LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team made the plays it had to make at the end of an exciting win over Central Washington on Thursday.

The Golden Eagles got a go-ahead 3-pointer from Amaya Fuentes with 59 seconds to go and got a final defensive stop on Central Washington's final possession to post a big 71-68 win in University Gym. Cal State LA (7-1), which is ranked 24th in the nation in the D2 College Sports Communicators national poll and receiving votes in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's rankings, posted a win over Central Washington, which is ranked 24th in the nation by the WBCA, for a second straight season.

Lily Buggs led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds and five assists, while Fuentes had 13 points and five rebounds. Sofia Fidelus also had 13 points.

Sunny Huerta poured in a game-high 28 points to lead the Wildcats (7-2). She scored or assisted on Central Washington's first 15 points. Asher Cai had 14 points and four assists. 

Gabriella Rones had 12 points and five assists for the Golden Eagles, while Ronyae Jackson had nine points.

Cal State LA shot 44.6 percent for the game (25-of-56) and was 7-of-20 from 3-point range. Central Washington shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) and was 5-of-22 from 3-point range. Cal State LA was 14-of-19 from the free-throw line, while Central Washington was 17-of-27. Central Washington had a 32-31 rebounding edge, while Cal State LA forced 19 turnovers and committed 20.

The game was close throughout and neither team had more than a seven-point lead in the second half.

Cal State LA started well and took a 15-9 lead after one quarter. The Golden Eagles grabbed their biggest lead of the game, 24-13, early in the second quarter after a 3-pointer from Jackson. Central Washington, though, battled back and took a 37-36 halftime lead.

Central Washington led by as many as six points in the third quarter at 52-46, but the Golden Eagles closed the quarter with an 11-3 run and took a 57-55 lead after a basket by Rones just before the buzzer.

Cal State LA took a 62-55 lead with 8:49 to go following a 3-pointer by Jackson, but the Wildcats clawed back and  took a 66-65 lead after a layup by Cai with 1:18 to go.

Fuentes then stepped up and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 59 seconds left to make it 68-66. After Rones grabbed a rebound and was fouled, she hit two free throws to give the Golden Eagles a 70-66 lead. Cai hit a pair of free throws to make it 70-68 before Fidelus made 1-of-2 free throws to account for the final score. Cal State LA then played solid defense to force a contested 3-pointer and secure the win.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a conference game at Cal State Dominguez Hills at 1 p.m.