BERKELEY - With the youthful enthusiasm of the fifth-annual School Haas Rock game providing an energetic backdrop, the Cal women's basketball team turned to its veterans to earn a key home victory in Pac-12 play as Kristine Anigwe poured in 29 points, Asha Thomas added 13 and the Bears notched a 77-63 win over Washington State.
Anigwe collected yet another double-double, her 16th of the year, by adding a season-high 23 rebounds to her game-high point total. Anigwe leads the nation in rebounding this season, averaging 15 rebounds per game. The effort also represents the second 20-point, 20-rebound game of the season and third career for the senior from Phoenix, Ariz. Jaelyn Brown contributed 12 points while Receé Caldwell chipped in with 10 to round out Cal's double-digit scorers.
With over 3,000 elementary and middle school-aged kids from schools across the Bay Area in the house, Cal (11-5, 2-3 Pac-12) turned that energy into a first quarter lead. A 14-9 advantage after one period came courtesy of a defensive effort that limited Washington State (7-10, 2-4) to just 4 for 16 from the floor as well as an offensive stretch in which Anigwe grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds and led all scorers with six points.
That lead grew larger by halftime and Cal's senior leaders were right in the middle of the action yet again. A three-point play with 46 seconds left in the half gave Anigwe her 17th double-double in a row as a Golden Bear (dating back to last season) and ties her for the ninth-longest streak in Division I women's basketball history. Cal ultimately took a 37-26 advantage to the locker room and the trio of Anigwe, Thomas, and Caldwell combined to contribute 27 points to that total.
Anigwe's determination showed through again at the end of the third quarter as a hard-fought putback came as the result of a pair of offensive rebounds and yielded a three-point play that helped the Bears carry a 52-45 lead into the fourth. A 25-18 Cal advantage in the final period helped provide the final margin of victory.
"We would've taken a win in seven overtimes or by 20 (points)," Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. "To be honest, with the depth and strength of this conference, it never feels comfortable because you have some scorers on that team that can heat up quickly. That being said, I think it was good to be able to spread some minutes around, it was good to be able to make a lot of offensive plays in succession with getting stops and that's what you need to do to get some separation."
Friday's proceedings also provided yet another example of the off-the-court qualities that have become a hallmark of Cal women's basketball throughout Gottlieb's tenure. With educational elements - this year focused on fire safety and prevention - folded into the game day experience, kids from around the Bay Area got a chance to see the Bears in action while also taking away more than just a Cal victory.
"When we went through that point in the fourth where we really stretched it out, we couldn't hear ourselves on defense or offense," Caldwell said. "We fed off that energy and it really helped us."
The Bears return to action on Sunday at 2 p.m. when Washington pays a visit to Haas Pavilion. The game is a Cal Kids Day with $1 youth admission. Cal heads back on the road next week with a visit to the mountain schools as it takes on Utah on Jan. 25 and Colorado on Jan. 27.
For more information and updates on the Bears throughout the season, follow the team on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWBball).
