LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team saw its hopes for a trip to the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament take a big hit on Friday.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed almost wire to wire and fell to Cal State East Bay, 66-53, Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (9-12, 8-9 CCAA) lost its fourth straight game and fell two games behind Cal State East Bay (15-8, 10-7 CCAA) in the battle for sixth place in the conference. The top six teams qualify for the CCAA Tournament.
 
The win was a big one for Cal State East Bay and a memorable one as well. Head coach Suzy Barcomb picked up her 300^th win at a collegiate head coach.
 
Cal State L.A. struggled throughout and shot just 36.8 percent (21-of-57). The Golden Eagles were also just 7-of-14 from the free-throw line and committed 23 turnovers to 15 for the Pioneers. Cal State East Bay had a slim 41-40 rebounding edge.
 
The Golden Eagles were also just 4-of-19 from 3-point range.
 
Chiara DiMarco had 14 points and four rebounds for the Golden Eagles, but she was the only player to reach double figures. Shanice Jackson had eight points and Samantha Lee had seven points. Aiwekhoe Okungbowa had six points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
 
Tori Breshers had a game-high 21 points, five rebounds and four blocks for the Pioneers. Stephanie Lopez added 16 points.
 
Cal State L.A. was tied only once – at 2-2 – and never led in the game. A 3-pointer by DiMarco pulled the Golden Eagles to within 17-15 late in the first half and a steal by Bree Parsons and layup by Kaija Powell kept the Golden Eagles within 24-20. A late basket by Parsons made it 27-22 at halftime.
 
A jumper to open the half by DiMarco made it 27-24 and a 3-pointer by Jackson made it 31-27, but the Pioneers scored the next seven points to take an 11-point lead, 38-27, with 16 minutes to go and were never seriously challenged after that. A 3-pointer by Ali Orlich and a basket by Okungbowa got the Golden Eagles to within six points at 40-34, but Cal State East Bay scored nine straight points to take its biggest lead of the game.
 
Cal State L.A. never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Cal State Monterey Bay.