LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team closed out its regular season with a big California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.
The Golden Eagles shot 54.4 percent and recorded an 83-61 victory over Chico State on Saturday in the Eagles Nest. Cal State LA (10-16, 8-12 CCAA) remained in eighth place in the conference and earned the No. 8 seed for the CCAA Championship Tournament. The Golden Eagles will face No. 1 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills on Tuesday in Carson in a first-round game. The semi-finals and finals will be held in Stockton on March 4-5.
Cal State LA went 6-3 over its final nine games to surge into its playoff position. One of those wins was a 98-92 overtime win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Eagles Nest on Feb. 2. The Toros won the rematch in Carson, 78-70, on Feb. 13.
Cal State LA used a balanced scoring attack to beat Chico State (10-16, 5-15 CCAA) on Saturday.
Franeka Hall had 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles, while
Bree Parsons had 16 points and four assists.
Christine Delapina had 13 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals,
Kiah Knox had 12 points and six rebounds and
Rikke Fabricius had 10 points, three rebounds and four assists.
Chico State got a game-high 20 points from Whitney Branham and 14 points and five rebounds from Natalie Valenzuela.
Cal State LA shot 54.4 percent (31-of-57) and knocked down 8-of-17 attempts from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were also 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Chico State was held to 35 percent shooting (21-of-60) and was just 5-of-15 from 3-point range. The Wildcats were 14-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Cal State LA held a 35-33 rebounding edge and committed 26 turnovers to 23 for the Wildcats.
Cal State LA started quickly and opened up a 10-4 lead after a 3-pointer by Parsons. Chico State was able to cut the deficit to one point, but never could overtake the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles led 22-20 after one quarter and opened up a 16-point lead at 42-26, before settling for a 44-35 halftime lead on a late layup by Delapina.
A three-point lead by Knox gave the Golden Eagles a 55-35 lead midway through the third quarter and Cal State LA took a 65-47 lead into the final quarter.
A layup by
Ali Orlich gave the Golden Eagles a 72-51 lead with 5:44 to go and the Golden Eagles led comfortably the rest of the way.
Cal State LA honored its five seniors -
Ali Orlich,
Bree Parsons,Â
Franeka Hall,
Kiah Knox andÂ
Geena Greene - in pregame ceremonies.
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