Stanford forward Cameron Brink (22) blocks the shot of California guard Jayda Curry during the second half  at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sun Jan 8, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sunday, January 8, 2023

Stanford got a big game from center Cameron Brink and needed it on Sunday, as the No. 2 Cardinal held off California 60-56 in Pac-12 women’s basketball at Haas Pavilion.

Brink scored 25 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked three shots, as the Cardinal (16-1 overall, 4-0 Pac-12) won their 11th straight game. Haley Jones scored 12 points to go with four assists and 11 rebounds.

Cal (10-5 overall, 1-3 Pac-12) was led by Leilani McIntosh with 19 points and Kemery Martin’s nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Stanford swept the season series wth their Bay Area rival, winning the first meeting 90-69 on Dec. 23.

Jones made a go-ahead layup with 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. Brink and McIntosh each missed a shot in the final minute. The Bears’ Jayda Curry grabbed a rebound to give Cal a last possession, but Claudia Langarita missed a shot with 14 seconds to play,

The Bears ended the second quarter with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 26-26. Brink hit a 3-pointer with 5:21 left in the third quarter to give Stanford a 35-33 lead. Hannah Jump hit a long jumper that put the Cardinal up 47-43 late in the third.

From there, the Cardinal was able to maintain that four-point edge.

Stanford outrebounded the Bears 46-37. Neither team shot well – the Cardinal was 20 of 62 from the field (4 of 20 3-pointers) for 32.3 percent. Cal was 21 of 60 (7 of 18 3-pointers) for 35 percent.

Stanford visits No. 12 UCLA on Friday night, while the Bears travel to Southern California.