The California Golden Bears played well in spurts in earning a decisive victory over Grand Canyon University, 72-53.
“It’s hard to beat any team by 20; it is,” said Cal head coach Charmin Smith, whose team improved to 8-3. “For us to get that lead and maintain, it showed our growth, and I was really proud of how we were able to not let them hang around and gain any confidence.”
The Bears led wire-to-wire, building on the lead over the first three quarters and then coasted home.
Alaysia Styles led the Bears with a career-high 18 points, and Jaelyn Brown and Jazlen Green contributed 16 and 15, respectively.
Green and Evelien Lutje Schipholt each had four steals, contributing to the Bears’ season-high tally of 14.
CJ West had 10 rebounds to go with her 12 points, as the Bears won the glass, 39-33. Cal was also stellar from the line, hitting 22 of 26 free throws (84.6%).
Jada Holland and Da’jah Daniel each had 14 points for Grand Canyon. Daniel also had a game-high 13 rebounds.
Cal snapped Grand Canyon’s (5-6) three-game winning streak.
Jaelyn Brown found herself on the line at the start of the game, hitting both free throws on an administrative technical foul, earned when Grand Canyon failed to turn in their starting lineup on time. It was the first of 11 straight made free-throws for the Bears.
“It was really weird shooting free-throws at the beginning of the game,” said Brown, who said she knew it would happen so she practiced free-throws during warm-ups.
“It was my worst nightmare as an assistant that I would forget to put the names in,” said Smith. “The past 12 years that’s been my responsibility, so that was my worst nightmare as an assistant coach.”
Cal then won the tip, and Alysia Styles knocked down a three.
“We ran the first play to her,” said Smith, explaining that she wanted to get Styles involved on offense immediately.
“Before the game, I told myself to take my time,” said Styles, who acknowledges that she tends to get tense and nervous before games. “Just relax and just let myself play basketball, and it usually works out for me.”
Brown hit two jumpers to edge Cal ahead in the early going.
Grand Canyon kept pace, with Da’jah Daniel scoring twice inside. After five minutes of play, the Bears led 9-8.
Cal immedidately went on an 8-0 run. The Bears crashed hard on the offensive glass, and their efforts paid off. CJ West hit a putback, and Brown earned a trip to the line, making both. Styles splashed a jumper and two free throws of her own.
The Antelopes hit a three and a jumper to stay close, but Cailyn Crocker knocked down two from the line, and Cal had the 19-13 lead after the first period. Cal’s perfect performance from the line (8 of 8) helped the offset cold shooting (5 of 20, 25%) from the field.
Grand Canyon’s guards beat the Bears off the dribble and on cuts to start the second, hitting three baskets to close it within 21-19.
Cal amped up its defense, with steals and blocks leading to runouts on the other end, resulting in three scores inside.
“We locked in defensively and got some stops and got some hands on some balls,” said Smith.
Five consecutive points from West earned the Bears their first double-digit lead, 32-21, with 2:26 left in the second.
A floater by Sara Anastasieska and a jumper by Styles closed the half, and the Bears led 36-24 after the 15-5 run.
Styles led the way with 11 points, while Brown had 10, as Cal shot better in the second (7 of 14, 50%).
“Bird [Styles] did a lot of things for us defensively too,” said Smith. “She was in help a lot, did a good job on the boards.”
Styles and Brown continued to carry Cal on offense, each hitting a long jumper to start the third.
Grand Canyon began the second half carving up the Cal defense, hitting three of four, including a three, prompting Smith to call time.
“Our on-ball defense is going to have to step up to another level,” said Smith. “There are some guards coming that we’ll need to get in a stance and really contain.”
Playing off the ball to prevent the drive, Cal slowed down the Antelopes.
On the other end, the Bears continued to execute, spreading the wealth and finding high-percentage shots. Five points from West and four from frosh Jazlen Green highlight a 13-3 run that put Cal ahead 53-34 with two minutes left in the third.
Leilani McIntosh’s three and two free throws by fellow frosh Evelien Lutje Schipholt increased Cal’s lead to 58-36.
After three, Cal was in control, up 58-38.
Cal used the fourth to experiment with different combinations, including trying out Green at point guard with the starters.
Both teams struggled on offense, combining to hit only one of nine shots in the first four minutes of the period. Both teams did manage to get to the line, with Green hitting five for Cal. Two free throws by Mae Bryant pulled Grand Canyon within 61-44.
The Bears closed out the game, with Styles closing out her career game with a free-throw, and the Bears finished the non-conference slate in comfortable fashion.
“Definitely the teams we played have prepared us,” said Styles. “Teams like Arkansas, Kentucky, and UConn, they make us raise the bar. Each game we learned new things. We learned a lot about ourselves--how we play together. We’re ready to go show everyone what we’re about.”
“We talked about trying to get some momentum heading into the new year,” said Smith. “We did that. The players are really listening and trying to do what we asked them to do. To be eight and three at the end of nonconference play, I don’t know that it’s something a lot of people would have expected.
Cal now moves to the tougher part of their season, heading into Pac-12 play.
“We did a good job, but we’re going to need even more,” said Smith. “We know what’s coming. We need everybody at their best.”
The Bears open conference play at home against Washington (January 3, 7pm) and Washington State (January 5, noon).
