HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay got back on track convincingly with a 75-56 thumping of Chico State inside Pioneer Gymnasium. The Pioneer bench played a big role in Friday's result finishing with 34 points, led by nine apiece from key contributors Laci Effenberger and Sharissa Estremera.

"Our bench played a crucial role tonight and it was exciting to have our reserves contribute like they did tonight," praised East Bay Head Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We finally had a solid night shooting the ball and it couldn't have come at a better time for us as we really have had some heartbreaking results."

Cal State East Bay matched its season best effort with eight 3-pointers on the night. Effenberger contributed her first points as a Pioneer knocking down all three of her long distance shots.

"I've had so much time off (due to injuries) and have needed to work on getting healthy rather than focusing on my shooting," said Effenberger. "It was a total team effort and everyone contributed. We were making the extra pass and three times it just happened to be me (who was open)."
 
Cal State East Bay never trailed after scoring nine of the game's opening 10 points. Chico State (6-9, 3-8 CCAA) closed to within 21-20 late in the first half when Effenberger and company sparked a game changing run.
 
A 10-1 East Bay scoring run was bookended by Effenberger 3-pointers, and a Tori Breshers offensive rebound put back off a missed free throw in the final seconds pushed the halftime edge to 33-23.
 
It was a microcosm of the evening as the Pioneers dominated the glass earning a 37-24 rebounding edge. Stephanie Lopez, Micah Walker, and Breshers each grabbed six rebounds to lead the squad.
 
Lopez scored 14 points on a season-low eight shot attempts. Her impact came as a distributor and rebounder finishing with a season-high eight assists and the squad finished with a year best 22 dimes on 28 made field goals.
 
"Steph has such great court vision and played an all-around great game. She did a great job distributing the ball to the hot hand," Barcomb added.
 
Estremera scored all nine of her points in the second half as East Bay poured in 42 after halftime. Breshers added eight of her team-high 14 points during 13 efficient second half minutes.
 
Chico State's season leading scorer Hannah Womack was held in check to the tune of 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting from the floor. Teammate Annie Ward scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Outside of Ward the rest of the Wildcats connected on just 11-of-40 (.275) shots from the field.
 
"Defensively we were really focused in the first half and played one of our better halves of basketball. Shannon Bland worked tirelessly on Womack, who is such a great player," Barcomb praised of her starting point guard's defensive effort.
 
Cal State East Bay snapped its season worst 5-game losing streak with Friday's victory. It has now won three straight meetings with Chico State and tonight was the first triumph over the Wildcats by more than five points since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in 2009.
 
"We are making small strides, but nevertheless we are taking the necessary steps to be a more complete team. We are trying to get everyone to share the responsibility of our successes and failures and staying together as a team," said Barcomb.
 
Cal State East Bay (10-7, 5-6 CCAA) will host Cal State Stanislaus (5-10, 3-8 CCAA). The Warriors are coming off a 63-59 overtime road loss to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday night.