SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start on the road in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game at Cal State San Marcos.

The Golden Eagles were just 2-of-17 from the floor in the first quarter and trailed the rest of the way in a 75-66 loss to the Cougars on Thursday. Cal State LA (9-14, 7-10 CCAA) remain in a tie for ninth place in the conference, two games back of eighth-place Humboldt State. The top eight teams qualify for the CCAA Tournament. Cal State San Marcos (19-4, 14-4 CCAA) remains one game back of first-place UC San Diego.

Sydney Bordonaro had 21 points for the Golden Eagles, while Nicole Flennaugh and Yesenia Smith had 10 points each. 

Emma Forel had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Cougars, while Chloe Eackles had 18 points.

Alyssa Fisher had eight points and six rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Cal State LA shot just 33.3 percent for the game (24-of-72) and was 8-of-23 from 3-point range. Cal State San Marcos shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) and was 8-of-20 from 3-point range. Cal State LA had a 42-39 rebounding edge and committed only seven turnovers to nine for the Cougars.

The Golden Eagles tied the game at 2-2 after a basket by Fisher, but the Cougars scored the next five points and led the rest of the way.

The Golden Eagles trailed, 14-7, after one quarter and 38-26, at halftime. Cal State LA trailed by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter before embarking in a hard-fought comeback 

A 3-pointer by Bordonaro, a pair of free throws by Mackenzie Barnes and a basket by Fisher closed the gap to 55-41 after three quarters. 

A basket by Smith, a 3-pointer by Flennaugh and a 3-pointer by Bordonaro got the Golden Eagles to within 66-58 with three minutes to play, but that's as close as the Golden Eagles would get.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a game at first-place UC San Diego at 5:30 p.m.