STANFORD, Calif. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, the No. 22 California Golden Bears secured a 75-72 victory against Stanford, marking the first time in 39 years that they completed a season sweep of the Cardinal. Kayla Williams led the Bears with 18 points, while Ioanna Krimili contributed 17 points to the team’s triumph.
As the fourth quarter began, Krimili’s basket extended California’s lead to 15 points. However, Stanford responded with a flurry of scoring, netting 10 consecutive points to narrow the gap to just five at 58-53 with less than six minutes remaining. Nunu Agara hit two back-to-back three-pointers, putting the Cardinal within striking distance, trailing 73-71 with only 46.3 seconds left on the clock.
With the clock winding down, Krimili made a crucial driving layup that pushed California’s lead to 75-71 with just 18.7 seconds remaining. In a frantic finish, Agara was fouled and converted her first free throw but missed the second; however, she was quick to secure the offensive rebound. Agara attempted a three-pointer but was off the mark. Fortunately for Stanford, Chloe Clardy snagged the rebound with 4.8 seconds left, but following a timeout, the Cardinal were unable to execute a final shot before the buzzer sounded.
Marta Suarez also made a significant contribution for California, finishing with 13 points. Their victory is particularly noteworthy, as it ended a decade-long winless streak at Stanford. The Golden Bears had previously lost 12 consecutive games to the Cardinal, having already triumphed in their first encounter this season by a resounding 20 points; this included a program record of 18 three-pointers made in that game.
Chloe Clardy shone for Stanford, achieving a career-high 22 points, while Agara added 19 to the team’s total. Despite the setback, Stanford maintains a commanding lead in the all-time series at 81-23 and had entered the season on a 12-game winning streak against California.
During the game, California showcased an impressive offensive performance, leading 41-31 at halftime after shooting an impressive 61%, despite hitting only 2 of their 10 attempts from long range. In the third quarter, the Golden Bears pushed their lead to as much as 19 points with four minutes remaining. However, they struggled with their shooting, making only 2 of 14 attempts, although they managed to convert their last three shots while also committing eight turnovers.
Looking ahead, California is set to face No. 13 North Carolina on January 30, while Stanford will host Pittsburgh on the same day.
