Box Score ANAHEIM, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's basketball got its season officially underway on Friday at the CCA Tipoff Classic. The Pioneers fell 73-61 to nationally ranked No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul at the Anaheim Convention Center to close out the first of three games over three days schedule.

Cal State East Bay (0-1) trailed by a slim 26-23 margin with under three minutes remaining in the first half. Concordia-St. Paul (1-0) pushed the lead to nine by halftime, and a pair of 3-pointers from Carissa Wolyniec gave CUSP a 15-point cushion with 18 minutes left.

Wolyniec led all players with 17 points, mostly in part to a 5-for-9 performance from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears went 8-for-20 (.400) from three and 21-for-23 (.913) at the foul line while the Pioneers connected on just 1-of-12 (.083) from downtown and 14-of-21 (.667) at the charity stripe.

"Concordia is a well-coached and very talented program. They made us pay for our defensive mistakes all game long," said East Bay Head Coach Suzy Barcomb.

Part of that talent pool includes reigning Conference Player of the Year Anika Whiting. She completed her double-double with 15 points, including 7-for-7 at the foul line, and 11 rebounds. Jodi Batzel led the Golden Bear reserves with 10 points.

The Pioneers trailed by as many as 20 in the second half but closed the gap to 10 points in the final minute of regulation. Stephanie Lopez scored the team's final two points and totaled 11 points in her East Bay debut.

Tori Breshers and Sarah Finlay scored all 21 of East Bay's bench points. Breshers finished with a team-high seven rebounds, and Finlay equaled the team-high 11 point effort of Lopez.

Danielle Peacon and Lopez each started on Friday in their debut with the team. Peacon finished with six points and four rebounds in 25 minutes. Micah Walker went 6-of-8 from the free throw line and scored 10 points as part of the starting lineup. Brianna Terrance added nine points and six rebounds, and Rachel Finnegan finished with four points and a team-high two assists to round out the starting five.

"This (event) is a fantastic opportunity for us to really prepare our team for the (California Collegiate Athletic Association). It is critical we understand that a process is in place and we make improvements each time we step out onto the court," said Barcomb.

Last year East Bay did not allow a NCAA Division II opponent to score more than 63 points during the 2012-13 regular season. The Golden Bears put up 73 on Friday despite being forced into 25 turnovers by a traditionally stout Pioneer defense.

"We turned them over a few times but we did not capitalize," said Barcomb. "We got some great looks inside but were not able to finish at the rim."

In other day one action Emporia State defeated Indianapolis 76-48, and Pittsburg State outlasted Montana State-Billings 77-71.

Cal State East Bay will take on nationally ranked No. 5 Emporia State (1-0) on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8:30 p.m.