LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team had a rough beginning to the 2014 calendar year.

The Golden Eagles fell behind early and never could recover in a disappointing 80-57 loss to San Francisco State Friday night in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (6-3, 3-2 CCAA) and San Francisco State (8-3, 4-1 CCAA) were both coming off lengthy Holiday breaks, but the Gators came out firing on all cylinders and led from start to finish.

The Gators scored the first four points of the game and opened up leads as large as 25 points in the first half before settling for a 44-25 halftime lead. San Francisco State led by as many as 26 points in the second half as Cal State L.A. never could get untracked.

San Francisco State shot 48.5 percent for the game (32-of-66) and knocked down nine 3-pointers. Cal State L.A. shot 40.8 percent (20-of-49) and made 6-of-17 from 3-point range.

The Golden Eagles had a 36-34 rebounding edge, but also committed 21 turnovers to just 12 for the Gators.

Kaija Powell had 15 points for the Golden Eagles, while Destinee La Fountain had seven points and eight rebounds.

Katie Batlin had 18 points, seven rebounds and six rebounds to lead a balanced San Francisco State attack. Brianna Harden had 10 points, Leticia Galarza had nine points and Lauren Varney, Jasmine Flanagan and Michelle Sutton had eight points each.

The Golden Eagles tried to keep it close in the opening half and trailed by just two points, 15-13, after a basket by Alisha Belt six minutes into the game. San Francisco State, though, scored the next 13 points to open up a 28-13 advantage until a basket by the Golden Eagles' Bree Parsons. The Gators then scored the next 10 points before a 3-pointer by Cal State L.A.'s Emily Tevez.

All in all, the Gators went on a 28-3 run to take their biggest lead of the half, 43-18. A layup by Powell and a 3-pointer by Shanice Jackson got the Golden Eagles to within 43-23 and San Francisco State settled for a 44-25 halftime lead.

Cal State L.A. made one big run in the second half, going on a 10-0 run to slice the deficit to 49-36 with 14 minutes to go. Belt started the surge with a free throws, Powell scored on a layup, Paige Melville hit a 3-pointer and Powell scored on another layup to pull the Golden Eagles to within 13 points.

San Francisco State, though, countered with a 12-0 run to take a 61-36 edge and led comfortably the rest of the way.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a home game against Sonoma State.