Game ReplayLOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team wasn't at its best Saturday afternoon and that spelled trouble against a talented Cal State Dominguez Hills squad.
The Golden Eagles fell behind by 18 points by halftime and fell to the Toros, 79-60, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (3-4, 2-1 CCAA) lost for the first time in three conference games, while the defending conference tournament champions remained unbeaten in conference play.
Kaija Powell had a game-high 23 points for Cal State L.A., but Cal State Dominguez Hills (6-3, 3-0 CCAA) had five players reach double figures. Breanne Garcia led the way with 18 points, while Talia Rayford had 16 points and eight rebounds, Tayler Champion and Kielyn Wilson had 13 points each and Monay Lee had 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Cal State L.A. shot just 37.5 percent (21-of-56) for the game, while Cal State Dominguez Hills shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53). The Toros knocked down 9-of-26 attempts from behind the 3-point arc, including a 6-of-11 performance in the first half. Cal State L.A. was just 6-of-23 for the game. The Toros also had a big edge at the free-throw line, making 26-of-32 for the game and 20-of-26 in the second half. The Golden Eagles were 12-of-15 from the line.
Cal State L.A. had a 36-34 rebounding edge, but also had 21 turnovers to just 12 for the Toros.
Chiara DiMarco had seven points, three rebounds and five assists before fouling out, while
Kiah Knox and
Samantha Lee had six points each.
Franeka Hall had a game-high eight rebounds.
The Golden Eagles led only twice, at 2-0 on a layup by Hall and at 4-2 on a layup by Powell. Garcia hit a 3-pointer and Rayford hit an outside jumper to give the Toros the lead for good.
The Toros quickly took a 24-10 lead before 3-pointers by
Ali Orlich and
Bree Parsons cut it down to eight points, 24-16. A 3-pointer by Wilson stopped the Golden Eagle run and the Toros eventually built their lead to 38-20 by halftime.
A layup by DiMarco opened the second half for the Golden Eagles and five straight points by Powell sliced the deficit to 39-29 with 16:45 to play. The Toros, though, went on a 10-2 run to open up an 18-point lead and led comfortably the rest of the way. Cal State Dominguez Hills built leads as large as 26 points before the Golden Eagles put together some solid possessions down the stretch.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Wednesday with a game at Cal State Dominguez Hills 5 p.m.
