BERKELEY – Classes for the 2017 fall semester begin in exactly two weeks, marking the beginning of another chapter of instruction and competition for the more than 800 student-athletes on Berkeley's campus. Yet for the members of the Cal women's basketball team, that experience will begin ahead of schedule, more than 6,000 miles away.

On Thursday evening, the Golden Bears depart on a 10-day foreign tour to New Zealand and Australia, where they will play three games while taking in the local culture and history.

"My intent, as always, as the head women's basketball coach at Cal is to provide the best possible experience for the student-athletes in our program," said Lindsay Gottlieb, now in her seventh season at the helm of the Golden Bear program. "I believe that in a well-rounded experience, you compete at a high level on the court, you immerse yourself in the academic life on campus, and you take advantage of every cultural and learning opportunity off the court. We are fortunate to have incredible donors and supporters of our program who share this vision."

The Bears kick off the 2017 foreign tour in Auckland, New Zealand, where they will explore Waiheke Island and Auckland Harbor, before facing off against New Zealand Premier on Sunday, August 13. Cal will then head to Cairns on the east coast of Australia, for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and a tour of the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. From there the Bears, while head down the coast to Sydney, where the Bears will play two more games, beginning with a Thursday night tilt against the Sydney University Flames on August 17. While in Sydney, the Golden Bears will explore iconic Sydney Harbor and attend a rugby match at the Olympic Park.

This trip also holds special significance as it marks a homecoming for Golden Bears Penina Davidson and Sara Anastasieska. Davidson, a 6'3" senior forward, grew up in Auckland and has been a member of the New Zealand Women's National Team, while Anastasieska hails from Sydney, Australia, and is now eligible to compete for the Bears after sitting out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Both players relish the opportunity to share their culture with the Cal program while playing in front of their friends and family.

"I'm really excited to show everyone where I'm from and for the team to experience the unique culture of Australia," said Anastasieska, who has spent time with the Australian youth national teams. "Playing in the United States, it sometimes feels like you're representing the whole country because everyone knows you as the 'Australian girl'. I'm very proud of where I'm from and can't wait to share this trip and this experience with my team."  

Entering her final year at Cal, Davidson looks forward to returning to the place where her basketball career began.

"Growing up, we'd play in whatever gear we could find with maybe just a handful of people in the stands," recalls Davidson, who competed for the Tall Ferns at the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships. "To get to come back now as a senior and play in my hometown for the first time since high school is pretty cool. This is such a special part of me and who I am. The basketball community in New Zealand has been so supportive and I know they're really excited for us to come play."

Fans and supporters can follow along with the team's travels via social media and regular blog posts on the team's multimedia site, ThisIsCalBasketball.com. Behind the scenes footage and regular updates will be posted on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWBball) along with game updates and viewing information.
 
"We feel very fortunate to take our group to the southern hemisphere, to the home countries of two of our team members, where our student-athletes will get to see and experience things they might not otherwise get to experience in their lives," said Gottlieb. "The additional practice and games will benefit our cohesion and development as a team, and the off-court adventures will impact our world view and allow for growth that is hard to quantify. I'm so excited and grateful to take this trip with our Cal Women's Basketball Family, and cannot express enough appreciation to the generous people that allowed it to happen."