CARSON -- In a remarkable year of firsts, the top-seeded and nationally 4th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros continue to one-up themselves.

In a precision-like 77-66 dismantling of No. 5 seed Montana State Billings in the second semifinal of the NCAA West Region, CSUDH reached 30 wins for the first time in program history, won two games in a regional for the first time in program history, and will play in the NCAA West Region final on Monday for the first time in program history.

On a team that's stressed balance and depth all year, it was next woman up today as 1st-team All-CCAAer Asia Jordan took her turn to lead the Toros in the first half after CCAA Freshman of the Year Nala Williams took that responsibility in yesterday's win. 

Jordan lived up to her namesake and number (23) with an MJ-like performance in the most important game of her college career, scoring a game-high 23 points and pulling down 10 boards, the lone player to record a double-double.  The Lakewood HS product poured in 15 points in the first half to lead the Toros to a 43-31 cushion after two quarters, providing a much-needed cushion against a historically hot 3-point shooting squad.

With the win, CSUDH will face a familiar foe in fellow CCAA school and No. 3 seed Cal State San Marcos, which bested No. 7 seed Azusa Pacific in the early game, setting up the fourth meeting this year on Monday with a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight on the line.

Monday's NCAA West Region title game starts at 7 pm in the Torodome on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Here's the complete NCAA Division II bracket, with national No. 4/6 CSUDH and national No. 16/22 CSUSM two of the final sixteen teams left in the running for the NCAA National Title.

After MSUB took a 12-8 lead with four minutes elapsed in the first quarter, the Toros outscored the Jackets 15-6 the rest of the way to take the lead for good.

The second quarter saw CSUDH's lead increase to double-figures at 30-20 after an Amaya Snowden deep triple, and to 12 four times, the last coming on a Danyell Booker jumper to give the Toros a 43-31 lead at halftime.

Jordan scored the second half's first basket for a 14 point lead, with the advantage reaching 50-35 on another Booker layup before the Toros settled for a 59-46 edge after three.

Being resigned to the bench after early foul trouble, Williams got into the scoring act with a triple to push CSUDH's lead to 16 at 62-46 with just eight seconds elapsed in the final period, with Williams again providing a huge blow with another 3-pointer, good for a 19-point lead (71-52) with 6:26 left in regulation.

MSUB was able to find its stroke and get its deficit down to just 12 with 3:51 left, but buckets by Williams and Jordan quelled any hopes of a comeback in the eventual 11-point win.

Williams finished with 16 and Deejanae Poland 11 to round out the double-figure scorers for the Toros, while Booker added eight boards and Dawnyel Lair six in the win.

Cal State Dominguez Hills took both regular season contests from the Cougars, only to have CSUMB turn the tables on the Toros when the teams met for the CCAA Tournament Title.

Two days from now, the two teams will go toe-to-toe for one of eight spots to the Elite Eight, the biggest "first" in the history of either program.

About Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics
The Toros are proud to be a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competing at the Division II level, bringing excitement and tradition to the campus through 10 different sports (4 Men's, 6 Women's).  The program boasts 4 NCAA Championships, 2 NAIA National Titles, 10 NCAA West Region crowns and 34 CCAA Championships.  CSUDH is one of 12 universities that competes in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the most prominent Division II conference in the nation with 155 NCAA National Championships, far more than any other conference in the nation.