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Early in February, signs pointed toward Syracuse turning a corner. After getting out to a 1-7 start to Atlantic Coast Conference play, the Orange won three of their next four games.

But against a struggling Stanford team, Syracuse reverted back to its old ways. The Cardinal attacked the Orange with 10 3s and 10 fast break points, leading to a 21-point loss. It marked SU’s sixth double-digit loss in conference play.

Now, SU looks to return to the win column when it faces the University of California, Berkeley Sunday. In their first year in the ACC, the Golden Bears are in eighth place and just missed the latest AP Poll by 10 votes.

Here’s everything you need to know before Syracuse (10-14, 4-9 Atlantic Coast) faces Cal (20-6, 8-5 Atlantic Coast):

All-time series

Cal leads 1-0.

Last time they played…

Syracuse fell 57-53 to Cal in Berkeley on Nov. 29, 2002. The loss dropped the Orange to 0-4 on the season, one year after going 18-13 and falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. SU got out to an 18-9 lead in the first half, but Cal responded with a 14-4 run to take a lead into halftime. Midway through the second half, the Golden Bears pulled away with a 10-0 run, and although the Orange crawled back within two, Cal held on for the victory. Syracuse’s Shannon Perry and April Jean each recorded double-doubles despite the loss.

The Golden Bears report

Cal is having its best season in head coach Charmin Smith’s six years at the helm. After going 1-16 in 2020-21, it’s improved each season since. This season, the Golden Bears started 13-1 and won four of their first five ACC games. Cal averages the 56th most points per game in the country and is also in the top 70 in total rebounding rate, per HerHoopStats.

Another reason for Cal’s success has been its ability to win at home. The Golden Bears have a 13-1 record at Haas Pavilion, which is tied for the second-most home wins in the ACC. Cal’s lone home loss was 65-52 against then-No. 15 UNC on Jan. 30.

Now, the Orange will face the Golden Bears, who have won just two of their last five games. Cal’s leading scorer Ioanna Krimili has been held below her scoring average in each of the last three contests, and its No. 2 option Lulu Twidale is shooting 9-of-35 during the same stretch.

How SU beats Cal

In SU’s win over Virginia Tech, it shot the 3-ball well, but that was not the case in its last game against Stanford. The Cardinal out-shot the Orange 45% to 26%, as the Orange’s top options Georgia Woolley and Sophie Burrows were held to a combined 3-of-11 from deep.

Burrows had been playing the best basketball of her collegiate career in the three contests prior to Stanford, averaging 21.7 points per game. But she tallied just six points, and Woolley received little help in her 18-point performance. For SU to defeat Cal on its home court, it can’t afford to have shooting lapses.

Like recent games, the Golden Bears present a battle on the glass. The Orange, who rank 18th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game, will need to bounce back on the boards. The Cardinal used a 41-36 rebounding advantage to keep the Orange at a distance for most of their last contest.

Stat to know: 38.9%

After suffering a 3-point barrage against Stanford, something similar could happen against Cal. The Golden Bears have a 38.9% 3-point rate, which ranks 19th in Division I. Cal has four players with over 30 triples this season, and they each shoot at least 33% from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears haven’t hesitated to pull the trigger from deep, as they’re second in the ACC in both 3-pointers made and attempted this season.

Player to watch: Ioanna Krimili, guard, No. 21

Krimili notched at least 14 points in each of Cal’s first seven games and has hit the 20-point mark four times. The sixth-year graduate has always been an adept scorer, averaging a career-low 13 points per game last season, and paces the Bears with 14.8 points per game this season. Krimili played her first four years at San Francisco and is now the Golden Bears’ leader in triples and free throws in her second season in Berkeley.

Published on February 15, 2025 at 10:01 pm

Contact Timmy at: tswilcox@syr.edu | @TimmyWilcox32