Behind a second-half surge from Lulu Twidale and a dominant fourth quarter, the California women's basketball team came away with a 75-62 win at Florida State on Thursday evening. Twidale scored 25 points in the second half on the way to her third 30-point game of the season (second in the last three games) and the Golden Bears (17-11, 8-7 ACC) outscored the Seminoles (9-18, 4-11) 25-9 in the fourth quarter. She added a career-high nine rebounds, five 3-pointers and six assists for a complete all-around game.
 
All three of Twidale's 30-point games have come on the road this season which leads all players in the ACC and is tied for second nationally. Overall, the total ranks second in the ACC and is tied for 15th nationally. She is now just one of seven players in the nation to post a 30-9-6 game this season and one of four to do it with five 3-pointers.
 
Twidale is now just three 3-pointers away from passing Alexis Gray-Lawson for second on Cal's all-time career triples list.
 
Mjracle Sheppard filled the stat sheet as well finishing with seven points, six rebounds and six assists while Sakima Walker just missed out on a double-double with eight points and 11 rebounds.
 
Down by seven points with 1:44 to go in the third quarter, Twidale hit her third triple of the game with 40 seconds left to get Cal to within three and power an extended 12-2 run between the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter that gave the Bears a lead they wouldn't give up for the rest of the game. Twidale scored the first eight points for Cal in the quarter. The Seminoles would cut the deficit to five points with 3:24 remaining but Twidale quickly answered with her fifth triple on Cal's next possession.
 
After Florida State hit a pair of free throws to open the game, Cal responded with a 7-0 run. Puff Morris checked into the game later and drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired to put Cal up 12-8. The Seminoles were able to stay in the game by getting the Bears in foul trouble and hit 7-of-9 from the free throw line as well as a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Noles hit two 3-pointers on their first three possessions to extend their lead to 24-18 just two minutes into the second quarter before Twidale hit her first triple to end their run. That sparked a 6-0 Cal response where it held Florida State without a field goal for a three-minute stretch to tie the game at 24-24 with 6:03 remaining. The Bears eventually retook the lead when Anastasia Drosouni hit a 3-poitner with 2:14 left and Sheppard followed up with a strong take to the hoop for a layup to give them a 32-30 lead into the break.
 
Florida State opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run before Sheppard stole the ball and found Twidale for a fastbreak layup. With the Bears down by eight, Walker found Twidale in the corner for a wide-open triple and later found Morris for a backdoor layup to cap three straight field goals which got Cal to within 44-41 with 4:17 left in the quarter. The Noles extended their lead to 51-44 with 1:44 to go but Maul converted a 3-point play and Twidale nailed her third triple on the Bears' next possession to take a 53-50 deficit into the final frame.
 
"I think we understood the importance of this game and our will to win was strong enough to get it done," Cal head coach Charmin Smith said.  "It's hard playing on the road. Every road win is a big win and I loved our fight in the fourth in particular. She [Lulu Twidale] was really resilient and fought through a first half in which she struggled offensively and really dominated in the second half. And that's what we expect of her, that's what we need of her. And she's also making others better with six assists and distributing and helping our offense run, so it was a great effort."
 
Florida State was led by Sydney Bowles' 17 points.
 
NEXT UP
Cal stays on the road to face Miami on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT.  
 
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