Toros Fall in First CCAA Road Test at Cal State L.A., 62-56

Box Score

LOS ANGELES -- Behind a strong contingent in cardinal and gold, the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros played the host Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles down to the wire. However it wasn't enough as CSULA never allowed the Toros to lead late, finishing in a 60-56 final. Junior Tiffany Smith sparked team in her first extensive action of the season, scoring a team-leading 14 while grabbing five rebounds.

The Golden Eagles (4-2, 2-2 CCAA) started the game by scoring on their first four possessions, only to have CSUDH come back and tie the game at 10 on a nifty Hillarie Perrin-Grant layup with 13:39 to play in the first. Both teams when on 9-0 and 8-0 runs, respectively, to keep the margin to no more than nine at any time.

Cal State Dominguez Hills never led in the first half but went into the locker room down only 33-30 thanks to their great rebounding. Smith was the catalyst for the team in the first half with her seven points, three rebounds and one assist in only seven minutes of action.

Unlike in the past few games, the Toros came out early in the second half on a 9-3 run to take their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Nikki Boutte'. The next 14 minutes saw both teams play sloppy at times as neither team was able to gather a lead larger than six.

With the Toros within two, CSULA's Lacy Ramon scored her 17th and 18th points on a layup with 55 seconds left to extend the lead to four at 58-54. CSUDH could not make the critical basket to close within a possession.

For the game the Toros shot only 27.7% compared to 43.8% for the home squad. CSUDH did hold the Golden Eagles to only 1-of-14 from behind the arc. Junior Ashley Hudson had another superb game in the post with 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Cal State Dominguez Hills (0-8, 0-4 CCAA) will return to action following the Christmas holiday against the Warriors of Cal State Stanislaus on Thursday December 30, at the early start time of 12:30PM on the "Dave Yanai Court." The game can be seen live via internet TV on www.GoToros.com/live.

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