On the road with the Colonials: Day six

At the end of today, either California or GW will be dancing all the way to the Sweet 16 in Greensboro, NC, while the other will be heading home following a loss in the second round.

GW has an 8.30 a.m. shoot-around. The session is closed to the media, so there will be no update. Afterwards, the squad will lay low before departing for Maples Pavilion in the early part of the afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for five p.m. Pacific Time.

With the lack of activity before today's game and the large amount of material I need to get through (some of which is pictured to the left), updates could be few and far between. However, I'll report anything noteworthy when necessary. I have posted today's game preview below. Please check back later for more.

Update, 11.24 a.m. - Good morning on this final day in California. Win or lose, the squad will take a 10.15 p.m. charter from San Jose to Dulles Airport.

GW's shoot-around was pushed back, so the team departed for Stanford about 45 minutes ago. Again, the session was closed to the media, so there is nothing to report at this time. I've been told the squad will leave for the game around three p.m. local time. I'll be back with more later.

Update, 4.36 p.m. - The team departed the hotel a little after three p.m. to the encouragement of the cheer squad and the music of the Colonial Brass (pictured to the left). The bus ride over to Maples Pavilion was quiet, as most of the players opted to listen to music.

For the first time since we've been in California, the squad got a police escort (pictured to the left) from the California Highway Patrol over to Palo Alto (let the Chips jokes begin).

Time to get to work. We'll be back with a postgame wrap-up when it's all said and done. Just a reminder that you can listen to the broadcast here starting at 7.30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Update, 7.19 p.m. - In one of the most unbelievable finishes you'll ever see, GW rallies from a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes to stun California 55-53 on a buzzer-beater by Sarah-Jo Lawrence. With just under six seconds remaining, Whitney Allen inbounded to Kimberly Beck, who air-balled a floater from the far wing. Lawrence grabbed the rebound and released the shot with a second remaining. The officials went to the television monitor to review it, and the result was a sea of buff and blue celebrating on the NCAA logo at half court.

California had the ball with the shot clock off when Natasha Vital was trapped by Lawrence and Allen. The officials ruled Vital traveled before calling a timeout, which set up the dramatic finish. In the postgame press conference, Golden Bears coach Joanne Boyle said, "She didn't travel." That call is sure to be talked about for weeks to come.

I've been told it's a raucous scene in the locker room. From here, the team will get on the bus and head to the airport in San Jose for what is sure to be a joyous red eye flight back to the nation's capital. GW will face either second-seeded Rutgers or seventh-seeded Iowa State on Sunday in Greensboro, NC. There are at least 40 more minutes left in the careers of Beck, Lawrence, Allen, and Lora Mitchell.

I'll be back in the morning on the other side of the flight with more. Please check back then.