The Arizona women's basketball team recorded its third loss in as many games as the Wildcats fell to California, 70-61, Saturday at Haas Pavilion.

The Wildcats (15-8, 7-5 Pacific 10 Conference) were held to a season-low 29 percent from the field and were out-rebounded by the Golden Bears 58 to 40.

Arizona will not be able to improve off its 2004 record, which it ended with a 14-4 conference mark and shared the Pac-10 Championship with Stanford, because the team picked up its fifth Pac-10 loss.

With the win, California (9-13, 3-10) snapped an eight-game losing streak.

The Golden Bears proved why they lead the Pac-10 in free throws as they made 25-of-30 from the charity stripe, while the Wildcats netted 14-of-17 from the line.

"It was a difficult loss," said UA head coach Joan Bonvicini. "We have a number of injuries we're tying to get over, but we still could have played much better. It was a very physical game. We didn't go (to the freethrow line) as much as we should have. We got banged an awful lot."

"We got out-rebounded," she added. "We missed some key shots. Particularly from our posts, we could have done a better job."

Senior point guard Dee-Dee Wheeler paced the Wildcats with 21 points, nine steals and eight rebounds. She was not as successful beyond the arc, as she went 0-for-5 from 3-point range.

Senior forward Danielle Adefeso brought down a team-high nine boards.

Both freshman guard Jessica Arnold and junior center Shawntinice Polk were limited due to injuries. Arnold played despite a left shoulder injury and finished with 15 points. Polk has been hampered by a left knee injury and was held to only eight points.

"Part of it is Polkey is really limited, it's amazing she played as well as she did at Stanford (Thursday)," Bonvicini said. "(Arnold) is a tough kid. I was surprised she could even play Thursday. She was a little better Saturday, but she is still hurting pretty good."

The first half was closely contested with neither team taking more than a three-point lead. Arizona trailed by two at halftime, 30-28. The Golden Bears brought down almost twice as many rebounds with 31 compared to Arizona's 17.

The Wildcats were the first to score once play resumed to tie the game before the Bears went on a 5-0 run for their biggest lead of the night, 35-30. Arizona responded with its own 10-2 scoring drive to take a 48-44 lead.

California regained a four-point cushion as part of a 9-1 run, 53-49. The Wildcats cut it to two points after Wheeler sank a pair of free throws, but California recorded the next four points to make it a two – possession game, 57-51. Arnold drained a trey with 53 second left to play to bring the Wildcats within four points. But Arizona ultimately fell short, losing to the Bears by nine points.

"We just have to step it up right now and do our best to get healthy," Bonvicini said. "We have to be tougher physically and mentally. We have to step up, other people have to pick up the slack. It was an extremely physical game. Cal was a very difficult team. We never really got over the hump. We missed easy shots."

Freshman forward Ché Oh was unable to play in both the Stanford and California games after suffering a concussion in the Maryland loss Jan. 29.

Arizona hosts UCLA Thursday at 7 p.m. in McKale Center. The Wildcats upset the then-No. 19 Bruins on Jan. 16, 84-73, at Pauley Pavilion.