Just as Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer predicted after Thursday’s rout of USC, much of the action in the No. 7 Cardinal’s 75-62 win on Saturday over UCLA came down low.

In one of Stanford’s most physical contests of the year, faces were elbowed, players were hacked and a plethora of scrums for balls — loose or not — ensued. The teams had 39 fouls between them; the main culprit was freshman Regina Rogers of UCLA, who fouled out in the second half. The Maples crowd let her, the Bruins and the referees hear their disgust over the roughness of the game.

“They are a very physical team, both inside and on the perimeter,” said VanDerveer.

However, Stanford (19-3, 9-2 Pacific-10 Conference) hardly backed down: Sophomore guard JJ Hones was relentless on defense, while freshman forward Kayla Pedersen had a career game with 28 points and 10 rebounds on 13-for-18 shooting.

“I wanted to be the aggressor,” said Pedersen. “I don’t like people pushing me around.”

UCLA (11-11, 6-5 Pac-10) took an early 9-2 lead to start the game, relying on the shooting of senior guard Erica Tukiainen. Stanford also had problems finishing down low, a trend reminiscent of the USC game.

Sophomore center Jayne Appel had perhaps her worst offensive game since the last time the two teams met on Jan. 4, when the Bruins handed the Cardinal its worst loss of the season, 69-56. She managed only nine points on 3-for-10 shooting from the field, and was 3-for-8 from the foul line.

But Pedersen, playing the best game of her collegiate career, was instrumental in the Cardinal’s first half resurgence. After senior guard Candice Wiggins hit a three-pointer to bring Stanford within a point, Pedersen knocked down four consecutive layups to keep pace with UCLA. Following a timeout with 7:12 left in the first half and the Cardinal trailing 20-19, Wiggins and Pedersen teamed up to retake the lead and push the margin to nine points at the half.

“We didn’t panic and we stayed together,” said Wiggins. “You’re not necessarily going to beat a team in the first five minutes.”

The Cardinal put the game away in the second half, going on a 23-5 run to start the period. An exasperated Kathy Olivier, UCLA’s coach, was called for a technical foul during the run which only aided the Cardinal attack. The Bruins did all they could to stop the Cardinal by employing an effective full-court press, and double-teaming the guards. The latter strategy failed, however, as it often left Pedersen open in the post.

Still, UCLA was able to climb back into the game, cutting Stanford’s lead into the teens. VanDerveer — who was forced to leave her starters in the game — was not pleased.

“We played very well in spurts, and played very poorly in spurts,” she said. “We got a 20-point lead and didn’t build on that.”

The Cardinal defense stymied the UCLA offense down the stretch, while Pedersen and Wiggins sealed the game with timely jumpers, layups and foul shots.

Wiggins had one of her best games of the season, scoring 31 points on 45 percent shooting from the field to lead the Cardinal — she also went 11-for-12 from the charity stripe, leading the team with 5 assists.

She and Pedersen were the only Cardinal to score in double digits; only five players scored at all.

However, the rest of the team was able to contribute defensively and on the boards. Stanford held UCLA to just 32.3 percent shooting for the game. They blocked 12 shots and stole the ball seven times.

The Cardinal out-rebounded UCLA, 44-35, including 16 by Appel and 10 by Pedersen, five of which came on the offensive glass. Appel added five blocks.

Despite being sick, senior forward Lindsey Pluimer scored 16 points 6-for-20 shooting to lead the Bruins. Pedersen was charged with defending Pluimer, UCLA’s best player, and did so effectively. The rest of the UCLA offense was no better — after her aforementioned early baskets, Tukiainen scored only four more points, and no other Bruin reached double digits.

With the win, the Cardinal has successfully avenged their two January losses to UCLA and USC.

“I think they had a little chip on their shoulder,” said Pluimer.

The Cardinal is now only one game behind No. 9 Cal in the Pac-10 standings. Stanford hasn’t lost since the Southern California road trip over a month ago.

“Every game for us is playing for the Pac-10 Championship,” said VanDerveer.

Stanford will now embark on a three-game road trip before wrapping up its home schedule against the Arizona schools in two weeks.