Box Score SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team had to battle through a tough evening before putting the finshing touches on its fourth straight victory.

The Golden Eagles shot just 33.9 percent, but ralled from a four-point deficit in the final two minutes of a 59-56 victory over Cal State San Marcos on Saturday night at Mira Costa College. Cal State LA (8-13, 6-9 CCAA) pulled into a tie for seventh place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with Cal Poly Pomona and is also just one game back of sixth-place Cal State San Bernardino. The top eight teams will qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament.

The win on Saturday night was a far cry from Tuesday's electrifying 98-92 overtime win over conference-leading Cal State Dominguez Hills that featured some amazing offense. The Golden Eagles and Cougars were locked in a defensive struggle where baskets were at a premium. In fact, after Christine Delapina tied the game with a layup with one minute to go, Cal State LA scored its final five points at the free-throw line.

Rikke Fabricius had 17 points and five rebounds to lead four Golden Eagles in double figures. Kiah Knox had 10 points and seven rebounds, while Bree Parsons had 10 points, including the go-ahead free throws that gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good at 56-54. Delapina finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two assists and had another strong performance down the stretch. Franeka Hall had a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with five points.

Ashley Ontiveros had a game-high 22 points for Cal State San Marcos (5-14, 3-11 CCAA). Savannah Camp had 11 points.

The Golden Eagles were 20-of-59 from the floor (33.9 percent), while the Cougars were just 17-of-51 (33.3 percent). Cal State LA was just 4-of-20 from 3-point range, while Cal State San Marcos was 9-of-28. The Golden Eagles were 15-19 from the free-throw line, including 5-of-6 in the waning seconds. Cal State San Marcos was 11-of-12.

Cal State LA had a 42-33 rebounding edge and committed 17 turnovers to 19 for the Cougars.

The Golden Eagles built a five-point lead late in the first quarter after a 3-pointer by Fabricius broke a 11-11 tie and two free throws by Hall made it 16-11. Cal State LA settled for a 16-14 lead after one period.

Cal State LA took its biggest lead of the game at 23-16 following a three-point play by Parsons, but Cal State San Marcos came roaring back and took a 29-27 halftime lead.

Cal State LA fell behind by as many as six points in the third quarter, 36-30, but a 3-pointer by Delapina cut the deficit to just one point, 42-41, before the Cougars scored late to take a 44-41 lead into the final quarter.

The Golden Eagles fell down by five points in the fourth quarter, 49-44, following a 3-pointer by Ontiveros, but two free throws by Parsons, a layup by Delapina and a layup by Ali Orlich following a steal by Parsons put the Golden Eagles in front, 50-49, with 3:59 to go. Another Ontiveros 3-pointer gave the Cougars a 54-50 lead with 2:11 remaining.

That's when Cal State LA buckled down. A Fabricius layup off a pass from Parsons made it 54-52 and a layup by Delapina tied it at 54-54 with one minute left. After a Cal State LA defensive stop, Parsons was fouled late in the shot clock and hit two free throws to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 56-54, with 13 seconds remaining. A Cal State San Marcos turnover was followed by two free throws by Delapina and a free throw by Fabricius put the game away.

Cal State LA will return to action next Saturday with a road game at Cal State Dominguez Hills.