INSTA-RECAP: Cal Women's Basketball Tames the Grambling State Tigers
Bears go to 5-0 with their 86-63 victory over Grambling State
The Bears got off to a sluggish start vs the Grambling State Tigers, with 5 turnovers and only 7 points through the first 5 minutes of game action. Grambling jumped to an early 6 point lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Lulu Twidale and Marta Suarez gave Cal a 16-15 lead with just under two minutes left in the first quarter. Those baskets started off a 12-point scoring run for the Bears, who led at the end of the first quarter 24-17. Lulu Twidale was Cal’s leading scorer, with 8 early points.
Cal started pulling away in the second quarter. The defense stepped up their intensity, forcing 7 turnovers in the quarter and limiting the Tigers to 27% shooting(4-of-15). For the Bears, eleven different players saw playing time in the quarter as Coach Smith started substituting early and often. Cal led 43-28 at halftime, paced by Marta Suarez and Lulu Twidale with 10 points apiece.
Grambling came out in the third quarter with the same frenetic energy. A Tiger 6-0 scoring run got them to within 10, 36-46. Marta Suarez nailed a wide open three, and Twidale added two corner 3-pointers in a 9-0 run to push the lead to a comfortable 19 points, 55-36. Near the midpoint of the quarter, Cal was 8-of-9 on 3-pointers (with 8 assists) and had pushed the lead to 29. Coach Smith pulled the starters, as twelve different players logged minutes in the quarter. At the end of three, Cal led 72-50.
Cal held steady in the fourth quarter, giving the bench player extended minutes as Cal led by 20+ points for most of the quarter. Cal remains perfect on the season, 5-0, with the 86-63 win.
Cal’s defense was key, playing a sticky man-to-man defense that contested every shot. The Tigers were held to 33% shooting for the game, and committed 21 turnovers.
Thirteen different Cal players recorded statistics tonight. Lulu Twidale led the Bears in scoring with 19 points, while Marta Suarez added 16 and Ioanna Krimili added 15.
Cal returns to Haas on Friday at 6pm, taking on the Auburn Tigers in a matchup of power conference programs. Come to the game before heading up to the bonfire rally!
I read they were 4-0 going into this game.
I'm so delighted to be absolutely completely wrong about Lulu Twidele - she's a real player and has guts and that clutch gene. She's already so good already and it's only a handful of games into her sophomore year.