Pending Schroeder's excellent preview write-up, I have been looking a bit at Washington. Have been looking forward to this one since UW has another strong coach and has picked up in recruiting. But was surprised to see that their highly-rated freshman post recruit, Jaquaya Miller (#41 Prospect Nation) is not playing much and not doing much when she is in. Possibly an injury or overrated? They are actually getting more out of Ali Bamberger, the freshman from Carondolet.

Overall, it is still Amber Melgoza's team. In their three losses, she shot very poorly in two, and had a lot of TO's in the other. But when she's hot, she's hot. Will look forward to seeing how we choose to defend her.

The Washington schools are high risk/low reward. They'll be RPI busters if we lose and modest gainers if we win. They won't be easy games, more stressful than fun if the goal is making the NCAA tournament. Probably best to just focus on enjoying the sport and the players.

Miller is not the only highly rated big person who has not performed up to task. Schipholt has performed past expectations and others have not.

wvitbear said:

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Miller is not the only highly rated big person who has not performed up to task. Schipholt has performed past expectations and others have not.

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The team that has had really good production from freshman posts is Oregon State. Brown and Jones are both starting, and the team seems improved over last year.

Cal was not been able to handle the guard tandem of Amber Melgoza & Missy Peterson in either game last season. Fortunately, the Bears were able to outscore the Huskies with the help of big games from Kristine Anigwe. This season Cal has been playing better defense under their new HC. Still-I do not feel that the Bears have the personnel to stop the dynamic duo.

Both teams score approximately 71 ppg coming into conference play. The only way that I see Cal victorious is if
our guards can hit at least 5 three pointers and represent a legit threat from outside. This balanced offensive approach will enable Cal to score over seventy points and win. If they become one dimensional-the Huskies have more scoring options and will outscore us.

Washington has a starting lineup of Amber Melgoza (13.5 ppg), Missy Peterson (9.5 ppg) & Russian transfer Rita Pleskevich at guards, PF Mai-Loni Henson (6.1 ppg) and Aussie C 6-4 Darcy Rees (6.5 ppg). Their key 6th man is Haley Van Dyke inside. She leads UDub in rebounding (6.6) and steals with 39. Three other subs play critical roles off of the bench in SF Khayla Rooks (6.8 ppg), 6-3 frosh C Ali Bamberger (5.0) & SG TT Watkins (5.4 ppg). These eight play 17 minutes or more each game.

One player to watch for tonight is newcomer Rita Pleskevich who had her coming out party last weekend in the Huskies victory over the Cougars. She was Washington's #2 scorer with a dozen points. This game should be close within ten points. If Cal can hit from the outside, they will triumph. If not, they will be out-gunned..

GO BEARS!

Rooks is the sister of Sean Rooks who played at Ca;. Bamberger is I believe the daughter of Eric Bamberger.

Massey has Cal by 6, too close for comfort.
He has Cal stronger on offense and Washington stronger on defense.

Cal shoots slightly better percentages from 3, 2 and the FT line.
Cal has been slumping from outside, though.

Washington shoots 25.6 3s per game, 2nd most in the conference behind Oregon.
Cal shoots 15.9 3s per game, least in the conference.

https://stats.pac-12.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/teams?sort=&r=0&pos=off
https://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=1098&s=309913

Gosh, I subscribe to Pac 12 Networks.

And the Cal vs. Washington game is not included?

Arrrgggg

End of One: UW 19 Cal 15 - Cal went into one of those too common multi minute droughts. SA and McIntosh seem a little bothered by UW intensity. Luckily Green is not.

Bears need something, because the second quarter is just not going the Bears way. Halfway through and down 28-17.

Melgoza has not missed a shot - 7-7 from field and 4-4 from the line

Trouble getting into our offense against their physical guards. Swarming defense forcing us into lots of turnovers.

Bears seem to be getting decent shots - but they just aren't falling. 9-34 so far

Washington is a well-coached team. They definitely play to their strengths.

Well, Melgoza missed her last two shots... and Bears trail 36-24.
Bears shot 9-36 for 25% and 10 turnovers.
Dogs shot 13-25 for 52% and 7 turonvers.
UW has 20 points in paint to Cal's ten - several of those are layups, it seems.
Cal is ruling the offensive boards - 14-3. Indeed Cal's offensive boards are more than UW's 13 defensive boards.

So, better shooting, better defense on Melgoza and 20 minutes of basketball to play.

It is amazing how many close shots are missed by the bears. They just throw the ball up instead of shooting the ball. We have missed a load of one footers. My suggestion would be to devote an entire practice just shooting cripples under pressure until we figure out how to do it.

I don't mean to pick on a player but SA has 5 of the Bears 10 turnovers. She hasn't scored 0-3 (0-2), although she leads the Bears with two assists.

SG Melgoza has 18 of UDub's 36 points at intermission. She scored over 20 vs Cal in both games last season. The year prior Amber registered 30 points against us. Jaelyn Brown was put on her and drew 2 quick shooting fouls and went to the bench. Their Aussie post, Rees, has hit two threes and a layup for 8. Melgoza is 7-9 while Rees is 3 for 3 for 26 of their 36! These two are 10 out of 12 from the field. The Huskies are 52% from the floor as compared to the Bear's 25%.

Anastasieska must be taken off of the court. She is scoreless (0-3) but has 5 of Cal's 10 first half turnovers. She is a very poor defender, too, so why is she playing?

I like Sara but she shouldn't be starting.

Smith is not happy with the offensive fouls called on the Bears - and who could blame her?

Halfway through third, it's now 44-36 and the Bears have the ball after an offensive foul called on UW's Rooks.

Bears get closer 52-47 helped by Melgoza blowing a completely wide open layup and then fouling, followed by trying to dribble through all of the Bears and having the ball go out of bounds.
But Bears blow their last defensive set - or... well, 10 minutes to go. Just need to win the fourth by six....

Oh, Bears were 9-9 from the line - which accounts for most of the getting the score closer.
Oops - the refs took a point away from the Bears - so its 52-46, so need to win by seven.

Were not ready for a zone with physical guards. Have had to play McIntosh less. Now putting another shooter on the court.

OBear073akaSMFan said:

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I like Sara but she shouldn't be starting.

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Fortunately she's playing a lot better - we desperately needed that. Getting closer.

GATC said:

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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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I like Sara but she shouldn't be starting.

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Fortunately she's playing a lot better - we desperately needed that. Getting closer.

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Sara with the go-ahead layup and one. 58-56 Cal with 5 min to go.

R90 said:

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GATC said:

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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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I like Sara but she shouldn't be starting.

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Fortunately she's playing a lot better - we desperately needed that. Getting closer.

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Sarah with the go-ahead layup and one. 58-56 Cal with 5 min to go.

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And Melgoza went to the bench on that play with her fourth. But, alas, Bears give up a layup - and we go to a break tied and UW headed to the line upon return.

I understand Brown being upset - but you can't get a technical this late in the game. Now Cal is down three and UW gets the ball,.

One minute to go. Tie game at 64.
Bears have the ball.....
Who's going to take the shot?

Brown took it. Didn't go.
And, you knew Melgoza would take the shot for UW and she does (when Bears D fails and a lane opens up)- and it's good.
15 seconds to go. Bears down two.

ugh. Bears run a play to get Green an open three....but, alas, alack, no.

That was a mistake, should have been a dribble penetration drive; not a 3 pointer. Only needed 2 there.

Well, six seconds to go. UW misses a FT so Bears down 3 and need a three....

oh no. Green's three looked good when it left her hand, but just off....
Well, the Bears did fight back, took the lead, but just couldn't finish tonite.

Bears play very hard

I thought they were going to win this with some clutch plays on both ends to get a late lead

but with about 2 minutes left they had two unforced turnovers and the T

Too bad. Would have been a good win

Considering the Bears shot 32% for the game (and UW 43%), it's amazing it was as close as it was.
Yes, FT were a difference - Cal was 18-20(!) but it's not like UW was a slouch at 12-17.

But 17 turnovers for game (7 in the second half) were the difference. UW credited with 17 points of turnovers to Cal only having 7 points off turnovers. Also, Bears interior defense just wasn't strong enough as Melgoza, in particular, and others seemed to find lanes into the paint frequently - and indeed, outscored the Bears 38-22 in the paint.