BERKELEY – The No. 24 California women's basketball team has made quite the statement as they claimed the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational title with impressive performances over the weekend at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears showcased their skills by defeating Temple 89-63 on Sunday evening after earlier beating Fordham 69-53, marking their best start of the season since 2016-17.
Against Temple, the Bears wasted no time displaying their long-range prowess, nailing 10 three-pointers within the first half. Despite leading by only five points at halftime due to Temple's strong shooting performance, Cal refocused its efforts defensively, holding the Owls to just 32.4% shooting from the field in the second half. Californian shooters Ioanna Krimili and Lulu Twidale shone brightly, each sinking six triples, and finishing with 20 points apiece. They were backed by Kayla Williams, who contributed 17 points, and Michelle Onyiah with 12.
Krimili, who was named the tournament MVP, capped her performance by totaling 11 three-pointers throughout the tournament. Twidale and Krimili are recognized as the top 3-point shooting duo nationally, and they demonstrated their skills once again this weekend, providing Cal with significant offensive firepower. "I'm just really proud of where we are as we wrap up non-conference play at 13-1," said Cal's head coach Charmin Smith. "This is a good spot to be as we get to go home and get some rest. I thought this Temple team was really good and shot the ball well in the first half. We just had to keep pushing and pushing, and we were finally able to break through."
Cal's run to the title began on Saturday against Fordham, where they claimed a solid 69-53 victory. Krimili again led the charge, making five three-pointers and scoring 19 points. The Bears jumped out to an early lead, creating momentum right from the opening tip. They never trailed during the contest, asserting their dominance as they cruised to their sixth consecutive victory.
Fordham fought back to cut the deficit to as little as three points before Cal regained control heading to halftime with their lead intact. Taylor Donaldson led Fordham with 24 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Cal's impressive defense, which responded well to the Fordham pressure.
The Raising the B.A.R. Invitational is more than just basketball; it reflects the vision of Coach Charmin Smith, who aims to address the lack of diversity among head coaches in women's college basketball. The acronym B.A.R. stands for basketball, activism, and representation, highlighting the commitment to excellence both on and off the court. Only 17% of NCAA head coaches are women of color, making Smith's efforts to promote representation and awareness particularly significant.
Smith, drawing inspiration from her earlier experiences, initiated the tournament four years ago. "This tournament elevates the voices and stories of people working within the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) space," Smith said. Alongside the tournament, there was also a fundraising element for local charities, allowing each participating school to support organizations of their choice. Cal is raising funds for People’s Programs, demonstrating its commitment to community involvement.
Participation from various schools has brought attention to the diversity challenges within sports. Fordham’s head coach, Bridgette Mitchell, expressed pride at being part of this initiative, stating, "Representation matters. Girls look up to my players, and my players look up to me. This is really unique to see, and it should be celebrated what Charmin is doing."
The successful tournament concluded with the Bears solidifying their rank and setting goals for the demanding ACC schedule lying ahead. Cal’s next game will be on January 2 against Clemson, and anticipation is high among fans after such commanding victories.
With their current performance standards, the Bears are expected to continue their strong run this season, with potential playoff aspirations seeming more real than ever. Their ability to shoot from three-point territory effectively and optimize their defensive plays indicates they are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the road once again.
Overall, California has emerged as not just participants, but strong contenders, not only showcasing skill but also commitment to advocacy and representation within their sport. This dual focus propels both their athletic success and their social mission, making their games exciting to watch and culturally significant.
