Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team had been thriving in late-game situations during its recent run of victories, but it was Chico State that came up clutch late in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association battle.
 
The Golden Eagles were outscored, 10-2, during a key second-half stretch and couldn't recover in a 73-67 loss to the No. 13 Wildcats Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (11-5, 6-3 CCAA) missed out on a chance to move into a first-place tie with Chico State (12-1, 8-1 CCAA) and instead fall two games back.
 
Bree Parsons had 16 points and five rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Paige Melville had 13 points, four rebounds and five assists. Tessondra Williams had 11 points.
 
Hannah Womack had 16 points to lead Chico State, while Monni Davidson-Mays had 15 points and six rebounds and McKenzie Dalthorp had 14 points.
 
Cal State L.A. was unable to slow down the Wildcats, who shot 50 percent for the game (28-of-56) and had a large 45-28 rebounding edge. The Golden Eagles did force 23 turnovers and made 40.3 percent of their shots (27-of-67).
 
The Golden Eagles fell behind by halftime, 42-33, after Chico State shot a sizzling 54.8 percent in the opening period and knocked down five 3-pointers. Cal State L.A. battled back and took a four-point edge, 59-55, with 9:33 remaining, but Chico State scored the next nine points and never looked back.
 
Kaija Powell had a strong game off the bench for the Golden Eagles and had nine points and two rebounds.
 
Cal State L.A. fell behind quickly, 11-3, in the first four minutes, but went on a 6-0 run fueled by two free throws by Melville, a 3-pointer by Parsons and a free throw by Maryum Jenkins to close to within 11-10.
 
The Golden Eagles eventually tied the game for the first time at 33-33 after a offensive rebound and basket by Samantha Hansen, but Chico State scored the last nine points of the half to take a 42-33 halftime lead.
 
Cal State L.A. still trailed by nine, 48-39, and by seven points, 54-47, before mounting its best run of the game. A jumper by Melville, a steal by Jenkins and layup by Williams, another jumper by Melville and a layup by Powell gave the Golden Eagles their first lead, 55-54, with 11 minutes remaining.
 
The Golden Eagles got a layup by Powell and a basket by Williams to take their biggest lead of the game, 59-55, with 9:33 remaining, but Chico State blanked the Golden Eagles over the next five minutes to take the lead for good. The Wildcats grabbed an eight-point lead, 69-61, that was cut to four points by a jumper by Alyssa Hanson and a jumper by Alisha Belt with 1:09 to go, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a home game against Cal State Stanislaus.