It was a five-point game with under a minute to go in the fourth quarter before Puff Morris nailed the biggest 3-pointer of the game to help the California women's basketball team come away with a 68-63 win over Grand Canyon in its first game of the Hoopfest event at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas on Monday evening. The win marked the Golden Bears' (6-1) sixth straight and second over the Antelopes (1-5).
 
Cal's depth came up big in the matchup as Lola Donez had a career-high three 3-pointers and Naya Ojukwu nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds including five on the offensive end.
 
In the first quarter, Ojukwu grabbed an offensive rebound for a putback to tie the game at 8-8 with just under four minutes left in the quarter and then a trio of triples from Donez, Mjracle Sheppard and Lulu Twidale capped a 11-0 run and Cal took a 17-11 lead heading into the second.
 
Cal hit four straight field goals powered by a couple of post layups from Naya Ojukwu and the Bears extended their lead to 28-17 with 4:26 remaining in the second quarter. Cal then went on a three-minute scoring drought to let the Lopes back into the game before Ojukwu drew a shooting foul with :32 left in the first half. The Bears would take a 33-27 lead into the break.
 
Cal opened the third quarter hitting four straight buckets to retake a double-digit lead at 41-31 just a couple minutes in. Donez's third tiple of the game gave the Bears their biggest lead of the game at 45-31 at the 5:10 mark.
 
Cal began the fourth quarter on a scoring drought until Twidale drove to the bucket for a layup at the 6:02 mark. The Bears were able to keep the Lopes at bay until they got within five points with 1:41 to go. Sakima Walker hit a baseline jumper on Cal's next possession, but Grand Canyon responded with a layup to get back within five. Donez then found Morris in the corner for the crucial 3-pointer that sealed the game with 34 seconds remaining.
 
"I'm glad we were able to come away with a win, but I didn't necessarily feel good about how we played," Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. "I thought we turned the ball over too much, and we know that we need to be better. We had some early foul trouble and it was good to see Naya get in there and be able to help us out offensively and continue to get some more people involved on the perimeter. Lola and Gisella are doing a good job for us. I do think we have depth, but we just need to play better collectively."
 
Grand Canyon was led by Anisa Jeffries' 17 points.
 
NEXT UP
Cal stays on the road after the Thanksgiving break to face Missouri in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. PT.
 
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