No. 22 Cal Completes Sweep Over Stanford with Nail-Biting 75-72 Victory
STANFORD, Calif. – For the first time since the 1985-86 season, No. 22 California swept the Battle of the Bay series against Stanford, capturing a thrilling 75-72 victory Thursday night at Maples Pavilion. It marked Cal’s first win at Stanford since the 2014-15 season, breaking a nine-game losing streak on the Cardinal’s home court.
The Golden Bears jumped out to an early lead, building a 19-point advantage in the third quarter behind efficient scoring and dominance in the paint. However, Stanford mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally, fueled by 73% shooting in the period. With just 45 seconds left, the Cardinal had cut the deficit to three and scrambled to set up a potential game-tying three-pointer, but their final shot fell short, sealing Cal’s hard-fought victory.
Cal head coach Charmin Smith credited Stanford’s resilience in the final moments. “They made some tough shots and got to the free throw line, so I think that was a part of it as well, just their aggressiveness, and they picked up things offensively,” she said. “But you know, we got the lead that we needed so that we could get the win.”
Leading the Golden Bears was guard Kayla Williams, who scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a clutch three-pointer in the third quarter that helped stave off Stanford’s momentum. Ioanna Krimili added 17 points, going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the closing moments, and Marta Suárez contributed 13 points and seven rebounds while providing crucial defensive stops.
For Stanford, Nunu Agara led with 19 points and six rebounds, while Chloe Clardy delivered a game-high 22 points, attacking the rim relentlessly. Freshman guard Shay Ijiwoye, who scored 8 points, reflected on the late-game rally, saying, “We were never going to give up, regardless of the score, but just seeing how close it was, it only makes you hungrier.”
Despite the loss, Stanford head coach Kate Paye praised her team’s fight. “I’m extremely proud of our team, the way we fought back and gave ourselves an opportunity to really win the game,” she said. Reflecting on the game’s early struggles, she added, “This one hurts… we had dug ourselves a hole in the first quarter. But our team battled back.”
The win was especially meaningful for Smith, coaching against her alma mater. “This means a lot, because, you know, this is my home. This is my alma mater, and I’ve taken a ton of butt kickings as well, you know. So to be able to do this, it feels really good,” she said. Smith also noted Cal’s rise in the ACC standings, where they sit sixth after being picked 14th in the preseason poll. “I feel really good about where we are… but a lot of work still to be done.
“We’re still in January, and I know they’re super hungry,” she said commenting on her players, “and they’ll keep working.”
Next up, California (18-3, 6-2 ACC) will host No. 13 North Carolina in a marquee matchup that could further solidify their position among the conference’s top teams. Meanwhile, Stanford (10-9, 2-6 ACC) will look to bounce back when they host Pittsburgh next Thursday. Both teams face significant challenges as they prepare for the stretch run of the ACC season.
With their historic victory, Cal not only ends a near-decade drought at Maples Pavilion but also establishes themselves as a legitimate contender in the ACC, while Stanford looks to regroup after another hard-fought game.
