HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team fell to Cal State LA 75-62 in a CCAA matchup Thursday evening at Pioneer Gymnasium.
 

GAME SUMMARY

The Golden Eagles quickly established control, jumping out to a 19-9 lead with just under five minutes left in the first quarter. The Pioneers fought back, narrowing the gap to six points after a layup by Krista Sheaffer at the 1:16 mark. However, Cal State LA maintained their advantage, ending the first frame up 25-17.

Despite a slower scoring pace from CSULA in the second quarter, East Bay struggled to gain ground, trailing 40-27 at halftime.

The Pioneers pushed themselves back in the game during the third quarter, closing the gap to as little as five points on multiple occasions. Ariyah Smith's 3-pointer at the 1:05 mark brought East Bay within striking distance at 52-47. However, the Golden Eagles responded with five unanswered points to close out the quarter, leading 57-47 heading into the final period.

Cal State LA continued their momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring six more unanswered points to extend their lead. Despite their efforts, the Pioneers were unable to mount a significant comeback, ultimately falling 75-62.

NOTABLE STATS

• Ariyah Smith led East Bay with 15 points, shooting 6-for-13 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Smith also contributed defensively with five steals.
• Joia Armstrong reached double figures with 11 points.
• Gwendilyn Aasland grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
• The Pioneers struggled from the field, shooting 36.5 percent compared to Cal State LA's 44.4 percent.
• The Golden Eagles also held a significant rebounding advantage, outboarding East Bay 46-34.

POSTGAME QUOTE

Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin following Thursday's game: 
"We had some good moments tonight but weren't able to get over the hump when we closed the gap in the third quarter. We have one more to close out the season and look to bring energy and close out the year on a high note." 
 

RECORDS

Cal State East Bay: 9-18, 7-14 CCAA
Cal State LA: 17-9, 12-9 CCAA
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

Cal State East Bay will look to bounce back in its regular season finale on Saturday, March 1, as they host No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills. The CCAA matchup, which also serves as Senior Night for the Pioneers, is set to tip off at 5:30 p.m. at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward, California.