NAMPA, Idaho – After dropping Friday's season opener, the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team bounced back with a 73-66 victory on Saturday evening at Northwest Nazarene. Payton Sterk and Taylor Linzie had a double-double each in points and rebounds. The win was also the first at Cal State East Bay for head coach Jenny Thigpin.  
 

GAME SUMMARY

 
The first quarter was close early, but the shooting from beyond the arc helped the Pioneers establish and build a lead. Trailing 11-9, Grace Campbell made a 3-pointer at the 3:45 mark. After a steal by Delia Moore, Campbell made a layup. Less than one minute later, Moore made a 3-pointer and at the 1:34 mark, Sterk was successful from beyond the arc as the Pioneers' run created a 20-11 lead. They finished the opening quarter ahead 20-13.
 
Although the Pioneers built their lead up to 14, ahead 29-15 on a 3-pointer from Campbell at the 7:30 mark, the Nighthawks climbed back and eventually tied the game 32-32 on a jumper from McKenna Castledine with less than a minute in the half. But just seconds later, Sterk made a pair of free throws, as the Pioneers to a 34-32 lead into the halftime break.
Quarter three was close, but NNU lead for many moments of it. However, a layup by Kayla Rosemon with 2:02 left in the quarter put the Pioneers ahead 51-49, as they finished the third quarter ahead 53-51.
 
Shawnacee Davis tied the game at 53-53 to start the fourth quarter for NNU, but less than a minute later, Linzie made a layup to give the lead back to Cal State East Bay. Although the lead was no greater than eight points in the fourth quarter, it was thereafter not relinquished. Free throws by Linzie and Sterk in the final minute of regulation helped the Pioneers pull away for a 73-66 win.
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Sterk's double-double included 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
• For Linzie, to reach a double double, she scored 14 points and gathered 10 rebounds.
• Moore finished as the Pioneers' leading scorer with 17 points, going 6-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
• Campbell went 3-for-7 from beyond the arc.
• Defensively, Sterk and Moore had four steals each.
• As a team, the Pioneers went 24-for-52 in field goals and 18-for-24 from the free throw line.
• Cal State East Bay more than doubled NNU's rebound total with 52 to NNU's 24.
• Jordan Pinson was the leading scorer for the Nighthawks with 15 points.

POSTGAME QUOTE

 
After her first win as head coach of the Pioneers, Thigpin added her thoughts:
"Extremely proud of the way our kids and how they responded tonight by picking up an early win on the road. They fought through pressure and adversity on the second night of [back-to-back road games]. Great team win!"
 

RECORDS

 
Cal State East Bay: 1-1
Northwest Nazarene: 1-0
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

 
The Pioneers return to action on Friday, November 18 when they take on Academy of Art in the Warrior Classic, taking place on the campus of Stanislaus State. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. from Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock.