(BERKELEY, CA) Aari McDonald broke the single-season scoring record after scoring 31 points on Sunday, but the California Golden Bears (16-11, 7-9 Pac-12) used a big second half to rally and knock off the Arizona Wildcats (17-10, 7-9 Pac-12) by a score of 82-76 in overtime.
McDonald had her seventh 30-point game of the season to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. She is just the third player in Pac-12 history since the 1999-00 season to have seven 30-point games in a season (Kelsey Plum and Chiney Ogwumike).
Sam Thomas and Tee Tee Starks were Arizona’s two other double-figure scorers. Thomas finished the game with 13 points while Starks made four three-pointers to give her 12 points.
Arizona and Cal played a close first quarter as the Wildcats would take a 15-13 lead into the second period. That’s where Arizona would turn it up.
The Wildcats started the second quarter on a 17-0 run, which included a bucket by McDonald at the four-minute mark that gave her the Arizona single-season scoring record. Cal scored four points, including a buzzer beater, but UA would head to the locker room for halftime with a 32-17 lead. The Golden Bears shot just 14% in the second quarter.
Both teams shot over 50% in the third quarter and Cal was able to outscore Arizona, but only by four points and the Wildcats took a 48-37 lead into the final period.
Cal really took off in the fourth quarter and outscored the Cats 26-15 to push the game to overtime after Kristine Anigwe made a free throw with a few seconds remaining. The Bears took that momentum into overtime and were able to come away with the win.
Arizona returns home for the final week of conference play starting with Oregon on Friday, Mar. 1. Tip-off is set for8 p.m. MST on the Pac-12 Networks.
Courtesy of Arizona Communication Services
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