Bears Back In The Win Column
BERKELEY – After a hot start early in the contest the Cal women's basketball team found themselves trailing most of the second half. Undeterred, the Bears rallied back, winning 73-72 on a game-winning layup with under 15 seconds to play by Ugonne (Michelle) Onyiah.
Trailing by six with 3:35 to play in the contest, the Bears were forced to use a timeout. Out of the break, Cal (6-1) went on a 7-0 run started by a 3-point field goal from Jayda Curry, three of her team-high 15. The Bear's defense tightened up during that stretch and forced two turnovers and limited Fresno State (2-5) to one field goal over the final seven attempts.
With under 40 seconds to play, the Bulldog's Haley Cavinder hit a jumper in the paint to put Fresno State back out front 72-71, however, they did not hold on to the lead for long. At 16 seconds to play, Onyiah got a pass from a driving Cailyn Crocker under the rim and with her left hand laid the ball in for two, giving the Bears the lead for good.
Offensively, Cal had a tremendous day inside. The Bears scored 42 of their 73 points inside the paint. The duo of Jadyn Bush and Onyiah were a big reason why. Bush had her first double-double of the season, scoring a season-high 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Onyiah, along with the game winner, had a season-high 10 points, along with nine rebounds.
Curry and Jazlen Green also finished in double figures. Curry had 15 along with four assists. Green finished with a season-high 13 and was 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
Fresno State had three in double figures and was led by the Cavinder twins. Haley Cavinder had a game-high 24, Hannah Cavinder added 18. Wytalla Motta chipped in 13 as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A 10-0 run early in the first quarter had the Bears out front 15-5. Cal started the game 7-for-12 from the field and got plenty of good looks at close range. Leilani McIntosh gave the Bears the early boost, scoring seven of her nine in the first period.
Cal went into the locker room clinging to a two-point lead, 36-34. The second and third quarter belonged to the Bulldogs, who outscored the Bears 46-36 during that stretch. A 9-0 run by Fresno State out of the break gave the Bulldogs the lead, a lead they carried for most of the second half before the Bears closed it out in the final three minutes.
UP NEXT
The Bears will head back out on the road, traveling to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on Arkansas on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's contest is slated for an 11:00 a.m. PT start, the game will be streamed on SECN+. Fans can also follow along via live stats at Stabroadcast.com.