Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team struggled mightily at times Saturday night, but the Golden Eagles still managed to pick up an important California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.
 
The Golden Eagles never trailed in the second half, but needed a strong surge at the end to secure a 70-57 victory over a determined Cal State Stanislaus squad in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (12-5, 7-3 CCAA) won for the fifth time in its last six games and successfully avoided a serious letdown after Friday's loss to first-place Chico State.
 
The Golden Eagles led by just one point at halftime, but shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, including four big 3-pointers. Three successful 3-pointers in a row by Tessondra Williams, Paige Melville and Kelli Lewis midway through the second half finally gave the Golden Eagles some breathing room. Cal State L.A. hit eight straight free throws in the final 1:10 to extend the final margin in a game much closer than the final score would indicate.
 
Williams had a big game for the Golden Eagles, tying her season high with 29 points. She was an efficient 6-for-8 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from behind the 3-point arc. She also knocked down all 14 of her free-throw attempts.
 
Bree Parsons had nine points, including a big 3-pointer with 4:30 remaining that extended the lead to double digits. Melville and Samantha Hansen had seven points each for the Golden Eagles.
 
Lauren Godde had 15 points and five rebounds for Cal State Stanislaus (2-13, 1-9 CCAA), while Devin Brown had 13 points and three rebounds.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 43.5 percent (20-of-46) for the game and made seven of 16 tries from 3-point range. Cal State Stanislaus shot 41.2 percent (21-of-51) and was 5-of-17 from behind the arc. Cal State L.A. had a 34-26 rebounding edge and both teams had 23 turnovers.
 
The Golden Eagles' depth paid dividends as Cal State L.A. had nine players score and had a 27-8 advantage in bench scoring.
 
Williams hit a pair of 3-pointers to open the game, but Cal State Stanislaus responded with seven straight points and hung right with the Golden Eagles for the rest of the half. A 3-pointer by Cal State L.A.'s Shanice Jackson broke a 24-24 tie late in the half and the Golden Eagles settled for a 29-28 halftime lead.
 
Cal State L.A. led for the entire second half, but had to withstand several surges by the Warriors. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Erin Godde brought the Warriors to within 37-36 with 12:40 to play and two free throws by Godde made it 39-38 with 12:11 to go.
 
Williams, Melville and Lewis then hit their 3-pointers as part of a 10-3 run that included a free throw by Hansen and gave the Golden Eagles a 49-41 edge with 10 minutes to play.
 
The Warriors pulled to within four points, 51-47, with less than eight minutes to play, but the Golden Eagles answered with seven straight points on baskets by Parsons, Alisha Belt and a 3-pointer by Parsons to make it 58-47 with 4:30 remaining. Cal State L.A. led by at least eight points the rest of the way and grabbed its biggest lead after a pair of free throws by Maryum Jenkins in the final minute.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home game against Humboldt State.