CARSON, Calif. – The No. 1 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team took care of business in the NCAA West Regional First Round, rolling past No. 8 seed Azusa Pacific 77-58 at the Torodome on Friday night. The Toros, who improved to 33-1 overall, used a dominant defensive effort and a career performance from true freshman Cristina Jones to advance to the West Regional Semifinals.

Both teams came out firing, trading baskets early in an evenly matched opening period. Jones made an immediate impact, scoring six quick points in the paint while grabbing key rebounds to establish the Toros' presence inside. Nala Williams knocked down a three-pointer to help Dominguez Hills keep pace with the Cougars. The teams ended the first quarter tied at 18-18.

The Toros' defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding Azusa Pacific to just 10 points on 33.3% shooting. Jones continued to dominate inside, while Asia Jordan and Williams attacked the basket, combining for 15 first-half points. Dominguez Hills built separation with a 20-10 second quarter, heading into halftime with a 38-28 lead.

Dominguez Hills continued to control the game in the third, using their relentless defense and transition offense to extend their lead. Jones was unstoppable in the paint, racking up rebounds and finishing strong at the rim. The Toros outscored the Cougars 21-14 in the quarter, stretching their advantage to 59-42 heading into the final frame.

The Toros closed out the game with authority, never allowing Azusa Pacific to threaten their lead. Jones put an exclamation point on the night with a series of powerful drives to the hoop, finishing with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. Williams added to the defensive showcase with two steals and five assists, guiding Dominguez Hills to the comfortable victory.

Toros Stat Leaders

• Cristina Jones – 25 PTS, 13 REB, 2 AST, 5-6 FT
• Nala Williams – 17 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL
• Asia Jordan – 11 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
• Devon Lewis – 5 PTS, 5 AST
• Kya Pearson – 2 PTS, 2 REB, 1 STL

True freshman Cristina Jones continued her stellar postseason, delivering a dominant 25-point, 13-rebound performance in her NCAA Tournament debut. The first-year standout controlled the glass and provided a consistent scoring presence inside, proving to be a game-changer for the Toros.

With the win, Dominguez Hills advances to the NCAA West Regional Semifinals, where they will take on their next opponent on Saturday, March 16. The Toros will face the winner of the final game of the quarterfinals, either No.5 Montana St. Billings vs No.4 Alaska Anchorage in the regional semifinals at 7:30pm.