Playing without starters Taylor Barnes and Puff Morris, the California women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 7 Louisville before ultimately losing 71-59 at Haas Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. Gisella Maul, who had a career-high 19 points, hit a 3-pointer that gave the Golden Bears (13-10, 4-6 ACC) the lead midway through the third quarter and they stayed within striking distance the whole game, but the Cardinals (21-3, 11-0) were able to answer with timely runs. Down just six points with 8:41 left in the game, the Bears gave up an 8-0 run and were unable to get any closer.
 
Joining Maul in double-figure scoring was Mjracle Sheppard with 13 points (on 5-of-7) and Sakima Walker who had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
A Lulu Twidale triple got Cal to within two points with under five minutes to go in the first quarter and Sheppard tied the game at 11-11 with a driving layup but Louisville responded with a 6-0 run to close the quarter and take a 17-11 lead going into the second.
 
In the second quarter, back-to-back layups from Sheppard got Cal to within one point at the 5:09 mark. The Bears held the Cardinals to a three-minute scoring drought until they made a free throw with 3:30 to go. After Louisville went on a 6-0 run, Maul was able to draw a foul and hit a pair of free throws to end it with 1:00 remaining but the Cardinals would take a 28-24 lead into the break.
 
Maul drilled a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to once again get Cal to within one point at the 8:40 mark in the third. Maul would tack on eight points early in the quarter and her second triple gave Cal a 34-32 lead with 6:58 to go. The Cardinals would respond with a 12-1 run and took a 44-35 lead with just under four minutes left in the quarter. Lola Donez scored four points and then assisted on a Naya Ojukwu layup to get Cal to within 47-42 with under a minute remaining.
 
"We were looking forward to this matchup, competing against a really good team, a top 10 team, and I thought our effort was great," Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. "I thought we made too many mistakes. You're not going to be able to get away with that against a team like Louisville with our turnovers and not being able to keep them off the boards, but I am proud of how we fought with the adjustments we had to make in getting ready for this with our roster and everything. I think G [Gisella Maul] has been a warrior for us and is giving everything that she has, and it feels good as a coach to see her be able to have success and be a real difference maker for our team."
 
Louisville was led by Tajianna Roberts' 21 points.
 
NEXT UP
Cal hits the road to take on Georgia Tech on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT.
 
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