MoragaBear said:

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Halftime at Haas Pavilion@CalWBBall 42 Vanguard 30

— Jim McGill (@BearInsider_com) November 1, 2024

I'll have stats after the game supposedly.

Lola opened the half with a 3, 45-30.

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Thanks, Jim and Moraga Bear.

MoragaBear said:

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Leilani's courtside in baby blue

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Oh, Leilani! Why couldn't she go for a PhD., and play a sixth year? (Is one allowed to do this?)

Back from the game. A lot of new faces. Hard to make any assessments based on limited play in an exhibition but I think fans are really going to like Zahra King, she's very quick, has a shot and and could be an exciting player. Lola has an interesting shot and could get minutes. Ackerman was a lot quicker and more agile than I would have thought. Made a steal at midcoast and got the layup. Kayla Williams had limited minutes after starting. Giselle, Anastasia and Claudia didn't play. Ioanna and Michelle looked sharp against weak opponents. Marta still seems averse to passing the ball. The walk on Sofia Bowes got some minutes and hit a three. We'll get a better fix on the team after the two games next week. Vanguard was really bad.

Just my opinions:

Ioana came out raining threes from everywhere, including the A in Haas Pavilion about 6 feet behind the arc. She also looks a little leaner and quicker.

Kayla started at PG but Zahra got most of the minutes and looked really good for a freshie. Lulu played a little at point in the 2nd half but didn't look too comfortable there. Otherwise Lulu, Marta, and Michelle looked as I would expect.

Jayda is very intense and athletic and she's a dawg on the boards.

Kamryn played a lot and looked good, especially for a freshie. Lola played with great composure and smarts. Gabrielle is very quick and coordinated and looks like she has a high ceiling. Sofia played more than a few minutes in the 2nd half and held her own.

Natalia showed her experience. Neither Claudia nor Gisella suited up though both were walking fine. I didn't see Anastasia.

The final score was 83-47. I would like to have seen a little more consistency on defense but I loved our energy.

BTW Michelle had just one foul. Good omen - we'll need her this season.

Back from game.

Not many people there.

I think we'll be OK at point guard. Williams started and she is fast. Great job on defense. Can handle the ball. not sure about scoring. got a bloody nose and never returned.

Zahara King was the backup and i was impressed with her. Fast. can go to the hoop and can shoot the three. Is left handed.

Starte4rs were Williams. Lulu, Marta, Michele, and Krimili. Krimili looked like the reincarnation of K Clark from Iowa with her three point shooting. Had 18 at the half and most were three's.

Michele played an entire half without a foul. Must have had zillion rebounds. Vanguard was not big so Michele feasted. Vanguard did move the ball well and hit the three the first half.

Being a musician, last year it was Lulu 's back in town. this year it is whatever Lola wants, Lola gets. Donez started the second half due to the Williams injury. She is a little thin but moves OK. can hit the three.

Ackerman and Noble looked like replacement type players. If you are a baseball fan, then you know Bill James's value of a replacement player.

Surprise of the night to me. Gabrielle Abigor. Very raw but very athletic. She played for. divisision V team last year in a weak league and didn't bowl them over so I wasn't expecting much.

Sofia bowles, the walkon did well. a little stocky but moves better than you think

Kamryn Mafua (who i actually saw in high school) looked good. 6'2" and can shoot the three. Will likely be a III if all goes well.

Surprised that Gabriel Maul didn't play. must be injured. Drosouni and Langarita didn't play.

I thought we looked a little quicker than last year.

Well, I'm tired and I am going to bed.

My imperfect thots after one exhibition game:

1) The new players have a lot of RAW talent who could grow into a good deep rotation core. I'm intrigued by Walnut Creek's Gabrielle Abigor; long and athletic. You can never have enough 6'3" inside players. I see big contributions possible.

Who will fill Leilani's shoes in the back court? Nobody played harder in the ol' Pac12. This will be interesting.

2) I predict Cal will beat Saint Mary's this coming Monday. The Gaels are without their top scorer and player, while they are amidst a major rebuild. After the opener, Cal will be a steady work-in-progress during out-of-conference games. We will need to be patient as the young players progress into tough conference play, learning and growing from all early losses.

BTW our own beloved Brittney Boyd is now an assistant coach at Saint Mary's. Head Coach Jeff Cammon was an assistant under Lindsay Gottleib in Berkeley..

3) I gotta be honest, about a concern. It's only one practice game of course, but I observed veterans Onyiah and Suarez regressing back to old bad habits. Marta falls into a streetball offense and throws up the ball near the basket rather than using her size and moves off-ball to create a less rushed bunny shot and draw fouls. Or please please pass the rock quickly when drawing double or triple teams. Don't wait for the defense to collapse on you and force bad shots and turnovers. Marta and Onyiah have the ability to lead this team into March post conference tournament play. They both are gifted athletes,

Michelle, now my favorite player with Leilani gone, needs to remember - catch the ball high - keep it high. She is capable of a huge season as a PF/C in rebounds, assists, rim protection and scoring inside. She has come a long way reducing her fouls, but I wish she would watch film of Reshanda's interior offense OMG a decade ago.

4) Ioanna looks healthy and already in great form. Make it rain threes, and when the double teams come get it to Lulu or others who can score. Ioanna is a special talent.

5) The game was fun to watch because both teams ran. In the end, Cal was still fresh. Like the 2024-25 Warriors, playing a deep roster has advantages. I hope this grows and improves into the season, and the challenging ACC games.

The Bears just might surprise and surpass expectations this season. Appears to be significant young and also experienced talent.

John, were you there for warmups. At first i thought Abigor was Michele. she had lots of energy and was very athletic. Plus her shot did not look bad.