LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball claimed what was probably its most physical victory of the season in a tight California Collegiate Athletic Association battle with Cal Poly Pomona.

Bruised and bloodied, the Golden Eagles came up big down the stretch and edged the Broncos, 51-48, Saturday night in University Gym. Cal State LA (9-7, 6-2 CCAA) pulled into sole possession of second place in the conference, one game back of first-place UC San Diego. 

It was a contentious game with three technical fouls issued, one on each coach and another on a Cal Poly Pomona player. The game was hard-fought throughout with neither team able to build a double-digit lead. Cal State LA, which led for most of the game, had the lead for almost 30 minutes, while Cal Poly Pomona led for just 2:48. The game was tied for seven minutes.

Da'Jah Jackson led the Golden Eagles with 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:07 to go that gave Cal State LA the lead for good, 47-45. Jackson was then bloodied after being struck in the face after getting the ball with 46 seconds left after a defensive stop and Karina Moreno came in off the bench and calmly sank both free throws to make it 49-45. Cal Poly Pomona's Casey McWilliam hit a clutch 3-pointer to make it a one-point game with 36 seconds to play, but Christine Delapina hit a free throw for Cal State LA to make it 50-48. Rebeccah DiRegolo then made the defensive play of the game, making a steal inside in the waning seconds. She got the ball to Delapina, who was fouled and made one free throw to finish the scoring. She missed the second free throw, but Cal Poly Pomona was unable to get a final shot at the basket.

Cal State LA shot just 27.8 percent yet was able to win the game. The Golden Eagles were just 15-of-54 from the floor and 7-of-32 from 3-point range. Cal Poly Pomona shot 40.9 percent (18-of-44), but was just 4-of-15 from 3-point range. One of the biggest differences in the game came from the free-throw line, where Cal State LA was 14-of-20, while Cal Poly Pomona was just 8-of-20.

Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 45-31, but did a much better job controlling the ball, having just nine turnovers to 23 for Cal Poly Pomona.

Delapina finished with 16 points and five rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Samantha Lee had five points and two assists.

Priscilla Brooks had 10 points and 14 rebounds for Cal Poly Pomona (7-7, 5-3 CCAA), while Jordyn Shane had nine points and six rebounds.

Mackenzie Barnes had a team-high 12 rebounds for the Golden Eagles and battled admirably against taller competition.

The Golden Eagles scored the first six points of the game on 3-pointers by Jackson and Delapina, but those were the only baskets of the first quarter and the teams were tied at 6-6 after one. The Golden Eagles took their biggest lead of the game, 21-12, after a 3-pointer by Jackson with 3:26 remaining in the second quarter. Cal State LA settled for a 21-20 halftime lead.

A three-point play by Shane gave the Broncos a 27-25 midway through the third quarter, but Cal State LA tied it at 27-27 and then took a 29-27 lead after a layup by Jackson. Cal State LA took a 33-30 lead into the final quarter after a layup by DiRegolo.

All three technical fouls were issued with 4:53 to play and Cal State LA nursing a 40-38 lead. Lee hit one of the free throws for the Golden Eagles to make it 41-38 and a 3-pointer by Delapina stretched the lead to six points, 44-38, with 3:27 to go. The Broncos then scored the next seven points and took the lead on a layup by Brooks with 1:38 left, but Jackson's 3-pointer with 1:07 left put the Golden Eagles ahead for good.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a road game at Chico State.