Prelim Game Notes

Cal vs. Virginia Game Notes

With the win over No. 5-seed Virginia, No. 4-seed California earned its first trip to the Sweet 16 in program history.

California made its seventh overall and fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Cal posted its fourth NCAA Tournament win in school history and third since 1993 to improve to 4-6 all-time in NCAAs.

Cal head coach Joanne Boyle won her third NCAA Tournament game and her first second-round game (3-4 overall: 3-3 Cal; 0-1 Richmond).

The Bears tied the program record for most victories in a season with 27, which was set last year when the Bears posted a 27-7 mark. They are 27-6 in 2008-09.

Cal improved to 6-1 at the Galen Center overall and 4-1 this season. The Bears’ only loss at the arena was the 69-67 Pac-10 semifinal game against USC on March 14, 2009. The Virginia game was the fifth time this season that Cal has played on that court.

The Bears are now 1-2 against Virginia and 7-9 in program history against ACC schools. Cal’s last victory over an ACC school came Dec. 21, 1993, when they defeated Duke, 72-66. Joanne Boyle was a first-year assistant coach for Duke at that time.

Fifth-seeded Virginia marked the highest seeded team that the Bears had defeated in program history.

Virginia earned an at-large berth after finished tied for fifth in the ACC (8-6) and advancing to the quarterfinals of the league tournament. Virginia defeated 12th-seeded Marist, 68-61, on Saturday evening in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The second-round match-up marked the third meeting between the two teams. The two squads played each other last Nov. 28, 1998 in Charlottesville, Va., where the Cavaliers defeated the Bears, 70-55.

All of the squad’s 11 student-athletes saw playing time today.

Walker has been the Bears' leading scorer five times in six NCAA Tournament games.

With her 22 points, Devanei Hampton moved into sixth place in career points with 1,573. She surpassed Karen Smith, who scored 1,559 points.

Hampton had 11 rebounds to take over fifth place on the all-time list with 865 boards. She passed Cynthia Cooke, who had 855 career rebounds.

Ashley Walker had 10 points in the first 12 minutes of play.

With 53 first-half points, it was 2nd time in the 2008-09 season that Cal had scored 50 or more points in a half and the sixth time this season that the Bears had scored 40 plus points in a half.

Cal only had one turnover in the first half, which was the lowest of this season.

With four straight free throws in the first half, the Bears had made 14 straight free throws, with 10 coming in the Fresno State game.

Lauren Greif’s nine assists were a career high. Her previous career best was six, which she set Feb. 21, 2009 against Oregon State.

Ashley Walker’s 32 points against the Cavaliers were a personal best in an NCAA Tournament game. Her previous best was 21 against Fresno State this year and also against St. John’s in 2006.

Alexis Gray-Lawson’s 22 points against Virginia set a new career high in an NCAA Tournament game. Her former high was 17 points, which she set against St. John’s in 2006.

Cal’s final total of 99 points is a new program high in the NCAA Tournament. The previous record was 84 points, which the Bears scored against Long Beach State on March 14, 1990.

The Bears’ final total of 99 points was also a season best. The previous high was 85, which was achieved twice but last versus Saint Mary’s on Dec. 29, 2008.