CARSON, Calif. – The No. 16/22 and third-seeded Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team (24-5) earned its first NCAA West Regional victory, defeating sixth-seeded Central Washington 86-74 in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in the Torodome on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills.
TOP PERFORMERS
Charity Gallegos – 27 points | 12-of-17 FG | 7 rebounds | 3 steals
Dynnah Buckner – 16 points | 2 rebounds | 2 steals
Mina Tameilau – 15 points | 5 rebounds | 1 blocked shot
Jordan Vasquez – 8 points | 5 rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars found themselves down 16-8 after a Samantha Bowman 3-pointer with 6:01 left in the opening period.
A Dynnah Buckner reverse layup evened the game at 19-all with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.
A second-chance bucket by Kate Carlson gave CSUSM its first lead of the game at 23-21 with 2:10 on the clock.
After being fouled on a 3-pointer, Forrester sunk all three of her free throws to give CSUSM a 28-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.
CSUSM raised its lead 39-34 on a left-handed layup by Malia Mastora with four minutes remaining in the half.
The Cougars took a 44-41 lead into the half after shooting 54.5% (18-of-33) to CWU’s 47.4% (18-of-38).
CSUSM closed out the third quarter on a 14-7 run sparked by a Carlson second-chance layup to take a 67-61 lead into the final quarter.
There were eight lead changes and two tie scores in the third quarter, yet CSUSM led for 7:59 to CWU’s 1:15 in the 10 minutes.
CWU went 3-of-3 from the 3-point line to close in on the CSUSM lead at 76-70 with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.
The Cougars got their first double-digit cushion at 82-72 with 4:12 remaining on a 3-pointer by Gallegos in front of the CSUSM bench.
CSUSM’s defense held the Wildcats scoreless from the field in the final four minutes, only allowing CWU to score two free throws as the Cougars clinched the win at 86-74.
FAST BREAKS
Gallegos’s 27 points was two shy of her career high which she matched in the CCAA Tournament Championship last weekend.
CSUSM’s eight turnovers were the second fewest this season. The Cougars tallied seven at Western Washington on Nov. 19.
Both teams were perfect at the free throw line with CSUSM having a slight advantage at 11 trips to CWU’s seven.
This was CSUSM’s first time this season shooting 100% from the free throw line.
The Cougars shot a season-best 53.7% (35-of-65) from the field.
CWU tallied its ninth-worst shooting percentage of the season at 42.3% (30-of-71).
Leading the entire fourth quarter, CSUSM was on top for 29:43 while CWU led for 6:52.
Bowman, the D2CCA West Region Player of the Year, led the Wildcats with 25 points and 16 rebounds.
APU outrebounded the Cougars, 37-32.
This was the first meeting between the two teams.
UP NEXT
In a rematch of the last season’s NCAA Division II West Regional Quarterfinal, the Cougars will next face seventh-seeded Azusa Pacific in the NCAA West Regional Semifinals on Saturday, March 11 at 5 p.m. in the Torodome.
