Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team will have to try again to clinch a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.

The Golden Eagles came up short for the fourth straight time, dropping a disappointing 68-61 decision to UC San Diego Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (15-10, 12-9 CCAA) is now in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference with Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State East Bay with Humboldt State just one game back. The Golden Eagles are also still just one game back of second-place, which is held by UC San Diego and Chico State.

UC San Diego (16-9, 13-8 CCAA) won its fifth straight game and pulled into a second-place tie with Chico State.

The Golden Eagles struggled mightily on the glass, losing the rebounding battle, 45-30. The Tritons took full advantage with a 22-10 edge in second-chance points.

Cal State L.A. shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56), but made only 5-of-20 from 3-point range. UC San Diego shot just 36.8 percent (21-of-57), but the Tritons were 9-of-20 from 3-point range and had 20 offensive rebounds. The Tritons were also 17-of-21 from the free-throw line, while the Golden Eagles were 10-of-16.

Paige Melville had 13 points for the Golden Eagles, while Alisha Belt had 12 points. Destinee La Fountain just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Tina Fantroy had seven points and five rebounds.

Megan Perry had a game-high 20 points to lead the Tritons and hit 6-of-9 attempts from 3-point range. Miranda Seto had 11 points, McKennan Bertsch had 10 points and eight rebounds and Erin Dautremont had 10 points and eight rebounds.

It was an uphill battle nearly the entire way for the Golden Eagles, who early, 2-0, after a basket by La Fountain, at 5-3 after a 3-pointer by Melville and at 7-5 after a jumper by Tina Fantroy.

The Tritons, though, responded by seven straight points to take a 12-7 lead and the Tritons never trailed again. UC San Diego led by as many as 12 points in the first half, 33-21, after a 3-pointer by Cassie MacLeod. La Fountain converted on a three-point play, Melville knocked down a 3-pointer and then hit a pair of free throws to slice the deficit to 33-29 before a layup by Dana Webster gave the Tritons a 35-29 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles got as close as two points, 35-33, after opening the second half with baskets by Melville and Belt, but Cal State L.A. was unable to get over the hump. A jumper by La Fountain kept the margin at 48-45 with 13:30 to go, but the Tritons scored the next eight points – six of them on 3-pointers by Perry – to open up a 56-45 lead with 8:50 remaining.

Four straight points from Michaela Reed brought the Golden Eagles back to within six points, 62-56, with five minutes to go and a jumper by Kaija Powell made it 66-61, but by then only a few seconds remaining.

Cal State L.A. will conclude its regular-season against Cal State San Bernardino, which brings a five-game winning streak into the contest. The Golden Eagles will honor their three seniors – Destinee La Fountain, Alisha Belt and Richelle Najera – in pregame ceremonies.