No. 16 California 69, Belmont 52
11/24/2006 6:30 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Devanei Hampton scored 15 points, and No. 16 California used its stellar defense to defeat Belmont 69-52 Friday in the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving tournament.
The bigger, stronger Golden Bears (4-0), playing zone defense nearly all game, held Belmont to 35 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
Belmont (2-2) led early by as many as five, but a 16-0 Cal run midway through the first half broke the game open.
The run began when the Bears, trailing 11-8 at the 12:57 mark, held the Bruins scoreless for the next 5:45. Cal's Lauren Greif helped the run with three defensive rebounds and a steal.
The Bears led 35-22 at the half, and Belmont never got the lead under single digits again.
Belmont's Alysha Clark led the Bruins with 13.
Cal will play No. 14 Vanderbilt (5-0) in Saturday's championship, and Belmont will take on Florida Atlantic (1-5) in the consolation game.
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