Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer shouts to players during the first half of a first-round game against Montana State in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 18, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Stanford's Francesca Belibi became the third woman ever to dunk in the NCAA Tournament, slamming one down with one hand in the second quarter Friday night for the top-seeded, defending champion Cardinal in their first round game against 16th-seeded Montana State.
Belibi's dunk marked the first by a woman in the tournament since Brittney Griner in 2013 and just the third overall along with Candace Parker's feat in 2006. A 6-foot-1 junior who routinely dunks in warmups and practice, Belibi had a pair of slams last season - on Dec. 13, 2020, at rival California in Berkeley and again at week later at UCLA.
She blocked a shot at the 3-point line then drove the length of the floor and pounded it through the rim for her third career dunk, thrilling her teammates and earning a roaring standing ovation at the next timeout as she came off the floor.
Stanford began its title defense by holding the Bobcats scoreless in the opening 10 minutes for a 20-0 lead after the first. It marked the first time in the Cardinal's storied history holding an opponent to no points in any period and just the second ever in the NCAA Tournament.
South Carolina did so against Texas in the 2021 tournament.
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More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Stanford guard Anna Wilson (3) moves the ball up the court against Montana State guard Darian White (0) during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 18, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press
Montana State forward Taylor Janssen (24) battles for a rebound against Stanford guard Haley Jones, right, during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 18, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press
Stanford guard Lexie Hull (12) steals the ball from Montana State forward Gabby Mocchi (23) during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 18, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press
Stanford guard Lexie Hull (12) drives to the basket past Montana State guard Leia Beattie (15) during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 18, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press
Montana State guard Darian White (0) gets past Stanford guard Anna Wilson (3) and guard Lexie Hull (12) during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 18, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press