LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team dropped a gut-wrenching decision to Cal Poly Pomona Thursday in University Gym in a battle between California Collegiate Athletic Association contenders.

The Golden Eagles were unable to hold an eight-point lead in the final three minutes as the Broncos closed the game on a 10-1 run, including a game-winning layup by Sydney Nelson with 0.4 seconds remaining, to earn a 59-58 decision. 

Cal State LA (13-7, 8-7 CCAA) stays in a tie for fifth place with Cal State San Bernardino in the conference standings and is now 1 1/2 games back of fourth-place Sonoma State. The Broncos (18-3, 13-2) strengthens its hold on second place in the standings, two games back of first-place Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Lily Buggs had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Amaya Fuentes had 12 points and three rebounds.

Nelson had a game-high 34 points for the Broncos, while Cookie Marquez had eight points, five rebounds and four assists.

Nevaeh Asiasi and Ronyae Jackson had eight points each for the Golden Eagles, while Olivia Hodges had a game-high seven points and 12 rebounds.

Cal State LA shot just 32.7 percent (17-of-52) and was 8-of-21 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were also 16-of-20 from the free-throw line. Cal Poly Pomona shot 40.7 percent for the game (24-of-59) and was 1-of-13 from 3-point range. The Broncos were 10-of-16 from the free-throw line.

Cal State LA had a 39-35 rebounding edge and committed 14 turnovers to only eight for the Broncos.

Points were hard to come by in the first half with the Golden Eagles taking an 11-5 lead after a jumper by Asiasi and settling for an 11-8 lead after one period. The Golden Eagles got a pair of free throws by Asiasi and a jumper by Asiasi to take a 22-19 halftime lead.

The Broncos scored the final four points of the third quarter to take a 41-37 lead entering the final period.

Cal State LA then had its best stretch of the game to take its eight-point lead. Jackson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 43-41 and a pair of free throws by Buggs made it 45-41. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Fuentes extended the lead to 51-45 and a layup by Buggs and two free throws by Jackson gave the Golden Eagles a 55-47 lead with 4:28 to go.

That was Cal State LA's last basket of the game.

Two free throws by Fuentes gave the Golden Eagles a 57-49 lead with 2:44 to go, but a pair of layups and four free throws pulled the Broncos even at 57-57. Buggs hit a free throw with two seconds left to give the Golden Eagles, 58-57, but Nelson got loose for a layup off an inbound play to give the Broncos the win.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Cal State San Bernardino at 1 p.m.