Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team made sure an explosive first-half surge would hold up in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The Golden Eagles surged to a 41-16 halftime lead and then survived a spirited Toro second-half comeback in a 67-53 win Sunday in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (4-3, 2-1 CCAA) posted its third straight win over Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-9, 0-3 CCAA) after snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Toros last season.
 
It was a tale of two halves on Sunday. Cal State L.A. played an exceptional first-half, limiting Cal State Dominguez Hills to just six baskets and racing out to a 25-point lead. Cal State Dominguez Hills, though, shot 51.7 percent in the second half and limited the Golden Eagles to only six second-half baskets. The Toros pulled to within 10 points in the second period, but couldn't get any closer.
 
Tessondra Williams led the way with 20 points for the Golden Eagles, while Lacy Ramon and Maryum Jenkins had eight points each.
 
Lyndsay Heard had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Toros, while Porcha Davis and Sherrie Hughes had eight points each.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 36.7 percent (18-of-49) for the game and made half of its six 3-point field goals. Cal State Dominguez Hills shot 38.9 percent for the game (21-of-54), but was only 1-of-12 from behind the arc. The Golden Eagles were 28-of-41 from the free-throw line, while the Toros were 10-of-17.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills held a 42-32 rebounding advantage, but the Toros committed 28 turnovers to only 14 for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles broke the game open with a big run in the final eight minutes of the first half. Cal State L.A.'s lead was just eight points at 21-13 following a Toro basket by Nikki Boutte, but the Golden Eagles closed the half on a 20-3 run to take a 25-point lead, 41-16, at the break. Williams had six points and Richelle Najera four points to start the run, which continued on a basket by Jazzi Johnson, a free throw by Alisha Belt, a layup by Jenkins, two free throws by Johnson and a 3-pointer by Erika Ruiz.
 
The Toros, though, came out of the halftime break with renewed energy and quickly sliced the deficit to a manageable margin. A 3-pointer by Hillarie Perrin made it 50-38 with still nine minutes remaining. A pair of free throws by Brittni Hulsizer made it a 10-point game, 51-41, with 7:30 remaining.
 
Williams, though, connected on a 3-pointer to push the lead back to 13 points, 54-41, on Cal State L.A.'s next possession and the Golden Eagles answered each Toro charge down the stretch. The Toros closed to within 11 points with two minutes remaining, but Alyssa Hanson scored on a layup to all but settle things with 1:30 to go.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action with a road conference game at Cal State Monterey Bay next Sunday.