LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball took a long and winding journey to get to its first home game of the season, but the Golden Eagles made sure the wait was worth it.

The Golden Eagles, who played their first seven games plus two exhibition contests away from home, finally returned to University Gym and beat Cal State Monterey Bay, 81-53, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest Thursday night. Cal State LA (5-3, 2-1 CCAA) built a 26-15 lead by the end of the first quarter and led 53-25 at halftime. The game was played at a frenetic pace in the first half before settling down a bit in the second half. 

Nicole Flennaugh led the Golden Eagles with 21 points in 29 minutes of playing time and was a proficient 5-of-7 from 3-point range. She also had two assists and three steals. Gabriella Rones also reached double figures with 13 points in 19 minutes. Flennaugh and Rones combined to go 12-of-18 for the game and were 8-of-12 from 3-point range.

Amelia Smith had eight points for Cal State Monterey Bay (1-6, 0-3 CCAA), while Deyliana Lewis had seven points.

A total of 29 players from the two teams got playing time -- 15 for the Otters and 14 for the Golden Eagles. All 14 players scored for Cal State LA.

Donja Payne had seven points and a season-high 15 rebounds, while Lily Buggs had five points, six assists and 12 rebounds. Ashley Orozco and Anai Washington had five points each.

Cal State LA shot 39.7 percent for the game (29-of-73) and was 11-of-28 from 3-point range. Cal State Monterey Bay shot 31.1 percent (19-fo-61) and was 5-of-22 from 3-point range. Neither team shot well from the free-throw line. The Golden Eagles were 12-off-21 and the Otters were 10-of-23. Cal State LA enjoyed a 61-35 rebounding edge and committed 16 turnovers to 19 for Cal State Monterey Bay.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Flennaugh and Rones staked the Golden Eagles to a quick 10-2 lead and a 3-pointer by Amaya Fuentes and a basket by Rones gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead at 15-4. A 3-pointer by Flennaugh gave the Golden Eagles their biggest of the period at 26-12 and they settled for a 26-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Two jumpers by Ronyae Jackson and a 3-pointer by Rones gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the first half at 45-19 and they had a 53-35 lead at halftime.

Cal State LA increased its margin in the final two quarters and took its biggest lead at 78-45 after a free throw by Iyanna Lamb with three minutes to go.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a home game against Stanislaus State.



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