HAYWARD, Calif. -- Following a 10-day break, the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team returned to action on Friday with a 61-54 road victory over Cal State San Bernardino. It's the fourth straight win for the Pioneers and puts them back over .500 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play at 4-3.

There was some rustiness on both sides after the long layoff, as neither squad reached 30 percent shooting from the field and the teams combined for 40 turnovers. But CSUEB guarded the three-point arc well as they have all year and managed to prevail in the defensive battle, largely on the strength of a dominant third quarter in which the Pioneers out-scored the Coyotes 21-9. 

The opening quarter was particularly low-scoring, with the teams combining for just six made field goals. After taking an 8-5 lead on a three-pointer by Janae Chamois, East Bay scored just one point in the final five and a half minutes of the period. Although the Pioneers trailed by just two, the Coyotes proceeded to open the second quarter on a 10-2 run.

But three minutes into the period, the Pioneers flipped the script. After San Bernardino went up by 10, their largest lead of the game, Morgan Greene came back down the floor and knocked down a jumper. That keyed a scoring run for the visitors, who out-paced the Coyotes 16-5 to close out the half. East Bay went into the break trailing by just one at 27-26.

They kept their momentum going into the third, quickly grabbing the lead on a three-pointer by Kayla Blair. Although the overall shooting percentages were poor for both sides on this night, the Pioneers were much more successful from long range. Led by Elayshia Woolridge and Kayley Hsiung, they went 6-for-14 (42.0 percent), while holding CSUSB to just 2-for-19 (10.5 percent). 

East Bay led by five midway through the third before going on a 10-4 scoring run. The Coyotes ended that run on a buzzer beater to end the period, but the Pioneers nonetheless stretched their lead out to 11.

The fourth quarter was not the prettiest basketball the CCAA has seen this season due to high turnover and foul totals and poor shooting from the floor, but CSUEB did an impressive job protecting their lead on the road and getting enough defensive stops to extend their winning streak. 

Woolridge went 4-for-6 at the free throw line in the final minute to help secure the victory, finishing with a game-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds. It's the second time this season reaching 20 points for the junior guard, who has scored in double figures in eight straight contests.

The Pioneers out-rebounded San Bernardino 50-49, largely on the strength of yet another spectacular performance on the glass from Greene. The sophomore grabbed 17 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive end. She also added five steals and scored 13 points to notch her 10th double-double of the season.

Hsiung posted eight points and five steals, and Savannah McGill came off the bench to tally seven rebounds. As a team, East Bay finished with 16 steals, easily their highest total of the season.

The Pioneers continue their SoCal road trip with another game Saturday night and a tough test against Cal Poly Pomona. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. as CSUEB attempts to make it five straight wins.