NC State put in a good fight during the fourth quarter in Berkeley but in the end couldn’t find enough plays to pick up the victory. The Wolfpack cut what was an eight-point deficit to begin the fourth down to three points midway through, but got no closer.
The Pack got off to a fine start and won the first quarter by six, but Cal got cooking and won the next quarter by 12. The teams went back and forth for a while in the third, then State put together to knot the score at 52 with two minutes remaining in the period. The Bears called a timeout, then closed on an 8-0 run.
Aziaha James led the Wolfpack with 21 points on 9-18 shooting and had an excellent look from the top of the key with about 15 seconds left and the deficit five points, but alas. Something—maybe a leg cramp—seemed to be nagging her toward the end, so that didn’t help…