LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team got off to a good start Tuesday night against PacWest Conference favorite Azusa Pacific, but the Golden Eagles were unable to finish well.

The Golden Eagles raced out to a 24-19 lead after one quarter, but cooled off dramatically over the final three quarters and fell to the Cougars, 93-70, in their home opener in University Gym. Cal State LA (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season, while Azusa Pacific (2-1) won its second straight after dropping its season opener.

Nicole Flennaugh had 26 points to lead the Golden Eagles, while Ashley Orozco and Jada Johnson had eight points each.

The Golden Eagles, though, had no answer for Azusa Pacific's TyLee Manuel, who poured in a game-high 31 points and made 13-of-14 field-goal attempts and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Paige Uyehara had 18 points and 12 assists for the Cougars.

Lily Buggs, who was named CCAA Player of the Week earlier in the day, had six points, six rebounds and four assists, while Yesenia Smith, Nevaeh Asiasi and Amaya Fuentes had five points each.

The Golden Eagles shot 58.8 percent in the first quarter, but only 32 percent in the second quarter, 26 percent in the third quarter and 13.6 percent in the fourth.

The game turned around in the third quarter when the Cougars shot 80 percent (12-of-15), including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, while the Golden Eagles managed only 5-of-19 shooting and 2-of-8 from 3-point range. Azusa Pacific outscored Cal State LA, 33-14, in the period and extended a 44-41 halftime lead to 77-55 after three quarters. In fact, after Flennaugh tied the game at 44-44 early in the third period, Azusa Pacific outscored the Golden Eagles, 33-11, over the remainder of the period.

For the game, Cal State LA shot 31.1 percent (23-of-74) and was 9-of-29 from 3-point range. Azusa Pacific shot 47.2 percent (34-of-72) and was 10-of-28 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 15-of-19 from the free-throw line, while the Cougars were 15-of-17. Cal State LA had a 48-43 rebounding edge and committed 14 turnovers to just seven for the Cougars.

Things looked promising for the Golden Eagles in the first period as they opened up a 16-8 lead after a basket by Johnson and took a 19-11 lead after a 3-pointer by Asiasi. After the Cougars went on an 8-0 run to tie it, a 3-pointer by Flennaugh and a basket by Orozco gave the Golden Eagles a 24-19 lead after one period.

Cal State LA fell behind by as many as 11 points in the second quarter at 40-29, but a pair of free throws by Buggs and five straight points by Flennaugh made it 44-41 at halftime.

Flennaugh hit another 3-pointer to tie the game at 44-44, but the Cougars went on a 20-6 run to open up a 64-50 lead and eventually enjoyed a 33-8 run before a 3-pointer by Yesenia Smith made it 77-75 after three periods.

Cal State LA will return to action next Wednesday with a road game at UC Riverside at 6 p.m.