TURLOCK, Calif. — Saturday afternoon at Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena, Cal State East Bay put together a strong second-half response to earn a 79-64 road win over Stanislaus State, securing its second straight victory and evening its CCAA record.
After controlling the opening quarter, weathering a difficult second and then reclaiming the game with two decisive runs in the third, the Pioneers (6-10, 5-5 CCAA) pulled away late to complete the weekend on a positive note.
Cal State East Bay seized early momentum in the first quarter. With the score at 7-5, the Pioneers erupted for a 14-3 run to close the period. Eight consecutive points jump-started the surge, with Sierra Morris accounting for six during that stretch. East Bay's defensive pressure fueled transition chances and crisp half-court execution, resulting in a commanding 21-8 lead after the first quarter.
The game shifted in the second quarter as Stanislaus State steadily chipped away. The Warriors strung together stops and took advantage of a prolonged offensive drought by East Bay, which went more than six minutes without a field goal. Alyssa Premo's 3-pointer at the 1:10 mark gave Stanislaus State its first lead since the opening minutes, 33-31. The Warriors closed the half in front, 35-31, after outscoring the Pioneers 27-10 in the quarter.
Stanislaus State briefly extended the margin early in the third when Premo knocked down a jumper to make it 37-31, but that basket proved to be a turning point. Hailey Estrada responded with a layup that ignited a 7-0 run, swinging momentum back to East Bay. The Pioneers continued to apply pressure on both ends, gradually reclaiming the lead. With 3:00 remaining in the quarter, East Bay was ahead 51-48.
Estrada again sparked the decisive stretch late in the third. Her layup at the 2:47 mark began an 8-0 run to close the quarter, as the Pioneers outscored the Warriors 28-13 in the period and carried a 59-48 advantage into the fourth quarter.
East Bay remained firmly in control throughout the fourth, pushing the lead into double digits and limiting Stanislaus State's chances. The Pioneers built the margin to as many as 17 points and methodically closed out the 79-64 win, marking back-to-back road victories in conference play.
Hailey Estrada scored a season-high 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting and 5-for-6 at the line. Meredith Gilbertson posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Sierra Morris added 14 points and Krista Sheaffer scored 10. Taylor Eldredge dished a team-high six assists. Defensively, Lailah Carey recorded five steals. East Bay had a 45-37 rebounding edge. The Pioneers shot 45.6 percent to Stanislaus State's 37.3 percent.
"It was a good way to end the weekend," Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin said. "While we didn't put two complete halves together, it was important for our group to get back in the win column this week. We still need to continue improving and find a way to play consistently for four quarters, but earning a road win in conference play is always positive."
Cal State East Bay returns home for its next contest, hosting Cal State San Marcos on Thursday, January 22 for CCAA action. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.
