TURLOCK, Calif. – The No. 23/RV and second-seeded Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team (22-5) earned a spot in the CCAA Tournament Championship game with a 75-69 victory over third-seeded Cal State LA (20-9) in the semifinals on Friday night at Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena.
TOP PERFORMERS
Charity Gallegos – 22 points | 4 rebounds | 4 assists | 3 steals
Jordan Vasquez – 18 points | 8 rebounds
Dynnah Buckner – 11 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
Kelsey Forrester – 10 points | 6 rebounds | 5 assists
Malia Mastora – 10 points | 3 rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUSM trailed 15-14 after one quarter of play as neither team had more than a four-point lead. The period featured eight lead changes and three ties.
The Cougars were 42.9% (6-of-14) field in the first 10 minutes while holding the Golden Eagles to 35.3% (6-of-17).
CSUSM took its largest lead of the half in the second quarter on a Gallegos jumper that put the Cougars up 25-15 with 5:58 remaining.
With CSUSM up 30-23 with 2:23 left in the first half, LA ended the half on a 10-2 run to take a 33-32 lead.
The Cougars shot 53.8% (14-of-26) from the field in the first half while the Golden Eagles shot 38.2% (13-of-34).
Tied at 39 in the third period, CSUSM went ahead on a Mina Tameilau layup with 7:24 to play.
A fast-break jumper by Mastora with 4:10 left in the third quarter gave CSUSM its largest lead of the game at 52-41.
The Cougars ended the quarter with a 56-52 lead after shooting 50% (10-of-20) and holding the Golden Eagles to 38.5% (5-of-13).
After a jumper by LA’s Nevah Asiasi put the Golden Eagles within two at 56-54, CSUSM jumped out to a seven-point lead on 3-pointer by Forrester and a jumper by Vasquez to put the Cougars up 61-54 with 8:27 to go.
A layup by Buggs and two good free throws by Asiasi made it a three-point game at 61-58 with 7:36 remaining.
CSUSM once again went up by eight on an old-fashioned 3-point play by Vasquez and a Gallegos layup to give the Cougars a 66-58 lead with 6:50 left.
The Cougars never let the Golden Eagles within four points for the rest of the game and ended up with the six-point win.
FAST BREAKS
The Cougars will be heading back to the CCAA Tournament Championship game for the third consecutive season.
This was CSUSM’s third victory over LA this season and the 10th win in a row over the Golden Eagles.
The Cougars’ 30 made field goals were their second most in a game this season.
CSUSM ended the game shooting 50.8% (30-of-59) – its second-best performance of the year. LA came in at 39.3% (24-of-61).
The Cougars missed just one of their 12 free throws (91.7%) while LA missed six of their 23 (73.9%).
Gallegos’ 11 made field goals tied her career high and tied for the most by a Cougar this season.
Mastora’s 10 points were a season high.
CSUSM won the battle of the boards, 36-30.
The Cougars also tallied more assists (11-5) and steals (6-5).
Of CSUSM’s 75 points, 17 came on fast breaks.
The Cougars had the lead for 30:50 while the Golden Eagles clocked in at 5:07.
The Golden Eagles’ Lily Buggs led the game with 30 points.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will face the winner of top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills and fourth-seeded Cal Poly Pomona in the tournament’s championship game on Saturday at 8 p.m.
