LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team lost the battle of the boards and at the free-throw line in a disappointing California Collegiate Athletic Association contest against first-place Cal Poly Pomona on Friday.

The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded by 14 points and missed half of their 30 free-throw attempts in an 86-70 loss to the Broncos in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (8-5, 5-4 CCAA) fell three games behind the Broncos (11-2, 8-1 CCAA) in the CCAA.

The Golden Eagles struggled to contain the Broncos, who shot 53.1 percent in the second half and had four of their five starters reach double figures. The Golden Eagles, by contrast, didn't really get their offense clicking until a spirited effort by their bench in the second half.

Cal State L.A. shot 41.1 percent for the game (23-of-56), while Cal Poly Pomona shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60). The Golden Eagles were also 9-of-21 from 3-point range (42.9 percent), while the Broncos were 7-of-16 (43.8 percent). The Golden Eagles, though, hurt themselves at the free-throw line, where they were only 15-of-30, while the Broncos were a much more effective 27-of-35 (77.1 percent).

Cal State L.A. was also on the short end of a 48-34 rebounding count.

Paige Melville had a team-high 16 points and four assists for the Golden Eagles, while Tina Fantroy had 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. The Golden Eagles also got a big boost from Samantha Lee, who knocked down three second-half 3-pointers and finished with nine points.

Ariel Marsh led Cal Poly Pomona with a game-high 26 points, while Jada Blackwell had 17 points and 16 rebounds. Ashley Lovett had 16 points and Tyler Woods had 15 points.

Alisha Belt had nine points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Destinee La Fountain had five points, 10 rebounds and a game-high four blocks.

The Golden Eagles started well and opened up the game with a 6-0 lead after a free throw by Belt, a layup by La Fountain and a 3-pointer by Emily Tevez. The Golden Eagles had a lead at 18-15 after a free throw by Aiwekhoe Okungbowa, but Cal Poly Pomona tied it on a 3-pointer by J.J. Judge. After a 3-pointer by Melville put the Golden Eagles ahead, 24-23, the Broncos scored the next eight points to take the lead for good. Late 3-pointers by Fantroy and Kaija Powell kept the Golden Eagles close and the Broncos settled for a 37-33 lead at halftime.

A layup by Melville to open the second half cut the deficit to two points, 37-35, but the Broncos scored the next seven points to extend the lead to nine points. Cal Poly Pomona opened up its biggest lead of the game, 67-46, before a 3-pointer by Lee and baskets by Okungbowa and Fantroy made it 67-53 with seven minutes still to play.

Another 3-pointer by Lee made it 73-61 with 4:30 remaining and another 3-pointer by Lee made it 75-64 with 3:40 remaining, 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 Humboldt State.