Box score | Azusa Pacific postgame | Cal State San Marcos postgame

HAYWARD, Calif. - Cal State San Marcos' terrific season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA West Regional when Azusa Pacific hit a desperation 3-pointer at the end of regulation and then won in overtime, 89-86.
 
Azusa Pacific's Paige Uyehara, who made the game-tying 3-pointer as time expired, led all scorers with 27 points. The sophomore guard was 9-of-13 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the arc. She added five assists and three steals. Molly Whitmore added 21 points and nine rebounds, and Laura Pranger chipped in 16.
 
CCAA Player of the Year Akayla Hackson paced five Cal State San Marcos student-athletes in scoring with 20 points. Kate Carlson came off the bench to post a double-double with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. Sydney Buckley added 15 points, and Dynnah Buckner and Kelsey Forrester chipped in with 11 and 14 points, respectively.
 
Azusa Pacific took control of the game with an 11-2 run late in the first quarter, and it held the lead through halftime (41-33). Cal State San Marcos put together an 11-2 run of its own in the third quarter to take the lead and go into the fourth quarter up one (57-56).
 
The teams traded baskets throughout the quarter until a free throw by Carlson put Cal State San Marcos up 76-73 with 13 seconds left. Azusa Pacific called a timeout to set up a 3-pointer from Kayla Shaw. As time winded down, she put up a shot that hit hard off the backboard and went right to Uyehara, who was open on the wing. She eluded the first defender before putting up a shot as time expired that found the bottom of the net and sent the game to overtime.
 
In the extra period, the game was tied at 80-80 and then Azusa Pacific went on an 8-2 run to take a six-point lead with 25 seconds remaining. A 3-pointer by Hackson cut the deficit back to 88-85 and Uyehara extended it back to four with a free throw. Kelly Heimburger blocked the following 3-point attempt by Cal State San Marcos. Azusa Pacific then sent Carlson to the free throw line with six seconds left rather than let Cal State San Marcos attempt another 3-point attempt.
 
Azusa Pacific will move to the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional. They will face the No. 1 seed, Cal State East Bay, on Saturday, March 12 7:30 p.m.