BERKELEY – The California women's basketball team will play its fourth of 10 consecutive home games Thursday when it hosts No. 23 Gonzaga at Haas Pavilion at 7 p.m. PT. This will be the first time Cal (7-1) will face the Zags in program history.
 
The No. 23 Bulldogs are off to an 8-2 start this season, most recently earning their highest-ranked win in program history against No. 3 Stanford last Sunday. Through 10 games, the Zags are averaging 82.7 points per game and shooting 49% from the floor. Five Bulldogs are averaging in double-figures including Yvonne Ejim (20.0), Kayleigh Truong (13.8) Brynna Maxwell (13.7), Kaylynne Truong (12.4) and Eliza Hollingsworth (10.4).

The women's basketball program will also be celebrating International Student Night at the game as this year's team features seven student-athletes from four different countries (Australia, Greece, Spain and Sweden). International students are encouraged to attend the game and will be given the opportunity to be a part of the team's pregame festivities as it gets ready to take the court. Additionally, there will be internationally themed giveaways and students will be invited onto the court at halftime for photo opportunities.
 
The game will air on Pac-12 Network with Kylen Mills and Mary Murphy on the call.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date & Time: Thursday, Dec. 7 | 7 p.m. PT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Stream: Pac-12 Network
 
QUICK HITS

• In the 74-69 win vs. Saint Mary's (Dec. 2):
  • Four Bears scored in double figures, led by Ila Lane, who had her best game in a Golden Bear uniform. She finished with a team-high 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with seven rebounds after getting the start.
  • Leilani McIntosh, Marta Suarez and Lulu Laditan-Twidale all had 13 points apiece to chip in double-figure scoring efforts.
  • Kemery Martin dished out a career-high seven assists.
  • McIntosh posted her second straight game with eight assists.
  • Twidale had her fourth straight game with multiple 3-pointers, as she hit three from beyond the arc.
  • Cal had season highs of 21 assists and 44 points in the paint.
• At 7-1, Cal is off to its best start since 2018-19 when it started off 8-0.
• Williams has been one of the Bears' most active players on the glass this season. Her 7.9 rebounds per game are second on the team and rank sixth nationally among major-conference guards.
• Suarez's versatility at the forward position has been on display all year, as her 14 made 3-pointers are tied for first among all forwards in the Pac-12 and rank third nationally among major-conference forwards. She has scored in double figures in seven of eight games this season.
• McIntosh is on pace to average her most assists per game for a season. Her 6.3 APG rank third in the Pac-12 and 17th in the country among all DI players. She has a chance to break into the top three of Cal's all-time career assists list if she maintains her current pace.
• Twidale is beginning to hit her stride from beyond the arc, having  hit multiple 3-pointers in four straight games while averaging 10.7 points per game over that span.
• Four different players have scored in double figures in three games so far this season, a significant improvement from last season when four players scored in double figures just four times all season.
• The Bears have had 10 or more steals in four games already this season, beating their total (2) from all of last year.
• Through the first eight games of the season, the Bears have hit 10 or more 3-pointers in three games, surpassing last year's total in which they hit double-figure 3-pointers just once.
• Pac-12 Leaders as of Dec. 4:
  • Assists per game - McIntosh, 3rd (6.3)
  • Rebounds per game - Onyiah, 9th (8.0) and Williams, 10th (7.9)
  • 3PM per game - Suarez, 9th (1.8)
  • Scoring - Suarez, 14th (14.5)
  • Blocks per game - Onyiah, 11th (1.4)
  • Steals per game - McIntosh, 13th (1.8)
  • Cal 3PM, 4th (65)
  • Cal Scoring defense, 4th (56.0)
  • Cal steals per game, 4th (9.4). 
• McIntosh and Martín received 2023-24 Pac-12 preseason All-Conference honorable mention honors.

NEXT UP
Cal's homestand continues on Saturday against Nevada. The nonconference contest will tip off at 2 p.m. PT and will be live streamed.
 
STAY POSTED
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