ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team put on another shooting display Friday night in a big California Collegiate Athletic Association win over Sonoma State.
The Golden Eagles shot nearly 51 percent and hit eight more 3-pointers and beat the Seawolves, 78-66, Friday in the Wolves' Den. Cal State L.A. (7-8, 6-5 CCAA) reached the halfway point of the conference schedule by winning for the fourth time in its last five games.
Chiara DiMarco poured in a career-high 21 points to lead the Golden Eagles, while
Aiwekhoe Okungbowa just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Samantha Lee had 12 points and
Shanice Jackson had a career-high 11 points. Lee and Jackson combined to hit six 3-pointers in seven attempts.
Hannah Sourek had a game-high 22 points and six rebounds for Sonoma State (6-9, 4-7 CCAA).
Cal State L.A. shot 30-of-59 (50.8 percent) while holding Sonoma State to just 23-of-59 (39 percent). The Golden Eagles were an efficient 8-of-17 from 3-point range (47.1 percent), while the Seawolves were 7-of-19 (36.8 percent). The Golden Eagles also hit 10-of-14 from the free-throw line, while the Seawolves were 13-of-18.
Cal State L.A. had a slim 34-33 rebounding edge and committed 22 turnovers to 21 for the Seawolves.
The Golden Eagles fell behind by five points early in the game, but recovered to take a 35-27 lead by halftime. The Golden Eagles then fell behind by three points with 12 minutes to go, but went on a big surge to take control of the game.
The Golden Eagles trailed, 16-11, midway through the first half, but back-to-back baskets by
Geena Greene sliced the deficit to one point and the Golden Eagles went on a later 13-0 run to take the lead. A jumper by DiMarco started the run and a 3-pointer by Lee gave the Golden Eagles the lead. DiMarco made a steal and layup and Jackson and Lee hit 3-pointers to give Cal State L.A. a 28-18 lead. A 3-pointer by Jackson gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the half, 32-20, and Cal State L.A. settled for a 35-28 lead at halftime.
Cal State L.A. started the second half slowly and Sonoma State surged to a 48-45 lead with 12 minutes to play. A three-point play by
Kaija Powell tied the game and Lee hit all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to give the Golden Eagles the lead for good. The Golden Eagles led by six points before back-to-back 3-pointers by DiMarco and Lee pushed the advantage to 69-57, with 6:44 to go. A 3-pointer by
Bree Parsons gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the game, 76-61, with two minutes to play.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a road game at San Francisco State.
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