Golden Nuggets: Women's Basketball Owns Maples

Softball

Cal Softball has gone 3-1 this week, including a come from behind victory against top ten Florida State. Anchoring the Golden Bear run is sophomore Katie Sutherland-Finch, who was selected as the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week.

Baseball

The Cal baseball team (5-3) saw a four-game winning streak come to end, falling to UC Irvine, 6-2, Sunday at Evans Diamond in the final game of a four-game series versus the Anteaters. The Golden Bears still captured the series - winning 6-1 Friday evening and sweeping a doubleheader over UCI, 10-3 and 4-1, on Saturday

Rugby

California will welcome generations of former players, families and friends to Witter Rugby Field this weekend when the Golden Bears celebrate Homecoming against Utah on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m.

Men's Golf

James Hahn became the first former Cal golfer to win on the PGA TOUR when he was victorious in a three-way playoff at the Northern Trust Open. Hahn made a 23-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole on the par-three 14th hole at Riviera Country Club to outlast Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey.

Swimming & Diving

Inside the Lair: Farida Osman: A Pioneer in Egyptian Swimming

By Herb Benenson, Athletic Communications

Just over four years ago, as the calendar turned to 2011, Farida Osman was beginning to make a name for herself in the pool. Not only was she gaining notice for her world-class times in the sprint freestyle and butterfly, but as a resident of Cairo, she was being recognized as a pioneer in the sport as a woman in Egypt.

So strong was Osman's rise that not even the Egyptian Revolution that began in late January 2011 could derail her ascent. Despite the fact that the events that caused a change in government leadership frightened her coaches out of the country, Osman persevered, often alone, and now she stands as an Egyptian and African record-holder as well as one of the young stars on the No. 1-ranked Cal women's swimming & diving team.

Women's Water Polo

The No. 4 Cal women's water polo team gave No. 1 Stanford its stiffest testof the season before falling 7-6 in the semifinals of the UC Irvine Invitational on Sunday. The Bears also went on to lose to No. 3 USC 12-6 in the Third Place Game.

Lacrosse

Gaby Christman scored three times, but it wasn't enough for the California women's lacrosse team to upset No. 12 Notre Dame Sunday afternoon at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium.

Men's Tennis

The No. 14 Golden Bears finished a long day with a 7-0 victoryover UC Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon at the Hellman Tennis Complex. California improved its record to 9-3, while UCSB dropped to 3-6 after the nonconference dual match.

Women's Basketball

California senior Brittany Boyd has been named a top 15 finalistfor the nation's top point guard honor for the second consecutive season after the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday that she was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Top 15 List.

Cal Defeats No. 18 Stanford in Battle of the Bay Finale, 63-53

STANFORD, Calif. - Mercedes Jefflo traded texts with California associate head coach Charmin Smith after a rough loss to Stanford last week and made one thing clear about bouncing back in the next meeting.

"I said, `That's the only option we have. We have to get the next one, that's our job," Jefflo said.

On Sunday, she had a big hand in making that happen. A hot hand.

Jefflo scored a key basket with 1:59 to play, and the Golden Bears beat No. 18 Stanford 63-53 to deny the Cardinal a chance at winning their 15th straight regular-season conference title.