SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — On a chilly Tuesday evening inside the Conlan Center, Cal State East Bay fought with grit but couldn't withstand Dominican's fourth quarter surge, falling 88-63 to the unbeaten Penguins. For three quarters, the Pioneers traded blows and kept the game within reach, but a decisive fourth quarter turned the tide for good.
The opening quarter was a showcase of resilience. Dominican led early, but the Pioneers clawed back with a burst of energy late in the frame. Mia Va'asili drilled a three-pointer with 1:46 left, and Hailey Estrada followed with another from deep less than a minute later. Those shots gave East Bay a 19-18 lead after the first quarter, though missed opportunities in the final seconds kept the margin slim.
The second quarter opened with Dominican reclaiming the lead just 16 seconds in. After a two-minute scoring drought, Estrada answered with a three-pointer to push East Bay ahead 22-20. But the Penguins responded immediately, and the back-and-forth continued until Dominican closed the half on a 7-0 run as the surge sent East Bay into halftime trailing 38-28.
Momentum stayed with Dominican after the break. A quick three-pointer extended the lead, but Meredith Gilbertson's layup kept East Bay in the fight. The Pioneers chipped away throughout the third quarter, and when Estrada sank a free throw with one minute remaining, the deficit was just three at 52-49. Neither team scored from the field in the final minute, and Dominican held a 54-49 edge heading into the fourth.
That's when the game slipped away. Aryn Bright opened the final quarter with back-to-back jumpers, sparking a run that ballooned Dominican's lead into double digits less than two minutes in. From there, the Penguins controlled the pace and closed strong, handing East Bay (1-5) a tough road loss, 88-63.
- Estrada and Va'asili led the Pioneers with 10 points apiece, each hitting four field goals.
- Estrada added a team-high nine rebounds and four assists,
- Krista Sheaffer anchored the defense with two steals and a block.
- Both teams battled evenly on the glass, finishing tied at 47 rebounds, but Dominican's 41.8 percent shooting outpaced East Bay's 32.9 percent.
"This is a game we need to learn from," head coach Jenny Thigpin said. "We have to be honest with ourselves, look in the mirror and address the mistakes. Controlling the ball and stopping their runs are things we have to improve, and we will."
Cal State East Bay now turns its attention to conference play, opening CCAA action Thursday at San Francisco State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the SFFCU Gymnasium at Don Nasser Family Plaza.
