AZUSA -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team came up with the big plays down the stretch to post an impressive road victory at No. 24 Azusa Pacific.

Donja Payne scored off an assist from Alicia Jones to break a 75-75 tie in the final minute and Lily Buggs got a steal and hit two free throws to seal a 79-75 victory over the Cougars at the Felix Event Center. Cal State LA (3-1) continued its strong start to the season with its second road win over a 2023 NCAA Tournament Team in as many contests. The Golden Eagles beat Central Washington last Tuesday in Ellensberg, Washington, 90-77. The Golden Eagles' only loss this season was an overtime defeat at another tournament team from 2023, Western Washington.

Nicole Flennaugh had a sensational game, pouring in a game-high 25 points while playing all 40 minutes. She was 8-of-13 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and pushed her California Collegiate Athletic Association all-time record to 268.

Jones had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Buggs was outstanding in the fourth quarter and finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.Payne had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Paige Uyehara and Kelly Heimburger had 21 points for Azusa Pacific (4-3), which opened the season with wins over CCAA contenders Cal State San Marcos and Cal Poly Pomona.

Ashley Orozco had four points and five assists in 11 highly-productive minutes, Gabriella Rones had five points and Nevaeh Asiasi and Amaya Fuentes had four points each.

Cal State LA shot 46 percent for the game (29-of-63) and made 7-of-13 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles also knocked down 14-of-15 from the free-throw line. Azusa Pacific shot 35.7 percent (25-of-70) and was 11-of-32 from 3-point range. The Cougars were 14-of-18 from the free-throw line.

Azusa Pacific held a slim 41-39 rebounding edge and each team had 13 turnovers.

The competitive contest had 10 ties and 13 lead changes, several of them in the fourth period. Neither team led by more than eight points.

Cal State LA started well and took a 17-11 lead after a 3-pointer by Flennaugh before settling for a 17-16 lead after the first quarter. A 3-pointer by Rones gave the Golden Eagles a 32-26 lead in the second quarter, but the Cougars went on a 16-4 run to open up a 42-36 lead before taking a 42-38 halftime lead.

A jumper by Flennaugh put the Golden Eagles ahead, 57-56, and a pair of free throws by Rones gave the Golden Eagles a 59-56 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

A steal and layup by Buggs and a 3-pointer by Flennaugh gave the Golden Eagles a 64-58 lead early in the fourth quarter and a 3-pointer by Buggs gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead at 67-59 with eight minutes to go. Cal State LA would never trail after that, but the Cougars came to tie it three times, the final time at 75-75 with one minute remaining. Payne then gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good with a basket off a Jones assist with 47 seconds left. 

After Payne rebounded an Azusa Pacific miss, the Cougars got the ball back after a Cal State LA turnover, only to have Buggs put the game away with a steal and two free throws with six seconds to go.

Cal State LA will return to action in its CCAA opener at Cal State San Marcos on Thursday, Nov. 30.