Bears Score 99, Blow By Virginia Into First-Ever Sweet 16
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 9:17 PM PDT
in Basketball
68 comments
We're in!!!! - Image via a.espncdn.com
There's no such thing as a 'perfect' game of basketball, but at least offensively, the Cal Women's Basketball team was just about as close as you're going to get Monday night. They scored 99 points. 99! In regulation! Their previous high on the season was 85. It was an offensive explosion, as Virginia had basically no answer for Ashley Walker or Devanei Hampton inside. Some of the crispest passing you'll ever see let the Bears pummel the Cavaliers with easy layups, and then Cal tossed in 8 3-pointers for good measure.
Plenty of scoring from the usual suspects led the Bears: 32 for Walker, and 22 each for Grey-Lawson and Hampton. Those three's 76 points would have beaten the Cavs all by themselves, but they had plenty of help from their teammates. Lauren Greif added 10 points, but more importantly, 9 assists, feeding Walker and Hampton in the low post over and over again. Natasha Vital added 5 points and 5 assists as well. In fact, the first half, the Bears were virtually flawless offensively: 53 points, 12 assists, 1 turnover. 1! Crazy.
If there's a worry from this game, it's that Cal kept letting Virginia stay in the game in the second half; they ran off a 9-0 run that got them within 11 with more than 12 minutes to play, and Virginia did score 73 points, shooting nearly 50% for the game. But the game was never *really* close down the stretch, and without knowing much women's college basketball, one could miss the fact that Virginia is a Top 25 team for a reason. Getting Aisha Mohammed in foul trouble early sure hurt them in the first half, but this is a good team, and Cal clearly outclassed them.
Now, of course, we get a week to soak in the Sweet 16 magic. Soak it in, Bears!
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for those who can't get enough of coach boyle crouching in great shoes
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 9:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That'd make for a great offseason question
Where oh where does Boyle get her shoes, and which pair is the best?
by Avinash on Mar 23, 2009 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or perhaps
Caption: These boots will crush your team into the ground.
by tjalorak on Mar 23, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
These boots are made for walkin’
And that’s just what they’ll do.
They’ll walk and walk and walk and walk,
They’ll walk right over you!
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
She wears the sweater vest better than Tressel
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Mar 23, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats not a sweater vest.
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 23, 2009 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
semantics semantics
it’s a sweater and it has no sleeves, ergo sweater vest!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Mar 23, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’m pretty sure Twist is right. i know i would defer to Twist on all fashion-related queries.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, literally perhaps. It’s tough to tell at that angle whether or not there are very short sleeves on that bad boy.
But, in general, a sweater vest is designed to be worn over another item of clothing (generally, shirt). There’s no underitem here. Also, sweater vests rarely have those sort of loose turtleneck things.
So, while it might technically be a sweater that is also a vest, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a sweatervest.
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 23, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKIN
AND THAT’S JUST WHAT THEY’LL
ONE OF THESE DAYS THEY’RE GONNA WALK ALL OVER U (CONN)
CAN AH GETTA NAILED IT!?
HYDROTECH IS FREE!
by Thoroughbred on Mar 23, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
NAILED IT!
(For the You – CONN reference)
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lauren Greif totes doesn’t get enough mention. Great game.
by CalBandGreat on Mar 23, 2009 9:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I was meaning to mention how well she’s played in the tourney. Around 50% shooting from 2 point and 3 point land, plus all the swift passes she threw inside.
by Avinash on Mar 23, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's good to see her playing so well
since she and Vital will have to take a bigger role next year. Cal might actually be a guard oriented team next year! How crazy does that sound?
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Mar 23, 2009 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know anything about the incoming class, except that they’re really good. Any bigs?
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Several!
I think 3-4 bigs. Off the top of my head, Stallworth and Heater.
by tjalorak on Mar 23, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s the list
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncw/recruiting/tracker/school?schoolId=25
also, a quote about Gennifer Brandon I found very amusing
Gennifer Brandon is a big time prospect with a great deal of athleticism that translates on the court. She can dominate a game with her leaping ability alone. She’s one of the few female players to goaltend a shot during play. She can block a shot from several feet away. She is a fantastic rebounder as well and can get out and fill the lane on the break. On the break she is a fantastic finisher.
HYDROTECH IS FREE!
by Thoroughbred on Mar 23, 2009 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How many points did Walker end up with? And rebounds?
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Key to the game, in my opinion:
great entry passes to the post. The reason Hampton and Walker were able to get so many lay-ins early was because greif, vital, and alexis were leading them to the basket, away from the defenders. That’s what blew the game open early. To stop this, Virginia went to a zone and the bears started reigning threes. Unbelievable offensive performance by the Bears, one for the ages.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by CBKWit on Mar 23, 2009 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
OK, Mr. Smarty-Pants, you can write the recap next time!
Rec’d!
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was really glad to see this post
just got back from Raleighs Manuel’s Taproom. I’m glad so many people saw the game and are commenting on it here. I am not optimistic about facing the buzzsaw that is UConn, but even if they fall to the Huskies, having Walker and Hampton go out with great performances in making the first sweet 16 in school history is pretty awesome. What a perfomance by these players tonight and over the last four years.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by CBKWit on Mar 23, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The last few weeks of the season were distressing. But it seems like they’ve completely turned it around, and the coaches have come up with great game plans both for Fresno State and Virginia.
I think the best thing that may have happened to Cal was that terrible call in the USC game in the Pac-10 tournament. I was afraid if we won that game, we were going to get squashed by Stanford in the final, and end the season completely down. Instead, they ended the season with fire in their bellys and something to prove.
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ended the season? We still have a game to play!!!
by Avinash on Mar 23, 2009 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually not the regular season either, since it was the Pac-10 tournament. How about this: “They came into the NCAA tournament with fire in their bellys and something to prove”?
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too late! No take backs!
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 23, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It will take more than belly fire to be the next Baryshnikov.
by CalBandGreat on Mar 23, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
HAHAHAHAHHAHA!
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 23, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
in other Pac-10 basketball news
the Oregon State men beat Vermont in OT. both OSU and Stanford are now in the semifinals.
interesting note: the finals are a best-of-three series, so Oregon State and Stanford could conceivably play each other 6 times this season.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 9:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So strange
The CBI has a best of three format yet the actual tourney doesn’t at the end?
If people really wanted a true national champion like they did in college football, this would be a good system to use.
by Avinash on Mar 23, 2009 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
nevermind
OSU will host Stanford on Wednesday. They only get to play 4 times this season. :(
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m glad we didn’t have to play OSU four times.
by CalBear81 on Mar 23, 2009 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did anyone see the crazy ending to Bradley-Oakland?
Oakland made a layup to take the lead, Bradley player nailed a 70 footer to win at the buzzer.
by Avinash on Mar 23, 2009 9:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh man, I'm gonna have to find a video of that!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Mar 23, 2009 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just watch sportscenter any time in the next 24 hours
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Will they find time to update us on that game in between Tim Tebow off-season high lights?
“Look at him circumcize that Cambodian kid! He’s on fire!”
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 23, 2009 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now, of course, we get a week to soak in the Sweet 16 magic.
…and then get our faces bashed in by UConn.
Oh well. :(
by markdash on Mar 23, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
They'll only bash our faces in when we ruin their perfect season.
SMELL THE UPSET LOOMING??? WE’RE GOING TO DESTROY THEM. THEY’RE GOING DOWN.
by Avinash on Mar 23, 2009 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah...
i thought about mentioning Connecticut in my post, but then realized that would be decidedly not ‘soaking it up’. let it sit for a while. Bears get back tomorrow afternoon; they can think about UConn then.
because it’s spring break, i’m pretty sure the team will leave for Trenton either tomorrow or wednesday.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 23, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've been waiting all season for a game like this.
I knew the Bears had this offense in them—99 points is astonishing. In the regular season it seemed like we could never get both aspects of our offense going. If Walker and Hampton were having a good day, our three-point shooters would be cold; and if we were getting threes (like Lexi’s game against Stanfurd) that meant our inside game was getting shut down.
But tonight Cal was firing on both cylinders. 99 f’ing points. The men’s team didn’t even get that many points this season.
by paleodan on Mar 23, 2009 11:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Such a great game. The one thing that struck me the most...
…was how EVERYONE was alive in this game. Every member of the team was just gettin’ AFTER it! Ashley was doin’ crazy damage of course, but Devanei Hampton! I haven’t seen her play like that all season! She was running up and down the court, blocking shots, grabbing boards, getting tough points inside – no hesitation, no trepidation, playing like a woman possessed!! Greif was so important and played so strong, Lexi was great! It took a little while for us to actually start making jumpers, but when we did, it was over.
I don’t know what Boyle got into them, but they were an entirely different team out there. It was so incredible to watch.
I haven't seen that many tear-stained dollar bills since my dad hired a stripper for my uncle's funeral.
by BearStage on Mar 23, 2009 11:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
From the Southwest Airlines Twitter page:
“RT @TurnItBlue: ”http://twitpic.com/2erw4" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/2erw4 – Cal Band and Dance Team fly SWA home from Women’s NCAA Victory – Congrats yall!"
Everyone loves the Bears!
by RemorsefulBruinBabe on Mar 24, 2009 12:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, the link should have been http://twitpic.com/2erw4
by RemorsefulBruinBabe on Mar 24, 2009 12:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That is awesome!
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 24, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WTF Rags.... you don't need to be so nice
What’s with this subdued headline ….“Bears Score 99, Blow By Virginia Into First-Ever Sweet 16”
Let’s call a spade a spade…
“Bears Humiliate Cavs, Score 99, Enter Sweet 16”
“Bears Beat the Fucking Shit out of Virgina, Score 99, Enter Sweet 16”
“Bears Murder Cavs, Drink Their Blood, Score 99, Enter Sweet 16”
“Bitch SLAP”
…. just saying, you headline should reflect how we actually feel about the game after watching it.
HAIL HYDROTECH!
by danzig on Mar 24, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Ragnarok is merely following a SBN “best Practice” which I generally avoid. They want us to write sort of bland headlines with lots of googleable search terms. Also, no swearing. So, 1 and 3 would be OK, but 3 might be a bit much.
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 24, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah I know… sucks for you guys. I wasn’t really asking Rags to change it.
HAIL HYDROTECH!
by danzig on Mar 24, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How does it suck for us?
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 24, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually, it doesn't suck that much
the best practices guidelines are in place for good reasons. 1) they make our blog easily scannable by Google, which in turn helps drive traffic here. 2) no swearing means that our site, at least to those who might syndicate it, looks more like legitimate news (I know, crazy, right?), which, in turn, drives more traffic here. do i think those are some great headlines you came up with, Danzig? Fuck yeah I do! am i willing to compromise myself a little bit if it means bringing more readers here? actually, yeah.
i promise you this: if we win on Sunday, my first headline will read: “HOLY FUCK BEARS BEAT UNDEFEATED UCONN!!!!!”
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 25, 2009 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You want legitimate news headlines from CBG?
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by CBKWit on Mar 26, 2009 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
wait. 1 and 3 are ok, but 3 is too much? so if the title was: "Bears Humiliate Cavs, Score 99, Enter Sweet 16. Bears Murder Cavs, Drink Their Blood, Score 99, Enter Sweet 16" it would be cool?
the Maharg is above catch phrases
by Maharg on Mar 24, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seems oddly long.
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 24, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
when is the next game?
Sat?
Go Bears Go
by Rocksanddirt on Mar 24, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Totally pulling for Cal
To throw the whole tournament into disarray.
Insert clever and witty remark slash pun here!
UMD 8/04 - 5/08: Go Terps!
by ES46NE10 on Mar 26, 2009 4:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks. I imagine everybody who’s left in the tournament is rooting for Cal, hoping we can knock off UConn so they don’t have to face them! Our gals will do their best!
by CalBear81 on Mar 26, 2009 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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