SAN DIEGO -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team rallied to send its game against California Baptist into overtime, but the Golden Eagles were not rewarded for their extra effort.
The Golden Eagles got a game-tying 3-pointer from
Christine Delapina late in regulation, but were outscored, 16-6, in overtime and fell to the Lancers, 79-69, in the Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Point Loma in Golden Gym. Cal State LA (2-6) lost both of its games in the tournament against PacWest Conference competition.
Rebeccah DiRegolo had a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds for Cal State LA, while Delapina had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Kassie Krueger had a season-high 10 points.
Tori Mitchell had a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for California Baptist (3-4), while Lexy Ram had 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Neele Steinort had a season-high eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while
Rikke Fabricius had a team-high 13 rebounds and four assists.
Cal State LA shot 32.9 percent for the game (25-of-76) and knocked down 4-of-16 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 15-of-21 from the free-throw line. California Baptist shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) and was 4-of-14 from 3-point range. The Lancers were 19-of-24 from the free-throw line, including 9-of-10 in overtime.
The Golden Eagles started quickly and built a 15-6 lead after a basket by
Alyssa Fisher with three minutes left in the first quarter. The Golden Eagles settled for a 21-15 lead after one period and were still ahead, 30-28, at halftime. A pair of free throws by DiRegolo gave Cal State LA the halftime lead.
The third quarter was tight throughout with neither team owning more than a four-point edge. An offensive rebound and basket by
Chiderah Uzowuru tied it at 46-46 late in the period, but California Baptist took a 48-46 lead into the fourth.
The Golden Eagles trailed by five points halfway through the period, but a 3-pointer by Steinort and a free throw by DiRegolo cut the deficit to 57-56. A jumper by DiRegolo gave the Golden Eagles a brief 58-57 lead with three minutes remaining and another basket by DiRegolo pulled the Golden Eagles to within 61-60 in the final minute. After the Lancers hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left, Delapina hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
A three-point play by Delapina cut a six-point California Baptist lead to 72-69 with 1:10 remaining, but the Lancers were 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final minute to extend their winning margin.
Cal State LA will resume California Collegiate Athletic Association play on Friday with a road game at San Francisco State.