Wildcats explode against Cal

OAKLAND, Calif.- Angela Lackey hit nine of 14 shots and scored 22 points as Arizona scored 16 of the game's first 18 points to cruise past California 77-58 Saturday.

Arizona (10-8 overall, 5-4 Pacific 10 Conference), won for the fourth time in its last five games. Elizabeth Pickney added 13 points and Reshea Bristol scored 11 for the Wildcats.

Sherrise Smith scored 15 points and Jennie Leander had 14 for Cal (8-10, 2-7), which was never able to overcome a miserable game-opening stretch.

The Bears committed 13 turnovers in the first 10 minutes and were down 21-4 after Arizona's Julie Brase drained a three-pointer with 9:50 left in the half.

Just when the Bears caught their footing, cutting the lead to 23-12 after two Leander free throws capped a mini-run of 8-2, the Wildcats regrouped.

Arizona closed out the half on a 16-7 binge, going up 39-19 on Angela Lackey's 3-point basket at the buzzer.

Whatever hope the Bears showed by scoring the first five points of the second half - it was 39-24 after a Paige Bowie three-pointer and Sherrise Smith drive - started to sink when Bowie was whistled for her fourth personal foul with 18:24 to play.

The Wildcats soon had the lead back over 20, prompting Cal coach Marianne Stanley to get Bowie back in the game sooner rather than later. Sure enough, Bowie was caught pushing off away from the ball and fouled out with 14:18 still remaining.

Bowie, Cal's leading scorer at 11.8 points per game, finished with just three points.

Cal has not won back-to-back Pac-10 games since 1995.