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Cal State LA Presser] [
Sonoma State Presser]
The No. 3 seed Cal State LA is advancing to the 2023 CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals after earning a 75-63 win over the No. 6 seed Sonoma State.
This game was almost three contests in one, as each team dominated different segments. The Golden Eagles built a 43-23 halftime lead and held a 51-32 advantage midway through the third quarter, but they were forced to hold on down the stretch.
Seawolves put together a 24-4 run extending over the last six minutes of the third and the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. They closed Cal State LA's lead to one with seven minutes remaining on a layup by Taylor Johnson but never regained the lead.
Cal State LA answered back with a 14-1 run and held SSU to just eight points in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Lily Buggs led Cal State LA with 18 points. The 2021-22 CCAA Freshman of the Year was 5-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Jada Johnson added 12 points and a team-leading six rebounds. Yesenia Smith came off the bench to score 10 points. She added four steals as she, Buggs and Nicole Flennaugh all had four swipes.
Amanda Luckett posted a double-double for Sonoma State with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Jayme Blackard led the Seawolves with 15 points. Cielo Gonzalez (12) and Camille Johnson (11) also reached double-figures in the scoring column. Sonoma State lost two student-athletes to injury early in the game, including its first team All-CCAA selection Alli McDonald.
Cal State LA will face the No. 2 seed Cal State San Marcos in the semifinal on Friday, Mar. 3 at 5:30 p.m.