BERKELEY, Calif. - Chasity Shavers scored a career-high 32 points and made three free throws in the final 34 seconds to close out San Jose State's 68-66 upset of No. 22 California on Wednesday night.
Shavers repeatedly beat the Bears with fast-break layups and finished 11 of 19 from the field. She also had eight rebounds for the Spartans, who ended a four-game losing streak.
Samantha Marez added 13 points to help the Spartans (2-7) to their biggest win under third-year coach Pam DeCosta.
The last known time the Spartans beat a nationally-ranked opponent was on Feb. 5, 1983, when San Jose State upended then-No. 17 Oregon State, 69-56, in a NorPac Conference game played in Spartan Gym.
"It was a great win for our program and for our kids," DeCosta said. "We have struggled to get our chemistry together, and today they put it together and fought for two halves. Chasity Shavers came up big for us tonight, but it's a great team win."
Cal (4-4) opened the game on a 14-2 run, draining four three-pointers in the first four minutes of the game and seemed poised to cruise to an easy victory. Cal led by 12, 25-13, with 8:21 remaining in the first half when San Jose State went on a 10-0 run to pull within two points, 25-23. The Spartans took their first lead of the game with 1:56 remaining in the half and went to the locker room up three, 39-36.
San Jose State led most of the second half and was ahead 65-59 with 53 seconds to play before Cal's Lauren Greif made a three-pointer from the left baseline and was fouled. Greif completed the four-point play, and after Shavers made two free throws, DeNesha Stallworth hit a three-pointer to pull the Bears within 67-66.
Alexis Gray-Lawson, who led Cal in scoring with 21 points, had a chance to give Cal a lead. Her drive down the lane led to a desperation shot that missed. The Spartans gathered the rebound and Shavers made the first of two free throws for the final score of the game.
San Jose State had one of its best shooting nights of the season in the victory. The Spartans made 52.1 percent of their tries, the second time this season the team has been above 50 percent, compared to Cal's 35.9 percent figure. San Jose State also converted 13-of-17 from the free throw line.