Stanford loses in WBIT, ending their basketball season

The Stanford women’s basketball team lost its opening game in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) on Thursday night. The team, which finished with a record of 16-15, lost to Portland 69-68 in overtime. This marks the first time in 37 years that Stanford did not make the NCAA Tournament. Stanford had a strong start and led by 13 points at one point. However, they struggled in the second half, missing several shots. Despite this, they managed to keep a lead until Portland ended the game with a 9-4 run to force overtime. In the extra period, Stanford’s Nunu Agara scored critical points, but Portland's Emme Shearer clinched the win with a free throw in the final seconds. First-year head coach Kate Paye expressed her sadness at the loss but highlighted the positive aspects of the season. She emphasized that the team faced many challenges but managed to stay united. "Things did not go our way this year... but I loved coaching this team," she said. Agara stood out in the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Elena Bosgana was the leading scorer for Stanford with 19 points. On the opposing side, Shearer finished with a game-high of 28 points, crucial for Portland’s victory. In other WNIT action, Saint Mary’s women’s basketball team also lost in their first-round match. They were defeated by Texas Southern 54-50 after leading at halftime. Despite a strong defensive effort in the first half, they fell behind in the third quarter and couldn't recover in the end.