[Box score] [Cal State LA presser] [Montana State Billings presser]

No. 5 seed Cal State LA came up just short against the No. 4 seed Montana State Billings in the first round of the NCAA West Regional, 69-66.
 
Lily Buggs led all scorers with 18 points while adding a team-leading seven rebounds. Raya Smith hit all eight of her shots at the charity stripe before finishing with 14 points and game-high three steals. Taryn Shelley came off the bench to lead the Yellowjackets with 15 points. Cariann Kunkel and Dyauni Boyce had 13 points apiece, and Kortney Nelson added 11.
 
Cal State LA grabbed the early lead before Montana State Billings battled back to take a 37-30 halftime lead with a 13-2 run to close the half. A layup by Kunkel pushed the Yellowjackets' lead to 12 one minute into the second half.
 
The Golden Eagles chipped away at MSUB's advantage the rest of the half, and they retook the lead on a 3-pointer by Buggs with 7:56 remaining (56-55). It remained close over the next four minutes, and a bucket by Silivia Fonongaloa had the Golden Eagles down just one (62-61) with 3:18 on the clock. Unfortunately, this would be the last basket Cal State LA would see go through the hoop.
 
Over the final three minutes, CSLA was held 0-for-4 from the field as they could not find a second go-ahead basket. Nicole Flennaugh had a look to tie the game as time expired, but her shot came up short, and the Yellowjackets grabbed the rebound to secure the win.
 
Cal State LA ends its season with the most CCAA wins in program history (16), and the 20 victories are the most since 2013.
 
Montana State Billings will advance to the regional semifinals, where it will face No. 1 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, Mar. 11, at 7:30 p.m.