LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team, perhaps inspired by a beautiful rendition of the national anthem by guard Gabriella Rones, went out and played one of its best games of the season on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles raced out to a 31-15 lead after one quarter and 54-28 by halftime and went on to an 89-63 California Collegiate Athletic Association win over Cal State East Bay in University Gym. Cal State LA (12-10, 9-8 CCAA) avenged a loss to Cal State East Bay (9-15, 7-10 CCAA) from earlier in the season and kept its spot in the logjam for fourth place in the CCAA. Pending results later Saturday, the Golden Eagles are tied with Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State San Bernardino.

Rones got the Golden Eagles off to sensational start, first singing magnificently and then opening the game on the court with a 3-pointer. The Golden Eagles led 18-4 after just four minutes and never wavered in the important conference win.

Nicole Flennaugh led the way with 22 points, 15 of which came courtesy of five 3-pointers, which pushed her career program and CCAA record to 304. She also had four assists, two blocks and one steal. Olivia Hodges recorded her second straight double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles won despite a game-high 35 points by Cal State East Bay's Payton Sterk. She was 14-of-21 from the floor and 5-of-9 from 3-point range in an impressive performance.

Lily Buggs had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Amaya Fuentes had 11 points and four rebounds. Rones finished with eight points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals and one impressive singing performance.

Cal State LA shot a sizzling 75 percent in the opening quarter, making 12-of-16 field-goal attempts, including 3-of-4 from the line. The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 45.6 percent (31-of-68) and were 9-of-29 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were also 18-of-24 from the free-throw line. Cal State East Bay shot 38.5 percent (25-of-65) and was 6-of-18 from 3-point range. The Pioneers were 7-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 42-36, but committed only 14 turnovers to 27 for the Pioneers.

The Golden Eagles broke the game open early. Trailing 4-3, Flennaugh hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, Rones followed with a jumper, Buggs scored on a steal and layup, Fuentes made a basket with an assist from Buggs, Rones hit a 3-pointer and Flennaugh hit three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to fuel a 15-0 run that gave them an 18-4 lead. A layup by Nevaeh Asiasi gave the Golden Eagles a 31-13 lead and they settled for a 31-15 lead after one period.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Flennaugh in the final two minutes of the second quarter pushed the lead to 54-28 by halftime.

Cal State LA led by as many as 29 points in the third quarter, but the Pioneers had a strong push to end the period and make it 67-49 after three quarters. The Pioneers got to within 17 points early in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Eagles recovered a extended the lead back to 24 points after a three-point play by Buggs with four minutes remaining.

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a home game against Sonoma State.