BearBint said:

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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.)

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She's now averaging 7.7 rebounds per 30 minutes, good for anyone and outstanding for a guard.

Inner beast clawing its way out? Next film Alien: Berkeley

stu said:

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BearBint said:

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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.)

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She's now averaging 7.7 rebounds per 30 minutes, good for anyone and outstanding for a guard.

Inner beast clawing its way out? Next film Alien: Berkeley

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Gisella also looks like she's having a lot of fun playing with this team. Her mindset seems to be to contribute wherever she can. Full team effort.

She and Taylor are also probably sharing stories about their home state of Texas.

Great win! Go Bears!!

Bring on the kids and Gaels!!! See you Thursday.

I really thought the Bears played a solid game on the defensive end. You could see that Harvard is a team that runs an efficient offense but our gals played very disciplined defense. Lola did an exceptional job on the defensive end, and Gisella really gave us quality minutes.

Not to nitpick, but I hope Charmin works with Sakima to improve her positioning on the offensive end. Sakima is very skilled but sometimes she will make a move that creates a near impossible angle to shoot. Just an observation.

Very entertaining game. Two good teams who will be very competitive this year.

Lost in all the comments is how good Lola's on ball defense was. There was a stretch of the game where she absolutely shut down Harvard's drives to the basket without fouling and created important stops. The fact that her shooting has improved is also a bonus

Woodacre said:

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Part of the Charmin reaction about the ball deflection is that she consulted with the video monitoring guy (sitting at the end of the official scoring bench, closest to her) as to whether she should challenge the call, and, in the very few seconds that he had to review it, he told her "No", which created Charmin's retreat. Is that new, that a couch could challenge a call? Charmin had a successful challenge against Charlotte (everyone high-fived after that) and I couldn't recall that being implemented before. Anyone know the rules? Was the Charlotte challenge the first?

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It's a new rule change. Approved this past June.

Coach's challenge approved for women's basketball - NCAA.org

If I had to pick a "defensive" mvp for the Bears, it might be Lola for her great on ball defense

I would be interested in what they are telling Naya that she has to do to get more minutes on the court. Last night in just 11 minutes, she scored 15 points on 7-10 shooting, had 6 rebounds and a plus/minus of +9. We certainly would not have won the game without her.

KiteBear said:

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If I had to pick a "defensive" mvp for the Bears, it might be Lola for her great on ball defense

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I love watching L.D. She looks so earnest and Girl-Scouty on the floor, but has eyes like a hawk. I don't whether her shot will ever become steady/reliable, but her defensive anticipation is good and growing.

Many thoughts from the game last night, but I agree that it was a quality win and fun game to attend.

1. Lola's defense is phenomenal, and she hit 1-2 open threes and not just from the corner. If she can do that, it exponentially increases her value on the court.

2. There was one move where Puff drove the lane, and up to now she's used that to distribute, but slipped inside her defender found a shooting angle, and made a layup. I hope she continues to grow in that respect. Her height, at this level, will always be challenging, but if she can find a way to maneuver layups that would be huge.

3. I just would love for Sakima to be a BIT more aggressive. Especially against a smaller team like Harvard, it feels like she is leaving a bit on the table. Don't get me wrong, she was awesome and really critical, but her size means she needs to dominate physically even more than she does. Maybe that actually is easier against ACC teams where the players she's working against body into her ... maybe gives her more permission to out-physical them.

4. So nice to see Lulu hit a bunch of open and high stakes threes.

5. I think Harvard was a very well coached and disciplined team. Besides Vandy, the best competition of the season thus far.

6. Naya was awesome. Probably her at the 5 won't work against taller ACC teams, but still nice to have that lineup in case Claudia/Sakima get in foul trouble.

7. Mjracle is def my fav player this year. Her on-ball defense, combined with her open floor vision, plus her tenacity, is awesome.

8. I like how Mjracle and Taylor both drive to the basket as their first option, and Lulu is doing that too.

Quickly coming to connect and appreciate this team. Some really good personalities and players. I am so impressed by LD's improvement and defense. Puff making strides. Barnes playing cleaner. Lulu waking up. SW great physical presence (needs to stop getting under the basket on offense). Maul is second most improved player and brings so much positive energy. Naya is an invaluable puzzle piece. And MS is a future potential All American.

We might just slip into NCAA consideration--which I thought would be impossible this year. The trending is good. Clean up turnovers and keep up the defensive intensity and we are there. Harvard was solid and so that win is a really good portent.

Nice tournament review by Nick Kranz at Write for California: https://writeforcalifornia.com/p/cal-womens-basketball-bears-sweep-raising-the-bar-invitational-2025

The on court Harvard players continually talked loudly through all of Cal's free throws attempts. It looked like the refs made one attempt to shush them, but I'm not sure of that. Most of their "discussions" had to do with who was covering who (even during the first free throw attempt) and then verbally changing their minds as the shooter was getting ready to shoot, and shooting, the second free throw. Is this kind of yakking and distracting typically allowed? Or are the Harvard players just continually confused as to who to cover, making it even more obvious that Cal attracts smarter students and athletes?

my daughter noticed that as well. Seriously seemed like poor sportsmanship

Well, they get to fly commercial home, so there's that: https://www.thenexthoops.com/ncaaw/mid-majors/without-charter-flights-ivy-league-teams-roll-with-flight-disruptions/

I hope the coach didn't yell instructions to the players all the way through the commercial flight.

Maybe they couldn't hear the coach during the time outs with the loud music.

Harvard basketball teams (and volleyball) play in a much smaller facility. Formerly a dirt practice facility (Briggs Cage) for field sports converted to a basketball "pavilion."
It only holds around 1600 people so probably yelling isn't required eh?

CalWSportsFan said:

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Well, they get to fly commercial home, so there's that: https://www.thenexthoops.com/ncaaw/mid-majors/without-charter-flights-ivy-league-teams-roll-with-flight-disruptions/

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Thank-you.....Great article, being from the east coast, I enjoyed hearing about the Ivy League schools. I grew up in Massachusetts, loved watching Cal and Harvard play a very competitive game. Cal's beautiful campus with it's outstanding architecture always gives me a feeling of nostalgia. Great Game....GO BEARS!!!!

Small gyms create more noise from cheering than larger gym. Ceiling closer to floor and sound bounces back. Ask anyone who went to Harmon before it became Haas. Was loudest gym in Pac 12 then. Was like a sonic boom then. And no piped music.

Good point. Before the "new" gym in the remodeled dirt cage, Harvard played in a basketball gym on the 4th floor of the IAB (featuring the original name of "Indoor Athletic Building." ) It was quite a hike for playersand any fans who showed upalthough there was a freight elevator somewhere…
It could get loud, in there but that was also before the days of the music played now.

Though I did go to some women's games in Harmon before its update, I don't recall much noise (or crowds).

In terms of Haas, I think if they spent some time with a sound engineer/designer they might easily be able to keep music "loud," but NOT EAR-splitting. Even the MC is over-modulated most of the time. As I said, noise-cancelling ear buds are my friend.

I do wish they'd put a couple screens up in opposite corners. Looking up at the board is difficult from seats closer to the floor.

Ok, complaints over.

My latest theory is that they actually want us to stay home and watch the games on television. TV advertising revenues based on ratings are more lucrative than ticket sales.