Cal women upset Stanford on Asha Thomas’ buzzer-beater

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The odds didn’t look good Thursday night for a Cal women’s basketball team that had lost a string of close games.

The Bears trailed No. 8 Stanford by one point with seven seconds left, and the nation’s most productive player, Kristine Anigwe, had fouled out.

That put the ball in the hands of Asha Thomas, who has not shied away from a defining moment in her life.

The 5-foot-4 senior point guard from East Oakland drove past Kiana Williams, took contact in the lane from 6-3 Maya Dodson and scooped in an acrobatic, left-handed layup that earned Cal the 81-80 upset at Haas Pavilion.

“Days like today are the ones you just never forget,” Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “… Any win against Stanford feels extra special, because of how darn good they are and how well prepared they are. It makes everything more meaningful.”

The Bears (14-6, 5-4 Pac-12) won consecutive games in the rivalry for the first time since winning eight in a row from 1981 to 1986, and even in a storied series that dates to 1896, this one has to rate among the best.

There were 18 lead changes and 13 ties, and neither team led by more than six points. In the final 30 seconds alone, there were four lead changes, including the one that set up Thomas’ dramatics.

Anigwe fouled out with 7.2 seconds left, sending DiJonai Carrington to the foul line. The dynamic junior guard, who had team bests with 23 points and 12 rebounds, made the two shots for an 80-79 Stanford lead.

California guard Asha Thomas (1) looks to pass away from pressure by Stanford guard Kiana Williams (23) during the first quarter of an NCAA women's basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 in Berkeley, Calif. California guard Asha Thomas (1) looks to pass away from pressure by Stanford guard Kiana Williams (23) during the first quarter of an NCAA women's basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 in Berkeley, Calif. Photo: D. Ross Cameron / Special To The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: D. Ross Cameron / Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Cal women upset Stanford on Asha Thomas’ buzzer-beater 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

There was still enough time for Thomas, who didn’t score until hitting a free throw with nine seconds left and opened the game 0-of-6 from the floor. She showed no panic in recognizing a driving lane and beating the buzzer with a high-arcing scoop.

“I like big moments,” said Thomas, who was greeted at the postgame locker-room door for a bouncing celebration that turned into a dance party. “… I saw the lane open on that left side, took my little self into that lane and got myself where I needed to go.”

Anigwe, who had 25 points and a season-high 24 rebounds for her 21st straight double-double, said: “That’s what we expect from her. I know it’s unreal to you guys, but that’s Teezy.”

Stanford (17-3, 7-2) hadn’t lost consecutive Pac-12 games since February 2015 on trips to the conference’s Arizona schools. Alanna Smith added 21 points and nine rebounds to Carrington’s eye-catching night, but it wasn’t enough to beat Cal’s balance.

The Bears got their typical efficiency from Anigwe on the inside and also knocked down a season-best 12 3-pointers. Jaelyn Brown took advantage of Stanford sagging to help with Anigwe to put up 18 points, Kianna Smith added 16, and Recee Caldwell chipped in 11.

“I think it’s huge,” Gottlieb said. “I do think this is who we are: with a dominant inside presence and 12 made 3s. ... I think it means a lot for confidence. I think it means a lot for our resume. …

“You can’t be an elite team or beat an elite team if you have only one or two things clicking.”

Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron