Chiney Ogwumike continues to show why she just may be the best women's basketball player in the country this year.

Ogwumike scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in the final three minutes, personally halting the Women of Troy's advance. Overall she scored 29 points and had 16 rebounds.

Stanford (5-1, 16-2) once again has a share of first place in the conference standings with Cal.

The Pac-12's leading scorer and second-best rebounder made sure the sixth-ranked Cardinal came away victorious Sunday, 75-66, over visiting USC in Maples Pavilion.

Ogwumike took over the game in the final three minutes. That's just about the time USC made its final run and quickly closing the gap to within five points.

"My teammates did a great job of finding me," Ogwumike said. "We also had better ball movement and got it inside."

Once the Cardinal began getting Ogwumike the ball again, the team relaxed and re-established itself.

"We missed a lot of layups and free throws," VanDerveer said. "And their quick guards took us off the dribble. We also turned the ball over and that gave them the ball."

Held to six points on 2-of-6 shooting in the first half, Ogwumike bolted out in the second half, making 9-of-12 shots to insure Stanford's survival.

The Cardinal hosts Utah on Friday at 7 p.m. and Colorado on Sunday at 4 p.m. The Buffaloes are one of four teams tied for third place, with USC, UCLA and Washington. The conference race is far from decided.

"After one timeout we went back to a triangle, where we're more comfortable," said Ogwumike, who was two points and three rebounds shy of matching her career highs. "I had turned the ball over, which is not good when a team is making a run at you. We already have one loss in the conference. We're not trying to get another."

Stanford opened a 19-point edge in the first four minutes of the second half and then watched a fierce Trojans' rally.

"Sometimes the big lineup is not what I like," she said. "We can't run the floor. Sara runs the floor. She's worked her way into the starting lineup and she's going to expand her role and play more at the two."

"I like battling big people," James said. "It's just a matter of will and I think I can win every time."

Which is good, considering the 5-foot-10 junior was up against a front line that included players standing 6-4, 6-2 and 6-1.

"Since day one when I got here, Sara James is the most competitive person I've played with or against at Stanford," Ogwumike said. "She values her time on the court and goes extremely hard. She does not have a soft bone in her body. She's aggressive everywhere."

Joslyn Tinkle added 15 points, including a 3-of-3 effort from long range, while James and Amber Orrange each added 13 for the Cardinal, which has won five of six overall.

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Stanford women hold off USC, stay in first-place tie with Cal