LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's women's basketball team was on the verge of another amazing come-from-behind victory until Cal State East Bay showed off its own late-game heroics in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest.
The Golden Eagles, after trailing by as many as 13 points, rallied to take the lead only to see the Pioneers hit a game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime and then go on to a stunning 61-57 win in University Gym. Cal State LA (9-10, 6-5 CCAA) lost its third straight game and fell for the first time in seven home games.
The Golden Eagles trailed 32-19 four minutes into the third quarter, but outscored the Pioneers 14-2 to head into the fourth quarter down by just one, 34-33.
Cal State LA took a 52-48 lead with one minute left after a layup by
Samantha Lee and maintained a 53-50 advantage after Lee made a free throw with eight seconds left. Cal State East Bay's Shomani Harris, though, drilled a long 3-pointer from straightaway with one second left to send the game into overtime.
The Golden Eagles never caught their stride in the overtime period and made only one basket in the final five minutes.
Cal State LA struggled offensively for most of the night and shot 35 percent (21-of-60) for the game while making only 4-of-27 from 3-point range (14.8 percent). The Golden Eagles also made just 11-of-23 from the free-throw line. Cal State East Bay (10-7, 7-3 CCAA) shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) and was 3-of-11 from 3-point range (27.3 percent). The Pioneers were 10-of-17 from the free-throw line.
The Golden Eagles heated up in the second half and shot 52.2 percent (12-of-23), but were just 1-of-6 in the overtime period. Cal State East Bay had a 44-36 rebounding edge and committed 19 turnovers to 14 for the Golden Eagles.
Rikke Fabricius had a team-high 21 points for the Golden Eagles, while Lee finished with 11 points.
Da'Jah Jackson and
Rachael DiRegolo had eight points each.
Harris had a game-high 29 points for the Pioneers, including the clutch game-tying 3-pointer. Bri Guillory had 13 points.
Mackenzie Barnes had five points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Cal State LA.
The Golden Eagles started slowly and missed all 11 of their 3-point attempts and made only eight baskets in the first half. Cal State LA was able to stay within striking distance after baskets by Barnes and DiRegolo made it 26-17 at halftime.
The Golden Eagles proceeded to fall behind by 13 points early in the third quarter and were still down by 12 points, 34-22, with four minutes left in the period. The Golden Eagles then went on an 11-0 run to close out the period and make it 34-33 entering the fourth. Jackson started the run with a basket, Barnes hit a free throw, Jackson hit a 3-pointer, Fabricius scored on a layup and Fabricius and Jackson combined to hit three free throws to end the quarter.
The Golden Eagles took their first lead since the first quarter after a Fabricius layup made it 35-34. A 3-pointer by Lee gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead, 38-34, with 8:36 to go. A 3-pointer by Fabricius broke a 38-38 tie with seven minutes to play and a game-tying layup by Jackson after a steal was followed by two DiRegolo free throws to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 50-48 with 1:48 to go. A layup by Lee made it 52-48 with one minute left, but Harris hit a pair of free throws to close the gap to two points and, after Lee hit one free throw, made the dramatic game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.
Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Cal State Monterey Bay.
