SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 18/RV Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team (21-5, 18-4 CCAA) fell 67-59 to Sonoma State (16-12, 13-9 CCAA) in its final regular-season game on Saturday afternoon in The Sports Center.
Prior to the game, the Cougars honored their four seniors – Dynnah Buckner, Kate Carlson, Kelsey Forrester and Shasta Parker.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jordan Vasquez – 15 points | 7 rebounds | 1 steal | 1 assist
Kate FitzGerald – 11 points | 5 rebounds | 1 assist
Mina Tameilau – 9 points | 3 steals | 3 rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars held a 19-12 lead following the first quarter after shooting 58.3% (7-of-12) to Sonoma’s 35.3% (6-of-17).
A 10-2 run put the Seawolves up 25-23 on a Kianna Maldia layup with 2:33 remaining on the clock in the second quarter.
Behind a 53.3% field-goal percentage in the second quarter, Sonoma took a 32-26 lead into the locker room while holding the Cougars to just 21.4% (3-of-14).
A 3-pointer by FitzGerald cut the SSU lead to 45-44 with 1:42 remaining in the third quarter.
The third quarter ended with Sonoma leading 49-46.
Vasquez made both ends of her free throws to cut the gap to 58-56 with 4:32 remaining.
A 9-3 run in the final four minutes clinched the win for the Seawolves.
FAST BREAKS
The Cougars shot 40% (22-of-55) from the field while Sonoma came in at 43.3% (26-of-60).
The Seawolves outrebounded CSUSM, 39-30, finishing with 13 on the offensive side.
Sonoma took advantage of CSUSM’s 14 turnovers, scoring 15 points while the Cougars only collected 10 off SSU’s 13 turnovers.
CSUSM led 11:40 of the game while SSU was on top for 22:33.
The Cougars will be making their fourth appearance in the CCAA tournament next week.
This marks the first time CSUSM will enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed. In their inaugural appearance in 2019, the Cougars were the No. 4 seed. In 2020 and 2022, CSUSM was the top seed and made it to the championship game each time.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will be the No. 2 seed in the CCAA Tournament and will receive a bye to the semifinals, facing the winner of No. 3 seed Cal State LA and No. 6 seed Sonoma State on Friday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m. on the campus of Stanislaus State in Turlock.
