SAN MARCOS, Calif. — On Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center, Cal State East Bay delivered its most complete performance of the season, rolling past Cal State San Marcos 79-49 to snap a five‑game skid and keep its postseason hopes alive. The Pioneers opened the day by setting the tone early and never looked back, using a dominant third quarter to seize full control and secure their largest margin of victory this season.
Hailey Estrada opened the scoring with a jumper that sparked a rapid 15-2 run in the first quarter. East Bay built its lead through defensive energy and early shot-making before the Cougars closed the gap to five. In the closing seconds of the first, Aloha Akaka knocked down a jumper to send the Pioneers (10-16, 9-11 CCAA) into the second with a 20-13 advantage.
The second quarter saw East Bay continue to dictate pace and tempo. At the 4:08 mark, Krista Sheaffer converted a layup that ignited an 11‑0 stretch, extending the lead to 38-19 late in the half. Although San Marcos scored the final three points before the break, the Pioneers carried a 38-22 lead into halftime, buoyed by aggressive defensive pressure and efficient inside scoring.
The decisive blow came in the third quarter, where East Bay erupted for 30 points. The Pioneers executed in transition, shared the ball, and forced hurried Cougar possessions as the lead ballooned to 68-31 entering the fourth. Their defensive pressure continued to generate high‑percentage opportunities, widening the gap in a quarter that ultimately determined the outcome.
In the fourth, a Sierra Morris layup with 5:03 remaining pushed the lead to 77-37, the largest of the afternoon. Though the Cougars made a small push in the final minutes, East Bay's control was never threatened as the Pioneers closed out a much‑needed 79-49 road win—also their first victory by 30 or more points since early in the 2022-23 season.
Taylor Eldredge led East Bay with 15 points on 7-for-15 shooting while adding three steals. Lucca Lowenberg contributed 11 points, all from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. Morris and Estrada finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Morris, Eldredge, and Sheaffer each grabbed nine rebounds as the Pioneers outrebounded San Marcos 49-43. East Bay held the Cougars to 25.0 percent shooting while hitting 44.1 percent of its own attempts, pairing defensive disruption with steady offensive execution.
Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin praised her team's complete performance, saying, "We came out and established our style of play early and set the tone for the day. We shared the ball, played together, and sped up our opponent. We finished possessions the right way and played Pioneer basketball. Now we have to build off this performance and head into next week ready to work and prepare for our next game."
The Pioneers return home Thursday, February 26, for a home showdown against Stanislaus State at Pioneer Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. East Bay won the previous meeting 79-64 on January 22 in Turlock, and with postseason positioning still at stake, the matchup carries heightened significance.
