HAYWARD, Calif. – Coming off a tough loss in overtime on the road, the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team answered the challenge of bouncing back with a 69-66 win against Cal State LA on Thursday evening inside Pioneer Gymnasium. 
 

GAME SUMMARY

 
The Pioneers and Golden Eagles played a close battle in the first half, but CSULA led for a majority of the half with no lead greater than five points. But with 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Payton Sterk hit a game-tying three pointer to even the game at 26-26. At the end of the half, Lily Buggs gave the Golden Eagles a 29-26 lead with a 3-pointer of her own. 

Cal State East Bay scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to take a lead and build it to as many as 16 points in the quarter. However, CSULA scored the final four points of the quarter, as the Pioneers led 54-42 after three quarters. 

The Pioneers had a double-digit lead until the 6:06 mark of the fourth quarter, which is when Melena Bland hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to seven, 60-53. CSUEB held on to s single digit lead which dwindled to one point with 25 seconds to go, 67-66. When the lead was down to one, Delia Moore was fouled and made a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left. Multiple defensive stops by CSUEB finished the game, as the Pioneers prevailed 69-66. 
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Moore finished as CSUEB's top scorer with 21 points, going 8-for-16 from the floor and converting four free throw attempts. 
• Defensively, Moore had four steals. 
• The top rebounder for the Pioneers was Grace Campbell with 15. 
• With the win, the Pioneers keep pace with Sonoma State and Cal Poly Pomona, but remain two games out of sixth place in the CCAA standings with three regular season games remaining. 
• Led by Nicole Flennaugh with 17 points for CSULA, four Golden Eagles finished in double-figures in scoring. 

POSTGAME QUOTE

 
Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin following Thursday's win:
"It was a great way to start the weekend as we came out with urgency in the second half and put ourselves in a great position to bring the game home. We were fortunate to get the win but must play better down the stretch going into the rest of our games." 
 

RECORDS

 
Cal State East Bay: 12-11, 9-10 CCAA
Cal State LA: 17-7, 14-5 CCAA
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

 
On Saturday, it will be the final home game of the 2022-23 season for Cal State East Bay. Before the game, the Senior Day ceremony will take place honoring Grace Campbell, Michaella Dean and Delia Moore. Following the ceremony, tipoff from Pioneer Gymnasium is set for 1 p.m. against No. 14 Cal State San Marcos.