Harvard (2-2) had a record-breaking year in 2024-2025 with 24 victories behind HC Carrie Moore. They captured the Ivy League Championship and earned an invite to the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson return almost everyone except for their starting backcourt of PG Harmoni Turner and SG Elena Rodriguez. This dynamic duo accounted for approximately 50% of the team's scoring (34 out of 68 points). Their next nine scorers return, but many must take on much bigger roles and responsibilities on the team. Last night was by far their strongest outing of the season with a 38-point blowout of Oakland University. It was nearly a perfect game.

2025-2026 Harvard University Women's Basketball (PDF) - Harvard University

Last year, Harvard yielded only 52.9 points per game (top 5 nationally), but so far after 4 games in 2025, are giving up 12.85 more points. The Ivy League power is only outscoring their opposition by 0.25 of a point. The Crimson has struggled to replace the ball-handling expertise lost due to graduation. This season the team averages 19.5 turnovers per game. This has been their primary weakness. Their defense is still forcing 20 TOs against its opponents, however. Harvard is a three-point shooting squad and connected on 16 vs Oakland. They average 8 treys per game.

2025-26 Women's Basketball Roster - Harvard University

Cal will need to defend the perimeter tonight and maintain their own hot three-point shooting. The Bears found their stroke in the second half yesterday against Charlotte and ended up with 12.

Harvard employed a full court press in the opening quarter last night and jumped out to a 22-9 advantage. I'm concerned about Cal's ball-handling, and it could be the key whether the Crimson end up with a W or an L.
I would like to see the Bears control the boards and get more offensive production from 6-5 center Sakima Walker. She disappeared from the offense over the last two games, tallying only 2 & 4 points, respectively. It would also aid Cal's offense if Lulu Twidale rejoins the playing rotation tonight. Perhaps she'll re-discover her three-point accuracy like both of these teams did on Saturday!

It should be a defensive-oriented game with the final score in the sixties. GO BEARS!

Lulu from 3!

I thought we would see a lot of three point shots from Harvard. But so far their motion and ball movement have provided a lot of two-point opportunities.

Fun back and forth so far. Just need to cut down their their cuts/rolls to the basket when Walker is away from the basket

A close battle through the first half. Cal has rediscovered the lob into the post play that has been a mainstay through the Gottlieb/Smith years and it is paying off tonite. But Harvard is matching the paint production.
Cal 37- Harvard 35

Biggest surprise has been 3 points and no rebounds for Barnes in 19 minutes. Will have to focus some on her in the second half to see what is happening.

White & Wright are carrying the Crimson with 10 &13, respectively, at halftime. These two were the #4 and #5 scorers from last season. Harvard runs a sophisticated offense with a lot of backdoor cuts and screen 'n rolls. Sheppard has been exploited twice by White on the backdoor plays. Ojukwu & Walker are 9-13 scoring inside. Harvard's post Wright is also scoring at will w/ 5 for 7 inside. Both teams are shooting approximately 50% against each other. Both defenses had been good before tonight.

Maul, Donez and Ojukwu have played very aggressively tonight off of the bench which is encouraging to see. I agree that the Bears need some offense from Taylor Barnes to win this game. Lulu could contribute some offense, too.

Harvard is a very well coached team and it will take a maximum effort for Cal to triumph.
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PG White has taken over the game by taking Sheppard and Donez to the basket for layups or free throws. Harvard is scoring on almost every possession while Cal has not scored a basket 3 1/2 minutes. The Ivy League team has jumped out to a six-point lead.

Cal rallies from behind Ojukwu and Twidale to come back and win the 3rd period, 20-15. Bears jump out 7-2 to begin final period.

Cal plays best game of the year and triumphs by 11 points. Harvard was outrebounded 39-33 and held to one solitary three-point basket. Top three returning scorers tallied all of the points (18,23 & 13) for the Crimson.

Maul led the team in rebounding off of the bench. Ojukwu was 7-10 from the floor w/ six rebounds in only 11 minutes off of the bench. Please let the girl play, Charmin! She's only a sophomore for goodness sakes. Both Walker & Lulu had big games as starters, too. Twidale re-discovered her long distance shot w/ 5 made threes.

The gal that does the commentary was exactly right that the team has been improving each game!

St Marys (5-0) is next on Thursday night. GO BEARS!

Cal: 13 assists on 16 baskets

Very even game in every category

When they defend the post with one defender we score. When they bring two it doesn't go to well

We need to recognize when they are are 1v1 vs to doubling

When they are doubling we should be able to get an open shot

Lulu is best on the open catch and shoot. So we need to get her more of those.

Just as I spoke.

Back to back triples by Barnes and Morris and Bears lead by 12!
But, still a lot of time.
The pass into the post seems to have disappeared this quarter...

Twidale with a possible dagger from deep -
Cal 74 - Harvard 65 - 41.4 seconds to go.

Cal back to the free throw line.

Another excellent second half ...

Cal only made three shots in the fourth quarter! threes by Barnes, Morris and Twidale. The other 10 points all came at the line! 10-12 in the Fourth!

HYPED UP 🚨

📺>>ACCNX#weplayforthebay #gobears pic.twitter.com/IT5KuaQJa9

— Cal Basketball (@CalWBBall) November 17, 2025

california golden bears 76
harvard crimson tide 65

in the acc vs ivy league battle of high gpa true student athletes, the wildly entertaining bears (now 4-1, hopefully andrew mcgraw & coach wilcox will get the entire fb squad to one of their games in january) got a boost from team leader (and the future fiance of nohl williams) australian lulu twidale knocking down 4 of 8 3 pointers with greater arc on her perimeter shots (she wuz too flat with her ball trajectory early in the season) en route to a game high 17 points

the other big development is the emergence of gonzaga/utah transfer naya ojukwu playing with offensive intensity (still needs to work on her d in understanding passing angles/leverage) in scoring 15 points on an efficient 7 of 10 shooting along with 6 boards to complement 6'6" sakima walker (dad samaki played in the nba) who also scored 15 points while playing d with a high basketball iq of the principle of verticality in avoiding dumb azz fouls

let if fly, lulu, let it fly!!#

It sure took a while to get our defense and rebounding going. Harvard got too many layups and short jumpers. Then it was a relief to see our threes start to drop. Good effort against a well coached team.

My unsung heroes are Naya and Gisella.

stu said:

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It sure took a while to get our defense and rebounding going. Harvard got too many layups and short jumpers. Then it was a relief to see our threes start to drop. Good effort against a well coached team.

My unsung heroes are Naya and Gisella.

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Agree Naya and Gisella (9 rebounds and some key plays) were key to the win. I also thought players didn't try to do too much or do things they're not capable of

a few other notables:

Walker 5-6 FT and only 2 fouls
Sheppard 7 rebounds
Lola only took 1 shot, but it was a made 3

This was a quality win

stu said:

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It sure took a while to get our defense and rebounding going. Harvard got too many layups and short jumpers. Then it was a relief to see our threes start to drop. Good effort against a well coached team.

My unsung heroes are Naya and Gisella.

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Gisella's inner beast is clawing its way out! She had 9 rebounds, one of which was pretty physical. (I just love a good rebounder.)

Anyway, Palms of Victory!

(And another win for Cardiac Cal.)

Sakima and Puff made all tournament team, with Puff the MVP

Woodacre said:

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Sakima and Puff made all tournament team, with Puff the MVP

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So much for those who doubted Puff's gifts! She is small, but gifted, and I'm glad Cal got her.

Woodacre said:

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Sakima and Puff made all tournament team, with Puff the MVP

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Tough call since several Cal players stood out in one game but not so much in the other. I had no idea who would get the honors.

Choosing the MVP was a bit difficult since this was a true team win. Glad Lulu found her shot, 17 assists on 24 made FGs. Naya (only 11 minutes? Look at the numbers!) and Gisella (very good stat line - I love her activity) have been solid rotational players.

Too many passes into traffic. Need to make better decisions.

Second strong game shooting the 3. Encouraging.

I like this team's resilience. Several times after a mistake, the player made up for it by making the next play. Again, encouraging. Not just resilience, but also persistence.

There were two comedic Charmin moments: the first was when Puff let loose an early 3...and made it. Charmin crossed herself (very similar to when Steve Kerr was in his first year coaching the Warriors and would jump up when Stephen Curry would shoot a seemingly stupid 3...and it goes in)...and the second was when it looked like a Harvard player turned the ball over (but it was deflected by a Bear - Charmin jumped up and went toward the ref...but the coaches told her it was the right call and Charmin meekly hopped back to her seat...even the ref got a laugh out of that.

Looking forward to the St Mary's game - it shall be loud!