ELLENSBURG, WA -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team got off to a promising start against the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's favorite, but the Golden Eagles were unable to earn a desired result.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a five-point lead in the opening quarter, but Alaska Anchorage was too much in the second half and rallied for a 77-50 victory on the final day of the Wildcat Crossover Challenge in Central Washington's Nicholson Pavilion. Cal State LA (0-2) had difficulty on offense in its two games against top GNAC competition.
Cal State LA shot just 28.1 percent overall and just 19 percent from 3-point range and that once again was the story of the game. Alaska Anchorage (3-0) shot 46.9 percent for the game, including 53.1 percent in the second half. Cal State LA held its own on the boards, being out-rebounded by only two, 40-38, and the Golden Eagles committed 16 turnovers to 14 for the Wildcats. The cold shooting, though, was too much to overcome.
Christine Delapina led the Golden Eagles with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while
Mackenzie Barnes had nine points and three rebounds.
Hannah Wandersee had 16 points, three rebounds and four assists for Alaska Anchorage.
Madison Adams had eight points for the Golden Eagles, while
Rebeccah DiRegolo had seven points and eight rebounds.Chiderah Uzowuru hit both of her shots and had five points.
Cal State LA started well and opened up a five-point lead at 12-7 after a layup by DiRegolo and a 3-pointer by Barnes. Alaska Anchorage hit back-to-back 3-pointers to take a one-point lead, but a jumper by Adams gave the Golden Eagles a 14-13 lead after one quarter.
A jumper by Barnes gave the Golden Eagles their final lead, 20-19, with five minutes to go in the second quarter, but Alaska Anchorage 13-3 run to take a 32-23 halftime lead.
Cal State LA was outscored, 45-27, in the second half.
Cal State LA will play its home opener against another GNAC team, Northwest Nazarene, on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
