Cal Comes UP Short Against UCLA

LOS ANGELES – Despite not having its best shooting performance of the season, the Cal women's basketball team had a lead with just over five minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Bears, a 13-3 run late by UCLA was enough for the Bruins to come back and hold on for the 59-54 win Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion.
 
Cal (10-6, 1-4 Pac-12) finished the day connecting on 28.3 percent from the field going 17-for-60 from the floor. From beyond the arc, the Bears were 8-for-23. Jazlen Green had a solid afternoon, finishing with a game-high 17 points. She was 5-for-12 from the floor, all five field goals were from beyond the arc.
 
Green's shooting lifted the Bears, she hit a pair of threes in the first half that enabled Cal to go into the locker with the game tied 22-22. Late in the third quarter, a pair of threes on back-to-back possessions gave Cal a 36-31 lead heading into the final quarter. Jayda Curry was the only other player to finish in double figures for the Bears. She finished with 12 points and was held to just two free throws.
 
The Bears struggled to find their footing in the first quarter. The Bruin's physicality held Cal to six first-quarter points. But in the second quarter, Cal responded. A 6-0 run by the Bears tied the game up at 14, culminating with a triple at the top of the key by Curry with 7:05 to play in the half.
 
UCLA (10-7, 5-4 Pac-12) was led by Limar'i Thomas who had a team-high 16 points along with 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. Natalie Chou had 11 as the only other player in double figures for the Bruins. UCLA was held largely infective from beyond the arc, missing their first 10 shots from distance. A pair of triples from Chou late in the game provided the spark for UCLA. Second chance points also proved to be the difference. The Bruins finished the day with 21 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second-chance points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
With 5:08 to play in the contest, Cailyn Crocker hit a jumper just outside the key to give the Bears a 43-41 lead. That was the last time Cal held the lead in a contest that featured five lead changes and six ties. On the ensuing possession, Thomas took a pass from Charisma Osborne and was fouled on the made basket to take a 44-43 lead.
 
Down the stretch, free throws, and the inside play from Thomas were the difference. A pair of free throws by Osborne gave UCLA an eight-point lead, 54-46.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Bears return home next week and will host Colorado on Friday and Utah on Sunday. The Bears and Buffalo are slated for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. Friday's game against Colorado will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.