California Women’s Basketball Suffers Setback Against NC State

The California Golden Bears faced a tough challenge on Sunday afternoon, falling 71-60 to the NC State Wolfpack at Valvano Arena in a packed house. Despite their efforts, the Golden Bears (9-7, 0-3 ACC) could not hold onto the lead after initially overcoming an early nine-point deficit in the first quarter.

Game Highlights

The Bears showcased their resilience, even taking the lead at points in the second and third quarters. However, a pivotal 11-0 run by the Wolfpack (11-4, 4-0) at the end of the third quarter ultimately shifted the momentum back in favor of NC State. The Golden Bears outperformed the Wolfpack in rebounding, achieving an impressive 42-28 advantage on the boards, despite NC State’s leading ACC rebounding margin of 10.6.

Stellar Performances

Freshman Taylor Barnes was a standout for California, achieving her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, alongside three steals. Her performance also placed her among the few rookies in the ACC to achieve such a feat. Another strong contributor was Gisella Maul, who finished just shy of a double-double with 9 points and a career-best 13 rebounds.

LuLu Twidale added to the scoring, hitting three three-pointers and totaling 16 points, while Naya Ojukwu also made an impact, finishing 7-for-7 from the field for 14 points.

Game Flow and Turning Points

After finding themselves down by nine points early on, the Golden Bears quickly retaliated with a 7-0 run fueled by a driving layup from Maul, followed by Twidale’s first three-pointer. This momentum allowed them to reclaim a 18-15 lead towards the end of the first quarter. They entered the second quarter trailing only 21-20.

The competitive edge continued through the second quarter with the teams trading leads. After the game was tied at 24-24, Twidale hit a crucial three-pointer to regain the lead for the Bears, but NC State responded with a 9-0 run, pushing their lead further. However, a final 7-0 run by the Bears in the half brought them back within a point at 37-36.

After taking a brief lead in the third quarter, California was unable to maintain their momentum. Following an 11-0 run from NC State, they found themselves down 56-45 heading into the final quarter.

Despite a determined effort in the fourth quarter, including Ojukwu maintaining her flawless shooting and Barnes cutting the deficit to just six points late in the game, crucial turnovers hampered any chance for a comeback.

Post-Game Reflections

Head Coach Charmin Smith expressed pride in his team’s competitive spirit, highlighting their ability to face formidable opponents and emphasizing the need to eliminate mistakes moving forward. He also noted the team’s desire to play in vibrant arenas and looks forward to returning to Haas Pavilion.

What’s Next for the Bears

Looking ahead, California will host the Duke Blue Devils at Haas Pavilion on January 8, 2026, at 3 PM PT, presenting an opportunity to bounce back from their recent loss.

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