Jones’ hot hand powers No. 2 Stanford past rival Cal 90-69

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Haley Jones and Hannah Jump, Stanford’s two stars who share the same initials. Together they dismantled rival California.

“In the first half we did a good job on Hannah, but Haley was killing us,” Golden Bears coach Charmin Smith said.

Then, Jump more than did her part after intermission.

Jones hit her initial six shots and scored 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and four assists, leading No. 2 Stanford past Cal 90-69 on Friday in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.

Jump knocked down five 3-pointers on the way to 17 points to emphatically bounce back after missing all five of her tries from long range in Tuesday’s 72-59 home win against No. 21 Creighton. It was her first game without making a 3 since an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game vs. Texas last March.

“It’s really great for our team to be able to have different people who can step up on any given day who are ready when their number’s called,” Stanford senior Francesca Belibi said. “That makes it hard for other teams to guard us because you never really know who’s going to be the one to step up on any given day. We’re always excited for each other.”

Cameron Brink had 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks while Kiki Iriafen added nine points and seven boards for Stanford (13-1, 1-0 Pac-12). Freshman 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts also scored nine points as the Cardinal got 26 points from the bench in their eighth straight victory since a 76-71 overtime setback to top-ranked South Carolina at home on Nov. 20.

“Going down the stretch we’re going to need everyone, so it’s trying to balance minutes and get people some playing time,” Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer said.

Jayda Curry scored 20 points and Leilani McIntosh added 17 for Cal (9-3, 0-1), which came in averaging 76.1 points and allowing 83.8. The Cardinal haven’t given up more than 77 points to an opponent since the end of the 2019-20 season.

“It’s a positive we were pretty horrendous offensively and we scored 69 points,” Smith said.

Pac-12 favorite Stanford has won the last eight meetings in the rivalry, which currently features all-time winningest women’s coach VanDerveer opposite former Cardinal star Smith beginning her fourth season in Berkeley.

The teams meet again Jan. 8 at Cal’s Haas Pavilion.

“I’m glad we played Stanford first,” Smith said, “It’s like, ‘Hey, this is the standard.’”

TARA CARES

After the game, VanDerveer spent some time with the women’s basketball team from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and even led the women through a cheer as the Warhawks stopped on The Farm after their game at UC Santa Cruz. Coach Keri Carollo earned her 400th career victory on the West Coast trip.

BIG PICTURE

California: Curry has the longest active streak of any Pac-12 player for consecutive regular-season games with at least one 3 at 34, matching ex-Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu for the third-longest in conference since 1999-2000. … Cal has lost 12 of 14 to Stanford overall and eight straight at Maples Pavilion since a win here on Feb. 22, 2015. … The Bears made their final three field goals of the second quarter yet trailed 47-29 at halftime. … Former Cal and Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour was again here at Maples today. She retired this year.

Stanford: Brink has 43 blocks through the first 14 games. … Stanford has held 77 of its last 83 opponents to 41.8% shooting or below, with Cal finishing at 39%. … The Cardinal held a 25-10 rebounding advantage in the first half and 48-25 overall. … Stanford is 37-8 vs. Cal on its home floor. The Cardinal are 8-1 at home this season. … Stanford was 2 of 9 from 3-point range in the opening half then wound up 7 for 24 to just reach 30% — the Cardinal’s fourth-lowest percentage this season.

UP NEXT

California: Hosts No. 18 Arizona on Dec. 31.

Stanford: Hosts Arizona State on Dec. 31.

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25