WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Stanford Beats UCLA; Leslie Scores 1,000th for USC

When double-teaming Natalie Williams wasn’t productive, the Stanford Cardinal opted for Plan 2.

They decided to triple-team her. Three proved to be more than enough company, rendering her virtually ineffective as sixth-ranked Stanford went on to a 92-69 victory over UCLA on Friday night before 725 at Pauley Pavilion.

Williams, who had been averaging 20.7 points, was held to six points. When the 6-foot-1 sophomore managed to get free, her shots weren’t falling. She went two for 12 from the field.

But she had plenty of company from guards DeDe Mosman (one for 12) and Nicole Anderson (three for 10). Thus, the bulk of the offense was left to forward Rehema Stephens, who led all scorers with 29 points. Reserve Amy Jalewalia, who scored 14 points, was the only other Bruin player in double figures.

In all, UCLA, 13-7 overall and 6-4 in the Pacific 10, shot 31%, its second lowest of the season. The Bruins shot 30% against Virginia in December.

“Obviously, we worked hard to get to a big game like this,” said UCLA Coach Billie Moore, whose team had won four consecutive games.

“You hope the big game brings the best out in you. And sometimes that does not happen.”

Stanford Coach Tara VanDerveer wasn’t completely pleased with her team’s performance, saying: “We weren’t in the flow tonight. The pace of the game was slower than I like. . . . I thought both teams were tense. I don’t think either team played relaxed ball.”

Stanford (18-2, 8-2) was coming off a 75-69 loss to lowly Oregon State last week. But the Cardinal never trailed after the first four minutes of Friday’s game, even though its team scoring leader Val Whiting never really got on track offensively.

Whiting, averaging 20.2 points, was held to 10 points. She has reached double figures in 36 consecutive games. Others managed to rise to the occasion, with forward Christy Hedgpeth scoring a personal-best 26 points.

Moore was hoping the Stanford of last week might show up in Westwood on Friday.

“Sometimes I would love to have Stanford play one of its worst games against us,” Moore said. “I don’t think it’s ever happened in my coaching career. I think they get up to play us. We seem to bring out the best in them.”