Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif. -  The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team was eliminated from the CCAA Championship Tournament following a 67-53 defeat to Cal State L.A. on Tuesday night.

The Pioneers stand at 16-11 for the season, while the Golden Eagles (20-10) advance to the second round of the CCAA Championship Tournament on Friday.

East Bay, which featured the top scoring defense in the CCAA ( 49.5ppg) and second in Division II (50.5), allowed 67 points to Cal State L.A.

“Defensively, we just didn't play up to our usual high standards,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said.  “I don't remember the last time we gave up 60 plus points.”

Senior Lauren Lucchesi and leading scorer Brianna Terrance led the Pioneers with 13 points each. Second team All-CCAA selection Marlene MacMillan topped the Pioneers on the boards with six rebounds.

The Golden Eagles' Tessondra Williams led all scorers with 29 points. Kelli Lewis followed with 10 points for Cal State L.A.

“I thought Tess was playing at a very high level the last two weeks of the season and she continued her stellar performance tonight,” Barcomb said. “We made some runs in the second half, but it felt like Tess
answered every single time.”

Lucchesi hit a jumper as the Pioneers trailed 10-9 with 9:12 to go in the first half.

Williams, held to one point, converted a three-pointer with 6:25 left to give the Golden Eagles a 13-9 lead. Cal State L.A. went on a 9-0 run the following five minutes to extend its lead to 22-9.

The Pioneers didn't score again in the first half until Cassie Coble made a basket with 43 seconds remaining.

The Golden Eagles converted two free throws with 17 seconds left to take a 24-11 halftime lead.
In the first half, the Pioneers were held to a season-low 11 points. East Bay shot only 20 percent from the field.

“Our poor shooting performance in the first half really put us in a big hole,” Barcomb said.  

Alyssa Hanson scored five points in a Golden Eagles 7-3 run to open the second half.

Lucchesi hit a three-pointer as the Pioneers narrowed the deficit to 31-17 with 15:47 left.

Following a three-pointer by Williams, Terrance hit a jumper and Tori Breshers made a layup as the Pioneers trailed 37-23 with 12:26 remaining.

Cal State L.A. enjoyed its biggest lead of the game, 52-27, with 6:22 left.

Terrance nailed a three-pointer with 4:37 remaining as the Pioneers cut the deficit to 56-38. The Pioneers continued to battle as Sarah Finlay hit a three-pointer, trimming the Golden Eagles advantage to 62-49 with 1:13 left. East Bay came within 11 points on a Micah Walker layup 17 seconds later.

The Golden Eagles clinched the victory with five free throws in the final minute of the second half.

“A team can't have a bad night in tournament play,” Barcomb said.  “I know we grew from our first round loss last year and when the sadness of the loss leaves us we will grow again.”

Barring an at-large berth, the Pioneers will say good-bye to seniors Marlene MacMillan, Lauren Lucchesi, and Nia Bravo, who contributed to a successful Pioneer season.

“We say goodbye to three seniors and that is always difficult,” Barcomb said. “They helped turn this program around and they should have a great deal of pride in themselves and this program.”