norcalnick of California Golden Blogs noted in his summary of the California Golden Bears' 73-63 win over the LSU Lady Tigers that Cal's ability to hit their free throws was what made an somewhat ugly game look fairly routine.
Yet the number of free throws they shot was not exactly routine.
Although Cal's free throw percentage (63.41%) was around their season average, Cal made (26) and attempted (41) the most free throws in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. Leading the way was star guard Layshia Clarendon, who finished with 19 points including a team-high 9-for-12 shooting from the free throw line.
norcalnick summarized her performance in his recap.
Clarendon bounced back from a tough, 2 point 1st half to score 18, and quietly managed six huge steals to fuel Cal's transition game...Clarendon in particular impressed me. ESPN talked about how hard she had to work just to get decent looks. Credit LSU's defense for denying her in the first half. From that point on she refused to let that defense stop her, and any slight opening resulted in a jumper falling through the hoop.
Clarendon also added her name to the record books on the defensive end: her six steals were a career-high and a program record for the NCAA Tournament.
For more on Cal, visit California Golden Blogs' women's basketball section. For more on the tournament, visit our Spokane region storystream.