Carson, CA – After being tied at halftime, 21-21, the Toros shot a blistering 51.2% from the field in the second half while holding the Gators to a 25.8 field goal percentage to come away with a key 59-50 victory, virtually assuring CSUDH a berth in the upcoming NCAA Division II Far West Region playoffs. Alana Bailey (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS) would be tough to stop at both ends of the floor, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. With the win CSUDH improves to 15-10, 12-9 CCAA and SFSU falls to 7-19, 7-14 CCAA.
After a long jumper by Michelle Kribell (Buena Park, CA/Western HS) at the 19:12 mark to start the game, both teams would go cold for the next three minutes until a trey by the Gators' Jessica Hout-Freeman got SFSU on the board.
Hout-Freeman would tie the game at 7-7 with 11:55 on the clock on a tough baseline jumper over a Toro defender, and SFSU would grab its first lead of the game a minute and a half later on a layup by Krystle Mays.
After a six-minute scoring drought, Brigayle Iglehart (San Diego, CA/Grossmont College) grabbed an offensive board and converted on the put-back to bring CSUDH within two at 11-9 with 8:45 on the clock.
Senior Ree Browne (Torrance, CA/South Torrance HS) would then grab great position down low and get a lob over the top of a Gator defender from Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS) leading to an easy lay-up on which she would be fouled, converting the free throw to bring the Toros within one at 17-16 with 4:17 on the clock.
SFSU continued to keep its lead over the Toros as a lay-up by Ashlee Austin-Bean pushed the Gators' lead back up to three at 19-16 with just 3:49 left on the clock.
Bailey would tie the game at 19-19 on a baseline jumper with 1:30 left, but SFSU countered with a bucket by Shone Crain-Williams on the Gators' next possession.
Bailey would go back to work down low on the Toros next possession and tie the game for the third time at 21-21 as the half came to an end.
After intermission Bailey and Browne would go to work for the Toros, with Bailey hitting a jumper to put CSUDH up two. Browne would follow on the Toros next possession by grabbing an offense board and hitting a jumper, followed by a block at the defensive end by Bailey to keep the Toros up by two at 27-25.
At the 12:40 mark, Unique Bennett (San Bernardino, CA/Chaffey College) came off the bench and banked home a trey to give the Toros their biggest lead of the game at 37-31.
Jessica Liang (Alhambra, CA/Mark Keppel HS) and Iglehart followed with a pair of three-point plays, with Liang hitting the trey and Iglehart converting an old-fashioned 3-point play to put CSUDH up 45-31 with 10:28 remaining.
CSUDH would keep its lead hovering around double digits for the remainder of the game.
SFSU was led by Mays with 12 points and nine rebounds while Hout-Freeman chipped in 11 point in the effort.
In addition to Bailey's double-double, Iglehart added a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds and Liang chipped in 11 points in the win.
With the win the Toros not only secured their spot in the NCAA DII tournament, but head coach Van Girard is now one win away from 250 in his career.
CSUDH will conclude its 2006-07 regular season tomorrow against Cal State Monterey Bay, with tip off slated for 5:30 pm in the Torodome. The game will mark the final home contest for the lone senior on the team in Ree Browne, who will conclude her five-year Toro career.
