Toros Seniors Sent Out With Buzzer-Beating 56-55 Win Over Cal State East Bay

Box Score

CARSON -- Down two with 1.9 seconds left in regulation was more than enough for freshman Hillarie Perrin-Grant, who sent her three senior teammates out in style on "Senior Day" with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Toros a heart-stopping win over shell-shocked Cal State East Bay.

Junior Tiffany Smith led CSUDH with 18 points and eight rebounds, all off the bench, to give the Toros their fourth win of the season.

Both teams traded the lead over the first three minutes with the Pioneers taking a 6-5 lead at the 16:57 mark. CSUDH used the next 7:33 to go on a 10-2 run and lap CSU East Bay 15-8 with 9:24 left in the half. Up nine at 25-16, CSUDH would be outscored 5-0 to end the half only up four at 25-21. Smith had 11 points, four rebounds and four steals off the bench as the teams combined to committed 28 turnovers in the half.

CSUEB continued its run, eventually taking the lead early in the half. Once again each team traded the lead with the Toros leading 36-35 with 10:55 remaining in the game. The Pioneers went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to take a nine point lead. Over the next six minutes CSUDH inched closer and closer, pulling to within one at 51-50 with 1:27 left.

The teams each scored a two-point basket before an old-fashioned three-point play by Smith would knot the game at 53 with 22 seconds left. A missed defensive assignment led to a CSUEB layup, setting up a fantastic finish.

After a rebound off a missed Smith shot went off a Pioneer with 1.9 seconds left, head coach Van Girard drew up the winning play during a CSU East Bay timeout.
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For the game, CSU Dominguez Hills was outshot 46% to 33% while CSUEB committed 26 turnovers in its loss. The Toros now trail San Francisco State and Sonoma State, who they will be playing in their season finale, by one game for the final CCAA tournament playoff spot.

Cal State Dominguez Hills returns to action on the road on Wednesday, February 23, in Arcata, to face Humboldt State with the tip set for 5:30pm

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