LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball pushed the defending regular-season California Collegiate Athletic Association champions, but Cal State San Marcos was up to the task.

The Golden Eagles trailed by only four points at halftime and made repeated charges in the second half, but the Cougars were able to withstand the pushes and recorded a 76-70 win Monday night in University Gym. Cal State LA (5-4, 3-2 CCAA) had a three-game winning streak snapped, while Cal State San Marcos (8-1, 5-0 CCAA) remained unbeaten in conference play.

Tiara Scott, in her Cal State LA debut, was sensational on Monday, scoring 14 points with two rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes of action. Silivia Fonongaloa had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Kelsey Forrester had a game-high 22 points for the Cougars, while Kate Carlson had a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Lily Buggs had 11 points and six rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Raya Smith had 11 points, five assists and three steals.

Cal State LA shot 41.7 percent for the game (25-of-60) and was just 2-of-6 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 18-of-29 from the free-throw line and made just 7-of-15 from the line in the fourth quarter, which hurt their comeback bid. Cal State San Marcos shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) and was 10-of-22 from 3-point range. The Cougars were also 16-of-22 from the line.

Cal State LA had a 38-35 rebounding edge and committed 16 turnovers to 15 for the Cougars.

The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as nine points in the first quarter, but closed to within 19-12 after a pair of free throws by Scott late in the period. 

Cal State LA got a 3-pointer from Scott, an offensive rebound and basket by Olivia Hodges and a layup by Raya Smith to tie it at 19-19, but the Cougars went on a 9-2 run and never relinquished the lead. A 3-pointer by Buggs cut the deficit to 28-24 and a layup by Nevaeh Asiasi made it 30-27 and the Golden Eagles got another layup from Asiasi to make it 34-30 at halftime.

A jumper by Asiasi made it 34-32 early in the the third period and a steal and layup by Raya Smith made it 36-34, but Cal State San Marcos responded with an 8-0 run to open up a double-digit lead at 44-34. The Golden Eagles had to fight an uphill battle the rest of the way.

A basket by Fonongaloa made it 46-42, a pair of free throws by Scott made it 48-44 and a pair of free throws by Hodges got the Golden Eagles within 50-47, but the Cougars closed the period with a 7-2 run to take a 57-49 lead into the fourth.

Nicole Flennaugh hit a jumper to open the period to make it 57-51 and an offensive rebound by Fonongaloa made it 64-58 with 4:37 to go, but the Cougars scored the next seven points to put the game out of reach.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday, Dec. 30, with a non-conference home game against Point Loma at 1 p.m.