Cal women thrive even though Kristine Anigwe has not been at top of her game

The Cal women’s basketball team began the season believing it possessed more depth and versatility than it has had in years.

The Bears will open Pac-12 play this weekend knowing that they’ve also got more fortitude.

“We have more ability to handle various forms of adversity,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “That’s where you want to be heading into conference, because it’s coming. … You just have to play through it if you want to be a championship team.”

Cal (9-2) has responded to losing Mi’Cole Cayton for the season to a knee injury and to losing to then-No. 23 Missouri 55-52 on Nov. 25 by winning six straight by an average of 20.8 points.