Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer women's basketball team made it five straight victories following a 60-47 win over Cal State L.A. on Saturday night.

East Bay moves into a three-way tie for fourth place tie with Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona in the CCAA at 9-7. The Pioneers, who avenge an earlier defeat to Cal State L.A., improve to 11-9 for the season.  The Golden Eagles dropped their fourth straight game and are 14-9 overall.

Boasting the sixth best scoring defense in NCAA Division II, the Pioneers held the Golden Eagles to 47 points and a 37.5 shooting percentage from the field. The Pioneers forced 20 Golden Eagle turnovers and held a 34-26 advantage on the boards.

“We started off really strong defensively and that got us going offensively,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said.  “We shared the ball well tonight, making the extra pass and knocking down the outside shot with good consistency. It took some time to adjust to the intensity level.  A combination of three games in 4 days, knowing what we were playing for and trying to close out at home with a win all added to our frazzled play at times.”

Lauren Lucchesi led three Pioneer players in double figures with 17 points. Lucchesi was 5 of 11 from the field and hit three 3-pointers. Brianna Terrance came off the bench to score 13 points on 5 of 6 from the field. Micah Walker added 12 points and four rebounds.                                                                                         

“When we have three players hitting the double digit points it makes us more difficult to guard,” Barcomb said. “Lu had a great stat line tonight, and to have a senior playing so well at this stretch of the season is critical for us.  Bri has been shooting the ball really well of late and Micah was solid tonight.”

Marlene MacMillan led the Pioneers on the boards with 11 rebounds. “We wanted to do a much better job on the glass tonight and I thought Mac was very productive on the boards,” Barcomb said.  “She really goes after the ball and her presence is so important for us.  We worked hard for second chance points tonight.”

Chiara DeMarco came off the bench to lead the Golden Eagles in scoring with 16 points.

The Pioneers pleased the homecoming crowd with their hot shooting from the perimeter in the first six minutes of the first half, hitting four 3-pointers, including two by Lucchesi to take a 12-2  lead. East Bay extended its advantage to 19-2 with 12:20 left on a MacMillan basket.

A pair of free throws by Meaghan Cichoke gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the first half, 28-6, with 6:25 remaining. The Golden Eagles went on a 4-0 run the following minute, highlighted by Chiara DeMarco three-point play, to trim the Pioneers advantage to 28-10.

The Pioneers outscored the Golden Eagles 9-7 the remaining five minutes to take a 20-point halftime lead.  East Bay was 11 of 23 from the field and 5 of 12 from the 3-point area in the first half. The Golden Eagles were only 6 of 24 from the floor and 1 of 8 from the arc.

The Golden Eagles cut into the Pioneers halftime lead with a 6-0 run in the first five minutes of the second half. Lucchesi scored seven points in a six minute span as the Pioneers extended their lead to 46-28 with 9:54 left. Hege Blikra converted a three-pointer three minutes later to give the Pioneers a 52-32 advantage.

Terrance hit three baskets in the final three minutes to secure the Pioneer victory.

Following four straight home games, the Pioneers will play at Humboldt State on February 14.