WBB1/24/2016 11:44 PM | By: Cal Athletics
USC Pulls Away, Beats Bears, 61-47
LOS ANGELES - Three Golden Bears reached double figures in scoring, but a 19-3 run in the fourth quarter led USC to a 61-47 victory over California Sunday afternoon from the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
With the loss, Cal has now lost five games in a row and drops its record to 10-9 overall and 1-7 in Pac-12 play.
Through three quarters, neither team gained a large advantage with USC's largest lead being four points and Cal's being three. A Courtney Range layup with just under three minutes remaining in the second quarter gave Cal a three-point lead, but it would be the last time time the Bears led in the contest.
While the Trojans led throughout the second half, Cal tied the game at 42 at the 9:21 mark in the fourth quarter. The Trojans then went on their 19-3 run, and the Bears managed to score only five points for the rest of the game.
Sophomore Penina Davidson led the Bears in scoring with 13, coming up two points shy of her career best for the second game in a row. She also came up two rebounds shy of a double-double, ending the day by matching her career-high eight boards. As a team, Cal outrebounded USC, 37-31.
Sophomore Mikayla Cowling added 11 points, while Kristine Anigwe chipped in with 10, continuing her streak of double-figure scoring marks in every game this season. Junior Range scored nine points, as well. Cowling was a clean 2-2 from beyond the arc.
Freshman Asha Thomas secured a career-high nine rebounds, surpassing her previous season best of seven. Thomas also led the Bears in assists with five.
A week after shooting 16-for-17 from the free throw line against Oregon, Cal was once again efficient from the charity stripe, connecting on 11 of 15 tries.
The Bears return to Berkeley to face Washington State on Friday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. from Haas Pavilion. The game airs live on the Pac-12 Network.