HAYWARD, Calif. — Cal State East Bay opened the new year with an early surge but couldn't hold off Cal State San Bernardino's second-half push, falling 84-65 Friday evening at Pioneer Gymnasium.
After the Coyotes struck first with a 3-pointer from Rebecca Saidoff, Hailey Estrada answered with a layup that sparked a 12-0 run for the Pioneers. East Bay controlled the first quarter and capped it in the final seconds when Meredith Gilbertson grabbed consecutive offensive rebounds, tipped in a basket, and converted a free throw to make it 18-9 after the first.
Gilbertson extended the lead to 20-9 just 10 seconds into the second quarter, but San Bernardino responded with a 16-4 run fueled by turnovers to take a 26-24 lead at the 3:18 mark. Aloha Akaka briefly put East Bay back ahead with a 3-pointer, but the Coyotes closed the half strong and led 34-31 at the break.
San Bernardino carried that momentum into the third quarter with 10 unanswered points for a 44-31 advantage. East Bay trimmed the deficit to six late in the frame, including a steal and layup from Taylor Eldredge at 1:54, but the Coyotes maintained control and entered the fourth up 64-54. An 8-0 run to start the final quarter sealed the outcome as CSUSB pulled away for the win.
Akaka led the Pioneers (4-7, 3-2 CCAA) with 17 points on 5-for-11 shooting and a 6-for-7 mark from the free-throw line. Eldredge added 12 points and four steals, while Gilbertson posted her fifth straight double-digit rebounding effort with a team-high 14 boards. Lucca Lowenberg dished out a season-best five assists. East Bay finished with an 18-17 edge in steals and a 47-39 advantage on the glass, but shot 32.9 percent from the field compared to 47.6 percent for the Coyotes.
"It was a tough way to start off the new year on our home court," said head coach Jenny Thigpin. "We started the game off with intensity but struggled to play against their pressure from the second quarter on. We will look at the film and look for ways to get better and compete against [Cal Poly Pomona]."
Cal State East Bay returns to action Sunday, hosting No. 14 Cal Poly Pomona at 1 p.m. in Pioneer Gymnasium to continue its four-game CCAA homestand to start 2026.
