Fresh off its first regular-season sweep of Stanford since the 1985-86 season, the No. 19 California women's basketball team (18-3, 6-2 ACC) has its eyes set on No. 15 North Carolina (18-4, 6-3). The top-20 matchup, taking place at Haas Pavilion on Thursday night at 7 p.m. PT, is the first since the then-No. 14 Golden Bears hosted then-No. 1 UConn on Dec. 22, 2018.
 
A win would keep Cal undefeated at home (currently 11-0) and put it one win away from tying its best home start in program history (13-0 during the 1982-83 season). It would also be Cal's third victory against a ranked opponent this season and its highest ranked win since defeating then-No. 13 Arizona on March 1, 2020. It would mark the first time the Bears beat three ranked teams in a season since 2019-20 and the first time defeating three ranked teams at home in a season since 2012-13.
 
This will be the fifth meeting between the schools. The series is tied 2-2 with the Bears winning the most recent matchup, 92-72, in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
 
North Carolina is led by sixth-year head coach Courtney Banghart who guided the team to its fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 and an appearance in the second round. The Tarheels are led by Alyssa Ustby who averages a double-double at 11.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
 
Thursday's game will be streamed on ACCNX with Ashlee Jones and Chris Sylvester on the call.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date & Time: Thursday, Jan. 30 |7 p.m. PT
Broadcast: ACCNX
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
QUICK HITS
In the 75-72 win at Stanford on Thursday:

• Cal swept the regular-season series against Stanford for the first time since 1985-86.
• The win marked Cal's first at Stanford since 2014-15.
• The Bears led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter.
• Cal shot 60% in the first half and finished at 55.6% for the game.
• With the Bears up two with 19 seconds left, Ioanna Krimili drove to the hoop for a crucial layup that helped seal the win.

 
NCAA Team Rankings (as of Jan. 27)

• Total 3-pointers made - 7th (196)
• 3-point makes per game - 15th (9.3)
• 3-point percentage - 22nd (36.4%)
• Field goal percentage - 27th (46.4)
• Field goal percentage defense - 46th (37.4%)
• Scoring - 53rd (75.0)

 
Player Notes

• Krimili is currently the nation's leader in both career triples (399) and most career games with at least five made 3-pointers (26). She ranks fourth in the NCAA in career points (2,425) among all active players.
• Krimili needs just one 3-pointer to reach 400 for her career - a milestone only 16 other players in the history of college women's basketball have reached. If she maintains her pace of 3.3 triples per game she can finish in the all-time top 10 list.
• Krimili and Twidale are the best 3-point shooting duo in the nation. Both are tied for eighth in the NCAA with 62 3-pointers each. (through Jan. 27).
• Krimili and Twidale are each two 3-pointers away from tying the program's all-time single season record – Jennifer Self (64 during the 1991-92 season).
• Marta Suárez has scored at least 16 points in four of her last six games and shot 53.3% from the field and 56.2% from deep over that stretch. Over her last five games she is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game.
• Suárez is one of four players in the conference to rank in the top 20 in scoring (14.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 rpg) and top 15 in field goal percentage (51.7) during ACC play. She is the only one of the four shooting over 50% from the field.
• Suárez is the only forward in the country shooting at least 50% from the field and 42% from deep (min. 60 3PTA).
• Kayla Williams is just one of two players in the nation shooting at least 50.0% from the field, 43.0% from deep and totaling at least 90 assists on the season. The other is Notre Dame's Olivia Miles.
• Michelle Onyiah is setting career single-season highs across several categories this year: FG% (59.2), rebounding (7.1) and scoring (10.3).

 
Team Notes

• At 18-3, Cal is off to its best start under Smith and since the 2012-13 season (18-2).
• The Bears are one of just eight teams in the country with four Quad 1 (NET) wins.
• Cal is currently 8-2 against teams from the 2024 NCAA Tournament with wins over No. 19 Alabama, No. 21 NC State, Florida State, Gonzaga, Auburn, Arizona and Stanford (twice).
• The Bears' 36.4 shooting percentage from deep this season currently ranks third in program history.

 
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