BERKELEY – The Cal women's basketball team registered its first win of the 2019-20 season on Sunday, beating UC Riverside, 84-61, at Haas Pavilion in the Bears' home opener. The victory marked the first win of the Charmin Smith era, as Smith was named the 10^th head coach in program history this summer after spending 12 years in Berkeley as an assistant.

"It's good to get the first win," said Smith. "What I told the team in the locker room is that I am really excited and happy that this first season for me as a head coach is with this group. They really couldn't be a better group of people and it just feels good every day. I am very grateful that I get to share this experience with them."  

A well-balanced effort on the offensive end powered the Golden Bears (1-2, 0-0 Pac-12) to their first victory of the year. Redshirt senior Sara Anastasieska led the Bears in scoring for the second consecutive game, finishing with 17 points on a 7-for-9 performance from the floor. Freshman point guard Leilani McIntosh had a career-high 15 points in her Haas debut, going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Seniors CJ West (12 points) and Jaelyn Brown (10 points) also finished in double-figures for the Bears, who set season-highs in points scored (84), field goal percentage (45.2%), and three-point percentage (42.9%).

Jannon Otto led the Highlanders (1-4, 0-0 Big West) with 24 points in the loss, going 10-for-23 from the floor.

Coming off an impressive road effort their last time out at No. 5 UConn, the Bears got off to a hot start on the offensive end, going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in the first quarter to lead 19-14. McIntosh – a 5'5" freshman from Phoenix, Arizona – got the Bears going in the early stages of the game, scoring eight of her 15 points in the first quarter. McIntosh, who entered the game 0-4 from three on the season, went 2-4 from beyond the arc in the first quarter. Cal's starting point guard this season, McIntosh added five rebounds – including four offensive boards – and continued to be a disruptive force on the defensive end, finishing with a game-high four steals.

"With my size, it is harder for me to play defense but I try and use my quickness as a strength," said McIntosh. "The more aggressive I am on defense and pressuring the ball, the more steals I'll get and the more offensive chances we will have."   

After UC Riverside went on a 13-5 run to close the second quarter and tied the game at 36-36 at the break, Cal upped its defensive intensity in the second half. The Golden Bears outscored the Highlanders 48-25 in the second half, including a 21-9 margin in the third quarter. Cal opened the third quarter on an 11-1 run, with five points coming from West in that stretch. The Golden Bears held the Highlanders to just three made field goals in the third quarter, and outscored the visitors 12-2 in the paint.  

Anastasieska – who scored a game-high 25 points in Cal's loss at UConn – continued her hot streak for the Bears, with an efficient performance from the field. The redshirt senior finished the game 7-for-9 from the floor, going 4-for-5 from two-point range and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. After being sidelined for the majority of the last two seasons due to injury, Anastasieska has led the Bears in scoring in each of the last two games and has found her groove in her return to the court.

"The coaches and all of the staff and players really helped me get back to where I am," said Anastasieska. "They push me every day to be better in games and I'm given opportunities to make passes and am given great passes from my teammates to make shots. It feels really good that we get wins as a team. Our chemistry as a team is very good that's what made it easier to come back quicker."  

All 11 available players on the Bears' roster saw time against the Highlanders. Ten different players found the scoresheet for the Bears, including sophomore Sierra Richey, who scored her first collegiate points with a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

Cal will be back in action on Thursday, when the Golden Bears hit the road to take on San Diego State. The Bears and Aztecs (3-2, 0-0 Mountain West) tip off at 6:30 p.m. PT at Viejas Arena.

For more information and updates throughout the season, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWBball).