California Golden Bears Athletics
Thursday, December 8
Berkeley, CA
7:00 PM
California
vs
Sacramento State
Asha Thomas and the Cal Bears look to continue their undefeated start Thursday against Sacramento State (Credit: ISI Photos)
Bears Look To Set Program Record
12/7/2016 10:45 AM | Women's Basketball
BERKELEY - The California women's basketball team has a chance to set the best record in program history on Thursday night, hosting Sacramento State at 7 p.m. at Haas Pavilion. At 7-0, the Golden Bears have matched the previous program record set during the 2014-15 and 2008-09 seasons.
Thursday's game is the ninth meeting all-time between the Bears and Hornets, with Cal winning the last four games. The Bears re-wrote the record books in last years' 117-99 win over Sacramento State, setting program bests for points scored (117), field goals made (52), field goal percentage (69.3; 52-75), and assists (37). Kristine Anigwe scored a career-high 43 points to lead the Bears, five points shy of the highest-scoring performance in program history. Then-sophomore Mikayla Cowling finished one rebound shy of a triple-double, registering 11 points, 10 assists, and nine boards against the Hornets
Anigwe continues to lead the Bears in both scoring (19.4 PPG) and rebounding (8.9 RPG), while fellow sophomore Asha Thomas boasts the best three-point field goal percentage in Division I basketball (63.0 percent; 17-27). Cal is coming off a successful road trip to Nebraska, with five different players scoring double-figures in an 86-65 win over the Cornhuskers. The Bears broke into the top 25 this week, coming in at number 24 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
Sacramento State is 3-5 on the season, coming off a 111-95 lss to USC at home on Saturday. The Hornets, who set a Division I record with 80 three-point attempts in last season's meeting with the Bears, are averaging 91.6 points per game this year, the third-highest scoring offensive in Division I basketball.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Tickets to Thursday's game can be purchased by calling 1-800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or visiting the CalBears.com ticket page. Those fans unable to attend in person can follow along via live stats, live stream, or on twitter at @CalWBBall for updates throughout the game.
A LOOK AT THE HORNETS
Sacramento State is 3-5 on the season, coming off a 111-95 loss to USC at home on Saturday. Prior to the loss to the Trojans, the Hornets but together back-to-back wins against Hofstra and Cal State-Stanislaus. Known for its fast-paced play and high-scoring offense, Sacramento State is averaging 91.3 pointer per game this season, third-most by any team in Division I. Sacramento State is allowing 94.4 points per game on defense.
Head coach Bunky Hardland's squad also ranks second in the country in three-pointers, averaging 12.3 threes per game and has four different players averaging double-figures this season. Junior Maranne Johnson leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.8 points per game and had a 37-point performance in Sacramento State's win over. Cal-State Stanislaus. The Hornets went 14-17 overall last season, including a 10-8 mark in Big Sky play.
LAST TIME OUT
Kristine Anigwe led the way with 25 points as Cal beat Nebraska 86-65 on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln, Nebraska, improving to 7-0 on the season. The 7-0 record matches the best start in program history, tying the previous mark set in both the 2014-15 and 2008-09 seasons.
Anigwe was dominant down low, leading all scorers with 25 points while also matching her career high with four blocked shots. The 2017 Wade Watch candidate went 10-13 from the floor and added four rebounds in her fourth 20-point outing of the season. Fellow sophomore Asha Thomas added 11 points on 3-4 shooting from beyond the arc while all three of Cal's freshmen - Jaelyn Brown, CJ West, and Mi'Cole Cayton - scored in double-figures. Brown and West registered career bests, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Cayton – who originally committed to play for Nebraska – had 11 points and a career-high five assists.
Freshman guard Nicea Eliely led the Cornhuskers with 19 points as the Bears limited Jessica Shepard – the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year – to a season-low eight points. Shepard entered the day averaging 18.9 points per game on the season but fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
NEXT UP
Cal will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Lehigh at 2 p.m. in the Bears' final home game of the 2016 calendar year.
Sunday's contest marks Cal's "We Back Pat" day, as the Bears honor late Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Pat Summit in raising awareness for The Pat Summitt Foundation and Alzheimer's disease. The all-time wins leader in Division I basketball with 1,098 career victories, Summitt won eight NCAA titles at Tennessee and passed away this summer at the age of 64.
Cal's final home game before the holidays, Sunday's game also features a toy drive. Bring an unwrapped, new toy to Haas Pavilion on Sunday and receive a $1 ticket.
2016-17 TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW
Season, group and single-game tickets for the 2016-17 women's basketball season are now on sale. Season tickets start as low as $25 ($1.47 per game, 17 games) for youth and seniors and $75 ($4.41 per game, 17 games) for adult general admission tickets. Single-game tickets are available starting at $5 for youth and seniors and $8 for adults, while flex and partial plans are also available purchase. For more information, call the Gold Standard Sales and Service line at (800) GO BEARS (462-3277) or visit the CalBears.com ticket page.
JOIN THE JOURNEY: THE RETURN OF THISISCALBASKETBALL.COM
Cal's one-of-a-kind multimedia fan site, ThisIsCalBasketball.com, is back for its sixth season and once again features an unprecedented look into the inner workings of the personalities behind the Cal women's basketball's roster. Visitors to ThisIsCalBasketball.com can get an in-depth look at the personalities behind the jerseys, from action and portrait photos to bio videos and conversations between current players and alumnae.
STAY POSTED
Keep up-to-date on the latest Cal women's basketball news by following the Bears on social media. View behind-the-scenes photos and videos and learn more about Cal and its student-athletes on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWBball).
Thursday's game is the ninth meeting all-time between the Bears and Hornets, with Cal winning the last four games. The Bears re-wrote the record books in last years' 117-99 win over Sacramento State, setting program bests for points scored (117), field goals made (52), field goal percentage (69.3; 52-75), and assists (37). Kristine Anigwe scored a career-high 43 points to lead the Bears, five points shy of the highest-scoring performance in program history. Then-sophomore Mikayla Cowling finished one rebound shy of a triple-double, registering 11 points, 10 assists, and nine boards against the Hornets
Anigwe continues to lead the Bears in both scoring (19.4 PPG) and rebounding (8.9 RPG), while fellow sophomore Asha Thomas boasts the best three-point field goal percentage in Division I basketball (63.0 percent; 17-27). Cal is coming off a successful road trip to Nebraska, with five different players scoring double-figures in an 86-65 win over the Cornhuskers. The Bears broke into the top 25 this week, coming in at number 24 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
Sacramento State is 3-5 on the season, coming off a 111-95 lss to USC at home on Saturday. The Hornets, who set a Division I record with 80 three-point attempts in last season's meeting with the Bears, are averaging 91.6 points per game this year, the third-highest scoring offensive in Division I basketball.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Tickets to Thursday's game can be purchased by calling 1-800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or visiting the CalBears.com ticket page. Those fans unable to attend in person can follow along via live stats, live stream, or on twitter at @CalWBBall for updates throughout the game.
A LOOK AT THE HORNETS
Sacramento State is 3-5 on the season, coming off a 111-95 loss to USC at home on Saturday. Prior to the loss to the Trojans, the Hornets but together back-to-back wins against Hofstra and Cal State-Stanislaus. Known for its fast-paced play and high-scoring offense, Sacramento State is averaging 91.3 pointer per game this season, third-most by any team in Division I. Sacramento State is allowing 94.4 points per game on defense.
Head coach Bunky Hardland's squad also ranks second in the country in three-pointers, averaging 12.3 threes per game and has four different players averaging double-figures this season. Junior Maranne Johnson leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.8 points per game and had a 37-point performance in Sacramento State's win over. Cal-State Stanislaus. The Hornets went 14-17 overall last season, including a 10-8 mark in Big Sky play.
LAST TIME OUT
Kristine Anigwe led the way with 25 points as Cal beat Nebraska 86-65 on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln, Nebraska, improving to 7-0 on the season. The 7-0 record matches the best start in program history, tying the previous mark set in both the 2014-15 and 2008-09 seasons.
Anigwe was dominant down low, leading all scorers with 25 points while also matching her career high with four blocked shots. The 2017 Wade Watch candidate went 10-13 from the floor and added four rebounds in her fourth 20-point outing of the season. Fellow sophomore Asha Thomas added 11 points on 3-4 shooting from beyond the arc while all three of Cal's freshmen - Jaelyn Brown, CJ West, and Mi'Cole Cayton - scored in double-figures. Brown and West registered career bests, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Cayton – who originally committed to play for Nebraska – had 11 points and a career-high five assists.
Freshman guard Nicea Eliely led the Cornhuskers with 19 points as the Bears limited Jessica Shepard – the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year – to a season-low eight points. Shepard entered the day averaging 18.9 points per game on the season but fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
NEXT UP
Cal will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Lehigh at 2 p.m. in the Bears' final home game of the 2016 calendar year.
Sunday's contest marks Cal's "We Back Pat" day, as the Bears honor late Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Pat Summit in raising awareness for The Pat Summitt Foundation and Alzheimer's disease. The all-time wins leader in Division I basketball with 1,098 career victories, Summitt won eight NCAA titles at Tennessee and passed away this summer at the age of 64.
Cal's final home game before the holidays, Sunday's game also features a toy drive. Bring an unwrapped, new toy to Haas Pavilion on Sunday and receive a $1 ticket.
2016-17 TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW
Season, group and single-game tickets for the 2016-17 women's basketball season are now on sale. Season tickets start as low as $25 ($1.47 per game, 17 games) for youth and seniors and $75 ($4.41 per game, 17 games) for adult general admission tickets. Single-game tickets are available starting at $5 for youth and seniors and $8 for adults, while flex and partial plans are also available purchase. For more information, call the Gold Standard Sales and Service line at (800) GO BEARS (462-3277) or visit the CalBears.com ticket page.
JOIN THE JOURNEY: THE RETURN OF THISISCALBASKETBALL.COM
Cal's one-of-a-kind multimedia fan site, ThisIsCalBasketball.com, is back for its sixth season and once again features an unprecedented look into the inner workings of the personalities behind the Cal women's basketball's roster. Visitors to ThisIsCalBasketball.com can get an in-depth look at the personalities behind the jerseys, from action and portrait photos to bio videos and conversations between current players and alumnae.
STAY POSTED
Keep up-to-date on the latest Cal women's basketball news by following the Bears on social media. View behind-the-scenes photos and videos and learn more about Cal and its student-athletes on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWBball).
Players Mentioned
C/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
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