In a tightly contested defensive standoff that saw the Cal women's basketball team hold the lead late in the third quarter, Oregon converted three key free throws down the stretch to hold off the Golden Bears 52-47 at Matthew Knight Arena on Friday night.

Cal held the Ducks to 35 percent floor shooting – including 0-for-16 from 3-point range - but couldn't overcome 29 percent shooting itself in its first road game since Feb. 6.

The Bears (11-8, 2-6 Pac-12) fell behind 25-19 at halftime but opened the third quarter with a 12-5 run to go in front 31-30 after a jumper by Dalayah Daniels with 2:29 left in the period. The Ducks went back up by six early in the fourth quarter before a 3-pointer by Jazlen Green cut the deficit to 45-42 with 7:26 to play.

The teams then combined to go scoreless for almost four minutes before Cal freshman phenom Jayda Curry made one of two free throws to cut Oregon's lead to 45-43 with 3:47 left. But the Bears were unable to get any closer.

Curry, the Pac-12's leading scorer at 19.2 points per game, was held to a season-low eight points – the first time this season she failed to score in double-digits. But she scored six of her points in the fourth quarter as the Bears attempted to come back.

Daniels led Cal with 10 points and eight rebounds while point guard Leilani McIntosh dished out seven assists.

UP NEXT
The Bears play their final road game of the season when they visit Oregon State on Sunday at Gill Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. The game will air on the Pac-12 Networks.

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