Bears Handle Nevada 76-49
BERKELEY – The California women’s basketball team used a dominant defensive effort to extend its winning streak to six games against Nevada in a wire-to-wire 76-49 victory at Haas Pavilion Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears held the Wolf Pack to just 28.1% from the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc. Cal hit 12 3-pointers on 42.9% shooting – both season highs.
McKayla Williams had a stellar all-around game, leading all scorers with career-highs of 20 points (7-of-8) and four 3-pointers. Williams also added a career-high six assists along with six rebounds. Leilani McIntosh poured in 17 points with eight assists and a season-high five steals. Lulu Laditan-Twidale and Kemery Martín also scored in double figures with 11 points each.
Cal held Nevada to just six points on 17.6% shooting in the first quarter. Consecutive 3-pointers from Williams and Martín fueled a 13-0 run, giving the Bears a 15-2 lead at the 3:38 mark. The Wolf Pack had a stretch of 0-for-11 from the field before hitting a jumper at the 2:22 mark. A McIntosh layup with under two minutes to go stretched Cal’s lead to 16 points going into the second quarter.
The Wolf Pack opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to nine points before Martín responded with a corner 3-pointer at the 7:50 mark. Back-to-back 3-pointers from McIntosh and Williams gave the Bears a 29-14 lead at the 6:00 mark. Williams shot a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc in the first half to help give Cal a 36-21 lead going into the break.
The Bears broke the game wide open in the second half using a 10-2 run to start the third quarter and go up 46-23 at the 7:35 mark. Twidale would hit a 3-pointer with under a minute to go to give the Bears a 26-point lead heading into the final quarter. The biggest lead of the game came with 3:44 remaining when Williams converted on a 3-point play opportunity to give Cal a 35-point lead.
Nevada was led by Kaylee Borden’s eight points and six rebounds.
UP NEXT
Cal's homestand continues next Friday against Eastern Washington. The non-conference contest will tip off at 11:30 a.m. PT and will be live-streamed.