SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team got off to a tremendous start on Saturday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest at Cal State San Marcos and then weathered a stern test from the Cougars.

The Golden Eagles raced to a 20-point lead after one quarter, saw the advantage sliced to just five points by halftime, and held off the Cougars in the second half of a 74-66 win in The Sports Center. Cal State LA (9-4, 4-4 CCAA) picked up its second road win this week and climbed back into a pack of CCAA Tournament contenders. Cal State LA led from start to finish, but not before some anxious moments.

Cal State LA picked up its first win in San Marcos since a 59-56 victory in 2016.

Sofia Fidelus led the Golden Eagles in scoring for a second straight game with 18 points, 12 of them coming in the first quarter. Lily Buggs had 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists and Amaya Fuentes had 14 points and eight rebounds.

Tatum Tamashiro and Rose Morse had 16 points each to lead Cal State San Marcos (0-13, 0-7 CCAA).

Nevaeh Asiasi had 13 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Golden Eagles and Olivia Hodges, the leading rebounder in the CCAA, had 11 rebounds and three points.

Cal State LA shot 38.1 percent for the game (24-of-63) and was 10-of-29 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 16-of-25 from the free-throw line. Cal State San Marcos shot 36.2 percent (21-of-58) and was 9-of-27 from 3-point range. The Cougars were also 15-of-23 from the free-throw line. 

Both teams had 43 rebounds and the Golden Eagles committed 15 turnovers to 18 for the Cougars.

The Golden Eagles was 10-of-18 from the floor hit five 3-pointers while jumping out to a 26-6 lead after one period. After getting a free throw from Ronyae Jackson to open the second quarter, the Golden Eagles had a 27-6 lead.

The Cougars, though, fought their way back into the game and sliced the margin to just five points, 38-33, by halftime thanks to a 27-11 run to close the half.

Cal State San Marcos closed to within two points, 40-38, after a basket by Rory Hetrick and pulled to within one point, 42-41, after a 3-pointer by Tamashiro midway through the quarter.

Buggs, though, responded with a 3-pointer to start an 8-0 run that included a free throw by Buggs, a layup by Kyara Walter and two free throws by Asiasi to boost the lead back to 50-41. A late free throw by Buggs, an offensive rebound of a missed free throw by Fuentes and a layup by Asiasi just before the buzzer made it 55-45 after three quarters.

A 3-pointer by Fuentes and a layup by Asiasi got the lead back to 12 points at 60-48 and the Golden Eagles led by at least six points the rest of the way.

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a home game against San Francisco State at 5:30 p.m.