Box Score

LA JOLLA -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team didn't have another big comeback left in it and the Golden Eagles' first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in six years ended Friday afternoon in RIMAC Arena.

The Golden Eagles couldn't overcome a 49-31 rebounding disparity and fell to Alaska Anchorage, 65-56, Friday in a NCAA West Region first-round playoff game. Cal State L.A. (18-12), which was making its first NCAA playoff appearance since 2006 and only the second in the program's history, stayed within striking distance for the entire game, but never could break through against the Seawolves (27-4). Alaska Anchorage, the No. 2 seed in the region, is ranked eighth in the nation.

Jazzi Johnson had 17 points and eight rebounds, while Erika Ruiz added 11 points and three rebounds. Cal State L.A., which had rallied from 18 down to Cal Poly Pomona, from 12 down to UC San Diego and from 20 down against Cal State Monterey Bay during an amazing run to the CCAA Championship Tournament final,. was unable to rally against the Seawolves. The Golden Eagles led early, fell behind by 14 points with 12:24 to go and couldn't get closer than eight points down the stretch.

Cal State L.A. had trouble against Alaska Anchorage's aggressive defense and shot just 26.8 percent for the game (15-of-56). The Golden Eagles were just 3-of-20 from 3-point range, all of those were made by Ruiz.

Alaska Anchorage also had trouble scoring against Cal State L.A.'s defense and shot just 36.4 percent (16-of-44). The Seawolves, though, were hot from 3-point range, sinking 6-of-13 and also dominant on the boards. Alaska Anchorage had a 49-31 rebounding edge and collected 16 offensive rebounds.

Cal State L.A. forced 24 turnovers, but also committed 18. The Golden Eagles were 23-of-28 from the free-throw line, while Alaska Anchorage was 27-of-42.

Hanna Johansson had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Seawolves, while Sasha King had 12 points and six rebounds. Haley Holmstead had 10 points.

The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start and built leads of 9-4 and 11-6 early largely thanks to Johnson, who had seven quick points. Alaska Anchorage, though, began to assert itself defenisively and went on a 17-2 run to take the lead for good. The Seawolves' run was stopped by a pair of Lacey Gibbons free throws and the Golden Eagles eventually got the lead down to four points, 27-23, after a 3-pointer by Ruiz with 1:34 left in the half. The Seawolves took a 29-23 halftime lead after a pair of free throws by Alysa Horn.

Cal State L.A. got the opening basket of the second half to pull to within 29-25 after a basket by Johnson, but the Seawolves went on another big run, this one 12-2, to open up a 41-27 advantage with 12:24 to go. Back-to-back baskets  by Ruiz and Gibbons cut the deficit to 10 points, 41-31, with 12:16 to go, but the Golden Eagles couldn't get the margin down to single digits until a pair of free throws by Tessondra Williams made it 51-42 with 4:30 remaining.

Alaska Anchorage scored the next four points and eventually built the lead back to 14 points. A three-point play by Alyssa Hanson and two free throws by Johnson made it 59-51 in the final minute, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get. Lacy Ramon had eight points and seven ebounds in her final game with the Golden Eagles, while Lorin Hammer, the hero of the win over UC San Diego in the CCAA Tournament, Ruiz and Johnson also played their last game for Cal State L.A. 

Cal State L.A. finished its season with 11 more wins than the previous season and also had a positive finish with the inspiring run through the CCAA Tourmament and its hard-fought effort on Friday.