MORAGA, Calif. — A strong start Friday put the Saint Mary’s women’s basketball team ahead of East Bay rival California, but the Golden Bears dominated the second quarter and fought off a late push from the Gaels to win 74-67 in both teams’ 2016-17 season openers at McKeon Pavilion.
Saint Mary’s (0-1) got out to a 10-3 lead in the first quarter and made it 16-7 before two late Cal free throws made it 16-9 at the break. But the Golden Bears (1-0) came out strong in the second quarter, going on an 18-4 run in the final 6 minutes, 40 seconds of the period to come from six points down to taking an eight-point halftime lead at 35-27.