Carson, CA – The Toros could not overcome Sonoma State's 53.8% field goal percentage and 57.1% from three-point territory, as CSUDH fell 63-59 to the visiting Seawolves. With the loss the Toros fall to 11-9, 8-8 CCAA and the Seawolves improve to 10-10, 9-7 CCAA.
Jessica Liang (Alhambra, CA/Mark Keppel HS) would get things going for the Toros with a long range bomb to begin the game.
CSUDH would build a 13-4 lead over the first eight minutes of play only to see the Seawolves counter with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to produce the game's first tie at 13-13.
The two teams would remain close for the remainder of the half with ties at 15-15, 16-16, and 20-20, before the Toros would grab a slim one-point lead at 23-22 on a layup by #Brigayle Iglehart# (San Diego, CA/Grossmont College) with the clock winding down.
Overall SSU would outshoot the Toros from the field 40.0% to 28.6%, but the Toros would take six more shot attempts in the half due to a +5 offensive rebounding margin.
The second half would start with neither team wanting to budge an inch as the squads knotted at 25-25, 27-27, 34-34, and again at 42-42 after a three-point play by Iglehart with 7:40 on the clock.
The two teams would continue to trade until a jumper by Danae Wellander and a three-point shot by Genny Anderson would give SSU the lead at 49-44 with 5:04 on the clock.
The Toros' Liang and the Seawolves' Jennifer Russo would trade long-range bombs with just over three minutes on the clock to keep the SSU lead at four points.
With 1:44 on the clock Alana Bailey (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS) would grab an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and make the putback, sinking an ensuing free throw after she was fouled to cut the deficit to three at 53-50.
SSU would respond by making a pair of free throws, only to have Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS) rip down an offensive board and make the putback.
The Coyotes would find success at the charity stripe, converting all four attempts to extend their lead to 59-52 with under a minute remaining.
Blankenship would drive hard to the basket and be fouled as she hit a fade away jumper with just 28 ticks on the clock. Blankenship would miss the freethrow, but Ennisha Kyles (Los Angeles, CA/USC Mast HS) would fight for the offensive rebound, and Blankenship again would be fouled and sent to the line, where this time she would hit both free throws to bring the Toros to within three at 59-56.
The Seawolves would break the ensuing Toro full court press and force CSUDH to foul Chelsey Armacost, who would hit both free throws for some breathing room.
Liang would nail a long-range bomb with 7.4 on the clock to cut the deficit to three at 61-59 but after the Toros were forced to foul with time winding down, SSU's Wellander would hit both freethrows to seal the win for the Seawolves.
Offensively, Wellander would garner game-high scoring honors with 18 points, while Armacost chipped in 12 in the win.
Iglehart would lead the Toros with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Blankenship would chip in 13 points and five rebounds, while Bailey added her fourth-consecutive game in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds.
The Toros will be in action next Friday, February 16, when they host Cal State L.A., with first tip scheduled for 5:30 pm in the Torodome.
