SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Scoring droughts late in each half plagued Cal State East Bay during Saturday night's 54-52 defeat to Cal State San Bernardino inside Coussoulis Arena. The host Coyotes scored a string of 10 unanswered points, all at the free throw line, over the final 2:32 in erasing a Pioneer lead they held for more than 36 minutes.

"Unfortunately for us we executed poorly in the final three minutes of each half and it cost us the game. We need to maintain a 'we attitude' when things are not going our way. We didn't tonight and that is very disappointing," said East Bay Head Coach Suzy Barcomb.

Micah Walker made her first four shot attempts including a pair of 3-pointers scoring 10 of her 12 points in the opening half. She scored eight of the team's points during a 10-2 run which extended the Pioneer lead to its peak at 11 points with 6:12 remaining until halftime.

"Micah played very well for us offensively tonight. It was good for us to have her as a major contributor in the scoring column," Barcomb complimented of her senior who became just the eighth player in program history to score 800 career points.

Cal State San Bernardino (11-3, 7-3 CCAA) countered with an 11-2 scoring run of its own to pull within two points just before halftime. The Coyotes defense held the Pioneers to just one made field goal and four total points during the final six minutes of the half to close the gap.

Cal State East Bay got to the free throw line for the first time in the final second prior to intermission. The Pioneers were well below their season average of more than 26 free throw attempts per game with only 10 trips on Saturday.

CSUEB slowed down the pace and clung to a lead that grew no larger than six during the second half. However the final five minutes of regulation was the difference as a Stephanie Lopez 3-pointer in the final seconds was the only field goal make for the Pioneers during that stretch.

Lopez finished with a team-high 15 points and five assists. Remy Puou contributed 11 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Teammate Tori Breshers scored nine and led all players with three blocks.

Cal State San Bernardino took advantage of its 25 trips to the free throw line in a tightly contested battle. The Coyotes outscored the Pioneers 18-7 at the charity stripe. The final two by Chelsea Barnes gave her a game-high 20 on the night, to go along with five rebounds and three steals.

"Part of our offense is getting to the free throw line. There was a big discrepancy in that tonight," added Barcomb.

CSUSB's Brianna Harden led all players with 12 rebounds and completed her double-double with 12 points. Alexcia Mack played all 40 minutes for the fourth time this season and finished with 10 points.

For the third time during its current 5-game skid the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team dropped a two point decision. The Pioneers last three road games have all been two point losses coming at the hands of Sonoma State (Jan. 3, 68-66), Humboldt State (Jan. 15, 68-66), and tonight against CSUSB.

Cal State San Bernardino has now won four straight and moves into a tie for fourth place in the CCAA standings with UC San Diego. The two will collide on Friday, Jan. 23.

Cal State East Bay will host Chico State (6-8, 3-7 CCAA) on Friday, Jan. 23. The Wildcats earned an overtime win over Sonoma State and enter the weekend winners of back-to-back games.