Area roundup: Former Central Valley star Lexie Hull helps guide Stanford to 115-71 win over Idaho

Alanna Smith and Kiana Williams tossed in 19 points apiece and former Central Valley High School star Lexie Hull scored 17 to propel the seventh-ranked Stanford Cardinal to a 115-71 victory over the Idaho Vandals on Sunday in Stanford, California.

Smith had 19 points and nine rebounds, and the Cardinal totaled their most points since 1994.

The Cardinal (2-0) had their fifth-highest point total and most since tying a school record with 122 against Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 10, 1994.

Williams also scored 19 points and had nine assists as Stanford kept pace with the sharp-shooting Vandals (1-1) from long range by matching the school record with 16 3-pointers.

“They are an excellent 3-point shooting team,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said of the Vandals. “They’re never out of a game. We responded with perimeter shooting. It only took 24 shots for them to make 15. That’s phenomenal.”

Lexie Hull, a freshman starter, added 17 points. She buried 6 of 12 shots from the floor, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range and added five rebounds. Hull is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds through her first two games. Lacie Hull, Lexie’s twin sister, came off the bench and played 12 minutes. She missed both of her shots but added two rebounds and two assists.

“She plays with so much confidence,” Williams said of Lexie Hull. “That’s impressive from a freshman. She fits in real well.”

Gina Marxen scored 22 points to lead Idaho, picked by coaches to win the Big Sky. Janie King added 18 points on a 6-of-10 effort from 3-point range.

“That’s a bright spot for us,” Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. “The score didn’t show it, but I feel like we got better today. I think they’re better than the No. 7-ranked team in the country. It was a great experience.”

Idaho was 15 of 24 from long range. Marxen was 5 of 6.

Saint Mary’s 70, Washington State 64: Emily Codding scored 17 points and added seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots to lead the Gaels past the Cougars in Pullman.

Jasmine Forcadilla, Megan McKay and Sam Simons chipped in with 11 points apiece for Saint Mary’s. The Gaels shot 50 percent from the floor for the game and outrebounded WSU 44-33.

Alexys made 5 of 12 from 3-point range and scored 22 to pace the Cougars. Chanelle Molina scored 16 and handed out eight assists and Maria Kostourkova snagged 14 rebounds. Saint Mary’s shut down WSU’s high-scoring Borislava Hristova, holding her to 13 points on 6-of-18 shooting, including 0 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Gonzaga 63, Eastern Washington 51: Chandler Smith scored a game-high 20 points to propel the Bulldogs (2-0) to a victory over the Eagles in their season opener in Cheney.

Laura Stockton chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists for Gonzaga, while Jill Townsend finished with a double-double – scoring 10 points to go with 10 rebounds.

Violet Kapri Morrow paced EWU with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jess McDowell-White had 12 points and nine boards.

Washington 81, Northern Arizona 59: Amber Melgoza recorded her first career double-double and was two assists shy of a triple-double as the Huskies defeated the Lumberjacks in Seattle.

The Huskies improve to 2-0 with the victory while handing the Lumberjacks their first defeat in three games.

Melgoza finished the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in 31 minutes. It was the 15th-straight game in double-figures for Melgoza who also set a career-high in assists and matched her career-high in rebounds. She also scored 20 or more points for the 15th time in her career.