Layshia Clarendon scored nine points in the final 45 seconds to help No. 8/11 California outlast Northwestern, 71-65, Monday morning at the Welsh-Ryan Arena. Brittany Boyd led the Bears in scoring for the third consecutive game with 18 points, and Gennifer Brandon posted her fifth double-double season of the season, but it was Clarendon's clutch free throws in the final minute that allowed the Bears to breakaway from the Wildcats. The senior hit 7-of-8 and scored nine of her 11 points in the climactic finish to make the Bears just the sixth squad in program history to begin a season 8-1. Talia Caldwell had a season-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with six rebounds, and Brandon finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal returned to the road and responded with an 84-46 victory over CSU Bakersfield Friday night at the Icardo Center. The Bears were led by 19 points from both Brittany Boyd and Gennifer Brandon in a game that was never close. It was the second consecutive strong offensive outing for Boyd who put up 28 points in the Duke contest a few days ago. The total was a season-best for Brandon, who also collected nine rebounds in the game. Reshanda Gray and Justine Hartman both added 12 points for the Bears in a game that saw nine players hit the scoring sheet. Shooting 50.4 percent for the game, Cal out-rebounded the Roadrunners 48-23 and put the game away in the opening minutes as the first ranked opponent to visit the Icardo Center since CSU Bakersfield made the transition to Division I.

Behind the scenes look at Cal's first road trip along with game highlights! Go Bears!

'These are the kinds of games that separated us last year. The Ohio State game we lost, the Stanford game, the big games that we could have won and would have put us over the edge, but now I think that we are growing and that these are the types of games that are going to separate us and make us elite.' -Layshia Clarendon

'I loved the balanced scoring,' Gottlieb said. 'I really liked the defensive effort from the whole group and thought that it was a big step forward for us. This is a good Saint Mary's team that's really going to contend in the WCC. They just came back from a good trip to the Northwest so we knew that it would be a challenge, and I think we made a statement tonight just about us and how we intend to be this year.' - Coach Gottlieb

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Every season is a lifetime. However, the previous season always leaves an impact on the individuals as they embark on the upcoming season. Here is a look into the impression the 2011-12 season has had on the Cal coaches and players. And how this season has already been shaped by it.