Women's Basketball: Cal Outlasts Pacific, 60-52
Bears over Tigers in a hard-fought battle
Through three games, The California Golden Bears have yet to find consistency in their long range shooting. Including tonight, Cal is 14-of-65 for the year, 21% overall. When the shots aren’t falling, it’s incumbent on the coaches and players to find other ways to win the game. In tonight’s surprisingly hard fought battle against the Pacific Tigers, Cal relied on just enough defense down the stretch and a smallball closing lineup that focused on limiting turnovers, to pull out the win.
Pacific raced out to an early 13-5 lead on the strength of their defense. The Tigers extended their defense and set up half-court traps, forcing Puff Morris into three early turnovers. Cal answered by extending their defense to full court. The Bears were shooting free throws early, connecting from 5-of-7 for the quarter. After the early deficit, Cal regained the lead 16-14 going into the second quarter.
Sakima Walker picked up her second foul early in the period, sending her to the bench for the remainder of the quarter. Cal’s defense held Pacific scoreless for nearly eight minutes, but Cal’s offense committed six turnovers over the same timeframe. Cal led 20-14 at the midway mark; Pacific managed to keep it close.
It continued to be an ugly quarter for both teams. Cal continued to commit sloppy turnovers, and Pacific continued to miss layups. The Tigers finally broke their scoring drought with a 3-pointer with just under two minutes left, followed by another one about a minute later. Both teams were 3-of-12 shooting, 8 turnovers, 5 fouls for the quarter. Pacific’s made baskets include a couple of 3-pointers, while Cal was 0-of-3 from behind the arc. The Bears and Tigers were tied 24-24 at halftime.
Cal’s shooting woes were continuing. Entering the game only connecting on 41% of their shots, including 26% from deep, Cal was shooting at a 33%/13% rate for the first half. Lulu Twidale led Cal with 9 points and Taylor Barnes had 8, but it took a combined 15 shots for them to score their points.
In the third quarter, Pacific came out hot, connecting on three of their first four shots to take an early 35-26 lead. Lulu Twidale was 0-of-2 from long range, but found success in driving to the basket and keeping Cal close. Pacific led 35-30 when Mjracle Sheppard checked in, after not playing at all in the first half. The usual starter immediately steals the ball for a layup, and draws an offensive foul, but it was clear she was laboring while on the court. In the middle of an intense battle, Cal needed everyone to contribute.
Late in the quarter, Gisella Maul hit a driving baseline shot to pull Cal to within two at 38-40. At the other end, Sheppard knocks the ball away, leading to a transition 3-point basket from Claudia Langarita, and Cal regained the lead at 41-40. That’s how the third quarter would end.
Lulu Twidale led off the quarter with a driving layup, while Pacific’s Nyah Lowery 3-pointer at the other end tied the game at 43-43. Pacific committed their fifth foul of the period with just over four minutes left, meaning Cal would be shooting free throws the rest of the way. Sheppard connected on both free throws to push the Cal lead to 48-43.
Cal went with a small lineup down the stretch, with Naya Ojukwu playing center. With the score 53-50 Cal, Ojuwku collected an offensive rebound, make the short basket and drew a foul. After Ojukwu made the free throw, Cal led 56-50 with just under one minute remaining. Lulu Twidale made four free throws down the stretch, and Cal held on for the 60-52 victory.
Cal connected on only 2-of-16 long range shots. Lulu Twidale has started the year making only one of her twenty-two attempts. She made up for it tonight by driving to the basket often and connecting on 7-of-7 free throw attempts. She led the Bears with 19 points and 6 rebounds.
Through the first three quarters, Cal committed 17 turnovers. In the fourth quarter, with Sheppard and Twidale being the primary ball handlers, Cal committed only 1 turnover.
Mjracle Sheppard only played 13 minutes, all in the second half. She scored 7 points, collected 3 rebounds and 2 steals in her limited minutes. Naya Ojukwu only played 8 minutes, but she was in the closing lineup and was clutch with 7 points and 3 key rebounds as Cal closed the game out. When asked about her closing lineup, Coach Smith talked about her thought process;
“So I’m working on trying to play more people. And so I gave Naya a look earlier in the first half, and that told me that I could trust her in the second half. And I thought {Sakima Walker and Claudia Langarita} were a little worn down, a little tired. Let’s give Naya a shot. And you know, she’s an excellent rebounder, and we know that she can finish around the basket, and she had some huge offensive rebounds, putbacks, and defensive possessions for us that were crucial to help us win the game.”
Cal won the rebounding battle 43-30, and outscored Pacific on second change points 10-2. Cal attempted 22 free throws, making 16. Pacific attempted only 9 free throws, making 6.
All of it adds up to a gutsy win. It probably should not have been so difficult against a middle-of-the-pack WCC Pacific Tigers team, but Cal figured out a way to earn the victory.
Cal hosts the fifth annual Raising the B.A.R. Invitational this weekend. The B.A.R. represents basketball, activism, and representation. Coach Charmin Smith created this event 2021 to raise up minority voices and to highlight the lack of diversity in women’s college basketball coaching. All four participating programs are coached by African-American women. Cal kicks off the event facing the Charlotte 49ers Saturday afternoon. The Harvard Crimson face the Oakland Grizzlies in the second game. The winners and losers will play each other, respectively, Sunday afternoon.
A game of runs - each team had a run of sixteen points in the 1st half. Cal did not look like the better team until late. Without Sheppard coming into the game in the second half, Cal loses this game. She makes a noticeable difference in the flow on both sides. Morris struggled. She sat the second half, including during crunch time. It was watch and learn time for the first year player. Cal required several bench players to step up. Case in point: Ojukwu was a crucial contributor in the paint down the stretch.
I don't know how this team can score without Mjracle (who was awesome). The shooting is just...ugh. We'd never be able to defeat the Zone unless the plan is to use rebounds to get inside position. We did some nice rebounding!
We did show a lot of tenacity on defense and we also got them in foul trouble. But we HAVE to execute better on offense. We know how lethal Lulu Twidale can as a shooter so it might just be some rust. She did a good job finding other ways to score.
Not the prettiest game, but the Bears still found a way to win. Coach had a very memeable expression after the team lost track of the shot clock. I am just hoping the pieces come together because the program is good enough to be worthy of high expectations!