington will travel to face Pacific on Sunday, aiming to rebound from the narrow defeat.