Still playing without guards Lexie Hull and Marta Sniezek, the Cardinal turned to a pair of seniors in the post to provide leadership. Smith and Shannon Coffee, who was 3 of 4 from 3-point range, were up to the task.

"It was a great win," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. "We can build on this. It bodes well for us for conference but right now we're getting ready for Tennessee."

Stanford travels to Tennessee for a 3 p.m. game Tuesday and then plays at Buffalo on Friday before returning home to host CSUN on Dec. 29.

Kiana Williams added 13 points and five assists for the Cardinal (7-1), which was playing its first game since losing at Gonzaga nearly two weeks ago.

Stanford senior Alanna Smith scored 21 points and had eight rebounds to lead the 11th-ranked Stanford women's basketball team past visiting No. 3 Baylor, 68-63, in a nonconference battle Saturday, handing the Bears their first loss of the season.

Baylor outscored the Cardinal 21-10 in the fourth quarter and was within single digits with over six minutes left.

Coffee's 3-pointer from the corner with just over three minutes remaining and the shot clock running down lifted Stanford to a 10-point lead and slowed the Bears' desperate attempt to get back in it.

"I wanted to be a defensive threat," Coffee said. "Their bigs battle down low and my focus was on defense. I knew with injuries to the guard position, we'd lean on going big."

Coffee, who started the game, proved most important on defense, limiting Baylor's tough inside players to 9 of 26 from the floor.

"Shannon has been a role player for us," VanDerveer said. "She leads cheers from the bench. Today people were cheering for her and it was great to see her have a big game in such a big game."

Stanford opened an eight-point lead late in the first quarter on a pair of Maya Dodson free throws that culminated a 10-0 run and never looked back, though there were anxious moments in the final minutes.

"Shannon knew where she was supposed to be and worked hard to get there," VanDerveer said. "Our seniors really stepped up big time."

Coffee, wearing a mask to protect her nose after getting hit there during a recent practice, helped keep Stanford calm during a frantic situation.

"When other people make shots like that it's emotional," Smith said. "That got people going. You can't ask for more."

"We needed to lock in. We needed to have grit," Smith said. "This game showed what we've been working on. Win or lose you always look at things you can improve upon."

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Smith, Coffee keep Stanford women alert in hoops victory