BERKELEY, Calif. – It has been 13 years since the last time the University of San Francisco women's basketball team defeated a Pac-12 opponent and the first time since 2001 that the Dons have defeated California.  That streak ended when USF went into Haas Pavilion and handed Cal a 67-62 loss on Thursday night.
 
USF (1-2) did not have its best night shooting, especially from 3-point range.  The Dons shot just 35.8 percent from the floor and 20.0 percent from distance.  But it did not matter, as USF played stiff defense and was tremendous from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
 
"Really excited to get our first win," said head coach Molly Goodenbour.  "And to get it against a Pac-12 opponent that's a big boost for us emotionally. It should give us a lot of confidence in our ability out on the floor this year. We shot really poorly for us, we are much better shooting team, so I'm proud of the way these guys were so resilient. Cal closed the gap on us in the second half and we got a little tight but we responded by making some plays. We got to the free throw line and scored when we needed to score."
 
Leading the Dons once again was redshirt freshman Ioanna Krimili who scored a game-high 26 points – 15 coming in the fourth quarter.  Unlike the previous two contests, she didn't get a bulk of her scoring from the 3-point line, but instead finished 7-for-14 from the field and was 9-for-10 from the charity stripe.  She also added six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.  
 
"Ioanna was excellent tonight, she didn't have her best night shooting, but still found big ways to impact the game," said Goodenbour.
 
Abby Rathbun had a strong night, scoring a season-high nine points, she finished second on the team in scoring.  Leilah Vigil, Lucia Hoskova, and Marta Galic all added seven apiece. Vigil also had a game-high and season-high 12 rebounds, 11 coming after the intermission.  
 
"Leilah came in tonight and did a really nice job of getting us some second chance points," said Goodenbour on the Dons' reserves. "Our bench was very active for us tonight for these guys to come and help us get a win on a road is really going pay off down the stretch.
 
USF's reserves scored 18 points compared to the six from the Cal (0-4) bench.  The Golden Bears were led by Dalayah Daniels team-high 24.  Evelien Lutje Schipholt added 20.  Cal shot 38.3 percent from the field going 23-for-60, from 30point range they were 3-for-22. Turnovers proved costly to the Golden Bears. Cal committed 18 on the evening that the Dons turned into 17 points.  
 
USF jumped out to an first quarter lead, 20-13 thanks in part a strong shooting from inside the arc. The Dons opened the game 10-for-19 from the field.  In the second quarter USF cooled off, but still went into the locker room leading 37-28.
 
In the third quarter, the Bears ownership of the paint saw Cal cut the deficit to one point, 48-47 heading into the fourth quarter.  From there USF was able to outlast the bears thanks to a pair of 3-point field goals by Krimili, aided by the Dons going 7-for-8 from the stripe in the final minutes.
 
USF will return to action on Sunday when they host Fresno State at 2:00 p.m. Sunday's game will be streamed on the WCC Network with George Devine calling the game live from inside War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.