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Sam Wasson/UAA Athletics

Women's Basketball

Golden Eagles Pull Away Late To Beat BYU-Hawaii, 77-56

Box Score ANCHORAGE, AK -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team played well in stretches Tuesday night in the second night of Alaska Anchorage's AT&T Hoops Classic and that was enough to pick up a victory over a NCAA Division II West Region opponent.

The Golden Eagles saw a 15-point lead trimmed to five points with seven minutes to go, but responded to score the next 15 points and went on to a 77-56 win over BYU-Hawaii in the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. Cal State L.A. (7-3) won its second straight game in the three-day tournament.

Tessondra Williams led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds and scored more than 20 points for a sixth straight game. Richelle Najera also had a big game, recording a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double. Alyssa Hanson added 10 rebounds and four rebounds.

Shayla Robinson had 16 points and 13 rebounds for BYU-Hawaii (1-5). Sydnie Whitworth had 14 points.

Cal State L.A. shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60), but made only 4-of-14 attempts from behind the 3-point arc. BYU-Hawaii shot just 34.9 percent (22-of-63) and made 5-of-28 from behind the 3-point arc. Cal State L.A. made 17-of-20 free-throw attempts, while BYU-Hawaii was 7-of-9. Cal State L.A. enjoyed a 41-34 rebounding edge and both teams had 24 turnovers.

The Golden Eagles allowed the opening basket of the game, but went on a 15-2 run to take a 15-4 lead and never trailed again. Hanson tied the game with a layup, Lacey Gibbons had a steal and layup, Williams hit a 3-pointer and Gibbons scored on another layup to give the Golden Eagles a 9-2 lead. Kelli Lewis and Gibbons hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open up a 15-4 advantage for Cal State L.A.

The Golden Eagles were tied at 23-23 after a 19-8 run by the Seasiders, but went on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good. Williams and Najera both hit layups and Wiliams converted a three-point play to stake the Golden Eagles to a 30-23 lead. Hanson completed the run with a basket to make it 32-23. After a BYU-Hawaii basket, Samantha Hansen hit two free throws to give Cal State L.A. a 34-25 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles went on another 9-0 run early in the second half to open up a 43-28 lead. Hanson hit a layup, Williams converted another three-point play and Gibbons scored to give the Golden Eagles a 15-point lead with 16 minutes to go. BYU-Hawaii made a big run over the next eight minutes to trim the deficit to 56-51, but Cal State L.A. scored the next 15 points to put the game away.

Najera hit two free throws to start the run, Paige Melville scored on a layup, Williams hit two free throws, Hanson made a layup, Najera hit a free throw, Melville hit two free throws, Najera scored on a layup and Kaija Powell scored on a layup to give the Golden Eagles a 71-51 lead.

Najera was named the AT&T Player of the Game.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Wednesday with a game against tournament host Alaska Anchorage. 
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