REMATCH! Toros and Pioneers to Face Off in Second-Straight CCAA Tournament Title Game
STOCKTON – After winning their respective CCAA Tournament semifinal matchups, top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills (22-8) and No. 3 seed Cal State East Bay (26-4) will play eachother in the Conference Tournament Final for the second-straight season.
The two-time defending champion Toros advance to the championship game and will play one of their other regular-season co-champions Cal State East Bay for the second-consecutive year, Saturday at 7:35 p.m. Fans that are unable to make the game can access the
live stats and
video through the Conference website (www.goccaa.org).
The Toros snagged the Tournament Championship last season for the second-consecutive year with its convincing 76-57 win over the Pioneers.
Cal State Dominguez Hills 77, Cal State San Bernardino 71
Courtesy – Rick Hoskin, Cal State Dominguez Hills Sports Information
Breanne Garcia scored 26 points, Ali Bettencourt had 13 and Imari Brown and Bridget Jenkins each had 10 as the Cal State Dominguez Hills led throughout the second half and held on to knock out Cal State San Bernardino, 77-71, in the semifinal round Friday evening.
While the rain had dropped outside Stockton Arena, the Toros were making shots drop throughout the night as they shot 51.7 percent from the field. Bettencourt had three of the Toros seven 3-pointers.
Garcia had another busy night on the floor. In addition to her 26 points, the senior had five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 38 minutes of playing time.
Kielyn WIlson grabbed seven rebounds to led that category for the Toros.
Coyote leading scorer Chelsea Barnes led the effort for CSUSB (14-13) with 23 points, including five of the team's 13 free throws.
The Coyotes owned a 45.8 field goal percentage by the end of the night.
While the Coyotes got a pair of jumpers to take a 4-0 lead, the Toros were off to a cold start until a Bettencourt 3-pointer with six minutes left got them back on track. The Coyotes regained the lead with a pair of baskets but a 10-0 Toro run gave the Cardinal and Gold a 15-8 lead.
The Toros had led the entire second quarter and took a 43-33 lead into the locker room. The Toros shot 57.1 percent from the field and was 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. Garcia and Brown both led the effort with 10 points but Bettencourt and Bridget Jenkins both had eight.
Rebounding was an issue though in the first half as the Coyotes won that category, 17-11, with seven of them offensive boards.
After Garcia's jumper just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Toros a 72-60 lead, it was nearly lost as the Coyotes rallied to bring the deficit to one with 1:30 remaining. The bench came through for CSUDH as Jenkins got a layup in and Bettencourt hit an important three to give the Toros a six-point lead with 32 seconds remaining.
Wilson came up with a defensive play but snagging the ball away from Brianna Harden with 15 seconds left.
CSUDH Post-Game Interview – Head Coach Molly Goodenbour, Kielyn Wilson
CSUSB Post-Game Interview – Head Coach Sue Crebbin
Cal State East Bay 79, UC San Diego 77 (OT)
Courtesy – Steve Connolly, Cal State East Bay Sports Information
The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team secured its second-straight trip to the Conference's Tournament championship game with a thrilling 79-77 overtime win over 19th-ranked UC San Diego on Friday night at Stockton Arena.
The Pioneers run their win streak to 13 games after avenging a two-point regular season loss to the Tritons, one of just four teams to defeat East Bay this season. With an overall record of 26-4, CSUEB will continue the best season in program history Saturday night against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the title game.
In an incredibly well-played and evenly-matched game, the Pioneers were outshot 51.7 percent to 44.6 percent and out-rebounded 30 to 26 by fellow regular season co-champion UCSD. But they forced the Tritons into 23 turnovers and came up with big defensive stops when they needed them.
The contest was tight from the outset as the teams traded points in the first quarter. The Pioneers forced six turnovers in the opening period, and Tori Breshers scored half of East Bay's points to pace the team to a 14-12 lead.
The Pioneers grabbed some momentum midway through the second quarter, as they went on a 7-0 run to take a 28-22 advantage and force a Triton timeout. UCSD closed the gap before halftime, but East Bay clung to a 32-29 lead through the first two periods.
Madison Craig scored eight points in the first half, including a pair of three-pointers. Bianca Littleton also had a big half for the Pioneers with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting. Shannon Bland notched four assists and three steals before the break.
"Bianca's spirit, energy, and effort were at an all time high tonight, and it lifted us when we were down," Barcomb noted.
Both squads came out of halftime running, and the third quarter turned into a high-scoring back-and-forth affair. UCSD was red hot, going 9-for-10 from the field in the period, but the Pioneers kept themselves in the game by continuing to force turnovers. Laci Effenberger buried a pair of three-pointers in the third, extending her streak to 45 straight games with a made three. The Pioneers headed into the fourth trailing 52-50.
The teams put on an impressive shooting display in the fourth quarter, continuing to trade buckets. As the clock wound down, the Pioneers got possession of the ball trailing 72-71 with 34 seconds left. Ashleigh Anderson drew a foul under the basket and made one of two free throws to tie the game. The Pioneers then locked down on defense, and the Tritons couldn't even get a shot off on the final possession.
After 40 minutes of regulation, the teams went to overtime tied 72-72. It was fitting that two squads which tied for the regular season CCAA title with matching 18-2 records and played a two-point game when they met in Hayward back in January would require extra time to decide a trip to the conference championship game.
Despite Breshers and Littleton fouling out in regulation, the Pioneers came out firing in overtime, scoring the first seven points of the period to grab the momentum. But the Tritons wouldn't roll over that easily. Jamie Katuna, who led all scorers with __ points in the game, got a steal and a layup to get UCSD on the board, and then Beth Mourier buried a three to bring the Tritons back within two at 79-77. UCSD had a final chance to tie or win the game with 17 seconds left, but Bland blocked Katuna's shot in the lane and the final buzzer sounded.
The Pioneers had five players score in double figures and racked up 19 assists. Craig turned in one of her best performances of the season with 16 points, going 4-for-9 from long distance.
Breshers scored 15, and Littleton poured in 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Effenberger posted 10 points and a game-high eight assists, while Bland filled up the scoresheet with 11 points, five assists, and six steals.
"Our guard play was outstanding tonight, every last one of them" Barcomb added. "We survived and advanced, and at this point that is all we care about. We are still working towards our goals."
The Pioneers will look to capture the University's first ever CCAA postseason championship tomorrow night against a talented CSUDH squad. It will be a re-match of last year's title game, which the Toros won 76-57. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Stockton Arena.
CSUEB Post-Game Interview – Head Coach Suzy Barcomb, Laci Effenberger, Madison Craig
UCSD Post-Game Interview – Heidi VanDerveer