LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team came out on the short end of a competitive California Collegiate Athletic Association game against Chico State.

The Golden Eagles rallied furiously in the fourth quarter, slicing a 12-point deficit down to just two points and then having two shots at either tying or taking the lead before the Wildcats hit four free throws in the waning seconds to hold on for a 73-70 victory Thursday in University Gym.

Cal State LA (15-9, 10-9 CCAA) slips into sixth place in the conference race with three games remaining. The Golden Eagles can clinch the sixth and final spot with a win over Humboldt State on Saturday.

Chico State (19-6, 14-5 CCAA) beat the Golden Eagles for the second time this season and kept sole possession of third place in the CCAA.

Lily Buggs had a team-high 21 points and four assists for the Golden Eagles, including a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left that cut the margin to 69-67. Sofia Fidelus had 18 points and two assists and Mary Cotton had a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Makenzi Laporte had a game-high 27 points for the Wildcats and also had the defensive play of the game, while Jadence Clifton had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Allred had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Olivia Hodges had six points and 12 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Nevaeh Asiasi had five points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Cal State LA shot 34.6 percent for the game (28-of-81) and was 8-of-27 from 3-point range. Chico State shot 32.8 percent (21-of-64) and was 8-of-25 from 3-point range. The Wildcats enjoyed a big advantage at the free-throw line, going 23-of-26 while Cal State LA was just 6-of-8.

Cal State LA had a 50-48 rebounding edge, while forcing 19 turnovers and committing just 14.

A tip-in by Cotton gave the Golden Eagles their first lead at 12-10 and a jumper by Cotton made it 14-12. Buggs gave the Golden Eagles their final lead of the quarter with a basket to make it 16-15, but Chico State scored the next 10 points before a jumper by Fidelus and 3-pointer by Kyara Walter made it 25-21 after one period.

The Golden Eagles closed to within one point at 34-33 after a layup by Asiasi, but the Wildcats responded with the final five points of the quarter to take a 39-33 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles tied it at 41-41 with seven minutes left in the third quarter, but the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run and kept the lead the rest of the way. A basket by Cotton got the Golden Eagles to within three points after a pair of free throws made it 51-48, but the Wildcats scored the final four points of the period to take a 55-48 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Golden Eagles then found themselves down by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter before a 16-6 run started and ended with 3-pointers by Buggs cut it to 69-67 inside the final minute. The Golden Eagles then got the ball back after a steal, but missed two shots and had to foul after Chico State came up with the rebound with 21 seconds left.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Cal Poly Humboldt on Senior Day.