Cal Women's Basketball: Cal WBB falls in home opener to San Jose State

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Published Nov 25, 2020

Cal WBB falls in home opener to San Jose State

Ben Parker • GoldenBearReport

Golden Bear Report

@slamdunk406

On Wednesday, Cal women’s basketball lost their season opener at home to San Jose State by a final score of 56-48. San Jose State forward Tyra Whitehead led the way for the Spartans with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Cal freshman forward Dalayah Daniels had 10 points and 12 rebounds in her collegiate debut. San Jose State improves to 1-0 on the season while Cal falls to 0-1.

“We had a lead and we squandered it,” Cal head coach Charmin Smith said after the game. “We need to better with our decision making and we will be. But it’s disappointing. Lots to work on. We’re missing two key contributors in Jazlen and Alma. We had to adjust.”

Early on, Cal got out to a nice 8-4 lead with 4:52 to go in the first quarter as Daniels had 4 points on 2-2 shooting from the field. Cal would maintain a four point cushion up 10-6 with 3:54 to go in the quarter as sophomore forward Evelien Lutje Schipholt was up to 4 points and 2 rebounds. At the end of the 1st quarter, Cal would lead 17-8 as Leilani McIntosh, Dalayah Daniels, and Evelien Lutje Schipholt each had 4 points. It was just the type of start Cal was hoping for.

Cal would continue to apply the pressure, leading 23-14 with 4:20 to go in the half. Daniels was up to 6 points and 7 rebounds, doing work inside. Cal wouldn’t finish the half strong however, as San Jose State finished the half on a 7-0 run to trail 23-19 at halftime. San Jose State guard Danae Marquez had a huge bucket inside right before the buzzer rang, giving her team a nice boost of momentum. Daniels led the Bears with 6 points and 10 rebounds at the half.

“My experience was like a freshman,” Daniels said. “Pre-game jitters. I took what my coaches told me and applied it to my game. Just like any freshman, getting rid of the jitters.”

With 4:57 to go in the 3rd quarter, Cal trailed 30-27 as the Spartans had taken the lead. Cydni Lewis was up to 8 points for the Spartans, giving her team a lift. At the end of the 3rd quarter, San Jose State led 39-35 as Lewis was up to 10 points. It was kind of a sloppy game, but to San Jose State’s credit, they were in front.

With 4:33 to go, San Jose State led 48-43. Daniels and Lutje Schipholt each had 9 points for Cal, who was trying to claw back and reclaim a game that had once been theirs. With 50 seconds left, Cal trailed 50-48, hoping to get another basket to get themselves over the top. In the end, they would score no more as San Jose State walked out with an impressive 56-48 win thanks to some free throws down the final stretch.

“SJSU, we have to give them credit,” Smith said. “They were extremely confident and played well enough in the second half to win the game. They killed us on the o-boards.”

For Cal, this loss is a disappointment. They were at home and had an early lead that they couldn’t sustain. Given how tough the Pac-12 is projected to be, no win is going to be easy, making this loss all the more painful. As for San Jose State, they deserve a lot of credit. They kept battling and found a way to get back in the game. Once they took the lead, they didn’t give it up and finished strong in the final minute.

Up next for Cal is a home game on Sunday against Cal State Bakersfield. Tipoff time is TBD.

Note: Cal was without sophomore guard Jazlen Green and freshman guard Alma Elsnitz. Charmin Smith addressed their condition after the game: Alma, I expect to be back on Sunday. Jazzy, hope to have her back soon, but not sure when that will be. Nothing to do with COVID at all.