Bears Back In Action, Make SoCal Swing

BERKELEY – The Cal women's basketball returns to action on Friday when it plays a pair of games in Southern California. First up for the Bears will be a 7:00 p.m. tilt against USC at the Galen Center. Friday's game will be televised on Pac-12 Bay Area with Anne Marie Anderson and Ros Gold Onwude. Fans can also follow the game live via live stats at USCTrojans.com.
 
Cal (9-5, 0-3) has been off since falling to Stanford 97-74 down at the Farm on January 21. In that contest, the Bears played arguably their best basketball of the season, going into the locker at halftime tied 42-42.  
 
USC (9-9, 2-6 Pac-12) enter Friday's contest riding a four-game losing streak. The Trojans are 74 at the Galen Center this year.

GAME 14 INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 4, 2022 – 7:00 p.m. PT    
Opponent: USC Trojans (9-9, 2-6 Pac-12)
Site: Galen Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
TV:  Pac-12 Bay Area
Talent: Anne Marie Anderson (play-by-play) Ros Gold Onwude (analyst)
Live Stats: USCTrojans.com
 
AT A GLANCE
• As a team, the Bears are averaging 71.8 points per game which rank 56th in the nation and fourth in the Pac-12. Cal is allowing 67.9 points per contest. The +3.9-scoring margin is 148th in the country and ninth in the Pac-12.
 
• The Bears are 2-3 on the road this year and have lost three straight. As a team, Cal is averaging 63.4 points per game on the road and shooting 35.4 percent from the field. They are allowing 69.0 points per game and their opponents are shooting 40.0 percent from the field. Those numbers show steady improvement from last season, in which Cal went 0-6 on the road and surrendered 70 points per game with their opponents connecting on 44.3 percent of their attempts from the field.
 
•The 9-5 start is the best start under third-year head coach Charmin Smith through 14 games.
 
• Not reliant on the 3: Cal doesn't live and die from beyond the arc. The Bears are 262nd in the nation in 3-point field goal attempts per game at 16.2. Cal is 9-0 when making 6.3 or more threes. They are 0-5 when making 4.4 or fewer.
 
• Sharing the Wealth: Against Stanford the Bears had two players finish in double figures - Cal is 1-4 this year when two or fewer players finish with 10 or more points. They are 8-1 when three or more players score 10 or more. The Bears' lone loss when three finished with 10 or more came at Arkansas.
 
Series Versus USC
Friday marks the 76th time the Bears and Trojans have faced each other. USC owns a 42-33 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1978-79 season when USC defeated Cal 74-60 in Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 1978. In LA, the Bears are 11-26. USC has won three straight over the Bears, and two in a row at the Galen Center. The last time Cal defeated USC on the road came on Jan. 21, 2018, with Cal winning 62-59.
 
Last Time Out Versus the USC
Last time out the young Bears battled but fell 77-54 at the Galen Center.
 
Michelle Onyiah scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in her first career start. Dalayah Daniels recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Cal shot 36.6 percent from the field but was just 1-for-11 from beyond the arc.
 
USC had four players in double figures and was led by Jordan Sanders game-high 22 points. The second quarter was the difference. With the Bears trailing by three after one, USC outscored Cal 27-11 to go into the intermission leading 45-26.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears continue their southern California swing with a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. The Bears and Bruins are slated for a 12:00 p.m. tip-off, the game will be televised on Pac-12 Bay Area.

STAY CONNECTED
For complete coverage of Cal women's basketball, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball), and Facebook (/CalWBball/).