April 13, 2007

BERKELEY, Calif. - The University of California's women's basketball team's "We Assist, You Assist" Challenge for the 2006-07 season raised close to $20,000 for the Berkeley Food and Housing Project's Quarter Meal Program and Lockwood Elementary School in East Oakland.

Lockwood Elementary, located on International Boulevard, has been educating children for nearly 100 years, while the Quarter Meal Program provides nutritious evening meals to about 100 individuals five days a week. The Cal team dedicates its time on a monthly basis to helping both organizations.

Fans donated $9,743.75, and Golden Bear head coach Joanne Boyle provided a matching donation, bringing the fundraising total to $19,487.50.

During this past season, the Cal team invited Bears fans to help provide much needed aid to deserving Bay Area families through its "We Assist, You Assist" Challenge by pledging any dollar amount for each assist recorded throughout the 2006-07 campaign. Fans also had the option of making a flat donation to either the Berkeley Food and Housing Project or Lockwood Elementary School.

Boyle agreed to contribute a matching donation up to $10,000 for every dollar raised.

Cal recorded 449 assists in 2006-07, which was its highest output since the 1994-95 team dished off 453 assists.

Cal finished the 2006-07 season with a 23-9 record, which was one win shy of matching the 1983-84 Bears (24-8) for the most wins in school history. This year's team also placed third in the Pac-10 - a program best - at 12-6, which equaled the 1991-92 squad for the best Pac-10 record in school history. Under the direction of Boyle, the Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Cal earned its second consecutive NCAA Tournament selection and will be in pursuit of a program-record third straight bid next season.