Category: Cal Bears

March Is Just Beginning For Cal Women After Their Regular Season-Concluding 82-63 Win Over Miami

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Michelle Onyiah and the Cal women are on a roll at the right time.

Onyiah led Cal with 26 points and 10 rebounds in their regular season-ending 82-63 win over Miami on Sunday afternoon at Haas Pavilion. Now the Bears can turn their attention to the post-season with aspirations they haven’t held in six seasons.

“We still have a lot of work to do which is a good thing,” coach Charmin Smith said.

The Bears will be seeded seventh in the upcoming ACC Tournament and will be matched with the winner of Pittsburgh/Virginia in their opening game on Thursday afternoon. Visiting Miami needed to win Sunday to finish in the top 15, and they conclude their season at 14-15.

Cal’s seven seniors–Kayla Williams, Marta Suarez, Claudia Langarita, Ioanna Krimili, Natalia Ackerman, Jayda Noble and Onyiah–were honored in a ceremony before the game. The emotional beginning transferred to the game as Cal opened an 11-3 lead five minutes into the game.

The hosts extended their lead to 11 at the half and 21 after three quarters. Cal registered a 39-26 edge in rebounding, and scored 36 points in the paint, punctuated by Onyiah making her first 10 shots from the floor before finishing 10 of 12. Suarez added 16 points and 10 rebounds, Williams had 11 points in just 26 minutes of activity.

Haley Cavinder had 16 points for the Hurricanes.

The Bears won for the 16th time at home, establishing a new program record with their only loss to North Carolina. Krimili added three 3-pointers giving her 431 in her career, which ranks ninth all-time at the Division 1 level.

Golden Bears upend Boston College 82-71 in final home game

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Cal Bears center Mady Sissoko (12) who led with 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Boston College Eagles at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Mar 1, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, March 1, 2025

California pulled away in the second half at Haas Pavilion Saturday, as the Golden Bears earned an 82-71 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over visiting Boston College.

Mady Sissoko registered career highs with 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead Cal (13-16 overall, 6-12 ACC). Sissoko was 9-of-10 from the field and sank 3-of-4 free throws. Jovan Blacksher Jr. was next with 18 points, Andrej Stojakovic had 15 points and Jeremiah Wilkinson added 14 points.

Boston College (12-17 overall, 4-14 ACC) had three players score in double figures, led by Donald Hand Jr. with 18 points, followed by Luka Toews with 14 and Dion Brown with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal outrebounded the Eagles 40-36. The Golden Bears shot 49.2 percent (30 of 61) from the field, including 7 of 18 on 3-pointers. BC hit 39 percent on 25 of 63 shooting – 4 of 14 behind the arc. Cal dominated in the paint 38-28 and points off turnovers were even at 14-14.

California opened the game with a 13-2 run. The Eagles took their first lead at 46-45 with 14:31 to play, as Hand had seven points during a 13-1 run.

Stojakovic and Wilkinson each sank a 3-pointer to spark an 11-0 Cal run, allowing the Golden Bears build a 72-60 lead with 3:59 remaining. Sissoko scored the last five points of that run.

BC committed 11 turnovers, and Cal had more turnovers (13) than assists (11).

The Golden Bears visit Louisville on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Playing Your Best Basketball Now? Cal Women Say Yes in 79-65 Win Over Georgia Tech

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Michelle Onyiah didn’t need the obvious reinforced, but that’s what she got after Cal’s impressive 79-65 win over Georgia Tech on Thursday night.

Michelle, we need you. As much and as often as we can get.

Onyiah’s 12 minutes followed by her disqualification for fouls against Virginia Tech in a painful three-point loss wasn’t enough. Onyiah’s 33 minutes against the visiting Yellow Jackets was more like it, and she held up like Northern California wine with 24 points, 10 rebounds and superior 11-16 shooting from the floor.

“Michelle Onyiah didn’t foul until sometime in the third quarter,” coach Charmin Smith said in almost a formal declaration. “It’s the key to us winning games.”

With one regular season game remaining, the Bears (23-7, 11-6) are locked into the seventh seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. They clinched that spot by distancing themselves from Georgia Tech with the win. After their regular season-concluding matchup with Miami on Sunday, the seeding and placement machines will churn and hopefully land Cal in a favorable location with preferrable matchups. While observers can see that a quarterfinal win against Notre Dame or North Carolina State could propel Cal into a situation that could yield an upset in the NCAA Tournament, Smith can’t. She’s wearing blinders and simply demanding that her team show up for Miami and take care of business.

“All that matters is we beat Miami. We can’t control all of that,” Smith stated.

Cal played big throughout with 42 points in the paint, and a 42-28 edge on the glass. A first quarter 12-0 run created the separation they needed, and Tech’s trio of scorers weren’t all present and accounted for. Dani Carnegie, Tech’s sensational freshman super sub played just 13 minutes, and was 1 for 7 from the floor.

Lulu Twidale scored 17 points for Cal, Ioanna Krimili added 15 in putting inside-outside pressure on Tech’s defense. Krimili continued her ascent on the all-time NCAA scoring list, with 2,550 points total, including 428 made threes. Cal’s season-long search for bench support seems to have landed on Jayda Noble, who played 18 minutes and contributed a key three-point play in the first quarter.

Mustang Mash: Cal In Danger of Missing The ACC Tournament After An 81-77 Loss to SMU

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–The Cal Bears season has added a measure of intrigue that isn’t exactly ideal.

The Bears loss to SMU on Wednesday puts them in the undesirable position of possibly missing the ACC Tournament, if they fall behind Boston College in the league standings and finish among the bottom three teams.

What didn’t seem likely was marred by what is now a five-game losing streak after SMU had their way in a wire-to-wire 81-77 win at Haas Pavilion. Cal now has three regular season games meeting with their one shot at Boston College coming up first on Saturday.

Chuck Harris led the Mustangs with 21 points and B.J. Edwards added 18 in the visitors win in which they led with the exception of a moment with 5:33 remaining where the score was tied at 66. Samet Yigitoglu’s free throw gave SMU the lead again, then his dunk 30 seconds after that extended the lead to 69-66.

The Bears’ poor shooting doomed their evening with just 39 percent shooting from the floor. In addition, they missed 10 free throws. All the misfiring hurt a positive defensive effort that saw them force 18 turnovers.

Jeremiah Wilkinson led Cal with 20 points, but he missed 11 of his 18 shots from the floor. Mady Sissoko added 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Mustangs won for the sixth consecutive time on the road to give their NCAA Tournament hopes a major boost. Currently, they appear to be outside the field of 68 but have only one or two teams to jump to get into the field. For them, that’s quite a turn as they began January with a pair of decisive losses to Duke and North Carolina.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal tips off against Georgia Tech Thursday nite in the battle for seventh place

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Cal Bears guard Lulu Twidale (10) takes the ball up the floor against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum at Blacksburg Virginia on Sun Feb 23, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Tough loss for Cal last Sunday at Virginia Tech a close game 87-84.

#2 The Hokies just wouldn’t bend in that crucial fourth quarter edging out the Golden Bears 23-21 was just a matter of Cal having an off night or the Hokies hit the books on Cal and studied film and were prepared?

#3 How surprising was it that the Bears who had the better record at 22-8 were turned back by a Hokies team that was 18-10. Sometimes those records just don’t matter on any given night in the NCAA.

#4 Morris hard as they tried lets take a look at some of Cal’s top scorers from Sunday’s game Marta Suarez 20 points, Ioanna Krimili 19, and Kayla Williams with 17 points talk about their efforts to try and keep up with the Hokies on Sunday.

#5 Next up for the Cal Bears the Georgia Yellow Jackets who aren’t no slouch at 21-8. The Jackets are eighth and are just one game behind Cal in the ACC for seventh place. Do you see the Bears regrouping and coming after the Jackets at Haas Pavilion on Thursday night which could be a real battle?

Join Morris Phillips for the Cal podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tech Tough: Cal Women Come Up Short at Virginia Tech, Lose 87-84

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By Morris Phillips

The Cal women’s dilemma regarding turnovers took on a new dimension on Sunday afternoon: while they found a way to hold on the ball, they couldn’t dislodge it from host Virginia Tech, gets stops or force enough missed shots.

A defense without teeth… on the road, on Tech’s Senior Day was not the recipe for a significant win. The Bears fell in their final road game of the season, 87-84 in a game where any defensive stop–even one of a possession or two–could have changed the outcome.

“I just think we didn’t defend well enough,” coach Charmin Smith said. “They shot the ball well. We had trouble guarding ball screen action and it’s just one of those games where we did a lot of things right offensively but couldn’t prevent them from scoring. It’s frustrating and disappointing. We had opportunities and we couldn’t capitalize.”

The Hokies shot 55 percent from the floor, and committed just five turnovers in 40 minutes, a new school-record low. Still Cal never wavered or went away, and Ioanna Krimili’s made basket would have tied the game with 13 seconds remaining would have tied the game had her foot not been on the 3-point line.

With the game tied at 69 with 5:39 remaining, Carleigh Wenzel’s short jump shot gave Tech a lead they wouldn’t relinquish down the stretch. Cal shot 53 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter, along with 7 for 7 shooting from the foul line but could never get even or gain a lead after Wenzel’s make.

Wenzel and Mathilda Ekh led the Hokies with 19 points each, and Carys Baker added 14. The Bears put four starters in double figures, led by Marta Suarez with 20 and Krimili with 19. Michelle Onyiah fouled out in the final seconds of the third quarter and played just 13 minutes and scored 8 points.

More than 6,000 attended the game, Tech’s final home game of the season after their disappointing overtime loss to Stanford on Thursday. The Hokies were no doubt motivated by that loss and a soft NCAA bubble that seemingly has them as the only team in America that is neither in or out of March Madness. One thing seems certain: Virginia Tech (17-10, 8-8) is the only unresolved Power 4 team, and that alone had them poised for a big performance, and they delivered.

What Did Coach Smith Say At Halftime?: Bears Come Roaring Out Of the Locker Room To Capture 76-70 Win Over Virginia

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By Morris Phillips

You bring your shooters, we bring our shooters. That’s a scenario the Cal women prefer.

That scene materialized on a blustery, cold Thursday night at Virginia, and Cal capitalized with a crucial 76-70 road win over the host Cavaliers.

Ioanna Krimili made the most of what the Virginia defense offered with season highs in 3-point attempts (13) and makes (6). The graduate senior led Cal with 18 points along with Michelle Onyiah. Lulu Twidale had 15, and Kayla Williams 14 as the Bears starters spread the wealth from a scoring perspective.

Cal came roaring out of the locker room at halftime after a sluggish first half that saw them trailing 35-30. The turnaround was immediate with Cal scoring the first 17 points after the break to take their first 10-point lead of the night. Virginia responded at that point with a 12-point burst to get even, but Cal’s balanced attack won out in the fourth quarter.

“The beginning of the third quarter, they went on like a 17-0 run or something like that and you know that killed me,” Virginia coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said. “I think I called two timeouts during that time because we just weren’t clicking.”

The Bears (22-6, 10-5) now have their most wins in a season since 2017. They also moved closer to securing a first-round bye in the upcoming ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC which takes place the second week of March.

Kymora Johnson led Virginia with 24 points. Paris Clark had 12 for the hosts, and Edessa Noyan added 11.

The Bears conclude their road swing at Virginia Tech on Sunday. The Hokies were involved but not resolved in the ACC game of the night, losing at home to Stanford, 75-74 in overtime.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Bears take on Virginia tonight at John Paul Jones Arena to start road trip

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The Cal Bears will meet the Virginia Cavaliers Thu Feb 20, 2025 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottsville VA with a 4:00pm PT tip off (photo by Cal Bears Athletic Dept)

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 The Cal Bears are coming off a two game homestand sweep over the Boston College Eagles and the Syracuse Orange. Cal (21-6) will got back east for their final regular season road trip starting at Virginia on Thursday at 4pm PT.

#2 In the history of both Cal and Virginia this will be their sixth meeting and the Cavaliers are 3-2 in that history. The Cavaliers also have two wins over Cal in the NCAA Tournament. The last time these two clubs met was 2018 in the NCAA Tournament with a 68-62.

#3 If Cal can pull off a win tonight it would give them their most wins since the 2016-17 season when they won 24 games.

#4 The Bears will be keyed in on the Cavaliers Kymora Johnson who leads the team with 17.5 points per game and was named the All ACC second team and All Freshman from last season.

#5 In the last game Cal played on Sun Feb 16th at Syracuse as Cal led with guard Kayla Williams 21 points, forward Marta Suarez finished in second with 16 points. Talk about their game against the Orange and how important Williams and Suarez is to Cal.

Cal Bears podcasts are heard Thursdays with Cal Bears beat writer Morris Phillips at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Stanford hoping to end 2 game skid against Cal Saturday

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Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) drives on Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) at Cameron Indoor Arena in Durham North Carolina on Sat Feb 15, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal came into Duke University on Sat Feb 15 hoping to bounce back from a tough loss to the Georgia Tech on Wed Feb 12th 60-52 but got destroyed by the Blue Devils 106-70.

#2 In the first half Duke offense was unstoppable scoring 49 points to Stanford’s 34. The Cardinal simply couldn’t do anything with Duke’s defense that prevented them to get inside all first half long.

#3 Duke turned it up a notch not holding back in the second half scoring 57 to Stanford’s 36 points. Not much difference from the first half but it sure had Stanford head coach Kyle Smith busy with his X’s and O’s.

#4 Only three Stanford Cardinal finished in double figures. Forward Maxime Raynaud led with 19 points followed by guard Oziyah Sellers second with 11 points, and Donavin Young with ten points.

#5 Up next for the Cardinal the Cal Bears who pay Stanford a visit this Sat Feb 22 a 7:00pm PST. The Bears have lost their last three games and have struggling road record at 2-8. Stanford is 13-2 at home and lost their last two games in a row. How do you see this match on Saturday?

Join Michael for the Stanford Cardinal podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Agent Orange: Williams Scores Late, Carries Cal Women to 75-69 Win Over Syracuse

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–In the new, unknown, expansive world of ACC basketball, you never know who is going to walk out of the visiting locker room. At least, most times you don’t. Again, this isn’t a world of kissing cousins.

At Haas Pavilion on Sunday, the downward-trending Syracuse Orange busted out of their personality with mayhem and an upset on their minds. Almost immediately, the Cal women were put on watch.

In a game with 13 lead changes and as many gut checks, the Golden Bears prevailed with a big fourth quarter in a 75-69 win.

“It was a game that was pretty tight there and could have gone either way, and I thought we imposed our will, and that’s something we’re going to need on the road for sure,” coach Charmin Smith said.

While the visitors played well for three quarters, making shots and denying Cal the three point looks they desire, Cal held on, waiting for their opportunity to surge, although neither team held more than a six-point lead at any point.

Kayla Williams came up with maybe the biggest basket of the game with Cal leading 68-65 with 1:16 remaining. Williams drove to the basket and scored to give the hosts a two-possession lead. Williams led Cal with 21 points, five assists and just one turnover. Cal played out of character with just five made threes on the afternoon, and only 12 turnovers. The sure-handed ball possession was key in such a close contest in which both teams shot it well until the Syracuse shooters faltered late.

Marta Suarez, Michelle Onyiah and Lulu Twidale also scored in double figures for Cal. Georgia Wooley led Syracuse with 23 points, and Sophie Burrows added 10.

The Bears (21-6, 9-5) hit the road again next week, traveling to Virgina for games against Cavaliers, and a second contest against Virginia Tech.