Nicole Powell is one of the best players in the country.
But the defense of Kedzie Gunderson Thursday night made Powell look like an average athlete.
Gunderson applied relentless, physical pressure on Powell for the majority of Thursday’s game against Stanford, limiting her to 13 points — Powell averages 20.3 per game — on 4 of 14 shooting in 32 minutes.
The lack of offensive production by the two-time Kodak First-Team All-American helped Oregon to a 67-66 upset against No. 10 Stanford at McArthur Court.
“Nicole Powell is an All-American,” Oregon point guard Corrie Mizusawa said. “Kedzie did a phenomenal job on her. She definitely came out ready to ‘D’ her up.”
The battle between Gunderson and Powell lasted through the game’s final possession. The Stanford forward received an in-bounds pass in the backcourt with 8.2 seconds remaining and started to drive. Gunderson stayed in front of Powell the entire way, eventually forcing her into an off-balance shot that came up short at the buzzer.
The defensive stop was a moment of revenge for Gunderson, who fouled Powell in a similar situation at McArthur Court in 2003.
With 3.3 seconds remaining and Oregon leading Stanford 74-73 last season, Powell caught a long
in-bounds pass and was fouled on her way to the basket by Gunderson. The Stanford forward sank both free throws to give the Cardinal a 75-74 win.
Gunderson said last year’s defeat was still fresh in her mind.
“Seeing (we were) up by one with 8 seconds to go was complete dejá vu for me,” Gunderson said. “Last year it was really hard for me, being up by one and giving them that long pass and fouling (Powell).
“(Tonight) was complete payback. I needed to stop her. That was my goal and I did everything I could to stay in front of her.”
Powell — who was held without a field goal until the 12:27 mark of the second half — showed signs of life during a two-minute stretch late in the game, when she scored six consecutive points off driving lay-ins. Gunderson quickly turned the heat back up and didn’t allow the Cardinal’s leading scorer another point.
Near the end of the game, Powell looked rattled by Gunderson’s pressure as the National Player of the Year candidate started complaining to officials.
“She was getting frustrated,” Gunderson said. “I was pushing on her and trying to get her frustrated, and by the end I think she was. She was complaining to the refs and it got into her head a bit.”
Powell was visibly upset and fought back tears during postgame interviews.
“They did a good job,” Powell said of Oregon’s defense. “They try to stay in front of you.”
Oregon head coach Bev Smith said she was happy that Gunderson got the chance to redeem herself after last year’s loss to Stanford.
“Kedzie took a little bit of a breather before we walked (to the locker room) after the game,” Smith said. “I think a young woman like that, who was in the mix of it last year, she’ll sleep a little bit better for the next year knowing that (she got her payback).”