BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — The California women’s basketball team defeated Wake Forest 61-52 on Sunday at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears built a 26-14 halftime lead and withstood a strong third-quarter push from the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest outscored California 23-17 in the period to close within six points but could not complete the comeback. Sakima Walker led California with 17 points and three blocks. Gisella Maul added 13 points and seven rebounds. Grace Oliver paced Wake Forest with nine points and seven rebounds. California improved to 10-8 overall. Wake Forest fell to 12-6. Attendance was 1,652.

BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — The California women’s basketball team methodically built a commanding early lead and then withstood a furious second-half rally from Wake Forest to secure a 61-52 victory in a nonconference game Sunday at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears, improving to 10-8 overall, led by as many as 21 points in the first half before the Demon Deacons clawed back to make it a one-possession game late in the third quarter. California’s defense and interior presence ultimately proved too much, holding Wake Forest to just six first-quarter points and forcing 18 turnovers that led to 13 points. Sakima Walker, a 6-foot-5 center from Columbus, Ohio, anchored California’s effort with a game-high 17 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots. Her size disrupted Wake Forest’s offense throughout, particularly in the paint where the Demon Deacons, despite a 32-22 advantage in points inside, often found their shots altered or rejected. The Golden Bears set the tone from the opening tip. After a slow start from both teams, California used a 13-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to seize control. Gisella Maul of Cedar Park, Texas, scored five points during that stretch, including a three-pointer, and finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Australian guard Lulu Twidale added 12 points and five assists, hitting critical three-pointers to stretch the Wake Forest defense. Wake Forest, which fell to 12-6, endured an offensive nightmare in the first half, shooting just 20 percent from the floor and scoring only 14 points by halftime. The Demon Deacons trailed 26-14 at the break, their lowest-scoring half of the season. The most important part of the game arrived in the third quarter, as Wake Forest finally found its rhythm. Sparked by the playmaking of guard Caitlyn Jones, who had seven assists and 10 points, the Demon Deacons erupted for 23 points in the period. A 15-4 run, capped by a Grace Oliver three-pointer and a driving layup by Milan Brown, cut California’s lead to 40-37 with under a minute left in the quarter. California responded immediately to the surge. On the ensuing possession, Lola Donez hit a three-pointer from the corner off an assist from Taylor Barnes. Then, after a Wake Forest turnover, Gisella Maul sank another three at the third-quarter buzzer, pushing the lead back to nine points and stunning the rallying Demon Deacons. That sequence proved the decisive turning point. The two threes in the final 40 seconds of the third quarter restored California’s momentum and a sense of control. Wake Forest never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter as the Golden Bears executed in the half-court and made key free throws down the stretch. Mary Carter, a Rocklin, California native playing in her home region, led Wake Forest with 14 points and seven rebounds. Milan Brown added 13 points and six rebounds, while Grace Oliver contributed nine points and seven boards. The Demon Deacons’ comeback attempt was hampered by 35 percent shooting for the game and an inability to consistently contain Walker and Maul inside. California’s Mjracle Sheppard filled the stat sheet with seven points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a block, providing crucial defensive energy. The Golden Bears also benefited from a 1652-strong home crowd. National Statistical’s ELO system had projected California with a 92.70 percent probability to win. Wake Forest, representing the Atlantic Coast Conference, continues a challenging stretch of its schedule, having lost two straight after a four-game winning streak. The Demon Deacons host North Carolina State on Thursday. California of the Atlantic Coast Conference snaps a two-game skid and looks to build momentum as it travels to face Syracuse, also on Thursday. The game was a defensive struggle defined by runs. California’s early dominance, Wake Forest’s resilient push, and the Golden Bears’ critical answer at the end of the third quarter provided the narrative arc in a contest where offensive execution was often at a premium. Ultimately, California’s ability to create and capitalize on timely shots when its large lead was threatened secured the victory.

Preview: Wake Forest Demon Deacons at California Golden Bears BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — The Wake Forest Demon Deacons look to rebound from a tough road loss when they visit the California Golden Bears in a nonconference women’s basketball game Sunday at Haas Pavilion. Organized by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the matchup features teams heading in opposite directions in recent weeks. Wake Forest (12-5) has dropped two straight, including a 43-55 defeat at Stanford on Thursday. California (9-8) has lost three consecutive games, but played Duke close in a 74-78 home loss on the same day. The Demon Deacons will rely on guard Caitlyn Jones, who is coming off an 11-point, 3-assist performance in 24 minutes against Stanford. Over her last three games, Jones is averaging 9.7 points. She will need to help ignite a Wake Forest offense that was held to a season-low 43 points in its last outing. California’s hopes rest heavily on forward Sakima Walker, who has been a consistent force. She scored 18 points against Duke and is averaging 16.3 points and 7.0 rebounds over her last three contests. Her interior presence will challenge a Wake Forest defense that has shown vulnerability. Wake Forest’s season has been marked by narrow outcomes, with four of its five losses coming by single digits, including a 61-64 defeat to Miami (Fla.) last month. The Demon Deacons are 2-3 in true road games. The Golden Bears have struggled against ranked opponents but have been competitive at home, where they are 7-3 this season. Their offense has shown potency, scoring 91 points in a late December win over Cal Poly, but consistency has been an issue during their current skid. This game serves as a final nonconference tune-up before both teams dive deeper into their respective league schedules. For Wake Forest, it’s a chance to steady itself before hosting North Carolina State next Thursday. For California, it’s an opportunity to snap its losing streak before a challenging ACC road trip to Syracuse and Boston College. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon.