SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team made things awfully interesting before falling to Chico State on Thursday in a first-round California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament game.

The No. 6 seed Golden Eagles (18-10) surged to take a 59-58  lead with nine minutes to go, but No. 3 seed Chico State (23-6) struck right back with a three-point play and led the rest of the way in a hotly-contested 84-74 decision in the Sports Center at Cal State San Marcos. After falling behind, Chico State scored the next nine points to wrest control of the game.

Sofia Fidelus led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 19 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. Lily Buggs, who was named to the All-CCAA first team for the fourth time in her spectacular Cal State LA career, added 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Nevaeh Asiasi had 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jordan Allred had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, while Makenzi Laporte had 22 points and eight rebounds.

Olivia Hodges had 12 points and eight rebounds and Mary Cotton had four points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

Cal State LA shot just 36.5 percent for the game (27-of-74) and was 8-of-26 from 3-point range. Chico State shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) and was 10-of-26 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 12-of-19 from the free-throw line, while Chico State was 22-of-26.

Cal State LA had a 43-39 rebounding edge and forced 15 turnovers while committing 12.

Fidelus gave the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead after an early 3-pointer, but Chico State went on a 7-0 run and didn't trail again until early in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats built a 22-15 lead after one quarter and led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter before a layup by Hodges made it 41-33 at halftime.

Cal State LA trailed by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but a jumper by Asiasi, two free throws by Asiasi and a jumper by Buggs pulled the Golden Eagles to within 49-44. A three-point play by Hodges made it 58-54 after three periods.

The Golden Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a layup by Cotton and a 3-pointer by Fidelus to take a 59-58 lead, but Chico State scored the next nine points and never looked back. Another three-point play by Hodges cut the deficit to 69-66 with 4:13 left, but Chico State scored the next eight points over the next three minutes to put the game out of reach.