The California women's basketball team will have an opportunity to get its first signature win of the season when it hosts No. 19 Alabama in the SEC/ACC Challenge at Haas Pavilion on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT. A win would give the Golden Bears (7-1) their best start to a season under head coach Charmin Smith.
 
This marks the second meeting between the two programs with Alabama (9-0) winning the sole matchup 76-63 in the opening round of the UIC Thanksgiving Tournament in Chicago on Nov. 24, 2000.
 
A win against Alabama would be Cal's fourth against a 2024 NCAA Tournament team this season and the highest ranked win since a 55-54 victory against then-No. 13 Arizona on March 1, 2020. It would also mark the fifth win against a ranked opponent under Smith.
 
Alabama is led by 12th-year head coach Kristy Curry, who guided the team to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Tide's starting five is highlighted by Sarah Barker and Aaliyah Nye, who were named to the 2024 All SEC First Team and Second-Team, respectively.
 
Wednesday's game will air on ESPNU with Krista Blunt and Mary Murphy on the call.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date & Time: Thursday, Dec. 5 | 6 p.m. PT
Live Stream: ESPNU
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
QUICK HITS
In the 74-62 win against Arizona last Wednesday:

• Michelle Onyiah recorded her 10th career double-double with a career-high 25 points (11-of-14) and 13 rebounds.
• Gisella Maul added a career-high 10 points.
• Lulu Twidale knocked down four 3-pointers - her fourth game this season with at least four made triples.
• Ioanna Krimili and Kayla Williams dished out six assists each.
• The Bears went to the line 26 times, their sixth game with at least 20 attempts this season.

 
NCAA Team Rankings

• 3-point makes per game - 18th (9.8)
• Free throws per game - 21st (22.75)
• 3-point percentage - 22nd (38.6)
• Field goal percentage - 29th (47.3%)
• Scoring - 39th (80.1)
• Blocks per game - 40th (4.8)

 
Player Notes

• Krimili is currently the nation's leader in both career triples (360) and most career games with at least five made 3-pointers (24). She ranks fifth in the NCAA in career points (2,225) among all active players.
• Krimili and Twidale are off to a hot start from beyond the arc. Twidale is fifth in the NCAA with 29 made triples and Krimili is 22nd with 23.
• Cal is the only school in the country to have two players (Krimili and Twidale) rank in the top 25 nationally for 3-pointers made (through Dec. 2).
• Krimili has done a great job getting her teammates involved as of late as she has had at least five assists in four straight games - only the second time in her career with such a stretch since she did it during the 2021-22 season.
• Williams has had an impact on both sides of the ball this season. She is one of 18 players in the country to have had three or more games with at least five assists and three steals.

 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's basketball, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWBBall), Instagram (@CalWBBball) and Facebook (/CalWBBall/).