Pohlen leads No. 3 Stanford over Utah 62-53

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jeanette Pohlen scored 19 points and No. 3 Stanford overcame a poor first half and an injury to Nnemkadi Ogwumike to beat Utah 62-53 on Friday night.

Kayla Pedersen added 13 points for Stanford (2-0), six in a 14-5 run late in the second half that broke open a three-point game.

Former Cardinal Michelle Harrison scored all 14 of her points in the second half to lead Utah (2-1). Taryn Wicijowski also scored all 11 of her points in the second half for the Utes.

The victory pulled Stanford’s Hall of Fame head coach Tara VanDerveer within five wins of 800 for her career. She is 795-195.

Ogwumike warmed up with the Cardinal but then sat out with an undisclosed medical problem. The reigning Pac-10 player of the year, Ogwumike played all 38 games last year.

Stanford led 23-15 after a sloppy first half.

Utah remained close at halftime, despite shooting 19 percent in the first half and missing all 11 of its 3-point attempts.