Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team enjoyed a successful beginning to California Collegiate Athletic Association play Friday night.
 
The Golden Eagles overcame an early seven-point deficit and roared past Cal State San Bernardino, 79-56, in the CCAA opener for both schools in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (3-2, 1-0 CCAA) grabbed a two-point lead by halftime and then outscored the Coyotes, 44-23, in the second half.
 
Tessondra Williams led the way with 21 points, 17 of them coming in the second half. Lacy Ramon added 15 points and 15 rebounds.
 
Angela Streets led three Cal State San Bernardino players in double figures with 14 points. Kenisha McKee had 12 points and nine rebounds and Jessica de la Cruz had 10 points.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 48.3 percent for the game and knocked down 53.3 percent of its shots (16-of-30) in the second half. Cal State San Bernardino (1-3, 0-1 CCAA) shot just 28.4 percent for the game and made only 23.5 percent (8-of-34) in the second half.
 
The Golden Eagles did well on the boards and had a 53-39 rebounding edge. Cal State L.A. was 19-of-30 from the free-throw line, while Cal State San Bernardino was just 12-of-26.
 
The Golden Eagles had 17 turnovers, 10 of them in the first half. Cal State San Bernardino finished the game with 10 turnovers.
 
Samantha Hansen had eight points and six rebounds, while Maryum Jenkins also had eight points for the Golden Eagles. Lorin Hammer and Lacey Gibbons had six points each.
 
A 3-pointer by Briana Baker gave the Coyotes a 24-17 lead with 11 minutes left in the first half, but Cal State L.A. regrouped and was able to grab the lead by halftime. A layup by Hansen started the comeback, a layup by Jazzi Johnson cut the lead to three points and a 3-pointer by Lorin Hammer tied it up at 24-24.
 
A pair of free throws by Streets gave the Coyotes a 33-32 lead, but free throws by Ramon, Gibbons and Alisha Belt gave the Golden Eagles a 35-33 halftime lead.
 
The Golden Eagles got an opening layup by Ramon to open the second half and maintained a lead the rest of the way. A three-point play by Williams gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead of the game, 53-43, with 13 minutes to go. Two more baskets by Williams extended the lead to 57-43 and Cal State L.A. led by double-digit margins the rest of the way.
 
After the Coyotes cut it to 68-55 with five minutes left, a free throw by Ramon, a layup by Williams and a jumper by Hansen started an 8-0 run that put the game away.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a home game against No. 5 UC San Diego at 5:30 p.m.