St Marys has played the Cal women tough in recent meetings. The Gaels are 6-4 but I believe that they're better than their record. They have three key players in 5-9 senior SG Taycee Wedin, 6-3 RS soph C Ali Bamberger (from Carondelet) & 5-11 senior SF/wing Maddy Holland (from Archbishop Mitty). They also have two guards that are good in 5-9 RS junior, Jade Kirisome, from Australia & 5-9 frosh Makena Mastora from St Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda.
2021-2022 Saint Mary's College of California Women's Basketball (PDF) - SMC California Athletics (smcgaels.com)
I watched Holland for four years at AM in San Jose. She was good at everything. She played high post and was second in rebounding, she played PG on occasion, was a dead-eye three point shooter and high percentage free throw shooter. Her skill set was similar to all-american Haley Jones, Stanford star, but she lacked the elite athleticism and speed.
Maddy Holland has a 54.9 FG%, is a 47.1% 3 PT shooter, is a 100% on her free throws, is the Gael's 2nd best rebounder (4.1 per game) and statistically their best ball handler (20 assists vs 13 turnovers). She missed three games due to injury and St Marys lost those. One of the losses was at Utah (8-2) by 42 points. The Gaels lost by 27 at #3 North Carolina State but played without their top scorer, SG Taycee Wedin.
In their last game, St Marys upset an undefeated team, Coastal Carolina (8-1), in South Carolina. Taycee Wedin hit a three pointer beyond the top of the key at the buzzer for the win.
2021-22 Women's Basketball Roster - SMC California Athletics (smcgaels.com)
I'm worried about this game because Cal has not been playing well lately (IMO). The Bear's turnovers have jumped up to 18-19 per game and their defense has been porous. Cal is near the bottom of the Pac 12 in points per game given up. It appears that St Marys has been putting their game together with the return of Holland & Wedin. The Gaels have a strong post presence in Bamberger and a couple of three point shooters with in excess of 40% accuracy. Both of those areas have been weak spots for the Bears on defense.
I anticipate a very close game. St Marys has been outscored this season by exactly three points per game. They are not good on defense either, yielding 69.5 ppg. The team that plays the best defense will likely emerge victorious. Cal has won 3 out of its last 4 games while St Marys has captured 4 of its last 5...
GO BEARS!
2021-2022 Saint Mary's College of California Women's Basketball (PDF) - SMC California Athletics (smcgaels.com)
I watched Holland for four years at AM in San Jose. She was good at everything. She played high post and was second in rebounding, she played PG on occasion, was a dead-eye three point shooter and high percentage free throw shooter. Her skill set was similar to all-american Haley Jones, Stanford star, but she lacked the elite athleticism and speed.
Maddy Holland has a 54.9 FG%, is a 47.1% 3 PT shooter, is a 100% on her free throws, is the Gael's 2nd best rebounder (4.1 per game) and statistically their best ball handler (20 assists vs 13 turnovers). She missed three games due to injury and St Marys lost those. One of the losses was at Utah (8-2) by 42 points. The Gaels lost by 27 at #3 North Carolina State but played without their top scorer, SG Taycee Wedin.
In their last game, St Marys upset an undefeated team, Coastal Carolina (8-1), in South Carolina. Taycee Wedin hit a three pointer beyond the top of the key at the buzzer for the win.
2021-22 Women's Basketball Roster - SMC California Athletics (smcgaels.com)
I'm worried about this game because Cal has not been playing well lately (IMO). The Bear's turnovers have jumped up to 18-19 per game and their defense has been porous. Cal is near the bottom of the Pac 12 in points per game given up. It appears that St Marys has been putting their game together with the return of Holland & Wedin. The Gaels have a strong post presence in Bamberger and a couple of three point shooters with in excess of 40% accuracy. Both of those areas have been weak spots for the Bears on defense.
I anticipate a very close game. St Marys has been outscored this season by exactly three points per game. They are not good on defense either, yielding 69.5 ppg. The team that plays the best defense will likely emerge victorious. Cal has won 3 out of its last 4 games while St Marys has captured 4 of its last 5...
GO BEARS!