ANCHORAGE, ALASKA -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team got its 2016-17 season underway with a loss against the defending national runners-up.

The Golden Eagles fought back to trail by just five points by the end of the first quarter, but managed only 26 points over the final three quarters of an 84-41 loss to Alaska Anchorage. Cal State LA (0-1) was facing an Alaska Anchorage (1-0) program that reached the NCAA Division II title game a year ago and is ranked No. 10 in the country.

Marina LaPuzza had nine points and four rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Christine Delapina had eight points and four assists. Karina Moreno also had eight points.

Autummn Williams and Shelby Clonginger had 15 points each to lead four Alaska Anchorage players in double figures. Kaitlyn Hurley had 13 points and Kiki Robertson had 10 points.

Madison Adams and Rachael DiRegolo had seven points each and Rikke Fabricious had two points.

Cal State LA was 15-of-45 from the floor, while Alaska Anchorage was 32-of-70. The Golden Eagles were 7-of-19 from 3-point range and Alaska Anchorage was 11-of-27. The Golden Eagles were 4-of-6 from the free-throw line and the hosts were 9-of-13.

Cal State LA was outrebounded, 40-28, and committed 27 turnovers to just 12 for Alaska Anchorage.

The Golden Eagles allowed the first nine points of the game and trailed for the remainder of the contest. DiRegolo scored the first basket of the season for the Golden Eagles with an assist from Delapina and a 3-pointer by Marina made it 14-7. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Adams and LaPuzza brought the Golden Eagles to within 18-15 late in the first period and they trailed, 20-15, entering the second quarter.

Alaska Anchorage opened the second period by scoring the first 12 points to take control of the game. A 3-pointer by LaPuzza stopped the run to make it 32-18 and Cal State LA trailed 39-22 at halftime.

Cal State LA will complete its Alaska trip with a game at Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday at 3 p.m.