penina davidson

The players should have plenty of time to adjust to their new roles, with the aim of peaking in February and March. If Gottlieb can manage the frontcourt and space out the playing time of her backcourt, Cal can create the spirit of 2013 all over again for a deep run in March.

The Cal women’s basketball team is entering the new school year with confidence, eyeing a third straight NCAA tournament appearance come next spring.

The intense reality of the NCAA’s single-elimination tournament hit the No. 7 seed Cal women’s basketball team all at once Friday evening, when its season came to an abrupt end at the hands of No. 10 seed Virginia, 68-62.

Every Cal player holds a key role in executing Penina Davidson’s layup: Kristine Anigwe and Asha Thomas as threats to score, Mikayla Cowling’s awareness, Kianna Smith’s decision-making despite her young age and Davidson’s ability to finish at the rim from the left side.

After weeks of struggle, frustration and the like, the Cal women’s basketball team finally got its long-awaited marquee win, taking its final home game of the season, 78-66, over rival No. 14 Stanford — undoubtedly its biggest victory of the year.

The No. 6 Ducks (21-3, 10-1) proved once again that they are a legitimate threat to challenge for the NCAA title in March and April, putting together a textbook performance against the Bears (15-7, 6-5) from start to finish.

The Wildcats, who entered the game in last place in the Pac-12, fell victim to a stifling Bears defense that allowed just three points in the second quarter.

Though Cal has yet to drop a game to an unranked opponent, its matchup with USC (13-5, 3-4) is expected to be far from a stroll in the park.

That 82-46 loss has not left the minds of Cal’s players, who struggled mightily at home in the team’s most disappointing performance of the season.

Junior Kristine Anigwe recorded her fifth double-double of the season against the Huskies, finishing with a team-leading 26 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Penina Davidson had quite the day herself, recording 18 points and pulling in nine boards.