SEATTLE – The 7
th-ranked Washington Huskies connected on 18 three-pointers to beat Cal, 90-67, Friday night in Seattle. With the loss, Cal falls to 15-6 on the season and 3-6 in Pac-12 play, dropping its last two road contests. Washington improves to 20-2 on the season and extends its home win streak to 14 straight dating back to last season.Â
The Bears held Washington guard Kelsey Plum - the nation's leading scorer at 31 points per game - to 24 points, but it was teammate Natalie Romeo who stole the spotlight, going 10-19 from beyond the arc for a season-high 32 points. Romeo's 10 treys are tied for the most by any player in the country this season and her 19 three-point attempts set a new program record. Washington's 90 points are the most the Bears have allowed in any game all season.
Cal was led by sophomore center
Kristine Anigwe, who scored 23 points and added 9 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. It was the 13
th 20-point performance of the season for Anigwe, the second-leading scorer in the conference behind Plum, averaging 22.3 points per game this season. The Bears bench chipped in 24 points, led by eight points apiece from freshmen
Mi'Cole Cayton and
Jaelyn Brown.
The Huskies showcased their offensive prowess from the outset, connecting going 13-25 from beyond the arc in the opening half to take a 55-33 lead into the locker room. The 55 points were the most the Bears have allowed in any half all season. Cal trailed by as many as 36 points in the fourth quarter, but outscored the Huskies, 19-10, in final period.
"Washington is one of the best offensive teams in the country and they showed it tonight," said Cal head coach
Lindsay Gottlieb. "Our players are really focused on getting to Pullman and getting a win up there."
The Bears continue their tour of the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, facing Washington State at Noon PT in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars are 8-11 on the season and 3-5 in Pac-12 play, hosting No. 10 Stanford on Friday night.