NEW ORLEANS - Cal's patience with Brittany Boyd has paid off.

Now more mature and controlled after a season of learning on the fly, Boyd, a sophomore, has helped guide Cal to the women's Final Four for the first time in program history. The Bears, a No. 2 seed, plays Louisville at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the national semifinals at New Orleans Arena.

"She brought a spark to us, she plays with so much intensity and love for the game," teammate Eliza Pierre said of Boyd. "We needed that."

Boyd arrived at Cal last season with skills that made her electric but a bit reckless on the basketball court. Nifty passing, ball-hawking defense and speed were all traits of the point guard's game.

Though her flash came along with some unforced turnovers and wild drives to the basket, Bears coach Lindsay Gottlieb was willing to be patient with the homegrown talent, figuring the reward of having Boyd run the offense was greater than the risk.

"I knew that going with a very exciting, dynamic freshman point guard there were going to be some times where you say, 'OK, that's a growth moment,' but a lot more times that you see the spectacular," Gottlieb said. "I wanted to give her that rope and that empowerment to be her and she has continued to stay with us and try to get better every step of the way."

"I grew up in a sense," Boyd said. "I understand the game more."

Gottlieb was well aware of Boyd's potential coming out of high school. The Berkeley High star was the first recruit Gottlieb called to keep on board when she took the Cal job in April of 2011, and Boyd became the Bears' starting point guard almost immediately.

Boyd earned Pac-12 all-freshman honors last season after averaging 10.2 points and 4.8 assists. But her average of 3.9 turnovers per game bothered her, and she vowed to get better.

"I just had to understand when to push, when not to push, when to pass it, who to pass it to," said Boyd, who is averaging one less turnover per game this season. "I just had to settle down. I was so nervous."

Shooting, strength and fitness were her main focuses over the summer.

These days, Boyd plays her best when the lights are the brightest. She was an assist shy of a triple-double in an opening-round win over Fresno State and is averaging 13.8 points and 7.3 assists in the NCAA tournament.

"When she's in the zone, she can be one of the greatest point guards in the game," teammate Layshia Clarendon said.

Boyd, Clarendon and Pierre will be tasked Sunday with slowing down a scorching-hot group of guards. Louisville, a No. 5 seed, reached the Final Four thanks in part to its 64-percent shooting from beyond the arc in its upset over Baylor. The Cardinals then hit eight 3s against Tennessee.

"It's going to be a very physical, very fast-paced game," Boyd said. "Two great backcourts."

Though Boyd grew up going to Cal basketball camps, staying in Berkeley wasn't always her dream.

She originally wanted to follow in the footsteps of her idol, Cappie Pondexter, and play at Rutgers. But a scholarship offer never came.

It's all for the best, Boyd says now.

"Brittany belongs playing at Cal in front of her hometown fans," Gottlieb said.

Cal supporters would surely agree. Especially if she can help them get a couple victories in New Orleans.

• Read more articles by STEPHANIE HAMMON

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