Cal Women's Basketball Stuffs Miami on Senior Day

A perfect way to send off the seniors

Gang’s all here. Credit: Rob Hwang

Throughout Senior Day against Miami, Head Coach Charmin Smith emphasized the gratitude that she has for this group. There are some veterans who have stuck it out through thick and thin like Michelle Oniyah, some who joined the ride as the foundation was being built like Marta Suarez and Ioanna Krimili, and those who provided the stability and finishing touches like Kayla Williams, Jayda Noble, and Natalia Ackerman. No matter their length of tenure, they are all apart of a resurgent chapter of Cal Women’s Basketball and capped off a mesmerizing season at Haas Pavilion with a professional 82-63 performance against the Canes.

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Cal amassed a 16-1 record at home this season, with those 16 wins becoming a new single season program record. Many big time teams came into Haas and met an energetic force that would not be denied, including ACC regular season champion NC State.

The vets bring the fight one last time

Barring the craziest of circumstances, this will be the last time that Cal Women’s Basketball takes the floor at home this season. Despite the heavy emotions on the day, it was those seniors who played within themselves and never strayed from the game plan. There was an emphasis to get the ball into the paint early and often, as the Bears scored their first eight points from just around the rim. By halftime, Cal had out rebounded Miami 20-9 and Michelle Oniyah along with Marta Suarez had put a whopping 28 points and 12 rebounds combined. In a game where Cal didn’t necessarily have more to play for than Miami (who had to win this game to get into the ACC Tournament), they played with the requisite effort and execution to set themselves up with momentum heading into Greensboro next week.

Once Suarez and Oniyah had checked out of the game for the final time, they each left their mark both literally and figuratively. In the postgame press conference, they both acknowledged how grateful they were for the environment and that those memories will never fade.

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An efficient performance sets up the postseason

Cal was ultimately were never threatened by Miami in this game. The Bears could get to their spots at will and were converting at an efficient clip. Cal shot 50% from the floor and 43% from 3 as a team on the day, led by Oniyah's and Suarez’s combined 42 points and 20 rebounds.

It was absolutely a clinic where everyone got in on the party including Jayda Noble, Natalia Ackerman, and probably the shot that brought the crowd to its knees when Kamryn Mafua nailed a three in Miami’s face.

These last two games, Cal has put together necessary performances that inspire confidence for March. Not that they haven’t been given their 24-7 record, but its good to be playing some version of your best ball as it becomes win or go home from here onwards.

As the No. 7 seed in the ACC Tournament, Cal will wait to take on the winner between No. 10 Virginia and No. 15 Pitt on Thursday at 2pm. The Bears escaped the Cavaliers on the road and blew out the Panthers at home, so they’ve already tasted some success against each opponent.

A personal sendoff for the seniors

It’s been such a fun season to cover this squad especially at Haas Pavilion. They are such a joy to watch and are led by good people, which makes it easy to appreciate their success in resurrecting a program that had been silent for some years.

Whether the seniors know it or not, their impact on the program will not go unnoticed or be forgotten. I believe its important to recognize what they’ve done regardless of how the rest of the season plays out.

Welcome to March everybody. Time for a little Madness.