March Madness 2022: Lexie Hull's career-high 36 sends No. 1 Stanford past Kansas

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Lexie Hull ran onto the floor for her final game at Maples Pavilion determined to do everything in her power to ensure her reigning NCAA champion Stanford teammates a trip to another special home court: back in her native Spokane, Washington.

The Cardinal needed every bit of Hull's energy on both ends following a tough halftime talk and challenge from Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer.

Hull ignited the offense after the break on the way to a career-high 36 points with six 3-pointers to go along with six steals, leading the top-seeded Cardinal past No. 8 Kansas 91-65 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night.

"I think it's just I really wanted it," Hull said, trying to describe her memorable performance. "In the back of my head I was like, ‘All right, I want to play in Spokane, my entire body wants to play in Spokane.’ Just our team we really kept the ball moving, found the hot hand and ran with it the rest of the game."

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Stanford guard Lexie Hull (12) shoots over Kansas center Danai Papadopoulou (14) and guard Holly Kersgieter (13) during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

The defending champs are riding a 22-game winning streak into the Sweet 16 as they travel to a familiar Pacific Northwest spot where they've shined before on the big March stage.

"Lexie put our team on her back and just said, ‘We’re going to Spokane, I’m going to do whatever I need to do,’ and she did," VanDerveer said.

Cameron Brink added 13 points, 12 rebounds and four assists as