Cal Edged By Saint Joseph’s In WBIT Second Round

BERKELEY – Down 10 points with 2:54 remaining in the game, the California women’s basketball team nearly completed the comeback using a late 9-0 run to get within one point and had a chance to tie or take the lead on the last possession of the game but ultimately fell short, 63-61, against Saint Joseph’s at Haas Pavilion on Sunday afternoon in the second round of the WBIT. The Golden Bears (19-15) were led by Marta Suárez, who posted her seventh double-double of the season with 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against the Hawks (28-5).

Neither team led by more than two points in the first quarter until Saint Joseph’s hit back-to-back triples to take a 14-9 lead with 3:44 left in the quarter. The Bears were able to stay in the game by hitting 4 of 6 field goals to end the quarter and were down just 20-17 heading into the second quarter.

After Cal tied the game at 20-20 early in the second quarter the Hawks went on a 9-0 run before Suárez ended it with a 3-pointer at the 3:56 mark. Saint Joseph’s hit consecutive layups on its next three possessions to build a 12-point lead with three minutes to go. Ioanna Krimili nailed a triple and Lulu Twidale followed up with one of her own at the buzzer to cut the Bears’ deficit to 35-29 going into the break. 

In the third quarter, Leilani McIntosh converted a 3-point play to get the Bears within three points at the 8:55 mark. The Hawks responded by hitting their next three field goals to go up 43-35 with 6:30 remaining. Twidale hit her second triple of the game at the 2:30 mark to get the Bears to within five points. The Bears headed into the final frame down 47-40.

Cal started the fourth quarter with four unanswered points to get within three at the 8:00 mark, but the Hawks responded with four of their own. Ila Lane scored four straight points to cut the Hawk’s lead to 51-48 with 6:44 left. The Bears got down 10 points before responding with a 9-0 run capped by a Krimili 3-pointer with 47 seconds left. The Hawks scored a layup on their next possession, but Onyiah was able to score a layup to get the Bears back within one point with 23 seconds left. After Saint Joseph’s converted two free throws, Onyiah once again got Cal to within one point with a layup. The Hawks only hit one free throw on their next possession giving Cal a chance to tie or take the lead with 12 seconds left but the Bears were unable to make a shot at the buzzer.

Saint Joseph’s was led by Laura Ziegler and Chloe Welch who had 19 points each.