Chico State Pulls Out Key Win in 54-51 Decision

Box Score

CARSON -- Visiting Chico State turned a 12-point halftime deficit into a three-point win after a sizzling second half that saw the Wildcats outscore the host Toros 33-18 in an eventual 54-51 CSUC triumph.

Monay Lee led the Toros with 12 points as CSUDH stayed in second place in the CCAA, but now sits tied with two other teams with its 16-6, 12-6 record.

The two teams played it tight to the vest to begin the contest, with the Wildcats taking an early 6-point lead three times in the first eight minutes of play.

CSUDH cut its deficit down on a pair of Lee free throws, and the final of two buckets by Breanne Garcia knotted the game at 15-15 with 9:34 left in the first half.

Up one at 21-20 after a Hannah Womack triple at the 5:10 mark, the Toros used buckets by Lee, Talia Rayford and Tayler Champion to stretch their lead to 28-20, with a pair of Kieyln Wilson freebies giving CSUDH its first double-digit lead en route to a 33-21 halftime lead.

After one made free throw by Lee kept CSUDH's lead at double figures with 18:00 left in regulation, CSUC chipped away after an Analisa Riezebos layup, two 3-pointers and Jazmine Miller bucket knotted the game at 40-all, setting up the fantastic finish.

Tied again at 42-42, the Wildcats ran off eight-straight points to take a 50-42 lead with exactly 7:00 left, before the Toros staged one final run as a Garcia triple and buckets by Ashanti Sweezer and Champion brought CSUDH to within one with 4:22 left in the game.

CSUC, however, continued to make its free throws down the stretch in taking a 54-51 lead with 3 seconds left, and a 3-point attempt by Garcia was blocked by Riezebos as time expired, creating the logjam for 2nd place in the CCAA.

Miller led all scorers with 19 points while Riezebos tallied a game-high 12 boards, all on the defensive end.

As a team, CSUDH shot just 32.1% from the floor and misfired on eight of their 21 attempts from the foul line including missing four of seven in the second half, usually a strong suit for this year's squad.

CSUDH will look to get back in the win column on the road this week, starting with a date at Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday before playing its final regular season road game at Humboldt State two days later.

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