Box Score

CHICO -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team has had some close calls this season against some of the best teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, only to come up just short.

This time, the Golden Eagles got the job done, getting a game-high 22 points from Jazzi Johnson and beating Chico State, 58-54, Friday night in Acker Gym. Cal State L.A. (4-11, 2-8 CCAA) snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Wildcats dating back to 2001.

Johnson continued her torrid shooting and scored five points in the final 1:21 to key the win. Shatori Dearman also had a strong game with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Pauline Ferrall had 15 points to lead Chico State (8-7, 5-5 CCAA), while Christine Vent added 11 points and six rebounds.

Cal State L.A. rallied down the stretch to post the victory. A 3-pointer by Jameiz Terrell tied the game at 52-52 with 2:49 remaining and, after Chico State scored to take the lead, Johnson hit a layup with 1:21 to tie it again. After a defensive stop, Kelli McClintick hit a free throw with 37 seconds left to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 55-54. Johnson grabbed the rebound of a missed Chico State shot with 22 seconds left and made a pair of free throws with 18 seconds to go. McClintick grabbed the rebound of a missed 3-pointer in the waning seconds and Johnson hit a final free throw with one second left to account for the final margin of victory.

Cal State L.A. won for the first time this season away from home and handed Chico State its third straight loss. The Golden Eagles had near-misses recently against UC San Diego and Cal Poly Pomona, but completed the upset Friday against one of the conference's traditional women's basketball powers. Chico State beat the Golden Eagles, 73-48, last year in Acker Gym and hadn't lost to Cal State L.A. since Feb. 9, 2001.

The Golden Eagles were efficient on offense, shooting 46.7 percent for the game, including 50 percent in the first half. The Golden Eagles also were strong on defense, holding Chico State to just 31.9 percent. Cal State L.A. also owned a 42-39 rebounding edge. The Golden Eagles were 14-of-25 from the free-throw line, while Chico State was 9-of-13. The Golden Eagles overcame 25 turnovers and forced 12 Chico State miscues.

The Golden Eagles fell behind early, 10-4, but straightened things out and grabbed a 21-16 first-half lead. A basket by Brionna Baker and a free throw by Dearman gave the Golden Eagles a 29-27 halftime lead.

Chico State led by as many as six points, 42-36, with 10 minutes to go, but the Golden Eagles got a three-point play by Jordan Kuzma to start a 6-0 run that erased the deficit. A free throw by Kuzma tied it with eight minutes to go. The game was tight the rest of the way and the 3-pointer by Terrell with 2:49 to go was the ninth tie of the game.

After Chico State's Natasha Smith put the Wildcats ahead, 54-52, with 1:41 left, Johnson tied it with a layup with 1:21 remaining. That set the stage for Cal State L.A.'s late defensive stops and successful trips to the free-throw line.

Terrell finished with nine points and five rebounds.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a road game at Cal State Stanislaus.