BERKELEY — Sophomore Kristine Anigwe scored a school record (men’s or women’s) 50 points to lead the Cal women over Sacramento State 97-73 at Haas Pavilion on Thursday night.

The Bears improved to 8-0, the best start in program history.

The Bears shot 57.1 percent (40-70) from the field and scored a season-high points, 76 of which came in the paint. Cal’s 8-0 start surpasses the previous mark of 7-0 set in both the 2014-15 and 2008-09 seasons.

Anigwe turned in the first 50-point performance in school history – men’s or women’s. The forward topped the previous mark of 48 points set by Cal men’s player Ed Gray on Feb. 22, 1997, against Washington State. Alexis Gray-Lawson previously held the women’s single-game scoring record with 47 points against Oregon State on January 23, 2010.

Anigwe’s 50 points also tie the Pac-12 women’s single-game record set by USC’s Cherie Nelson against Cal on March 10, 1989, and marks the highest-scoring game by any player in Division I basketball this season.

Last season, Angiwe scored 43 points against Sacramento State, capitalizing on the Hornets’ face-paced style of play. It was the Bears’ game-plan again on Thursday, which Gottlieb said her squad executed to a tee.

“Credit to the rest of the team and to Kristine for making extraordinary things look ordinary,” Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “There are other really good post players, but I don’t know if there is a better one (than Kristine). It is my job to also put great players around her to be one of the best teams. That’s always been my goal.”

Anigwe added a season-high 14 rebounds – one shy of her career high – two blocks, and went 19 of 23 from the floor in 24 minutes.

The Naismith Trophy candidate was quick to credit her teammates for her success.

“I’m just so blessed,” Anigwe said. “My teammates believe in me so much and they just throw up the ball and know I’m going to get it. I’m happy I was able to do this in front of everyone that has helped me. My teammates really care about me and I’m so happy to be here.”

As a team, the Bears outrebounded Sacramento State 61-40 and dished out a season-high 26 assists. Fellow sophomores Mo Mosley and Chen Yue also had career nights. Mosley scored 11 points and dished out four assists while Yue finished with eight points and eight rebounds, both personal bests.

Sacramento State’s Ashlyn Crenshaw led the Hornets with 13 points.

Cal will try to build on its start on Sunday as Lehigh visits Haas Pavilion.