Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team stretched its winning streak to five games Friday night, but it certainly wasn't easy.
 
The Golden Eagles led by as many as 16 points in the first half, but had to fight off a determined Cal State East Bay squad, 61-52, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (12-5, 10-3 CCAA) remained just one-half game back of Cal State Monterey Bay for second in the conference.
 
The Golden Eagles never trailed and opened up a quick 14-2 lead. Cal State East Bay (6-12, 3-9 CCAA), though, stayed within striking distance for most of the game and battled back to within nine points with three minutes left. The Pioneers, though, could not get any closer than that until the final minute of play.
 
Jazzi Johnson had a game-high 21 points to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures. Tessondra Williams had 15 points and four rebounds, while Lacy Ramon had 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
Brianna Terrance had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead Cal State East Bay, while Micah Walker and Carly Bettencourt had nine points each. Marlene MacMillan had seven points and 10 rebounds.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 45.8 percent for the game (22-of-48), while holding Cal State East Bay to 37.5 percent (21-of-56). The Golden Eagles, though, were out-rebounded, 37-35 and committed 29 turnovers to 27 for the Pioneers.
 
Both teams struggled from the free-throw line with Cal State L.A. making just 13-of-24 for 54.2 percent and Cal State East Bay making just 6-of-15 for 40 percent.
 
Cal State L.A. started quickly and opened up a 14-2 lead thanks to a 12-0 run that broke a 2-2 tie. Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start the run that also included a basket by Johnson and two straight baskets by Samantha Hansen.
 
A steal and layup by Johnson gave the Golden Eagles a 20-6 advantage with 12:30 left in the half and a basket by Williams gave Cal State L.A. its biggest lead of the half at 30-14. The Golden Eagles settled for a 32-20 halftime lead.
 
Cal State East Bay got as close as seven points three times early in the second half, but a 3-pointer by Ramon boosted the lead back to 10 points, 46-36, with 10 minutes remaining. Lorin Hammer followed with a 3-pointer and Cal State L.A. took a 49-36 edge.
 
A layup by Terrance got the lead down to nine points at 57-48, but single free throws by Hansen and Ramon made it 59-48 with two minutes to play.
 
Hansen had eight points and eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Cal State Monterey Bay.