Cal Women's Basketball Routs Charleston 78-64
Cal improved to 4-0 on the season with a home win at Haas Pavilion during the School Haas Rock game.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Basketball
Cal Women's Basketball defeated Charleston 78-64 at Haas Pavilion on Thursday morning. The Golden Bears opened on an 11-0 run and led 25-4 after the first quarter, improving to 4-0 with all four wins by double digits.
Why it matters
The win extends Cal's undefeated start and shows a balanced attack, with eight different players scoring in the first quarter. The defensive pressure that forced seven first-quarter turnovers gave the Bears control early.
Shannon Dowell scored 20 points and Lulu Twidale added 19, while Dowell went 6/6 from the free throw line in the third quarter. Charleston attacked the hoop in the second quarter, shooting 9/18 from the field, but Cal's seven first-quarter forced turnovers set the tone.
The players
Shannon Dowell
Shannon Dowell is a Cal Women's Basketball player who led the Golden Bears with 20 points in the win over Charleston.
Lulu Twidale
Lulu Twidale is a Cal Women's Basketball player who scored 19 points in the win over Charleston.
The details
Cal opened the game with an 11-0 run as eight different players scored in the first quarter. Charleston cut the lead to 27-18 on a 12-2 run to open the second quarter, but Cal led 60-43 entering the fourth and pushed its lead to 20 points midway through the period.
Timeline
Thursday, November 12, 2026 (morning): Cal defeats Charleston 78-64 at Haas Pavilion during the School Haas Rock game.
Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. PT: Cal plays a road game at UCSB.
Season Trajectory
Cal's 4-0 start, with every win by double digits, gives the Golden Bears an early statement of depth and defensive pressure. The result sets up a road test at UCSB on Saturday as the team continues its early-season schedule.
Cal's road game at UCSB on Saturday at 12 p.m. PT will test whether the Bears can keep the same defensive pressure away from home. Fans watching the schedule should note the early kickoff time.
The takeaway
Cal's ability to force turnovers and spread the scoring across eight players in the first quarter is a useful early-season signal. Watching whether that balance holds on the road at UCSB will show how sustainable the start is.
What happens next
Cal plays a road game at UCSB on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. PT.
Further reading
For more on the team's early season, see Basketball coverage for Berkeley.
