BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) – Asha Thomas made a left-handed layup at the buzzer, lifting California to a dramatic 81-80 win over No. 8 Stanford on Thursday night.
Thomas, who also hit two free throws with 9.5 seconds left, missed her first six shot attempts before driving in for the game-winner to help the Bears (14-6, 5-4 Pac-12) win their fourth in five games.
Cal had to hold off celebrating as the play was reviewed. When officials confirmed Thomas' score, the Haas Pavilion crowd burst into loud cheers.
Kristine Anigwe had 25 points and 24 rebounds for Cal. Jaelyn Brown scored 18 points and Kianna Smith added 16.
DiJonai Carrington had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Stanford (17-3, 7-2). Alanna Smith scored 21.
The teams play again on Saturday at Stanford.
The Bears were in control most of the game but fell behind 78-77 when Alanna Smith went around Anigwe for a layup with 30.7 seconds remaining.
After Thomas put Cal back in front with her first points of the game on the two free throws with 9.5 seconds to go, Carrington made a pair of free throws to give Stanford an 80-79 lead.
Bears coach Lindsay Gottlieb called a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt, and Thomas dribbled briefly before driving to the basket.
It was a blow to Stanford, which lost to Utah 74-58 last Sunday. With the loss to Cal, the Cardinal dropped 1 1/2 games behind Oregon in the Pac-12 standings.
BIG PICTURE
Stanford: The Cardinal had won 19 of the last 22 in this series but couldn't get the stops it needed down the stretch. Stanford wasn't sharp and got out of sorts late in the second half when calls didn't go its way. With a rematch against Cal in two days, coach Tara VanDerveer's team doesn't have much time to lick its wounds.
California: The Bears got the signature win they've been looking for. That it came against their Northern California rivals who were coming off a tough loss made it that much better. ... Anigwe's streak of double-doubles extends to last season and is the fifth-longest in women's Division I history.
