Bears Hold Off St. Mary's in School of Haas Rock Showdown, 70-62

BERKELEY - The California women’s basketball team built a 16-point lead in the second quarter, but Saint Mary’s made it a game after going on a 15-2 run to open the third quarter. The Golden Bears (5-1) however held the Gaels (5-1) to just two points for the rest of the quarter and outscored them 21-13 in the fourth to come away with a 70-62 win at Haas Pavilion on Thursday afternoon in front of a crowd of over 4,000 kids from local schools.

The win marked Cal’s 16th straight regular-season nonconference win at Haas Pavilion dating back to the 2023-24 season. Cal’s previous best streak is 32 games spanning the 2002-2009 seasons.

Sakima Walker started 6-for-6 from the field on her way to a career-high 25 points (11-of-15) and freshman Puff Morris dished out a career-high 11 assists. Walker also grabbed nine rebounds just missing out on her second double-double this season. The 11 assists from Morris are the most by a Cal freshman since Kianna Smith had 12 in a game against Manhattan on Nov. 24, 2017. The total is also tied for second most alltime among Cal freshmen and the second most by a freshman in the NCAA this season.

Cal shot 71% from the field in the first quarter powered by Walker and Claudia Langarita, who scored 10 and eight points respectively to give the Bears a 23-12 lead going into the second quarter.

Lulu Twidale’s second 3-pointer of the game capped a stretch of four straight buckets and put the Bears up 36-20 with four minutes to go in the second quarter, but the Gaels got back in the game going 4-for-4 from the field to end the quarter and went into the break down 39-31.

After Saint Mary’s went on its run to open the third quarter, Taylor Barnes ended it with a 3-pointer from the wing followed by a Walker layup that tied the game at 46-46, and the score would remain knotted going into the fourth quarter.

Morris and Walker opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups and Barnes hit all three free throws after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt to put Cal up 56-49. The Gaels would get within two points off a 3-pointer at the 6:51 mark, but Twidale responded with her fourth triple of the game. Walker sealed the game with consecutive layups with under 1:30 to go to put Cal up nine.

“I just want to start off by acknowledging Jeff [Cammon] and what he’s doing with his team,” Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. “Both of us were assistants here at Cal and I don’t think either of us envisioned doing what we’re doing and I’m glad that we have such a good friendship. I knew that his team would compete for 40 minutes and they did just that. I’m proud of how our team was able to fight back after we had a little lull there in the third quarter and get to where we ultimately needed to be to win the game.”

Saint Mary’s was led by Emily Foy’s 12 points and Edie Clark’s eight rebounds.

NEXT UP

The Bears hit the road to play in the Hoopfest event in Frisco, Texas, where they will face Grand Canyon on Monday and Auburn on Wednesday.