Box Score CHICO -- Cal  State L.A.'s women's basketball team picked an opportune time for one of its top performances of the season.

The Golden Eagles put it all together in a 52-point second half and knocked off Chico State, 77-63, in Acker Gymnasium in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association battle Saturday night. Cal State L.A. (17-10, 12-8 CCAA) won its second straight game and remained one game back of fourth-place Cal State East Bay in the conference standings. The top four teams will host first-round CCAA Championship Tournament games on Tuesday, March 5.

The Golden Eagles also knocked Chico State (20-4, 16-4 CCAA) out of sole possession of first place. The victory also gives Cal State L.A. a significant road victory over a top West Region opponent.

Tessondra Williams poured in a career-high 33 points to lead the Golden Eagles. Williams was 11-of-19 from the floor, hit her only 3-point attempt and knocked down 10-of-11 free throw attempts. She eclipsed her previous career high of 29 points that she reached twice earlier this season.

Kelli Lewis had nine points and hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers. Richelle Najera had eight points and six rebounds, while Paige Melville had eight points and five rebounds.

Monni Davidson-Mays had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the Wildcats.

The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, but closed the gap to just one point, 26-25, by halftime and then outscored the Wildcats, 52-37, in the second half.

Cal State L.A. shot an efficient 50.9 percent for the game (28-of-55) and was an outstanding 60 percent in the second half (18-of-30). Chico State shot just 34.4 percent (22-of-64) and made just 4-of-15 attempts from behind the 3-point arc. Cal State L.A. made four of its seven tries.

Cal State L.A. held its own on the boards, trailing by just a 39-37 margin in rebounds, and the Golden Eagles overcame 17 turnovers while forcing 13 by the Wildcats.

The Golden Eagles were 17-of-21 from the free-throw line, while Chico State was 15-of-23.

Cal State L.A. trailed, 19-10, with eight minutes remaining in the first half, but closed the half well to get in position for its impressive second half. Back-to-back baskets by Chiara DiMarco cut the deficit to 23-21 and the Golden Eagles pulled to within one point by halftime, 26-25, after four points by Williams in the final minute.

The Golden Eagle surge carried over into the second half and Cal State L.A. scored the first four points of the second period on baskets by Alisha Belt and Williams to take a 29-26 lead. After Chico State pulled into a 31-31 tie, Najera converted on a three-point play to give the Golden Eagles the lead and a 3-pointer by Lewis pushed the lead to four points, 37-33. The Wildcats scored the next five points to take their last lead of the game, 38-37, but the Golden Eagles got a go-ahead basket by Devin Riezebos and a 3-pointer by DiMarco and led the rest of the way.

Chico State pulled to within two points, 54-52, before a pair of free throws by Melville and a basket by Williams got the lead back to six points. A layup by Riezebos and a pair of free throws by Williams following a technical foul got the lead to 64-56 with 4:55 remaining and a free throw by Lewis and basket by Kaija Powell gave the Golden Eagles a double-digit lead, 67-56, with 3:54 left. The lead never dipped below nine points after that.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Wednesday with a road game at Cal Poly Pomona.