Thirteen Overall Lead Changes Prove Unlucky as Toros Drop 54-67 Decision to Chico State

CARSON -- A second half surge from the visiting Wildcats of Chico State kept the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team at bay before CSUC would take the contest in an 67-54 decision. With her first double-double of the season Whitney Gantt led all Toros with 18 points and 13 boards.

With no clear decision on who played better in the first half, both teams were hot from the floor with the hosts shooting 42.9% and the visitors at a 45.2% clip.

Six total lead changes in the first 20 of play kept things close, the largest lead attained by the Toros in the half came at 16-10 with 14:07 on the clock off a MacKenzie Mathias trey.

Down by seven with just over a minute left two Kayla Huckabee freebies and a Kala Amico trey cut down the Wildcat lead to send the teams into the break with CSUC holding the advantage at 32-29.

For a solid 15-minutes the second half was just as wire-to-wire with yet again six lead changes.

The Wildcats grabbed the last lead they would need at the 13:29 off a Christine Vest jump, barely holding on until the five-minute mark when a Courtney Harrison three gave them the first double-digit lead of the game at 59-48.

The Toros had nothing left in the final two of play, scoring only three points while the 'Cats grabbed six before the eventual 67-54 decision, Wildcats.

Overall the Toros dropped their shooting percentage 8-points from the first to the second before ending on a 38.9% mark, not enough with the 'Cats shooting at a 45.5% strength.

Leading the Toros with her first double-double, Gantt grabbed 18 points and 13 boards, with all of her field goals coming from inside the paint. Leniece Arevalo was the only other double-digit scorer for CSUDH at 12points.

Taking the charge in CSUC's shooting Melissa Richardson grabbed 19 points, Vest 12 and Synchro Bull 11. Vest also tabbed a double-double of her own with 10 boards.

The loss drops the Toros to a 10-16 overall mark and keeps them tied at No. 8 in the CCAA at 9-12. The Toros will close out the regular season tomorrow with senior day festivities as they host Cal State Stanislaus at 5:30pm with a guaranteed berth in the CCAA Tournament on the line.

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