Stanford routs UCLA, 78-45

SAN JOSE -- Stanford didn’t need Candice Wiggins to score big Sunday because the Cardinal defense did all that was needed in a 78-45 victory over UCLA in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament semifinals.

No player for UCLA (16-15) had more than four points before halftime. The Bruins’ senior leader, Lindsey Pluimer, was one for seven in the first half before finishing the game with eight points. Doreena Campbell had a team-high nine points.

“Defense, that’s what picked them up,” Pluimer said as the Bruins shot 27% in the first half. “They came out and played us tough the whole game.”

Wiggins couldn’t buy a basket in the first half but scored four consecutive points to start the second half and finished with 13 points despite six-for-21 shooting as No. 6-ranked Stanford (29-3) advanced to its seventh consecutive Pac-10 tournament final.

Stanford has not lost since being swept by UCLA and USC during the regular season.

“UCLA likes to key in on me, but I’m happy to know that when I’m not shooting well my teammates can step up and score,” said Wiggins, who had six steals and seven rebounds.

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No. 10 California 65, Arizona State 61 -- Devanei Hampton made up for a subpar quarterfinal performance with 19 points and 16 rebounds for the second-seeded Bears.

“She was so ready to play,” said Cal Coach Joanne Boyle, who watched Hampton go one for 10 at the free throw line a day earlier. “She came off a tough game yesterday. You see how people play her, with three or four people on her. She was a different player at the free-throw line, which helped our confidence too.”

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TODAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP

at HP Pavilion, San Jose

* Stanford vs. Cal, 7:30 p.m.