Box Score

CHICO -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team enjoyed some late-game heroics and posted a big California Collegiate Athletic Association win over Chico State.

Richelle Najera made a key steal and Lacy Ramon hit a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to lift the Golden Eagles past the Wildcats, 57-56, Saturday night in Acker Gym. Cal State L.A. (9-5, 7-3 CCAA) won for the fifth time in its last six games and remained in a fourth-place tie with Humboldt State in the CCAA.

The Golden Eagles, who led for much of the game, had to rally from a five-point deficit in the final three minutes of the game. They still trailed by one point, 56-55, when Najera made a steal to get the ball back for Cal State L.A. with 16 seconds remaining. Ramon was then fouled with four seconds left and made both free throws to give the Golden Eagles the win.

Ramon scored 16 points to lead the Golden Eagles, while Tessondra Williams had nine points and six rebounds. Jazzi Johnson added seven points.

Synchro Bull had 17 points and nine rebounds for Chico State (8-6, 5-5 CCAA), while Natasha Smith added 10 points.

Cal State L.A. shot 45.5 percent for the game (20-of-44), while limiting Chico State to just 24.2 percent (15-of-62). The Wildcats were just 2-of-26 (7.7 percent) from behind the 3-point arc, while the Golden Eagles made only two of their 11 attempts (18.2 percent).

The Golden Eagles committed 25 turnovers to 16 for the Wildcats. Cal State L.A. was an efficient 15-of-21 from the free-throw line, while Chico State was an outstanding 24-of-26.

The Golden Eagles started quickly and opened up a 14-3 lead just six minutes into the game after a 3-pointer by Lorin Hammer. The Wildcats, though, were able to chip away at the deficit and Cal State L.A. held a 32-26 edge at halftime.

Ramon scored the opening basket of the second half to make it 34-26, but the Golden Eagles simply couldn't shake the Wildcats. After Chico State cut the margin to two points, baskets by Johnson and Ramon and a free throw by Johnson pushed the lead back to 44-37 with 12 minutes to play.

A basket by Wiliams gave the Golden Eagles a 47-39 lead with 10 minutes to play, but Chico State scored the next 11 points to take a 50-47 lead. The Wildcats took their biggest advantage, 54-49, with 3:19 to go, but a 3-pointer by Erika Ruiz sliced that margin to 54-52.

Najera hit one free throw to make it 54-53 and two free throws by Ramon gave the Golden Eagles a 55-54 edge with 1:30 to go. McKenzie Dalthorpe hit two free throws after grabbing an offensive rebound with 59 seconds left and the Golden Eagles came up empty on their next possession.

Najera then came up with her big steal with 16 seconds to go to set up Ramon's clutch free throws at the end.

Cal State L.A. will return to action with a home game next Friday against San Francisco State.