BELLINGHAM, WASH. -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team opened its 2023-24 season with an impressive victory on the opening day of the Veterans Day Classic hosted by Western Washington.

The Golden Eagles poured in 23 points in the opening quarter and went on to a 79-54 win over Seattle Pacific Friday night on the WECU Court at Carver Gym. Cal State LA (1-0) led by 14 points at halftime and 20 points after three quarters to post the win over the Falcons (0-1).

Nicole Flennaugh led the Golden Eagles with 18 points, while Lily Buggs had 16 points and six rebounds. Cal State LA had great balance in the game and had 10 players score.

Schuyler Berry had 11 points and Olivia Mayer had 10 points for Seattle Pacific.

Gabriella Rones had nine points via three 3-pointers in her Cal State LA debut, while another newcomer, Donja Payne, had eight points and nine rebounds. Yet another newcomer, Alicia Jones, also had eight points in her debut for the Golden Eagles. Sophomore Amaya Fuentes had nine rebounds to go along with four points, while Nevaeh Asiasi had seven points and Ashley Orozco had six points. 

Cal State LA shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) for the game and was 10-of-23 from 3-point range. Flennaugh had four 3-pointers, Rones had three and Jones hit both of her attempts. The Golden Eagles were also 19-of-21 from the free-throw line. Seattle Pacific shot just 31 percent (18-of-58) and was just 1-off-18 from 3-point range. The Falcons were 17-of-28 from the free-throw line.

Seattle Pacific had a 42-38 rebounding edge and Cal State LA committed 19 turnovers compared to 24 for Seattle Pacific.

Flennaugh opened the game with a 3-pointer and scored the team's first five points and the Golden Eagles got a pair of free throws from Buggs and a steal and two free throws from Orozco to break a 12-12 tie. A 3-pointer by Rones opened up a 21-14 lead for the Golden Eagles and they settled for a 23-17 lead after one period.

Buggs hit three free throws and Fuentes scored on an offensive rebound to give the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead at 31-20 and a Flennaugh 3-pointer pushed the lead to 36-22. A pair of free throws by Payne gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the first half, 42-26, and they settled for a 42-28 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles led by double-digit margins for the entire second half and got a 3-pointer by Flennaugh, a steal and layup by Buggs and a layup by Sofia Fidelus to close out the third quarter with a 62-42 lead.

Two free throws each by Flennaugh and Asiasi and a basket by Jones gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead at 79-53.

Cal State LA will conclude the tournament with a game against tournament host Western Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m.