AZUSA -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team put itself in position for a major regional victory Tuesday night, but just couldn't pull it off down the stretch.

The Golden Eagles led No. 7 Azusa Pacific by five points with 2:38 to go, but the Cougars closed the game with a 9-1 run to earn a 63-58 win in the Felix Event Center. Cal State LA (0-3) has had fourth-quarter leads in all three games this season, but is still looking for its first win. Azusa Pacific (3-0), which is ranked seventh in the nation by the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Kayla Shaw in the final minute that broke a 58-58 tie.

The Golden Eagles led by as many as seven points in the first half and held a 57-52 lead after a basket by Jada Johnson with 2:38 to go. A Johnson free throw gave the Golden Eagles a 58-54 lead with 1:49 remaining, but Azusa Pacific scored the final seven points of the game.

Johnson had an outstanding game for the Golden Eagles and hauled down 21 rebounds, which is tied for No. 2 all-time at Cal State LA with Charmaine Utz, who accomplished the feat in 2005. The program record is 25 by Ruth Smith.

Lily Buggs had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Golden Eagles and recorded her second double-double in three games. Nicole Flennaugh had 16 points.

Shaw had a team-high 14 points for the Cougars.

Yesenia Smith had a strong game for the Golden Eagles and contributed seven points.

Cal State LA was 23-of-74 overall for the game (31.1 percent) and 6-of-28 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles, though, struggled from behind the arc in the second half, making only 1-of-11 attempts. The Golden Eagles were 6-of-12 from the free-throw line. Cal State LA had a 49-43 rebounding edge, led by Johnson, and committed 16 turnovers to 18 for the Cougars.

The Golden Eagles started well and got back-to-back 3-pointers from Flennaugh to build a 17-12 lead after one quarter. Cal State LA grabbed its biggest lead at 19-12 after a teal and basket by Buggs to open the second quarter. After the Cougars took the lead, a 3-pointer by Smith, a layup by Buggs, a pair of free throws by Smith and a later 3-pointer by Buggs gave the Golden Eagles a 29-23 lead late in the half. Azusa Pacific, though, was able to slice the lead to 29-27 by halftime.

The Golden Eagles maintained a 46-45 lead entering the fourth quarter and a 3-pointer by Flennaugh and a basket by Smith gavve them a 51-46 lead. A basket by Roya Smith gave the Golden Eagles a 53-48 lead with five minutes to play and Johnson's basket gave them a 57-52 lead with 2:38 to go before Azusa Pacific embarked on its late-game surge.

Cal State LA will return to action next Tuesday with a road game at Biola.