Box Score ANAHEIM, Calif. --- The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team hung tough with No. 5 Emporia State, but ultimately dropped a 67-53 decision on Saturday night. The Pioneers are now 0-2 to start the season at the CCA Tip-off Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center, having played two of the top 10 teams in the nation. Now they have just a scant few hours to rest before taking on Montana State-Billings in the tournament finale Sunday afternoon.
"I thought we finally played East Bay basketball in the second half," said head coach
Suzy Barcomb. "We competed, played hard, and really battled with Emporia. We were committed to challenging the three-ball all night long. Quick and Kellog are two outstanding players and we couldn't match their size on the boards. I saw a glimpse of the team I thought we could be, and I told the team that's the type of effort we want day in and day out."
Danielle Peacon led the Pioneers with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 21 minutes before fouling out.
Brianna Terrance added 10 points and grabbed a team-leading six rebounds.
Micah Walker also reached double figures with 10 points.
As a team, East Bay shot 31.0 percent, compared to 41.4 percent for Emporia State. The Pioneers were outstanding at the free throw line, knocking down 15 of 16, and neither team shot well from long range (2-for-11 for CSUEB; 2-for-17 for ESU). However, the Hornets had a decided advantage on the glass, out-rebounding East Bay 46 to 31 and picking up 16 second-chance points.
Stephanie Lopez tallied eight points, six of which came at the free throw line, to go along with four rebounds and three steals.
Sarah Finlay also got a start at guard and posted two points, four boards, and three assists.
Rachel Finnegan scored six points off the bench on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.
Tori Breshers grabbed four rebounds and added three points
The Pioneers kept the score fairly tight for much of the first half. They weren't able to get enough rebounds to sustain a scoring run, but their defense kept the deficit under 10 until just before halftime. Emporia led by double digits the entire second half, but East Bay continued to battle and didn't let the Hornets pull away, even after the team's leading scorer fouled out.
"We have had two incredibly challenging games against nationally ranked teams, and now our third game is a very quick turnaround against a talent West Region opponent" added Barcomnb. "We might be running on fumes tomorrow, but we are going to compete as a team. We will see what we are made of."
The Pioneers tip-off against MSU-Billings at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
