CARSON - The Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team battled back from a nine-point deficit, 59-50, with two and a half minutes left in the third quarter to defeat San Francisco State by a final score of 97-92 in overtime in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchup, Saturday at the Torodome.
CSUDH (4-1, 1-0 CCAA) had five players in double figures, led by junior
Gabrielle Leos' 18 points. Seniors
Destinee Williams and
Ahlisha Henderson each finished with double-doubles. Williams had 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, while Henderson collected 11 points and 12 boards. Sophomore
Lea Anderson and junior
Janelle Sumilong were the other two Toros in double figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively. The duo also had a combined 13 assists, with Sumilong dishing out a season-best eight helpers and Anderson with five. The Gators (0-4, 0-1 CCAA) were led by Jolene Armendariz's 20 points.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the opening quarter with CSUDH taking a slight 22-20 lead after the first 10 minutes. The Toros took control of the second period and led by as much as eight points, on three different occasions. CSUDH went into halftime up by five, 42-37.
The Toros took their biggest lead of the game, 50-41, with eight minutes left to go in the third quarter after a 3-pointer from Williams. The Gators responded with an 18-0 run to take a nine-point advantage of their own, 59-50, with 2:30 left in the third period. CSUDH trailed by four, 61-57, with 10 minutes left in regulation.
The Toros battled back and closed the gap to three, 83-80, with 45 seconds left on the clock. With 10 ticks remaining, Williams got a pass from Sumilong on the inbound play and hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to force overtime.
In overtime, Sumilong and Henderson combined for nine points as CSUDH took a 82-84 advantage to put the game away as the Toros ultimately prevailed by five.
The Toros will have a day off before traveling to and facing Stanislaus State on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 5:30 p.m.
