Wiggins puts Stanford in Final Four

Candice Wiggins checked off the one accomplishment missing in her career at Stanford -- getting the Cardinal back to the Final Four.

A three-time Pacific 10 Conference player of the year, Wiggins scored 41 points, and got help from unlikely sources as the second-seeded Cardinal (34-3) pulled away from top-seeded Maryland, 98-87, on Monday night in the Spokane Regional final at Spokane, Wash.

“We knew coming in we were the underdogs,” Wiggins said through tears. “We stayed tough and did the things that got us here.”

With a young supporting cast, Stanford took its cue from Wiggins, its senior star who failed in two previous regional finals as a freshman and sophomore. She bounced all over the court, providing problems for the Terrapins (33-4), whether making step-back three-pointers or rising between defenders in the lane.

Wiggins was 10 for 22 shooting, making five three-pointers, and made 16 of 19 free throws.

Louisiana State 56, North Carolina 50 -- Sylvia Fowles had 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots in the New Orleans Regional final to send the second-seeded Lady Tigers (31-5) to their fifth Final Four in as many seasons.

The loss ended North Carolina’s 16-game winning streak and left the Tar Heels (33-3) one victory short of a third straight Final Four appearance.

LaToya Pringle led the Tar Heels with 21 points, all but two coming in the second half, but it was not enough as the rest of her team combined for 10 points after the break.

Quianna Chaney scored 13 points for LSU, making three three-pointers.