Women's Basketball: Second-Half Comeback Falls Short as Syracuse Beats Cal, 70-59

Bears reduce a 21 point deficit down to 4 before succumbing to The Orange

In January, Cal traveled to Syracuse on a cold Thursday evening to face The Orange. Down twenty points midway through the third quarter, Cal was able to complete the comeback and missed several game winning opportunities before heading into overtime. Cal continued to miss potential game-ending shots as the game entered a third overtime. The game appeared to be heading to a fourth overtime before Syracuse’s Dominique Darius pulled up and nailed a long long long range 3-pointer with seconds left to lift Syracuse to the 90-87 victory. Today’s game appeared to be following the same script, though the ending was not as dramatic.

Syracuse is anchored by Newcomer of the Year and All-Conference C Uche Izoje. The freshman from Nigeria averages 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks a game. Izoje is complemented by three guards who average at least 11 points a game. The Orange lead the league is averaging 11 steals per game. In short, this is a well balanced team that had an extra day of rest to prepare for today’s game.

It started out poorly for Cal. Cal’s early plan was to feed Sakima Walker in the post. Passes were forced, and there was little perimeter movement to keep the defense guessing. The Bears committed eight first quarter turnovers which led to fifteen Syracuse points. Izoje could not be stopped on the interior. She scored 8 points on 4-of-4 shooting, to go with 3 rebounds and 1 block. It was all Orange early on. Syracuse led 23-9 after the first quarter.

Sakima Walker battling Uche Izoje early in today’s game. Photo courtesy ACC Media.

The second quarter did not go any better for Cal. Syracuse defenders were maintaining constant contact on Twidale, never giving her a clean release and shot. Twidale was scoreless in the first half on 0-for-5 shooting. As a team, Cal was 1-for-11 on three point shots. Cal’s defense was able to contain Izoje in the period, but Syracuse’s outside shooters started hitting. Syracuse extended the lead to 37-16 at the half. It was the lowest scoring half for the Bears this year.

Cal started the third quarter by extending their defense and speeding the game up. Syracuse was unable to make the necessary adjustments and committed nine turnovers in the period, leading to ten points for Cal. Syracuse’s largest lead of the game was one minute into the period, 39-18. Cal went on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes to bring the lead down to 44-34. In addition to the nine turnovers, the Orange also committed nine fouls in the period. Cal was 9-of-11 from the line. The quicker game speed disrupted Syracuse’s half court offense and ability to feed the ball to Izoje in the post. Izoje was held to 2 points on only three shot attempts in the period. Syracuse led 50-40 at the end of the period. Cal had the momentum entering the last period.

Cal continued to put pressure on both the offensive and defensive end. Gisella Maul repeatedly drove the lane and drew fouls. She drew twelve fouls for the game, and all ten of her the points in the second half came at the free throw line. Lulu Twidale connected on her first 3-pointer of the game near the 4-minute mark to cut the lead to four, 56-52.

Cal could get no closer. Syracuse remembered the gravity that Izoje has, and made a concerted effort to get her more involved down the stretch. Izoje scored the next four points for the Orange, giving the Orange an eight point lead with three minutes left. Izoje scored 9 points in the period and each bucket quashed a a Cal mini-run. Cal was held without a field goal for the last 2:30 of the game as Syracuse closed out the 70-59 victory.

Cal forced Syracuse into 14 second half turnovers, exactly double their first half turnover rate. At the same time, Cal drew 17 fouls over the final twenty minutes, over triple the number from the first half. For the Bears, 43 points over the last twenty minutes, 54% shooting for the second half, though only 2-of-8 from long range. The margin simply was too large to overcome. Cal’s 11 turnovers in the second half did not help their cause.

Sakima Walker led Cal with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting, and added 5 rebounds. Uche Izoje led Syracuse with 23 points and 10 rebounds. This was the definitive battle of the game. Though Walker held her own, Izoje had a greater impact on the game overall.

Lulu Twidale had a subpar game as Syracuse’s perimeter defense allowed her little space. Twidale shot 4-of-15 for the game, 1-of-9 from deep. 8 of her 14 points came in the fourth quarter as Twidale pivoted to going to the basket versus looking for the long range shot.

Gisella Maul started the game only 1-of-5 from deep. She did not attempt a long range basket in the second half, instead going to the basket and repeatedly drawing fouls. Maul, on the change for the second half;

“Yeah, I think I knew my shots weren't falling, but I still knew that if I had the confidence as if I was going to shoot, then they would still fly out at me and that would give me the lanes to drive. My mindset was, my shot is not falling, so let me see if I can get down and attack and see if I can get there. And I was able to get to the line a lot. When the shot is not falling, then just looking to attack.”

She finished with 13 points for the game.

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Cal ends the season at 19-14 and will not be invited to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Smith was asked if the team would accept a postseason invite. She was emphatic with her answer;

“Yes. We want to play. I think we're capable of more. I think the WBIT is a phenomenal experience for student-athletes. I think this is who we are. If that's what we're selected for, this is the team that we are. We're proud of who we are. It gives us more time to play the game that these young women love together with this team that they love. We'll be fired up and ready to go.”