STANFORD — It’s Cal women’s basketball’s world now, and Stanford is just living in it.
It’s a statement that would have seemed unbelievable just a short year ago, when Stanford was still the unquestioned once and future perennial national title contender and had not lost to Cal in 12 consecutive games. But things have changed in a hurry.
Cal, coached by former Stanford star player and assistant coach Charmin Smith, is now the team to beat in Bay Area women’s basketball. That point was further punctuated on Thursday at Maples Pavilion, when the Golden Bears beat Stanford 75-72.
Thursday’s win marks the first time Cal has swept Stanford in a season series since 1985-86, legendary former coach Tara VanDerveer’s first campaign in charge of the Cardinal. It’s also the first time since 2014-15 that the Bears won at Maples. First-year Stanford coach Kate Paye dropped to 0-2 against Cal in her brief head-coaching career, as the Cardinal also lost 83-63 to Cal on Dec. 13 in Berkeley.
Cal improved to 18-3 overall and 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, keeping pace in the ACC standings with NC State, North Carolina and Louisville in a four-way tie for fourth place. Stanford dropped to 10-9 and 2-6 in the ACC, joining SMU in a tie for 14th in the 18th-team league.
