AZUSA, Calif. – The No. 24 and second-seeded Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team (24-6) earned an 82-61 win over seventh-seeded Point Loma (18-13) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II West Regional on Friday afternoon at Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jordan Vasquez – 30 points | 12 rebounds | 3 steals
Mina Tameilau – 9 points | 6 rebounds | 5 assists | 1 steal
Malia Mastora – 9 points | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal | 1 block
Charity Gallegos – 8 points | 7 assists | 3 steals
Truitt Reilly – 8 points | 6 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 block
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUSM led 26-16 after the first 10 minutes of play as Vasquez led the quarter with 15 points and four rebounds. The Cougars shot 56.3% (9-of-16) in the first period while the Sea Lions checked in at 46.2% (6-of-13).
The Cougars went up 33-20 on a Reilly layup with 6:25 to play in the second quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers by the Sea Lions’ Tavia Rowell and Elle Hanson made it a seven-point game at 33-26 with 5:38 to go.
CSUSM had a 47-28 lead over PLNU at the half, shooting exactly the same in the second quarter as the first while holding the Sea Lions to 35.7% (5-of-14).
Vazquez ended the first half one rebound shy of a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds.
The Cougars took a 21-point lead with their first basket of the second half as a Vasquez layup put CSUSM up 49-28 with 9:35 to go in the third period.
Vasquez earned the double-double with her 10th board of the game with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter.
The Cougars led 62-44 following the third period, shooting 50% (7-of-14) while the Sea Lions came in at 37.5% (6-of-16).
CSUSM posted its largest lead of the game at 27 points with just 3:13 left in the contest on a driving layup by Reilly to make it 76-49.
FAST BREAKS
The Cougars will be making their second consecutive trip to the NCAA West Regional Semifinals.
Last season, CSUSM defeated Azusa Pacific, 75-67.
Jordan Vasquez collected her 21st double-double of the season (30 pts, 12 reb.) and the 47th of her collegiate career.
Vasquez’s 30 points were a career high.
CSUSM shot 52.5% (31-of-59) from the field, the fourth highest of the season, while Point Loma turned in a 41.4% (24-of-58) field-goal percentage.
The Cougars won the battle of the boards, 39-26.
CSUSM got 12 points off second-chance attempts while the Sea Lions were held scoreless on the offensive boards.
The Cougars recorded 17 points off PLNU’s 14 turnovers while the Sea Lions only tallied nine points off CSUSM’s 10 turnovers.
CSUSM dished out a season-best 23 assists with Charity Gallegos leading the way with her season-high seven.
The Cougars collected 11 steals, their second most of the season, with Vasquez and Gallegos tallying three each.
CSUSM is now 6-9 in the all-time series against PLNU and has won five of the last six meetings against the Sea Lions.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will face No. 16 and third-seeded Western Washington in the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Felix Event Center.
