LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team clinched a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament with another fantastic home victory.

The Golden Eagles turned in an outstanding fourth-quarter performance to turn away Stanislaus State, 78-69, in a big conference game at University Gym. Cal State LA (12-11, 11-6 CCAA) guaranteed itself a spot in the six-team conference tournament with the victory and kept its hold on third place in the conference standings with two games remaining.

Cal State LA will making its first CCAA Tournament appearance since 2018 and will be at the championship site for the first time since 2014. Cal State LA reached the tournament three straight years from 2016-18, but lost first-round matchups on campus sites in each of those seasons.

The CCAA reduced the tournament field to six teams this year with the top two teams in the conference earning first-round byes. The tournament will be hosted by Cal Poly Humboldt on March 3-5.

Nicole Flennaugh led the Golden Eagles on Saturday with 21 points, all coming on seven 3-pointers. Anai Washington had 11 points and 12 rebounds and Raya Smith had 11 points and six assists. 

Liliana Marques had 21 points to lead Stanislaus State (12-9, 7-8 CCAA), while Joia Armstrong had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Jada Johnson had 11 rebounds to go along with six points for the Golden Eagles, while Iyanna Lamb and Yesenia Smith had nine points each. 

The game was a spirited contest that featured big swings of momentum. Cal State LA scored the first 13 points of the game, only to see Stanislaus State fight back and eventually take a 12-point lead late in third period. The Warriors led by three points entering the fourth period, but the Golden Eagles had a 25-13 edge in the fourth quarter to take the game.

Cal State LA shot just 34.3 percent for the game (24-of-70), but made 12-of-25 from 3-point range (48 percent). Stanislaus State shot 49 percent for the game (28-of-57) and made 9-of-19 from 3-point range. Cal State LA  was 18-of-23 from the free-throw line, including 8-of-11 in the fourth quarter, while Stanislaus State was just 4-of-7. Cal State LA had a 42-36 rebounding edge and committed only 13 turnovers to 22 for Stanislaus State.

The Golden Eagles got off to a roaring start and scored the first 13 points of the game. Alyssa Fisher, who was honored as the team's lone senior in pre-game ceremonies, hit a 3-pointer to open the game and that was followed by a layup by Raya Smith, back-to-back 3-pointers by Flennaugh and a pair of free throws by Buggs before Ashmeen Sran hit a 3-pointer to get the Warriors on the board.

A basket by Johnson gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the game at 18-4, but the Warriors got themselves on track and cut the margin to 24-15 after one quarter.

The Warriors took their first lead of the game on a layup by Armstrong that made it 30-29, but Flennaugh hit another 3-pointer to put the Golden Eagles back in the lead. The Golden Eagles moved out to a 36-33 lead, but Taylor Pilot hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to tie the game at halftime, 36-36.

Stanislaus State kept its momentum going in the third quarter and used an 18-6 run to open up a 54-42 lead with 3:22 remaining in the period. Cal State LA, though, then showed its resolve and Flennaugh hit a pair of 3-pointers to spark an 11-2 quarter-closing run that made it 56-53 entering the final period.

Stanislaus State led for the last time at 53-62 following a 3-pointer by Marques, but that was answered by a steal by Flennaugh that led to a three-point play by Raya Smith to give Cal State LA the lead. Another 3-pointer by Flennaugh gave the Golden Eagles a 68-63 edge, but Marques answered with a 3-pointer to slice the lead to 68-64.

Raya Smith, though, scored on another layup to make it 70-66  and then hit a pair of free throws after being fouled on a fastbreak to make it 72-66. Marques hit another 3-pointer to make it 72-69, but Smith hit two more free throws to extend the lead to 74-69 and Buggs made a steal, was fouled and hit both free throws to make it 76-69 with one minute remaining.

Cal State LA will conclude the regular-season with two road games next week beginning with a contest at Cal Poly Humboldt on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

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