By Morris Phillips

After a first quarter teeming with missed shots, the Cal women unfortunately found additional competition for the attention of their ESPN television audience.

Needless to say, that wasn’t part of the gameplan.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s gameplan was on point with Bulldogs locked onto Cal’s shooters for the entirety of the game.

“We probably went through 15 games. That’s how detailed we were,” MSU’s coach Sam Purcell said. “The only thing I think we were missing is their social security numbers. We knew tendencies, which way they wanted to go. It was just really cool how my young women were dialed in and willing to accept the information, but then most importantly apply it.”

Attention to detail allowed Mississippi State to limit Cal to 25 percent shooting for the game including no made shots in the game’s first six minutes. With that success, MSU rolled to a 59-46 win, unceremoniously ending Cal’s season in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64.

Cal’s 25 percent shooting was a season-worst by a significant margin. Combined with 24 turnovers, the higher-seeded Bears offensive end of the floor was transformed into a pit of quicksand in which their postseason aspirations disappeared. After three quarters the Bears trailed 41-29 and weren’t able to get closer than a 12-point deficit at any point in the fourth.

“Their athleticism and their pressure forced us outside of our comfort zone, and we didn’t respond fast enough,” coach Charmin Smith said.

“In the second half, we were able to get Michelle in the mix a little bit, and that loosens things up for us. It was just too little, too late and definitely credit to Mississippi State.”

The Bears were one of eight NCAA qualifiers from the ACC, and along with Georgia Tech, the only ones to lose their initial NCAA Tournament game. The Bulldogs were the lowest-seeded of the 10 SEC qualifiers, but they showed greater poise early on and carried it for 40 minutes.

Michelle Onyiah led Cal with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Lulu Twidale added 13. Madina Okot and Eniya Russell each scored 14 points for the Bulldogs.

The Bears finished the season at 25-9, the best season they’ve enjoyed in six seasons with Smith at the helm. Cal loses four of its starters and will look to create a better balanced offensive attack with additional ball handlers for next year.

“Having Lulu, having the transfers come in, having the team — really special, obviously, 16-1 at home, beating Stanford twice, going to ACC, new conference,” Onyiah said. “Playing really well in the ACC. Going to new schools. Going to East Coast. Like all the adversity we have at Cal, like, we did really well. Being the No. 1 school in the nation. We did really well for what we do, honestly.”

With Cal faltering and MSU’s shooting just a tick better than Cal’s, the ESPN broadcast leaned heavily on Juju Watch. Juju Watkins, USC’s singular All-American didn’t sign many autographs after the Trojans zipped past UNC Greensboro in the day’s first game. Instead, she spoke in confidence with her mom then relocated conveniently behind the broadcasters at midcourt for a friendly conversation with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Feel good television and poor Cal basketball found a mix.