DALLAS — In a strong performance, Marta Suarez sank three 3-pointers and contributed 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, leading No. 20 California to an 81-66 victory over SMU on Sunday night.

Kayla Williams also played a significant role, netting 17 points while making 7 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, and dishing out seven assists. Lulu Twidale and Ioanna Krimili added to the scoring with 13 and 10 points, respectively, helping Cal improve to a record of 14-2 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Previously, the Bears experienced a setback, losing their seven-game winning streak with a 69-58 defeat against Clemson last Thursday.

Twidale ignited a scoring run with a layup followed by an and-1 free throw, and added another layup and a 3-pointer, enabling California to establish a 17-12 lead late in the first quarter. The second quarter started with Ella Brow dropping in a 3-pointer, and 45 seconds later, tied the game at 19 with a basket in the lane. However, the Bears surged ahead, scoring 12 consecutive points to take a commanding lead.

Williams played a crucial part in an 11-2 run that included two of Cal’s three 3-pointers, widening the gap to 53-40 about four minutes into the third quarter. From that point onwards, SMU could not close the margin, trailing by at least nine for the rest of the game.

For SMU, Nya Robertson shone in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of her 22 points then, while Chantae Embry contributed 12 points and Ella Brow chipped in 10 as well.

The outcome halted SMU’s four-game winning streak. Interestingly, both SMU and California celebrated significant milestones recently, as they marked their inaugural victory in the ACC just days earlier, with the Mustangs overcoming Stanford 67-63.