LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's basketball team had a successful beginning to its 2024-25 home season with a victory over Concordia Wednesday night in University Gym.

The No. 23 Golden Eagles (3-0) raced out to a 30-15 lead after one quarter and went on to a 75-64 victory over the Concordia Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles shot 64.7 percent in the opening quarter, stretched their lead to 61-42 after three quarters and then fought through some bumpy moments in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Gabriella Rones scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range to lead the Golden Eagles, while Olivia Hodges posted the team's first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

Erika Maggard led Concordia (1-3) with a game-high 19 points, while Camryn Kiernan had 16 points and six rebounds.

Lily Buggs had nine points, eight rebounds and three assists for Cal State LA, while Amaya Fuentes had nine points and six rebounds and Ashari Cassell had nine points in 12 productive minutes.

Cal State LA shot 41.4 percent for the game (24-of-58) and was 10-of-23 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 17-of-20 from the free-throw line, led by Buggs, who was 9-of-10 and Hodges, who was 4-for-4. Concordia shot 34.4 percent (22-of-64) for the game and was 4-of-17 from 3-point range. Concordia was 16-of-19 from the free-throw line.

Cal State LA had a 40-37 rebounding edge and committed 20 turnovers to 21 for Concordia.

The Golden Eagles started quickly and erased a 5-3 deficit with a 10-0 run that featured a 3-pointer by Rones, an offensive rebound basket by Hodges, a layup by Sofia Fidelus and another 3-pointer by Rones.

Concordia got to within 13-10, but back-back 3-pointers by Rones extended the lead to 19-10 and five straight points by Ronyae Jackson gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead at 24-13 and was part of a quarter-ending 11-2 run that gave them a 30-15 lead after one period.

Cal State LA led by double-digits for all of the second quarter and took a 42-28 lead at halftime on a late steal and layup by Asiasi.

The Golden Eagles led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter, 59-37 after a 9-0 run fueled by a 3-pointer by Rones, four straight points by Hodges and a layup by Fidelus. Cal State LA led 61-42 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Golden Eagles lost their bearings a bit in the fourth quarter and Concordia sliced a 65-45 deficit with 7:26 to go down to just seven points, 69-62, with 2:10 to go. Buggs, though, hit six straight free throws to push the lead back to 75-62 in the final minutes.

Cal State LA will return to action with another home game on Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Azusa Pacific.