Cal Women's Basketball rebounds against Arizona with a 74-62 win in Palm Springs

Michelle Oniyah drops a career high 25

After a rough fourth quarter against Michigan State, Cal Women’s Basketball would need to rebound against an Arizona team that has recently had their number. Adia Barnes has won her last seven straight matchups against Charmin Smith and the Bears, and it was a physical back and forth affair throughout the first half.

Early on, the Bears kept coughing up the basketball with seven turnovers in the first half and faced a nine point hole. In the second quarter, Cal easied into the game with Arizona’s leading scorer Breya Cunningham out due to personal reasons. Michelle Oniyah was EATING with 12 points and 5 rebounds at the break and was a presence that Arizona couldn’t contain. Lulu Twidale continued her hot start with 13 first half points and has not been afraid to pull from deep consistently.

Cal kept Arizona at bay for most of the second half, taking an eight point lead for most of the third quarter. Arizona made a run to tie the game thanks to the grit of Jayda Williams, their point guard who stepped up in the absence of Cunningham. The Bears continued to feed Oniyah who could not be stopped, riding that momentum in the 4th and into the home stretch.

Arizona would get no closer than six points and Cal finished off a win to split their games at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational. Oniyah dropped a career high 25 points, Twidale finished with 18 points, and Gisella Maul earned more of Charmin Smith’s trust with 10 points and 4 rebounds off the bench. Cal did have 21 turnovers, which needs to be cleaned up quick, but rebounded nicely coming off the sour ending against Michigan State to move to 7-1.

The Bears will face No.23 Alabama on Thursday, Dec.5th at Haas Pavilion at 6:00 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPNU.