Box Score
LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team shook off the disappointment of a near-miss on Saturday with its first conference win of the season on Sunday.
The Golden Eagles had three players reach double figures in scoring and beat Cal State East Bay, 68-59, Sunday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game at the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (3-7, 1-4 CCAA) won for the second time in its last three games.
Cal State L.A. prevailed one day after a disappointing 65-61 loss to defending conference champion UC San Diego.
Jordan Kuzma had 15 points and a season-high 16 rebounds to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures.
Jameiz Terrell also had 15 points, while
Jazzi Johnson had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Claudia Nelson had 14 points to lead three Cal State East Bay players in double figures. Lauren Lucchsi had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double and Jasmine Smith had 10 points for the Pioneers (0-10, 0-5 CCAA). Cal State East Bay is in its first season in the CCAA.
Cal State L.A. shot 38.5 percent for the game, while Cal State East Bay shot just 27 percent. The Golden Eagles also had a big edge on the boards, hauling down 59 rebounds to 35 for the Pioneers. The Golden Eagles, though, also committed 28 turnovers to 18 for Cal State East Bay and made only 14-of-22 free-throw attempts while the Pioneers made 21-of-29.
The Golden Eagles started well and opened up an eight-point lead, 21-13, after a 3-pointer by
Sonia Miller just 12 minutes into the game. Cal State East Bay, though, went on a 14-2 run and took a 27-23 lead following a jumper by Nelson with 3:49 to go in the half.
The Pioneers had their last lead of the first half after a free throw by Nelson made it 31-30, but the Golden Eagles closed the half with a 3-pointer by Terrell and a steal and layup by Johnson to take a 35-31 halftime lead.
The Golden Eagles led for the entire second half, but Cal State East Bay stayed within striking distance. Cal State L.A.'s biggest lead was 11 points, 51-40, after a steal by
Stacie Whitley and a layup by Johnson with 13 minutes to go.
The Pioneers, though, fought back and closed to within two points, 57-55, after a jumper by Smith with four minutes to play. The Pioneers were still within three points at 59-56 before a 3-pointer by Terrell bumped the lead to 62-56 with 2:50 to go. A three-point play by Kuzma made it 65-58 with 1:16 remaining and Whitley made three free throws down the stretch to preserve the lead.
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home game against Cal State Monterey Bay.
