Tag: NCAA

Levels To The Game: No. 6 Irish Too Good For Cal Women Down The Stretch in 73-64 Win

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Cal Bears Marta Suarez (right) finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds and got her sixth double double of the season against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro NC on Fri Mar 7, 2025 (Cal Bears photo)

By Morris Phillips

For 26 minutes, Cal’s typically uneven game was more smooth than rough, giving them an unlikely 47-43 lead over higher-seeded Notre Dame. Over the final 14 minutes, the Irish took over.

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame’s only efficient scorer in this one, scored 25 points and the Irish advanced to the ACC Tournament semifinals with a 73-64 win. Cal finishes their season 25-8 but should hear good news next weekend when the NCAA Tournament field is announced.

The Bears played without top reserve Jayda Noble, and saw Michelle Onyiah limited by foul trouble before fouling out in the final minutes. Still, the Bears came up with a far better effort against Notre Dame than they did in a 91-52 regular season loss. The Bears could have fared better but 28 turnovers gave the Irish more than enough opportunities to lift their play as the game progressed.

“I thought we were really competitive, and I thought we played good basketball aside from turning it over a bit too much,” coach Charmin Smith said.

“I think defensively we did a great job,” Marta Suarez said. “I think offensively we did a good job finding our shots. Our only issue was taking care of the ball.”

Cal’s offense looked elite with Onyiah on the floor and providing her team with a low-post presence. Onyiah shot 6 of 8 from the floor, and Lulu Twidale led Cal with 16 points. But the turnovers were glaring, and they kept the Irish from having to pay for subpar shooting from distance, and having anyone else on point from a shooting standpoint besides Hidalgo.

“Some of our shots, our normal shots, didn’t really go in in the first half. But I thought we really settled in in the second half,” coach Niele Ivey said.

The Irish will face Duke in the ACC semis with North Carolina and North Carolina State facing each other in the first matchup.

Smith wants to see her team seeded higher than eighth in the NCAA Tournament but without a significant upset win over Notre Dame or another top eight-nationally program, that’s where they figure to land come selection day a week from Sunday.

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.

SJSU drops second in a row without Uduje and McClendon 73-58

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San Jose State vs Nevada on Friday February 14th at Provident Credit Union Event Center (via SanJoseStateMBB/x)

By Madison Montez

SAN JOSE- Rough game for the San Jose State Spartans in a 73-58 loss against the Nevada Wolf Pack on Friday night. San Jose State looked to get back in the win column after giving up a 17 point lead after the first half, ultimately falling. A significant part of the last game on Tuesday was the absences Josh Uduje and Will McClendon. Both players were ruled out again for Friday night’s game.

Going into the locker room after the first half only up by one point, San Jose State needed to do some gameplanning. Throughout the first half, the Spartans played a decent game, scoring first. The only thing that went wrong was the amount of turnovers. San Jose State had 20 turnovers which led to the Wolfpack having more scoring chances. Pasha Goodarzi was the first half player that stood out, only missing two shots.

San Jose State didn’t come out with the energy they needed to in the second half. They shot 32.14% FG and 23% from the three-point line. Neither team scored until Nevada scored at 10:52, caused by a turnover on the Spartans. Latrell Davis stepped up once again shooting 5-12 FG and 3-9 from the three-point line, leading the team with 17 points. The only player with points in double digits.

The Spartans will be back in action on Wednesday February 19th where they will travel to Utah State to take on the Aggies. The last time these two teams faced off was on January 7th where SJSU fell short 78-85. Donovan Yap.Jr and Latrell Davis both with 20 points each but the Spartans only went 7-16 at the three point line. Only shooting 43% from the three point line and 46% from the free throw line, making those will be crucial for Wednesday’s matchup.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal gets back in win column with 72-63 win over Boston College; Onyiah leads with 21 points for Bears

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Cal Bears center Ugonne Onyiah (0) attempts to block a shot against the Boston College Eagles at Haas Pavilion on Thu Feb 13, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Cal head coach Charmin Smith picked up her first 20 game win that improved Cal’s record to 20-6 for the season it was exciting for coach Smith to pick up the win but also for the players to help get that win.

#2 The Cal starting five played some potent basketball against the Boston College Eagles for a 72-63 win at Haas Pavilion on Thursday night.

#3 Top scorer for Thursday night for Cal Michelle Onyiah with 21 points she is one of the most improved players at Cal.

#4 Cal’s defense in the second quarter was impressive holding the Eagles to just ten points but the Eagles had a break out fourth quarter scoring 22 points to Cal’s 21 none the less it wasn’t enough as the Bears win it by nine points.

#5 Cal could win another one as they take on the Syracuse Orange on Sun Feb 16th for a 3:00pm tip off at Haas Pavilion. Syracuse is 10-14 and are 13th in the ACC. How do you see this one this coming Sunday?

Join Morris Phillips for the Cal Bears podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal will have hands full at Duke on Saturday

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Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Grant (20) takes some pre game shots in preparation for the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta on Wed Feb 12, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal suffered a tough loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an eight point loss 60-52 Wednesday night in Atlanta. Stanford now drops their road record to 3-5.

#2 Jackets guard Nathan George delivered leading in scoring with 22 points with seven rebounds and five assists. The Cardinal had a tough time containing him.

#3 Another Jacket the Cardinal had a tough containing was forward Baye Ndongo who was second in scoring with 15 points.

#4 The Cardinal leading scorer was guard Jaylen Blakes with 12 points and for Maxime Raynaud he finished with a surprising eight points as the Jackets were able to contain him.

#5 Stanford has a tall order facing the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday at 1:00pm PST at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham North Carolina. Duke is the toughest in the conference first place at 21-3 and is undefeated at home at 14-0.

Michael Roberson does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: NCAA to follow President’s order ban on Transgender women

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Former San Jose State University Spartans Volleyball player Blaire Fleming (3) a trans player from the 2024 team. According to the California International Scholastic Federation trans students are allowed to participate in school programs in California. The NCAA says trans players going forward in other states will be banned (facebook photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Last year, San José State University was at the center of the transgender athlete controversy after a team member sued the school and the conference over the inclusion of a transgender teammate. Other schools also were involved in similar situations.

Today, the NCAA announced it would follow President Trump’s signing of an executive order to bar Transgender women from competing in women’s college sports. The sports organization announced on Thursday that transgender women will be barred from competing in N.C.A.A. women’s college sports, a day after President Trump effectively forced the decision by reversing federal policy. “We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions,” Charlie Baker, the president of the N.C.A.A., said in a statement. “To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.” The rules varied by sport, especially as to how much testosterone could remain in a transgender woman’s blood following hormone therapy.

USA Volleyball, for instance, allowed an athlete to compete as a woman, even with testosterone levels typical of many men. U.S. Rowing’s limit for college athletes was just one-fourth of volleyball’s. This is common sense, so this controversy is history for collegiate sports.

Polls around the country on this issue showed that 69% of the American people agree that biologically born men who are later trans to female should not be allowed to play in women’s sports. I am not an attorney, and I know you can sue a ham sandwich, so there could be lawsuits all over the place, but in my opinion, since the majority of popular opinion in this country agrees, more than likely, this will stay, especially when the NCAA agrees with this decision.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977, a role he continues to this day (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame

Rough And Tumble: Cal Women Survive Stanford’s Late Rally, Win 75-72

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By Morris Phillips

STANFORD, CA–For 35 minutes, the Cal women were themselves, offensive savants taking advantage of whatever the Stanford defense provided, which at times was a lot.

The other five minutes, littered with rough fouls, a technical foul out of nowhere, and a significant injury, spoke to a hard fought contest that Stanford was reluctant to relinquish. It was those five minutes that almost sent Cal home with an unlikely loss.

But Cal’s experienced leadership, principally graduates Ioanna Krimili and Kayla Williams, made the plays down the stretch in Cal’s milestone 75-72 win.

The win gave Cal a historic sweep of Stanford, 39 years after the last occurrence in 1986, the first season of Tara VanDerveer’s 38 years on the Farm in the long disposed Pac West Conference.

Smith, who went 0 for 11 against VanDerveer, her college coach, who subsequently suggested that Smith take up coaching, acknowledged the moment and its significance for Cal.

“This is special for me,” Smith said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be 18 threes like it was at Haas. But to be able to hold on and fight through a number of mistakes and adversity to get the win, I’m just really proud of this team.”

Cal made 17 of their first 20 two-point shot attempts and built a 53-37 lead and quieted Maples Pavilion without relying on 3-point shooting. But the deficit didn’t break the hosts’ resolve. Instead, Coach Kate Paye continued to change her personnel in hopes of a defensive stand. That finally happened in a stretch spanning the third and fourth quarters that saw Stanford outscore Cal 16-2 and make it a game.

“We forced some turnovers, and that really got us going,” Paye said.

Down the stretch, the play grew more physical as Michelle Onyiah, Cal’s center, and reserve Jayda Noble were thrown to the floor. Noble got tangled with Stanford’s Shay Ijiwoye and had to be helped off the court as a leg injury prevented her from walking on her own. After a video review, Ijiwoye received an intentional foul resulting in free throws for Cal and possession of the ball.

“They called an intentional foul. I watched it. I didn’t agree with the call at all. That was a game changer,” Paye said of the critical exchange with 2:40 remaining and Stanford trailing 66-64.

Krimili, shooting in place of the injured Noble, converted both free throws. Williams was fouled on the ensuing possession and made one of two free throws to put Cal up by five.

Nunu Agara, who had 19 points for the hosts, hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to get Stanford within 73-71 with 49 seconds remaining. But Cal held on as Krimili and Williams came up with a trio of baskets on drives into the paint to preserve the win.

“We knew the game was going to bring adversity. In those moments, we were telling ourselves,“‘we’re good, we’re going to get through this,'” Williams said.

Cal improved to 18-3 with the win, and that has them in a group of 6-2 teams with North Carolina and Louisville, tied for fourth in the ACC standings behind Duke and North Carolina State with one loss and 8-0 Notre Dame.

The Bears have the weekend free ahead of home games against the Tar Heels and Pittsburgh next week.

Golden Bears upend Seminoles 77-68 for ACC victory

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Cal Bears forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (1) looks astonished with forward Lee Dort (34) in the background as Cal defeated the Florida State Seminoles at Haas Pavilion on Wed Jan 22, 2025 (Cal Bears X photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

California used the offensive efforts of Jeremiah Wilkinson, Rytis Petraitis and Mady Sissoko to upend Florida State 77-68 in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball Wednesday at Haas Pavilion.

Wilkinson scored 18 points for the Golden Bears (10-9 overall, 3-5 ACC) while Sissoko and Petraitis each registered a double-double. Sissoko had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Petraitis finished with 12 points and 13 boards. Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 14 points and DJ Campbell chipped in with ten points.

Sissoko’s dunk put Cal up 69-59 with three minutes to play. Then Daquan Davis and Jamie Watkins scored inside to pull the Seminoles (13-6 overall, 4-4 ACC) to within six with 1:20 remaining. Cal maintained its lead by going 8-for-8 at the free throw line.

Earlier in the second half, Jerry Deng’s dunk gave Florida State a 51-49 lead at the 12-minute mark. But the Seminoles went cold, missing 11 consecutive shots while being held to eight points in a nine-minute stretch.

While FSU struggled, the Golden Bears scored 18 points, building a 57-55 lead with 4:30 to play.

Watkins led the Seminoles with 18 points, Malique Ewin contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Deng finished with 11 points.

While FSU visits Stanford on Saturday, Cal hosts Miami (Fla.), also on Saturday.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal gets turned around in landslide loss to Duke 72-38; Bears third loss of the season

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The Cal Bears Gisella Maul (12) drives on the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham on Thu Jan 16, 2025 (Cal Women’s basketball photo)

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris the Duke Blue Devils (14-4) made easy work of the Cal Bears (16-3) with a 72-38 win. The contest was not even close and the Bears didn’t get much offense was it a matter of the Bears shot was off or was it that the Blue Devils defense just was in command all night?

#2 Duke’s Toby Fournier was a scoring machine leading with 23 points and she did it all coming off the bench.

#3 Cal tried hard as they may to try and shut down Duke’s Ashlon Jackson who finished second in scoring with 16 and Reigan Richardson with third with 14.

#4 Cal’s scoring was not their previous games nobody finished in double figures. The top three scorers were Kayla Williams with eight, Ugonne Onyiah and Natalia Ackerman both with six. It just seem on one could get past that intimidating Duke defense.

#5 Cal will try it all over again against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-10) on Sunday with an 11:00AM PST tip. Wake Forest are coming off a tough loss to the Stanford Cardinal 74-71 tonight. Wake Forest are last in the ACC and have lost five in a row. Cal is coming in none too happy after the loss to Duke so Wake Forest will no doubt have their work cut out for them.

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

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Stanford loses control of game late to Wake Forest

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Stanford Cardinal forward from left to right forward Maxime Raynaud (42), guard Jaylen Blakes (21), guard Oziyah Sellers (4) are out on the floor to battle the Wake Forest Deacon Demons at the LVJM Coliseum in Winston-Salem North Carolina on Wed Jan 15, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal opened up their second road trip in ACC competition against the Wake Forest Deacon Deamons at Lawrence Joel Veteran Memorial Coliseum with a 80-67 loss. The Cardinal now drop their record to 11-6 and are 3-3 in the ACC.

#2 Oziyah Sellers led Stanford in scoring with 16 points and Jaylen Blakes scored 15 points, seven assists. The Cardinal Maxime Raynaud and Ryan Agarwal had 14 points each. Raynaud was able to rebound 11 times and is first in the NCAA with double doubles.

#3 What a year Raynaud is having he now has 1265 in career points which moves him up on the list surpassing Don Griffin of 1969 and Anthony Goods of 2009. Raynaud tied Chris Hernandez of 2006 tying him for 29th on the all time Stanford list.

#4 The Cardinal are now 1-1 against the Deacon Demons in their second meeting in school history. The last time they met in 1997 Stanford defeated Wake Forest in their first ever meeting.

#5 Stanford now heads to UNC to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC is 12-6 and are coming off a win over the Cal Bears on Wednesday night 79-53. UNC is on a four game win streak and tip off against Stanford Sat Jan 18 at 11:15 am PST. Michael how do you see this game?

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