The California women's basketball team fell behind 17-9 after the first quarter but battled back to stay within striking distance the rest of the way and actually outscored the Tigers from the second through the fourth quarters but ultimately fell 70-63 at Haas Pavilion on Thursday night. It was just the Golden Bears' (17-13, 8-9 ACC) fourth home loss of the season as the Tigers improved to 20-9 and 11-6 in conference play.
 
Lulu Twidale posted her sixth 20-point game of the season with a game-high 23 points and added five 3-pointers – her 11th game this season with at least four triples. Gisella Maul was the only other Bear in double figures with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds and four 3-pointers. Cal finished with 11 3-pointers which marked the most in a game since hitting 14 at Pitt on Feb. 8.
 
Clemson jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Maul made a hard drive to the rim for a layup which sparked a 6-0 Cal response. The Tigers answered with eight straight points before Twidale ended the run with a 3-pointer at the 2:06 mark to bring the Bears to within 15-9. Cal held Clemson to just one field goal over the last two minutes but had four turnovers in the last six to end the quarter.
 
Maul and Lola Donez hit back-to-back triples to open the second quarter and cut the deficit to 19-15. Down by six, Claudia Langarita stole an outlet pass and found Twidale for a top of the key triple that cut Clemson's lead to 25-22 with just over four minutes left in the half. Two plays later, Twidale stole the ball and took it the distance for a layup to get Cal within two points. The Bears hit their last three field goals of the quarter including a buzzer-beating triple from Maul to go into the break down just 35-30.
 
The Tigers scored the first eight points of the third quarter before Walker hit a turnaround hook shot and Puff Morris and Twidale connected on consecutive triples in response to get back within five points at the 4:32 mark. Clemson however, retook control hitting on four of its last five shots to take a 53-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Clemson extended its lead to 11 points before Maul connected on a 3-pointer and drew an after the play foul, but Cal was unable to connect on the ensuing possession. The Bears got to within six with 3:21 to go after Twidale drove the lane for a layup. Cal gave itself a chance to make a comeback late as they were down 10 and were able to score twice in the last two minutes and force a turnover on Clemson's next possession but were unable to capitalize with a bucket after each turnover. Twidale's fifth 3-pointer of the game with 23 seconds left cut the deficit to four but Clemson made its free throws to prevent the comeback.
 
"We're disappointed to not get a win at home and we knew Clemson was a really good team," Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. "They've been playing well as of late, obviously, and we need to play better. I think we're capable of playing better than we did today, so we'll have another opportunity on Sunday, and I think we'll be better against SMU."
 
Clemson was led by Mia Moore's 21 points.
 
NEXT UP
Cal ends the ACC regular season at home on Sunday against SMU at 2 p.m. PT.  
 
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