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Top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills overcame a rough shooting night and a tough-minded Cal Poly Pomona team to earn a 67-61 victory. The Toros will advance to the CCAA Championship game for the first time since 2016.
In the first quarter, the Toros looked like they might run away with it. They hit four 3-pointers and led by as many as 10 points. The Broncos had different ideas, though. They fought back to within two points midway through the second quarter and took the lead on Donja Payne's free throw with 1:41 remaining in the third.
The lead would be very short-lived as Payne's second free throw was off the mark, and CCAA Player of the Year Dawnyel Lair collected the rebound and went coast-coast for a fastbreak layup. The Broncos would never lead again in the game.
CCAA Freshman of the Year Nala Williams led Cal State Dominguez Hills with 15 points. Lair posted a team-leading 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals to go along with eight points. Joe'l Benoit, Deejanae Poland, and Danyell Booker had 10 points. Asia Jordan added nine points and nine rebounds. CSUDH outrebounded CPP by eight and registered five fewer turnovers to help overcome a .348 shooting percentage in the game.
Donja Payne came off the bench to pace Cal Poly Pomona with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Kalaya Buggs had a full stat line with 12 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Alicia Jones also posted 12 points for CPP.
Cal State Dominguez Hills advances to the CCAA Championship game on Saturday, Mar. 4, at 8 p.m. The Toros will face the No. 2 seed Cal State San Marcos.