Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team needed a tremendous second-half performance to make up for a dreadful first half Saturday.

Fortunately for the Golden Eagles, they got it -- and then some. The Golden Eagles erased all of a 16-point first-half deficit and stormed back to beat San Francisco State, 59-49, Saturday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in Main Gymnasium. Cal State L.A. (6-6, 3-5 CCAA) snapped a three-game losing streak and salvaged a weekend split of CCAA contests.

It was definitely a tale of two halves. The Golden Eagles scored only three points in the first 11 minutes of the game -- on a 3-pointer by Gretchen Tiernan -- and trailed, 19-3. Cal State L.A. made only three baskets in the first half and trailed at halftime, 27-14.

An entirely different team showed up in the second half. Cal State L.A. scored the first 15 points of the period to take its first lead and ultimately outscored the Gators, 45-22, in the second half. After shooting 3-of-25 (12 percent) in the first half, the Golden Eagles were 16-of-25 (64 percent) in the second half.

Erika Ruiz scored 18 points to lead the Golden Eagles, while Tiernan finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Lacy Ramon had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Nicole Hicks had 12 points to lead the Gators (1-11, 1-7 CCAA), while Lauren Varney had eight points and 10 rebounds and Dominque Hunter had six points and 10 rebounds.

Cal State L.A. was outstanding at the free-throw line, making 15-of-16 attempts, while San Francisco State was only 7-of-15. Ruiz, Ramon and Karmen Gunn all made all four of their free-throw attempts, while Alisha Belt was 3-of-4.

After struggling mightily in the first half, the Golden Eagles turned things around in a big way in the second half. Cal State L.A. scored the first 15 points to take its first lead at 29-27. Angeline Jefferson started the run, which included baskets by Ramon and Ruiz, a 3-pointer by Ruiz, baskets by Tiernan and Ramon and then a basket by Ruiz to take the lead.

Tiernan then got hot to enable the Golden Eagles to keep their advantage. She hit a basket to break a 29-29 tie and then, after Erica Greer hit a 3-pointer to put the Gators ahead, 32-31, Tiernan responded with a 3-pointer to put the Golden Eagles back ahead, 34-32.

Angela Van Sickel then hit a 3-pointer to put the Gators ahead, 35-34, but Tiernan hit another 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 37-35 lead. The Gators tied it, but baskets by Ruiz and Sonia Miller gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good.

Cal State L.A. led by six points after a Ruiz 3-pointer made it 49-43. San Francisco State then rallied to slice the lead to 51-49 with 1:10 remaining, but the Golden Eagles made all six of their free-throw attempts in the final minute and got a steal and layup by Ruiz to put the game away.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Thursday at UC San Diego.