Box Score

SEASIDE -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team put itself in position to beat Cal State Monterey Bay and this time the Golden Eagles didn't let it slip away.

The Golden Eagles came close to losing all of an eight-point lead late in the game, but held on for a 67-63 win over the Otters Saturday night in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in the Otter Sports Center. Cal State L.A. (4-19, 3-13 CCAA) snapped a three-game losing streak and salvaged a season split with Cal State Monterey Bay.

In the first meeting between the two schools, Cal State L.A. couldn't hold onto a late lead and Cal State Monterey Bay rallied for the victory. History didn't repeat itself on Saturday, although the Golden Eagles did wobble a bit down the stretch.

After a free throw by Ashley Kitchen gave the Golden Eagles a 65-57 lead with 1:23 to go, the Otters took advantage of a pair of 3-pointers and five missed free throws to pull to within 66-63 with 28 seconds remaining. The Otters missed a pair of potential game-tying 3-pointers before Amber Whittington secured a rebound and Shyneese Walter hit the second of two free throws with eight seconds remaining to finally put the game away.

Shatori Dearman had 16 points and four rebounds to lead four Golden Eagles in double figures. Cassie Suffolk had 14 points and six rebounds, Walter finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Whittington had 11 points and nine rebounds for Cal State L.A.

Janet Oseguera had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Cal State Monterey Bay (9-13, 4-12 CCAA). Dana Andrews added 18 points.

Cal State L.A. shot 43.3 percent for the game, including 53.1 percent in the second half when the Golden Eagles made 17-of-32 field-goal attempts. The Golden Eagles, though, missed 10 of 19 free-throw attempts and were out-rebounded, 47-35.

Cal State Monterey Bay shot just 28 percent, although the Otters did make 17-of-20 free-throw tries.

The Golden Eagles led by as many as six points early in the first half, 15-9, after a 3-pointer by Suffolk. Cal State Monterey Bay, though, went on a 16-1 run to take its biggest lead of the game, 25-16. The Golden Eagles still trailed by nine points, 27-18, before closing the first half strongly and pulling to within 29-25 after a late three-point play by Dearman.

A 3-pointer by Jameiz Terrell got the Golden Eagles off and running in the second half and Cal State L.A. opened up a 44-39 after a basket by Whittington with 12:08 remaining.

The game was tied for a final time at 48-48 before a 3-pointer by Walter started a 14-4 run that gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the game, 62-52, with 4:23 remaining. A steal and layup by Whittington finished the stretch. 

Cal State L.A. effectively kept its lead until the final minute when Andrews hit a pair of 3-pointers and the Golden Eagles were unable to capitalize on their free-throw tries. Finally, after two potential game-tying attempts by Cal State Monterey Bay went awry, Walter hit the second of two free throws to secure the win.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home game against Chico State.