No. 23 Cal Beats Pacific, 81-69

For one game, the No. 23 California Golden Bears made Maples Pavilion home.

Due to poor air quality in Haas Pavilion, Cal played their game against Pacific  in their rival Stanford’s campus. The Bears pulled away in the second half, beating the Tigers 81-69.

“It’s important that we remember that while we were inconvenienced by the air quality, but there is extreme devastation around, and it’s important to remember that this in context is not nearly as important,” said Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “Our thoughts continue to be with those devastated by these fires.”

Kristine Anigwe had 25 points--16 in the second half--to pace the Bears. Kianna Smith contributed 18, while Asha Thomas knocked down every shot she attempted en route to 15 points. Alaysia Styles gave Cal a lift off the bench with 10.

Pacific was led by Valerie Higgins, who had 17 points. She was joined in double figures by Ameela Li (14) and Anaya Brooklyn McDavid (13).

Cal moves to 4-0 on the season. Pacific is now 1-1.

Kristine Anigwe hit a three on the first possession of the game, but the Bears looked a step slow to open the contest.

Anaya Brooklyn McDavid found space for consecutive mid-range jumpers against the Cal zone, grabbing Pacific’s first lead, 4-3.

The two teams committed consecutive turnovers trying to figure out each other’s switching defenses, with Cal trying to push the pace. 

Jessica Blakeslee’s putback edged Pacific ahead 6-5, halfway throught the first period.

Asha Thomas grabbed a rebound and turned it into a two-on-one fastbreak, with her behind-the-back pass finding Alaysia Styles for a basket.

Anigwe turned the ball over facing a triple team down low, and Lianna Tillman converted a breakaway layup. McDavid’s three point play kept the Tigers ahead 14-10.

“In the first quarter, we looked a little out of sorts,” said Gottlieb. “But I credit Pacific more than the circumstances.”

Another patient and disciplined offensive set by the Tigers led to an backdoor cut and basket by Tylah King, and Pacific closed the quarter up 18-12.

With their confidence flowing, the Tigers began to hit contested shots, and five quick points led to the 23-14 lead.

Jaelyn Brown picked up fouls on consecutive possession and went to the bench. Her replacement, Styles, quickly knocked down a baseline jumper. 

Mi’Cole Cayton checked in at 7:13 in the second, seeing her first action in a year.

Anigwe tried to take over the game, but she committed consecutive turnovers and then a personal foul. Halfway through the second, Cal trailed 28-20.

USC transfer Valerie Higgins knocked down four free-throws to keep Pacific ahead.

Anigwe and Kianna Smith worked the two-man game patiently, earning Smith an open jumper on the baseline. After a three by Recee Caldwell, Smith earned a trip to the line, and her two free throws closed the gap to 34-29.

Smith then knocked down a three off the inbound, and on the other end, McKenzie Forbes played tough position defense to force a travel. 

Anigwe split free-throws to close the Cal 6-0 run, and the Bears entered halftime down 34-33.

“I thought the run we made to cut it to one at the half was significant,” said Gottlieb. “It wasn’t pretty; it was gritty. It’s significant to be down nine and figure out a way. We want to work on being cleaner at the beginning, but It’s a good sign when we can stick together and figure out what we need to do during the course of the game.”

Smith led all players with 11 points, and Anigwe had nine and five rebounds.

Pacific held a 21-15 advantage on the glass, and their team play showed in collecting 11 assists on 13 baskets.  

Asha Thomas pulled up and pulled Cal back into the lead to open the third quarter. Pacific came right back with a tough take by Higgins, followed by a three from King.

Cal continued to show improved aggressiveness on both ends, pushing the ball after every rebound and breaking down the defense with the dribble drive. Two Brown free-throws tied the game, and then consecutive baskets from Anigwe (on nice assists by Thomas and Smith), and the Bears were up 43-39 halfway through the third.

“We made a more concerted effort to run,” said Gottlieb. “I thought Jaelyn Brown was really critical. It doesn’t show up on the stats sheet, but she did a really good job defensively, especially playing with three fouls. She kick-started our break. We got the ball up the floor fast, and when we do that, we have a punishing finisher in Kristine, and we have guards who can spread the floor and make shots.”

“We just played hard,” said Anigwe. “We just attacked and finished and shared the ball and played together. I’m really proud of us.”

With the Tigers scrambling to keep up with Cal’s quick trigger offense, Anigwe began to dominate the glass. Two Anigwe putbacks sandwiched a Thomas three, and Cal extended the run to 13-0and led 50-39.

A three by Ameela Li broke the string, but Cal continued to play hard and held the double-digit advantage. Styles hit two free-throws to close the third with Cal up 56-44.

Cal’s defense held Pacific to four of 18 shooting (22%) in the third.

Pacific scored the first two baskets of the fourth to keep contact. Four quick points by Higgins narrowed the lead to 58-54, with seven minutes to play.

Then the Bears showed off how potent their offense can be.

With their three guards (Thomas, Caldwell, and Smith) directing traffic, Cal found one good look after another.

“For me, being in the post, I see Asha getting ball in from the wing,” said Anigwe. “Recee--one pass, it’s up off the court. And Ki--transition. But then you see Asha doing transition. So I’m like, ‘Dang, everyone’s a point guard!’ But it’s really helpful having so much experience on the floor.”

“A lot of teams are going to have to scout us differently,” said Thomas.

Consecutive threes by Asha Thomas steadied Cal, and then it was Smith’s turn to knock down seven quick points. Add in baskets by Anigwe and Brown, and the Bears closed out the game in comfortable fashion.

“That second half, we had a better rhythm,” said Gottlieb. “We first want to play in transition, and then we want to play rhythmic basketball.”

“It’s our maturity, our leadership, our veterans understanding that we need to play basketball,” said Thomas. “We need to be more disciplined. Cohesion--we just dialed in to what we need to do.”

“We’re older now, and we are leaders of this team, and we don’t want to lose,” said Anigwe. “Doesn’t matter what happens in that first half, but the second half, we’re going to win. We’ve never been a team that closes off games. But now we’re going to close this game; we’re going to win. Having that passion, that maturity, the growth is there.”

“Just happy to get a win in a ‘neutral environment’,” said Gottlieb.  “We’ll mark this down in the storybook about that one time we got a home win at Maples.”

NOTES:

Mi’Cole Cayton played eight minutes. Gottlieb said that Caytone is on a minutes restriction and would likely be used in short spells until she gets into game shape. At game’s end, some players huddled around Cayton at midcourt, offering her words of encouragement.

“First of all, just be grateful you’re back on the court,” said Thomas about what she said. “Many players go through that situation, and they don’t come back. So just reminding her to be appreciative of stepping on that court, putting that jersey on, and getting those minutes. And then also just take it game by game. Whenever you come in--like she did--she gave us that energy. We’re happy to have her back.”

“It’s incredibly tough to go through an injury like that and come back,” said Anigwe. “Asha has done it, so she knows the grind. But I’ve just see [Cayton] go through high and low and then back up. So just having her back on the court, I felt an extra boost, like I need to play for her. She’s from Stockton. She’s been with us this whole year, and watching from the sidelines, that’s been hard. So I’m just really glad she’s back with us.”

After giving up the ball seven times in first quarter, Cal ended the game with 17 turnovers. The Bears also out-rebounded the Tigers 25-7 in the second half.

Cal now travels to San Diego over the Thanksgiving holiday, where they will take on Tulane (11/23) and then host San Diego (11/24). Both games will be at 4pm.