BERKELEY – The California women's basketball team will play its seventh of 10 consecutive home games Thursday when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe at Haas Pavilion at 2 p.m. PT.
 
Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to participate in the program's annual teddy bear toss, which will take place at halftime of the nonconference finale. All teddy bears will be collected and donated to the Homeless Children's Network. There will additionally be an appearance from Santa Claus, who will take pictures with fans from 1-2 p.m. and throughout the game.
 
This will mark the first meeting between the two programs. ULM (8-2) is led by first-year head coach Missy Bilderback. Daisha Bradford, who is in her first year with the program after transferring from Clemson, has paced the team in scoring (23.1) and rebounding (8.6).
 
Thursday's game will be live streamed with Ben Ross on the call.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date & Time: Thursday, Dec. 21 | 2 p.m. PT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Stream: Cal Live Stream
 
QUICK HITS

• In the 78-70 win over Eastern Washington (Dec. 15):
  • The Bears overcame a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to come away with the win.
  • Cal held the Eagles to just 30.8% shooting from the field in the fourth and only allowed one 3-pointer in the second half after they made seven in the first.
  • For the second time this season, five Bears scored in double figures led by Marta Suárez, who had game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
  • Leilani McIntosh (14), Kemery Martín (12), Michelle Onyiah (12) and Lulu Laditan-Twidale (10) all joined Suárez in double figures.
• At 9-2, Cal is off to its best start since 2018-19 when it started 8-0.
• McKayla Williams has been one of the most active players on the glass for the Bears this season. Her 7.1 rebounds per game average is tied for second on the team and ranks third among all guards in the Pac-12.
• Suárez's versatility at the forward position has been on display all year as her 19 made 3-pointers rank second in the Pac-12 and 15th in the country among all forwards.
• McIntosh is on pace to average her most assists per game for a season. Her 6.7 assists per game rank second in the Pac-12 and ninth in the country. If she maintains her pace, she has a chance to break into the top three of Cal's all-time career assists list.
• McIntosh is the only player in the nation to average at least 12 PPG, 6.5 APG, 2.0 steals and 44.0 3FG%.
• Twidale has emerged as one of the team's top 3-point shooters. She has now hit multiple 3-pointers in six of the last seven games and is averaging 10.7 points per game over that span. Her 19 3-pointers are tied for the team lead and rank second in the Pac-12 and 27th in the country among all freshmen.
• Four or more different players scored in double figures in six games this season, a significant improvement from last season when four players scored in double figures just four times all season.
• After scoring just 15 total points over the first seven games of the season, Ila Lane is averaging 10.3 points per contest over her last four.
• The Bears have had 10 or more steals in five games already this season, beating their total (2) from all of last year.
• Through the first 11 games of the season, the Bears have hit 10 or more 3-pointers in four games, surpassing last year's total in which they hit double-figure 3-pointers in just one game.
• Cal is only one of two teams in the Pac-12 to have three different players average at least seven rebounds per game.
• Pac-12 Leaders as of Dec. 18
  • Assists per game - McIntosh, 2nd (6.7)
  • Steals per game - McIntosh, 7th (2.1)
  • 3PM percentage - McIntosh, 9th (44.4)
  • Rebounds per game - Suarez, 11th (7.2), Williams and Onyiah, 13th (7.1)
  • Scoring - Suarez, 15th (14.2)
  • Blocks per game - Onyiah, 13th (1.2)
  • Cal 3PM, 4th (91)
  • Cal Scoring defense, 6th (58.4)
  • Cal steals per game, 4th (9.0). 
• McIntosh and guard Kemery Martín received 2023-24 Pac-12 preseason All-Conference honorable mention. 

NEXT UP
Cal opens Pac-12 Conference play against Stanford in the 100th edition of the Battle of the Bay. The rivalry will be played at 2 p.m. PT on Friday, Dec. 29 in Haas Pavilion as part of a basketball doubleheader; the Cal men's team will host Arizona at 7:30 p.m. that day.
 
STAY POSTED
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