WACO, Texas -- Asha Thomas scored 18 points and made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:19 left to end a long California scoring drought, and the Bears held on for a 55-52 win over LSU in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.
California (20-13) had gone 4 1/2 minutes without scoring until Thomas made her sixth 3 of the game, from the right corner just in front of the Bears bench for a 53-50 lead.
Chloe Jackson made a jumper for LSU with 59 seconds left, and the Tigers (20-12) had another chance after Cal was unable to get the ball inbounded or a timeout called before a 5-second violation with 32 seconds left.