Bears Pounded at Stanford, 73-40

Cal vs Stanford is often referred to as the oldest rivalry in women’s college basketball, with the first matchup dating back to 1896, when Stanford won 2-1. On this night, the Bears threatened to turn back the clock, exhibiting record-breaking offensive futility, losing 73-40.

The Bears, who had struggled of late on offense, continued that trend. Cal scored only three points in the third period, tied for the fewest ever in any quarter in program history.

“We had trouble putting the ball in the basket, and that’s been the case for a couple of games now,” said Cal head coach Charmin Smith. “It took a toll here in Maples, with who we were playing against, and the crowd and everything. We got a little quiet.”

Haley Jones led Stanford with 17 points, and Ashten Prechtel had 11. 

No Cal player scored in double figures. Jazlen Green hit three of five from beyond the arc for nine points.

Stanford out-rebounded Cal 50-29.

Cal is still searching for their first conference win (8-6, 0-3). No. 5 Stanford is 14-1 and 3-0 in the Pac-12.

Cal scored first, with Jaelyn Brown knocking down a short jumper. It would be the Bears’ only lead.

Both teams struggled against tough defense early, with Cal applying pressure on the ball and Stanford bottling up the paint with their height and length.

Stanford edged ahead as Lexie Hull knocked down an open three. The Cardinal then took over the paint for four quick baskets, with two from Hayley Jones exploiting the size mismatch.

Cal could get nothing going on offense, setting for long jumpers, which were all off the mark. Cal would miss 11 shots in a row to end the first period.

Ashtyn Prechtel hit a three for Stanford, and the Cardinal closed the first 10 minutes up 20-5.

“We had some contested shot, some poor shot selections in there,” said Smith. “And then we also had some wide open looks; we missed some point blank layups. We just have to slow ourselves down and settle in.”

Prechtel scored inside to extend the Stanford run to 18-0.

After a free throw by Sara Anastasieska, Stanford immediately went on another run, this time 7-0, highlighted by a three from Williams, extending the lead to 29-6.

Adding injury to insult, Evelien Lutje Schipholt chipped her tooth fighting down low. Brown came up limping going for a rebound. Both left the game but would return.

And while the Bears battled hard, it was Stanford who came up with more rebounds. After three offensive rebounds on one trip, the Cardinal cashed in, with Prechtel scoring inside.

“We weren’t really good in boxing out and limiting them to one shot,” said Smith. “Some of them, [Stanford] were really aggressive and they have size advantage at multiple positions against us. And then other times, we were just slow to the ball. We just got lulled into a slow pace.” 

Leilani McIntosh, often Cal’s least offensive-minded player, scored two baskets, helping Cal hit double-digits in the second period.

But Stanford kept rolling, maintaining their big lead. At the half, Cal was down 39-15. 

“Our defense was locked in,” said Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer.

Haley Jones put on her personal showcase, scoring eight consecutive points for Stanford to open the third.

Cal was shut out for nearly seven and a half minutes. Alaysia Styles finally got Cal on the board, hitting a three. It would be Cal’s only points in the third.

Hannah Jump’s three to beat the shot clock got Stanford the 40-point lead, 58-18, at the end of the third.

“If you can go a quarter not making a field goal, anyone is 40 points better than you,” said Smith. “Especially against the No. 5 team in the country, it’s going to be challenging to stay close if you’re not scoring.”

The Bears doubled their offensive output for the half within the first two minutes of the fourth, as Anastasieska and McIntosh each hit a three.

Crocker helped the Bears keep pace against Stanford’s reserves, hitting a three and a layup. On the latter, she was the beneficiary of a behind-the-back pass from McIntosh, the two freshmen teaming up to provide the rare Bear highlight.

“They have a lot of heart,” said Smith. “They don’t quit. We found out fight late. At least we got the fight back.”

Cal won the fourth period 22-15.

The Bears look to build on the fourth quarter and get better in their next game.

“We kind of got clobbered,” said Smith. “Today they were a lot better than us, and I hope we can be a lot better on Sunday.”

Cal will host Stanford on 1/12 at 5pm.

NOTES:

• Stanford made history of their own, with head coach Tara VanDerveer notching her 500^th Pac-10/12 regular-season win, the most for any coach in one conference.

• Charmin Smith, who contributed to a number of those wins as a player and an assistant coach under VanDerveer, spoke about playing against her mentor as a head coach.

  “It’s really special and really cool,” said Smith. “Obviously, I don’t like losing, but this was a very special day. From the fans who came up to me before the game, from the friends who were here, former players, people here just really happy for me to be in this position. That means a lot. I said to Tara I just want to keep working and to get to the point where this is a tough weekend for teams coming into the Bay.”

• Cal also scored 3 in the 2nd quarter at UConn during the 2017-18 season

• 40 points scored is fewest in a game since Dec 7, 2014 vs Kansas (62-39 loss); fewest in a conference game since 44-32 loss to UCLA on Feb. 6, 2010