The California women's basketball team came back from down 20 points with 1:25 left in the third quarter to force overtime but ultimately lost 90-87 on a game-winning 3-pointer in a three-overtime game against Syracuse at the JMA Dome in Syracuse, NY on Thursday night. It marked the first triple overtime game in Cal program history and the first in the ACC since a game between NC State and Pittsburgh on Jan. 10, 2016. The 87 points scored marked the most for the Golden Bears in a conference game (10-9, 1-5 ACC) since joining the ACC and most given up by the Orange (15-3, 5-2) this season.
 
Several Bears had notable performances in the game. Naya Ojukwu posted a game and season-high 25 points (on 9-of-18) in just 24 minutes. Lulu Twidale posted her first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 12 assists and Taylor Barnes had her second career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sakima Walker rounded out the Bears in double figures with 15 points, including eight straight to open the third quarter, and seven rebounds. It marked the second time in the last four games in which two Bears posted a double-double in the same game (NC State).
 
Cal closed the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run to force the first overtime during which Ojukwu scored six of her points. After she scored the game-tying bucket off an offensive rebound, the Bears forced two stops on the final possession. Earlier in the quarter Gisella Maul converted a 3-point play on a tough reverse finish followed by a Twidale 3-pointer to cap a 6-0 run.
 
In the first overtime after the Orange went up by four points with just 21 seconds left, Twidale came up with two clutch 3-pointers. She drilled a triple on the next possession and Cal fouled Syracuse to force free throws. The Orange converted both free throws leaving 11 seconds left and Twidale side stepped her defender and nailed another 3-pointer with :06 left to force double overtime.
 
In the second overtime, the Orange took a one-point lead at the 2:33 mark and both teams went scoreless until Mjracle Sheppard stole the ball and passed it ahead to Barnes who made the layup, got fouled and converted the 3-point play with 54 seconds remaining. The Bears forced a tough shot from the baseline on Syracuse's next possession and Twidale appeared to get the rebound while falling down but was called for a travel. The Orange would then make a layup on the out of bounds play and Cal ran out of time before it could get a shot off as time expired, sending the game to triple overtime.
 
In the third overtime, Syracuse hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession, but Barnes and Sheppard answered with back-to-back layups to regain the lead. Once again, both teams went scoreless until Syracuse drew a foul with 41 seconds left and hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game. On Cal's next possession Ojukwu got open under the rim but missed the layup and Syracuse's Dominique Darius hit her only 3-pointer of the game with :03 left on the clock for the game-winning shot.
 
"I just asked them if they wanted to fight, and they all agreed that they did," Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. "I asked them if they'd ever seen a team come back from being down 16 in the fourth and they all shook their heads and we went out and attacked it. I'm really proud of their fight and what they were able to do to get the game to overtime. It was incredible. I wish we could have finished it off, but very proud of who we were in the fourth quarter and beyond. And we just need to learn and show up better to start. I think we dug ourselves a hole that we didn't need to be in."
 
Syracuse was led by Uche Izoje's 22 points and 13 rebounds.
 
NEXT UP
Cal stays on the road to face Boston College on Sunday at 9 a.m. PT.
 
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