Box Score: CSUEB 8, P-P 3 - F

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's water polo split its Saturday contests at the Tina Finali Invitational hosted by Cal Lutheran. The Pioneers triumphed over Division III squad Pomona-Pitzer 8-3 before letting a late lead slip away to Azusa Pacific, 8-7.

Cal State East Bay 8, Pomona-Pitzer 3 – F
East Bay's Taylor Cross scored a first quarter natural hat trick, three straight uninterrupted goals, to give Cal State East Bay a 4-0 lead after eight minutes. She finished with a game-high four scores, with the last giving the Pioneers an 8-1 lead late in the third quarter.

The Pioneer 5-on-6 defense was put to the test as the Sagehens earned 12 exclusions. The CSUEB defense held P-P to only 2-for-12 on power play opportunities while the Pioneers converted 3-of-4 including a 5-meter penalty shot.

Marrina Nation made nine saves and held the Pomona-Pitzer offense to only one first half score. The Sagehens managed to score just one even strength goal in the match.

Sarah Westcott led the Sagehens with two goals. Goalkeepers Ahsha Earwood and Sallie Walecka made four saves apiece in the loss.

Azusa Pacific 8, Cal State East Bay 7 – F
Sabrina Hatzer, Simonne Call, Nayiri Kechichian, Jenn Lightbody, Alyssa Hess, Bre Ritter, and Tori Dettloff each scored once against Azusa Pacific. East Bay was on its way to it second win of the day leading 6-4 heading into the final quarter.

Cal State East Bay surrendered four fourth quarter goals to Azusa Pacific and watched the Cougars scored three unanswered to take a 7-6 lead. Dettloff responded with the equalizer with 1:45 left but the Cougars again scored to complete their comeback effort.

Nation made 15 saves against Azusa Pacific and finished with 24 on the day. She vaulted two spots up the East Bay program top-10 saves list and now has 667 in her career. Against APU she passed Ellie Wilhelmsen (2007-08) and current assistant coach Jayme Pekarske (2011-12).

Box score was not available at the time of release.

Cal State East Bay (4-9) will take on Division III programs Occidental and Chapman on Sunday, March 1, at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively. Follow the @CSUEBWaterPolo Twitter account for in-game updates during Sunday's contests.