Buffs Drop Heartbreaker In Berkeley, 59-56

Down by as many as 16 points, No. 7 California women's basketball battled back to defeat Colorado in Berkeley, 59-56.

"I'm proud of the way we battled back, but we believed we deserved to win that one," CU head coach Linda Lappe told CUBuffs.com.

The first 16 minutes couldn't have gone much better for the Buffs, as they held a 32-16 lead with about four minutes remaining before halftime.

California would fight back, cutting the CU lead to 32-24 before halftime. The Golden Bears carried their momentum into the second half, tying the game at 34 with 14:43 left in the game.

Colorado found its footing, punching back with a 5-0 mini-run of their own, as Chucky Jeffery hit a mid-range jumper and Jen Reese hit a three to give the Buffs some much needed confidence.

Cal and Colorado exchanged punches, until the Buffs found themselves down two with the ball with just 36 seconds on the clock. Lappe called timeout and set up a play.

Out of the timeout, Colorado found Lexy Kresl coming off a double screen at the right wing. Kresl, with a Golden Bear bearing down on her, opted to pass to Arielle Roberson, who drove to the basket, only to be stripped by Cal's Gennifer Brandon.

Colorado, needing to stop the clock, fouled Layshia Clarendon, a 68 percent free-throw shooter. Clarendon missed the first, but made the second, forcing Lappe to call for time with 10 seconds remaining down 59-56.

The critical last possession saw Kresl attempt a three, only to be blocked. In the scramble, Brittany Wilson grabbed the ball and stepped behind the arc, firing - and missing - from three as time expired.

Colorado will conclude their Bay Area road trip with a Sunday evening game at No. 6 Stanford.