Kiki Iriafen explodes for career-high 41, Stanford survives against Iowa State in overtime

Kevin Borba | Mar 25, 2024

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - Second Round - Stanford / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

PALO ALTO- Taking on a hot Iowa State team led by talented freshman Audi Crooks, the Stanford Cardinal needed overtime to escape their second-round game of the NCAA Tournament.

They ended up winning by a score of 87-81 despite Cameron Brink fouling out with over two minutes remaining in the final quarter. Brink was in foul trouble all game long finishing with just eight points and eight rebounds, which made room for her running mate Kiki Iriafen to have a career night.

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - Second Round - Stanford / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

Iriafen, who has been electric all year long, finished with a career-high 41 points, outdueling Iowa State’s Emily Ryan who finished with 36 points of her own. She (Iriafen) also grabbed 16 rebounds and had three blocks. However, while it was Iriafen who helped Stanford close out the game in overtime, it was junior Brooke Demetre who had the two biggest shots of the game.

Demetre finished eight points but six of them were clutch threes. With Stanford trailing 64-63 with 1:30 remaining in the game, Demetre drilled a three which invigorated the team and crowd. After an Iowa State bucket to make it 81-80 Cyclones, Demetre again sniped a three from deep with around 20 seconds left. She also grabbed a clutch rebound with 13 seconds and made two free throws to ice the game.

With the win, Stanford advances to their 29th Sweet Sixteen in program history. They will be taking on the winner of No. 6 Tennessee and No. 3 NC State on Friday.