LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's women's basketball team got off to a slow start and had a disappointing finish in a non-conference loss to Simon Fraser on Monday night in the Eagles Nest.
 
The Golden Eagles managed only six first-quarter points and ultimately fell to the Clan, 71-60. Cal State LA trailed by 10 points at halftime, 33-23, recovered to take a brief third-quarter lead, but was outscored in the final quarter, 29-21.
 
The Golden Eagles didn't allow a field goal over the final seven minutes, but Simon Fraser made 17 free throws down the stretch to pull away for the 11-point win.
 
Chiara DiMarco led the Golden Eagles with 20 points and sparked the third-quarter comeback. Bree Parsons had seven points and a pair of rebounds and Rikke Fabricius had seven points and seven rebounds.
 
Elisa Homer had a game-high 26 points for Simon Fraser (2-3). She was 5-of-10 from 3-point range and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. Alisha Roberts had 18 points, including 11 from the free-throw line and Ellen Kett had 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
 
Cal State LA was 22-of-62 from the floor (35.5 percent) and made just 7-of-20 from 3-point range. Simon Fraser was 17-of-48 (35.4 percent), but made 11 of its 24 attempts from 3-point range. The Clan also had a big edge at the free throw line, where they made 26-of-35 attempts to just 9-of-17 for the Golden Eagles.
 
The game was a bit sloppy and the two teams combined for 54 turnovers, 30 of them by the visitors. Simon Fraser had a big edge on the boards, 48-32.
 
The Golden Eagles struggled right from the start and fell into a quick 12-2 hole. The Golden Eagles didn't score their first basket until a layup by Bree Parsons on an assist from Franeka Hall nearly five minutes into the first period.
 
Cal State LA trailed 15-6 after one quarter, but the Golden Eagles pulled to within 15-14 after a 3-pointer by Parsons, a layup by Parsons on an assist from Christine Delapina and a 3-pointer by Ali Orlich. Simon Fraser, though, then scored the next 13 points to take a 28-14 lead. The Clan took their biggest lead at 32-17 following a 3-pointer by Vanessa Gee.
 
Samantha Lee stopped the run with a 3-pointer and a three-point play by DiMarco got the Golden Eagles to within 10 points, 33-23, at halftime.
 
Cal State LA got five points each from DiMarco and Hall to pull to within 35-33 and a layup by DiMarco after a steal tied it at 35-35. Cal State LA took its only lead of the second half at 37-35 after a layup by DiMarco with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter. After a 3-pointer by Kett gave the Clan a 38-37 lead, DiMarco tied it with a free throw with 2:47 to go. Simon Fraser, though, scored the next four points and never trailed again.
 
Cal State LA trailed by only three, 42-39, entering the fourth quarter, but Simon Fraser scored the first nine points of the period and ultimately opened up a 54-40 lead after a 3-pointer by Homer.
 
The Golden Eagles made a strong push and got to within four points at 57-53 after a 3-pointer by Delapina with 3:13 to go, but Simon Fraser hit its free throws down the stretch to extend the winning margin.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a tournament game at California Baptist beginning at 2 p.m.