Box Score

MONMOUTH, ORE -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team had to settle for a split in the CCAA/GNAC Classic at Western Oregon.

The Golden Eagles had enough offense, but not enough defense in an 87-80 loss to Northwest Nazarene Saturday in Western Oregon's New PE Building. Cal State L.A. (1-1) was unable to post a sweep after beating the host Wolves in its season opener on Friday.

Lacy Ramon had a big game for the Golden Eagles with 27 points and six rebounds, while Tessondra Williams surpassed 20 points for the second straight game with 24 points.

Northwest Nazarene had four players reach double figures, led by Megan Hingston, who had 32 points and 13 rebounds. Briaunna King had 28 points and 12 rebounds, Chelsie Luke had 11 points and nine rebounds and Heather Adams had 10 points.

Cal State L.A. shot 44.6 percent from the floor, but only 35.5 percent (11-of-31) in the second half. Northwest Nazarene shot 38.7 percent for the game and only 30.6 percent in the second half (11-of-36), but was effective from the free-throw line, hitting 16-of-20 in the second half. Northwest Nazarene was 24-of-29 from the line for the game, while Cal State L.A. was 15-of-23.

Cal State L.A. was out-rebounded for the second straight game, this time by a lopsided 54-35 margin.

Alisha Belt had seven points and three rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Alyssa Hanson had seven points, six rebounds and four assists. Belt also had a team-high four steals.

Neither team led by more than five points in a tightly-played first half. After Hingston hit a 3-pointer to put the Crusaders ahead, 39-35, Williams countered with a 3-pointer and a three-point play to boost the Golden Eagles to a 41-39 advantage. A pair of free throws by Ramon and a steal and layup by Hanson gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the game, 45-41.

Northwest Nazarene, though, closed the half with a 7-2 run to take a 48-47 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles took a 55-52 lead on a basket by Ramon with 15:53 to play and took their last lead, 61-60 after a basket by Ramon off an assist from Hanson with 12:55 to go. Northwest Nazarene surged to a 68-63 lead, but the Golden Eagles got a layup from Williams, a pair of free throws by Williams and one free throw by Maryum Jenkins to pull to within one at 69-68 with 6:20 to go and a basket by Samantha Hansen, a three-point play by Belt and a layup by Williams trimmed a 76-68 deficit to 76-75 with three minutes left, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a game against Academy of Art at Dixie State.