LAS VEGAS - The California women's basketball team (18-13, 7-11 Pac-12) cruised to an opening-round victory against ninth-seeded Washington State and now is set to take on first-seeded Stanford (26-4, 15-3) at 2:30 p.m. PT on Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  
 
A win over Stanford would advance Cal to the semifinals for the first time since 2016 and be Cal's highest-ranked win since beating then-No. 3 Rutgers, 66-52, on Nov. 21, 2008 at Haas Pavilion and be the first win against a Top 5 opponent since Cal was No. 7 and beat then-No. 5 Stanford, 67-55, on Jan. 13, 2013 at Maples Pavilion.
 
This game marks the 102nd all-time meeting between the programs with Stanford holding a 80-21 series (9-0 in the Pac-12 Tournament) lead and 11-game winning streak. The last win against the Cardinal came on Jan. 31, 2019 in a 81-80 victory at Haas Pavilion. Cal last faced Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament on March 8, 2019 in a 72-54 loss in the quarterfinal round.
 
Stanford is led by Tara VanDerveer, who is in her 45th year at the helm. The Cardinal return Cameron Brink, who was recently named the Pac-12's Conference and Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Thursday's game will air on Pac-12 Network with Tammy Blackburn and Ann Schatz on the call.  
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date & Time: Thursday, March 7 | 2:30 p.m. PT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Stream: Pac-12 Network
 
QUICK HITS

• In the win vs. Washington State (Mar. 6):
  • Leilani McIntosh matched her career high with five 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 19 points. She has now passed Kristin Iwanaga for eighth on Cal's all-time career 3-pointers list.
  • Ioanna Krimili hit two triples to pass Alexis Gray-Lawson and Liz Rizzo for the 10th spot on Cal's all-time single-season list.
  • Cal pulled down 20 offensive rebounds which led to 26 second-chance points. The Bears have now grabbed 20+ offensive rebounds in six games this season - the most of any Pac-12 team.
  • The Bears held the Cougars to just four points in the second quarter, the lowest quarter total for a Cal opponent this season.
  • The 44 points scored for Washington State were a season low.
• The 18 overall and seven conference wins mark the most under head coach Charmin Smith (finished 13-17, 4-14 last season) and the most for Cal since the 2018-19 season.
• The Bears have connected on 256 3-pointers this season, which are the most in program history. The previous program record was 239 made 3-pointers during the 2018-19 season.
• In 6 of the 10 games against ranked opponents or teams receiving votes at the time Cal played them this season, the Bears have had a lead or been within single digits in the fourth quarter.
• Cal is 14-0 this season when holding opponents to 60 or fewer points.

Player Notes

• Ioanna Krimili finished conference play tied for the league lead for 3PM (47) and even with missing nine games this season, Krimili finished tied for eighth in the Pac-12 for 3PM (55) for the season. She is just three away from passing Kemery Martin and Jayda Curry for the seventh spot on Cal's all-time single-season list.
• Krimili is currently third (behind Caitlin Clark, Iowa, and Abbey Hsu, Colombia) among all active players in the country for career 3-pointers made per game (2.8) and eighth for total 3PM (333).
• Krimili is second among all active players in the country for most career games with at least five 3PM (23):
  • Caitlin Clark, Iowa – 42
  • Ioanna Krimili – 24
  • Abbey Hsu, Columbia – 23
  • Sara Scalia, Indiana – 21
  • Hannah Jump, Stanford - 19
• Krimili is 1 of 11 players in the nation to shoot at least 42% from the field, 42% from deep and 85% from the free throw line while averaging at least 13.0 points per game (min. 20 games played). 
• For the month of February, Krimili shot 40.9% from deep, which ranked sixth in the Pac-12 (min 40 attempts). Her 42.0% average from beyond the arc for the season ranks 20th in the nation (min. 130 attempts).
• Krimili's seven 20-point games during conference play were tied for fourth in the conference behind USC's JuJu Watkins (14), Stanford's Kiki Iriafen (8) and Arizona State's Jalyn Brown (8).
• Krimili and McIntosh finished tied for the Pac-12's top 3-point shooting duo during conference play having combined for 74 makes from beyond the arc.
• McKayla Williams' 45 offensive rebounds finished ranked second among all true guards in the Pac-12 and rank 23rd overall.
• Onyiah has been effective on the glass when she has been on the floor. While averaging just 18.9 minutes per game, she finished 19th in the Pac-12 in rebounding (6.2). She was the only player in the top 25 in the conference averaging under 20 minutes a contest.
• Onyiah's 85 offensive rebounds finished fourth in the conference.
• Onyiah has had a career year, setting season highs in field goals (93), FG% (56.4), rebounds (187) and total points (231).
• Onyiah finished fourth in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage at 56.4%. During conference play she finished second in the Pac-12 at 61.4%. For the month of February, she shot 72.0%, which ranked second in the nation.
• Suárez's versatility at the forward position has been on display all year as her 37 made 3-pointers finished fourth in the Pac-12 and 39th in the country among all forwards.
• McIntosh recorded her most assists in a season this year with 150 - good for second in the conference and 36th in the country. Her 5.0 assists per game finished third in the Pac-12.
• McIntosh is 1 of only 3 players in the nation to average at least 9.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG and shoot 40.0% from 3-point range. She is the only player to do it from a major conference.
• Over her last 14 games, McIntosh is shooting 45.3% from deep - good for fifth in the Pac-12 during that span.
• McIntosh is just eight triples away from passing Paige Bowie for seventh on Cal's all-time career list. The 45 triples she has hit so far are a career season high.
• McIntosh is the only player in the Pac-12 to finish in the top 10 in both assists and steals while shooting 40% from deep.

Team Notes

• This is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in program history. The 256 made triples are the most in Cal history. The next closest team was the 2018-19 squad that hit 239 in 33 games.
• Cal has hit double-digit 3-pointers in six of the last 12 games - tied with Utah for the most of any Pac-12 team during that span and tied for sixth most in the country (since Jan. 19). During that span the Bears have hit 113 triples, which rank ninth in the nation.
• The Bears have secured 20+ offensive rebounds in five games this season – the most of any Pac-12 team. The next closest teams are Washington and UCLA with two.
• The Bears finished the season giving up 66.1 points per game, their lowest total since the 2017-18 season when they gave up 65.9 points per game.
• Cal is 1 of 2 teams in the Pac-12 with three players who rank in the top 21 in total rebounds: Suárez (11th: 196), Onyiah (15th: 187) and Williams (21st: 161).
• Four or more different players scored in double figures in 10 games 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 eight games this season, beating their total (2) from last year.
• The Bears have hit 10 or more 3-pointers in 11 games, surpassing last year's total in which they hit double-figure 3-pointers in just one game. That total is also the most games in program history since 1999-00. 

Pac-12 Leaders as of March 2 (all games):

• 3PM per game – Krimili, 2nd (2.6)
• 3PT% - Krimili, 6th (42.0); McIntosh, 10th (41.3)
• Field goal percentage – Onyiah, 4th (56.4)
• Offensive rebounds – Onyiah, 4th (85)
• Assists per game - McIntosh, 3rd (5.0)
• Steals per game – McIntosh, 11th (1.6)
• Total rebounds – Suárez, 10th (196); Onyiah, 14th (187)
• Cal 3PM – 2nd (248)

NEXT UP
If Cal wins Thursday, it will face the winner of the matchup between fifth-seeded Colorado and fourth-seeded Utah on Friday at 5 p.m. PT.  
 
STAY POSTED
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