Preview:
Stanford plays Cal twice this weekend, providing that everyone is healthy enough not to cancel. Cal postponed both games last weekend.
Cal is 9-4, 0-2 in conference having lost to Oregon and WSU. Charmin Smith, a guard for us who graduated in 1997, has been coaching at Cal for 15 years, and head coach now in her 3rd year. Cal is still in what we might call a rebuilding year.
If she is healthy and playing, Cal's biggest threat is freshman sensation Jayda Curry. This 5'6" guard from Corona is averaging 20 ppg--that is astonishing for a freshman. She hits 42% of her shots and 36% from three point range.
Leilani McIntosh, now a junior, is a 5'5" guard who is leading the team in assists but is well down the list in scoring.
Evelien Lutje-Schipholt, a 6'2" forward from Holland, is their best "big," averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds per game.
9 players average more than 10 minutes, so Cal is deep in that sense.
Cal seems shorter than we are at every position. They make 5-6 three pointers a game, which is probably above average. Their rebounding and turnovers seem even with their opponents and pretty average. They force 8 steals a game, which is quite good and probably reflects their speedy little guards.
If we have any trouble with Cal this weekend, it would have to be because we turned the ball over a lot and they got hot from three point range. Both are possibilities. Otherwise I don't see them posing a great challenge. On the other hand, a healthy Jayda Curry could always have one of those nights like Alexis Gray-Lawson and carry team on her back. Shutting her down will be a top priority.
Stanford plays Cal twice this weekend, providing that everyone is healthy enough not to cancel. Cal postponed both games last weekend.
Cal is 9-4, 0-2 in conference having lost to Oregon and WSU. Charmin Smith, a guard for us who graduated in 1997, has been coaching at Cal for 15 years, and head coach now in her 3rd year. Cal is still in what we might call a rebuilding year.
If she is healthy and playing, Cal's biggest threat is freshman sensation Jayda Curry. This 5'6" guard from Corona is averaging 20 ppg--that is astonishing for a freshman. She hits 42% of her shots and 36% from three point range.
Leilani McIntosh, now a junior, is a 5'5" guard who is leading the team in assists but is well down the list in scoring.
Evelien Lutje-Schipholt, a 6'2" forward from Holland, is their best "big," averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds per game.
9 players average more than 10 minutes, so Cal is deep in that sense.
Cal seems shorter than we are at every position. They make 5-6 three pointers a game, which is probably above average. Their rebounding and turnovers seem even with their opponents and pretty average. They force 8 steals a game, which is quite good and probably reflects their speedy little guards.
If we have any trouble with Cal this weekend, it would have to be because we turned the ball over a lot and they got hot from three point range. Both are possibilities. Otherwise I don't see them posing a great challenge. On the other hand, a healthy Jayda Curry could always have one of those nights like Alexis Gray-Lawson and carry team on her back. Shutting her down will be a top priority.


