EUGENE, Ore. — A new era in the remade Pac-12 Conference has done nothing to slow down Stanford.
Joslyn Tinkle scored 19 points, and the No. 3 Cardinal put together another dominant performance to wrap up the inaugural Pac-12 championship with an 81-46 victory over Oregon on Saturday.
After winning the last 11 Pac-10 crowns, Stanford (24-1, 15-0) has rarely been challenged in the first Pac-12 season, winning its last six games by an average of nearly 27 points.
Stanford has won 21 conference championships since coach Tara VanDerveer took over in 1985.
“This is historic to win the first Pac-12 regular season,” VanDerveer said.
All-American Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and her sister Chiney Ogwumike added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Cardinal.
“It’s special for all of us to share this, especially being the first Pac-12 season,” Tinkle said. “That’s pretty cool for us. We have had great success in the Pac-10 the past few years, but we just don’t let up. That’s the goal for us each time we come out here, regardless of who we’re playing.”
Nia Jackson scored nine points to lead Oregon (14-13, 6-9), which shot 25 percent (16 of 64) from the field and was held to a season low in points.
The Cardinal have won 21 consecutive games since a loss at Connecticut on Nov. 21, and 72 consecutive conference games dating back to January 2009.
“I think we’re coming together and jelling at the right time,” VanDerveer said. “We’re playing well defensively, and we’re ironing out some bugs offensively and getting some different people to step up.”
Stanford led 42-20 at halftime.
Chiney Ogwumike absorbed a hard foul midway through the second half that left her sprawled out under the basket. She stayed down for a few moments, holding her chin, before getting up and sinking a pair of free throws with 12:36 left.
That was part of a 15-3 run that pushed the Cardinal lead to 61-25 after Nnemkadi Ogwumike’s jumper.
Chiney Ogwumike added back-to-back layups to give Stanford its largest lead, 67-29, with 9:33 remaining.
A blazing start had Stanford in cruise control all day. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Toni Kokenis and Tinkle gave the Cardinal an 8-0 lead after just 75 seconds.
Oregon, meanwhile, missed its first seven shots and trailed 13-1 before Amanda Johnson scored the Ducks’ first basket at the 15:25 mark.
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