ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies look to keep up a high-octane start to the season as they head west to take part in the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational at Cal Berkeley this weekend.
Oakland is coming off a decisive 80-75 win over Miami (OH). The Golden Grizzlies imposed their will physically on the RedHawks, outrebounding them 42-26.
Layla Gold led the charge with career highs in points (21) and rebounds (13). Gold was one of four Oakland players to score in double figures, joining
Angie Smith (16),
Lianna Baxter (11), and
Cali Denson (15).
The win lifts Oakland to a 2-1 record, with a +17.3 scoring margin while shooting close to .500 from the field in a hot start to the year.
Oakland will play two games at the invitational, beginning with a showdown against the Harvard Crimson in the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Harvard enters the matchup with a 1-2 record after dropping back-to-back road games to Michigan and UMass. Over those two contests, the Crimson have been outscored by a combined 42 points. They have struggled away from home, making this a significant test as they travel across the country.
The Crimson are led by junior guard Karlee White, who is averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game on .591 shooting, along with 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Oakland has three players averaging double figures this season, led by Denson (17.7), Smith (12.7), and Gold (10.3). The Golden Grizzlies look to maintain their 79.3 points-per-game scoring pace, which ranks second in the Horizon League. Gold is also leading the team in rebounds (7.3 rpg), while Smith leads in steals (2.3 spg) as they lead a lineup full of two-way players for Oakland.
Oakland will play its first game of the invitational 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opening matchup between Charlotte and Cal, which begins at 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET). The Golden Grizzlies will then play their final game of the tournament on Sunday—either in the consolation game at 5 p.m. PT or in the championship game 30 minutes after the conclusion of the consolation game.
