TURLOCK — After a The Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team returns home from a regular season-ending four-game road trip with a California Collegiate Athletic Association trophy.
After losing the lead several times in the fourth quarter, the Toros went on a 15-2 run within the final 3:27 to walk away with a 77-66 win over Stanislaus State to clinch at least a share of their second straight CCAA regular-season championship Saturday night.
Although CSUDH shares a piece of the CCAA Championship with UC San Diego and Cal State East Bay, the Toros receive the No. 1 seed based on a combined 2-1 record against both the Tritons and Pioneers and will host No. 8 Cal State L.A. at the Torodome Saturday at 7 p.m.
After a 1-5 start to the season, the Toros complete a turnaround to finish 20-8, their second straight 20-win season and fourth in program history.
"I'm really happy for this group (on winning the championship)," Toros head coach Molly Goodenbour said. "I'm proud of their resilience and ability to work through adversity. This was one of our goals. We stayed focused and we were able to finish it. Now we are excited to being CCAA Tourney play and see what we can do."
Breanne Garcia highlighted the night for the Toros with 23 points, with four 3-point field goals and going 7-for-8 on the free throw line. Ali Bettencourt continues to stay hot as she gathered 12 points off the bench. She has reached double figures in points in four of the last six games.
Anandi Jimenez had 11 points and was three rebounds shy from a double-double. Bridget Jenkins also had a stellar night on boards, gathering seven rebounds.
The Toros finished the night shooting 43.1 percent from the field but did make 18 of their 23 free throw opportunities.
Stanislaus State (16-10, 12-8), which will enter the CCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed and will host Cal State San Bernardino, dominated the rebounding column, 46-28, with Riley Holladay getting 11. Reana Hardin led the effort for the Warriors with 17 points.
Despite shooting 34.9 percent overall, the Warriors went 11-of-24 from beyond the arc.
The Toros opened the game outscoring the Warriors, 13-4, within the first 3:45. CSUDH then went on a 17-3 run in just over four minutes to build a 20-point lead within the final minute of the first quarter.
CSUDH came out of the locker room with a 11-point lead (48-37) only to see it disappear when a 15-2 run in between quarters put the Warriors in front for the first time 59-58.
Garcia would then lead the effort to get the Toros back on track as she scored nine points during the 15-2 run late in the quarter.