Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. - The Pioneer women's basketball team avenged an earlier defeat to Sonoma State with a 57-44 victory over the visiting Seawolves on Friday.

East Bay, which won for the fourth straight Friday, improves to 5-7 in the CCAA and 7-9 for the season. Sonoma State drops to 3-10 in CCAA play and 5-12 overall after falling for the eighth time in its last nine games.

The Pioneers shot 40 percent from the field and outrebounded the Seawolves by a 34-30 margin. East Bay forced 26 Sonoma State turnovers. Sonoma State, which scored 63 points and shot 48.7 percent from the floor in a 13-point victory over the Pioneers back in December, was held to 44 points and a 33.3 shooting percentage in defeat.

Marlene MacMillan led the way for the Pioneers with 13 points and seven steals. Micah Walker came off the bench to score nine points. Meaghan Cichoke and Sarah Finlay scored eight and seven points, respectively, for the victorious Pioneers. Rachel Finnegan gave the Pioneers a boost in the win with five points, seven rebounds and two steals.

“It was a very important win for us tonight,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said. “Rachel and Micah were great offensive sparks off the bench and got us going. It was very good production by both players in the victory. We moved the ball well and shared the scoring load tonight. Ten people in the scoring column are a good sign for us.  Mac was super quick to the ball tonight and defending really well at times.” 

Bronte Sheahan and Travis Newman each scored 10 points for the Seawolves. 

The Pioneers jumped out to a 9-5 lead with 15:39 left in the first half on baskets by Cichoke and MacMillan. Nia Bravo's steal and layup, followed by a Finnegan basket, increased the Pioneers advantage to 18-11 with 11:18 remaining.

Hege Blikra converted a baseline jumper with 6:50 left to give the Pioneers their biggest lead of the first half, 26-14. East Bay maintained a 12-point halftime advantage a minute later on a Finnegan 3-pointer.

Newman hit a three-pointer with 1:06 left to cut the Pioneers halftime advantage to nine points.

In their first matchup, the Seawolves scored 37 points and shot 59.1 percent from the field in the first half. A tenacious Pioneer defense held Sonoma State 22 points and a 33.3 shooting percentage from the floor. MacMillan led the way for the Pioneers in the first half with seven points, two blocked shots and four steals.  

Cichoke's basket with 16:17 left in the second half, capped an 8-3 run, to give the Pioneers a 14-point
lead. Walker hit a three-pointer, while Finlay converted a basket as East Bay maintained a 46-32 advantage with 13:55 remaining. The Pioneers enjoyed a 16-point advantage midway through the second half, on a basket by Cichoke off a beautiful assist from Finnegan. 

East Bay continued to play good defense the following 10 minutes, holding the Seawolves to five points while maintaining a 51-37 advantage. Sonoma State made things interesting with a 7-0 run highlighted by a Taylor Acosta three-pointer, to trim the Pioneers lead to 51-44 with 2:33 left in the game.

Four free throws and a MacMillan basket with 15 seconds remaining, secured the victory for the Pioneers.

“We had a solid lead and we let our guard down and Sonoma made a good run at us late in the 2nd half,” Barcomb said.  “We have to improve upon our focus and continue to the things that got us the lead rather than just settling.” 

Cal State East Bay will host San Francisco State on February 2. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.