Senior guard Candice Wiggins broke a storied record, the Cardinal avenged a previous loss, and No. 7 Stanford put on a defensive clinic en route to a 77-51 win over USC Thursday night at Maples Pavilion.

Wiggins scored 18 points — none bigger than a first-half put-back which broke Stanford’s career scoring record. Entering last night’s game, Wiggins needed just 12 points to eclipse Kate Starbird’s ‘97 career total of 2,215.

“It wasn’t really on my mind,” said Wiggins. But after reading signs around Maples saying “2,216 and counting...,” the implications of the night became clear.

Wiggins, ever modest, brushed them off: “It’s good to get it over with,” she said.

Coach Tara VanDerveer had nothing but praise for her star guard.

“Candice is an extremely intelligent player,” she said. “Leave her open and you’re going to pay the price.”

USC coach Mark Trakh concurred.

“She’s right up there with anyone I’ve coached against,” he said. “She’s an exceptional player that will be very good on the next level.”

“I’d rather sit in the stands and watch her play someone else,” he continued. “Her graduation day will be one to celebrate.”

“After the game, VanDerveer and Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby presented Wiggins with the game ball.

With 192 more points, Wiggins will tie the Pac-10 career scoring record set by USC’s Lisa Leslie.

Wiggins’s accomplishment was one of many on the night for the Cardinal. The Stanford defense was at its best, forcing a season-high 29 turnovers and holding USC to only 36.2 percent shooting, including just 29 percent in the first half.

“We did an excellent job forcing turnovers,” said VanDerveer.

“They forced a lot of turnovers that we usually don’t commit,” Trakh said. USC’s previous season-high for turnovers was 13.

Perhaps more impressive was the defensive play against USC guard Camille LeNoir, who was held scoreless. In the Trojans’ 73-72 win over the Cardinal earlier this month, LeNoir scored 21 points, including five three-pointers.

USC’s offensive load shifted to oft-injured junior Brynn Cameron, one of the lone bright spots for the Women of Troy. She went 4-5 from behind the three-point arc, leading USC with 16 points.

Her effort was not nearly enough to stop the Cardinal defense.

“We could have played harder,” Cameron admitted.

Although they took an early lead that they never relinquished, Stanford’s offense didn’t click until midway through the first half — the Cardinal began the game just 4-14 from the field.

“Some people were rushing,” VanDerveer said.

But as the turnovers piled up, Stanford began to push the ball in transition, crippling USC’s defense. Junior forward Jillian Harmon, who finished with 10 points, was especially effective on breakaways.

“I liked how Jill was getting out fast,” VanDerveer said. “I loved her hustle.”

But the Cardinal’s offensive sparkplug for the night was sophomore center Jayne Appel, who dominated, going 9-10 from the field. Appel, who struggled earlier in the season, has come on as of late, becoming the offensive force she was expected to be.

“I’m more aware of the types of shots I’m taking,” Appel said.

“She can be unstoppable,” said VanDerveer. “She’s a rock for us.”

Appel led Stanford to a 44-21 lead at intermission, allowing VanDerveer to rest her starters for most of the second half. The defense softened a bit in the last ten minutes of the game as the Cardinal’s reserves handled much of the playing time.

“We were able to play everyone,” VanDerveer said. “[There were] no extended minutes for anybody. We should be good to go for UCLA.”

The Cardinal will face off against the Bruins on Saturday at Maples, looking to avenge an ugly 69-56 loss from a month ago.

The post players will play a major role in the game: Appel and freshman forward Kayla Pedersen will match up against a tall front-line boasting six players over 6-foot-3.

“She’ll face a challenge against UCLA again,” VanDerveer said, in reference to Appel. “They have a lot of big bodies.”

Against the Bruins on Jan. 4, Appel was held to a poor 38.9 shooting percentage. Pedersen was also shut down, as she was held to just two points. Wiggins carried the brunt of the load in the loss, but her 29 points came on only 11-28 shooting.

But the star guard — and now the all-time leading scorer in Stanford history — is confident.

“Our offense is set,” Wiggins said.

It’s hard to dismiss Wiggins’s claim; the momentum from last night’s event should keep Stanford on its toes coming into Saturday’s match-up with UCLA.

Against USC, not even an extra step could stop the Cardinal: on the possession following her record-setting basket, Wiggins hit a shot from behind the arc, only to have it called back because of a traveling violation.

A timeout was then called, and all Wiggins could do was smile before running back to her teammates. The rout was on, and her place in Cardinal lore was secure.