LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team appeared to be in position for its first victory of the season, but Cal State Monterey Bay dramatically turned the tide as time ran out.
The Golden Eagles had the lead with one second remaining, but the Otters converted a three-point play at the buzzer to stun Cal State LA, 71-70, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in University Gym. Cal State LA (0-4, 0-1 CCAA) had taken a 70-68 lead on a three-point play by
Rikke Fabricius with nine seconds to go and forced a missed shot by the Otters and grabbed the rebound with one second left. A jump ball was called, though, giving the Otters possession under the Cal State LA basket.
After a first attempt was kicked out of bounds, the Otters made their second try count as Christine Golfo hit a running layup at the buzzer and was fouled and, standing alone at the free throw line, hit the free throw with no time left on the clock to give Cal State Monterey Bay (2-2, 1-0 CCAA) the improbable win.
Fabricius had a big game for the Golden Eagles, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Christine Delapina had 17 points and seven assists, while
Madison Adams had 14 points and six rebounds.
Aubri Smith had 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Cal State Monterey Bay, while Emily Hardin had 12 points and the inbounds pass to Golfo for the game-winner.
Mackenzie Barnes had three points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles.
Cal State LA shot 43.4 percent for the game (23-of-53) and was 6-of-24 from 3-point range. Cal State Monterey Bay shot 46.8 percent (29-of-62) and hit 4-of-12 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 18-of-27 from the free-throw line, while the Otters were 9-of-12. Cal State LA had a 39-30 rebounding edge and committed 12 turnovers to nine for the Otters.
Cal State LA trailed for most of the game and was down by 12 points, 47-35, midway through the third period.
The Golden Eagles were still down by eight points, 63-55, with four minutes to go when
Alyssa Fisher hit three free throws to start a 10-2 run that tied the game at 65-65 and was completed when Fabricius hit two free throws with two minutes to go. Smith hit a go-ahead 3-pointer for the Otters, but a layup by Delpina cut the margin to one and Fabricius' three-play gave the Golden Eagles their brief two-point edge.
Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a game against Cal State East Bay.