Cal Women Triumph in ACC Opener, Stanford NCAA Hopes Diminish

Recent college basketball games have been wild, honestly—full of dominant showings and some true nail-biters. Let’s take a quick look at the latest highlights, like the Cal women’s big win over Wake Forest and Stanford men’s gritty victory against Notre Dame.

These matchups really put individual talent and team grit on display. You can feel the tension as these teams fight through their tournaments.

Cal Women Dominate Wake Forest in ACC Tournament Opener

The Cal women’s basketball team made a statement in their ACC Tournament opener, beating Wake Forest 75-52. Sakima Walker led with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal’s balanced offense and tight defense just shut down the Demon Deacons. Walker set the tone, but there was plenty of help.

Key Performers and Game Highlights

Lulu Twidale chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds. Gisella Maul and Aliyahna Morris each put up 10, so the Bears spread the scoring around.

Five lead changes in the first 13 minutes kept things tense. Then Cal ripped off a 10-0 run in the second quarter, jumping ahead 25-17.

• Cal shot 56% in the third quarter.
• The Bears went 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
• They pushed their biggest lead to 71-52 in the fourth.

Mary Carter and Grace Oliver tried to keep Wake Forest in it, scoring 13 and 10 points. But Cal just wouldn’t let up.

Stanford Men Fall to Miami in Overtime Thriller

The Stanford men’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Miami, 83-76 in overtime. They pushed hard to tie it late, but couldn’t keep up in OT.

Game Breakdown and Key Moments

Stanford trailed 70-59 with a little over six minutes left. Then they locked down on defense, holding Miami scoreless for the rest of the fourth quarter.

Courtney Ogden’s layup with 19 seconds left tied it up, forcing overtime. Still, Miami took control in OT, with Amarachi Kimpson drilling a big 3-pointer.

• Ogden paced Stanford with 22 points, six assists, and five boards.
• Ra Shaya Kyle led Miami, dropping 25 points.
• Chloe Clardy was Stanford’s only scorer in overtime, adding six points.

Stanford’s three-game win streak came to an end here. That stings for their NCAA Tournament hopes.

Colorado State Overpowers San Jose State

Colorado State took down San Jose State 67-44, handing the Spartans their 18th loss in 20 Mountain West games. Maya Anderson did her best for San Jose State, posting a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Game Highlights

Anderson’s 15 rebounds were the most for San Jose State since Cyndi Lewis grabbed 17 back in November 2021. But the Spartans just couldn’t get it going.

• San Jose State heads into the MWC tournament as the 12th seed.
• Anderson’s stat line was a rare bright spot.

Cal Men Secure Victory Over Georgia Tech

The Cal men’s team kept rolling with a 79-65 win over Georgia Tech. That’s four wins in their last five games—momentum’s building.

Key Performers and Stats

Dai Dai Ames led Cal with 18 points, while Lee Dort added 16. John Camden chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal shot only 21% from deep, but they hit 57.5% inside the arc, which made the difference.

• Kowacie Reeves Jr. led Georgia Tech with 19 points.
• Cal’s defense clamped down in the second half, outscoring Georgia Tech 20-7 in a key stretch.

Cal now sits at 21-9. That’s their first 20-win regular season since 2015-16, when they made the NCAA Tournament.

Stanford Men Triumph Over Notre Dame

Stanford’s men’s team picked up a crucial win over Notre Dame, 86-78. Ebuka Okorie dropped 24 points and Jeremy Dent-Smith added 21.

Game Analysis

Stanford grabbed control early and kept the lead in the second half. Notre Dame made a late push, but Jaylen Thompson and Dent-Smith hit clutch 3s to seal it.