Preview: Cornell Big Red at Stanford Cardinal PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Stanford Cardinal, riding a three-game winning streak and ranked among the nation’s elite, will host the struggling Cornell Big Red in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at Maples Pavilion. Stanford (11-2) enters the contest with significant momentum, having dispatched Pac-12 foes California, Washington and Oregon in its most recent outings. The Cardinal’s success has been fueled by the standout play of sophomore guard Courtney Ogden, who is averaging 20 points over her last three games. She dropped 25 points in the win over California on Dec. 14 and followed with 20 points and four assists against Oregon on Dec. 21. “We’re building good habits on both ends of the floor,“ Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “Courtney’s aggressiveness and efficiency have been key for us, but we’re getting contributions across the board.“ Conversely, Cornell (4-7) seeks to halt a four-game skid and find consistency before Ivy League play begins next month. The Big Red have not played since a 76-52 home loss to Army on Dec. 9, a game where Rachel Kaus led the team with 18 points. Cornell’s offense has sputtered during its losing streak, failing to reach 55 points in any of the four defeats. “We’ve used this extended break to really work on our execution and defensive communication,“ Cornell coach Dayna Smith said. “Facing a team of Stanford’s caliber is a tremendous challenge, but also a great opportunity to measure our growth.“ Stanford’s schedule strength is notable, with its only losses coming by a combined seven points to then-Tennessee and Florida Gulf Coast. The Cardinal’s defense has held opponents to an average of 59.2 points per game. Cornell will lean on its top scorers, Kaus and Paige Engels, to generate offense against a formidable Stanford frontcourt. The Big Red begin Ivy League play at Columbia on Jan. 3. Stanford opens Atlantic Coast Conference play next week with a tough road trip to North Carolina State and North Carolina. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. PST Sunday.