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Cal State San Marcos captured the program's first CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Championship with a 74-62 win over the No. 1 seed, Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Tournament MVP Charity Gallegos scored a season-high 29 points and had five assists to help guide a Cougars' offense that shot 48 percent from the field and 60 percent from 3-point range. The sophomore went 4-of-6 on 3-pointers, and her backcourt mate Kelsey Forrester hit 4-of-5 shots from long range.
The duo, along with senior Dynnah Buckner, fueled the deciding run of the game. After a fastbreak put the Toros up 44-38 midway through the third quarter, the Cougars struggled to find a look on their ensuing possession. Gallegos got the ball late in the shot clock and made a deep 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded, and the Cougars were off from there.
They connected on their next five 3-point attempts to turn a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead. Buckner, Forrester, and Gallegos all hit two 3-pointers during the 24-9 run. That scoring spurt stretched from the middle of the third to under seven minutes in the fourth.
After the offensive outburst, the Cougars' defense took over. It held CSUDH to just one field goal the in the final 6:48 and forced the Toros into four turnovers.
It was only the second loss all season for Cal State Dominguez Hills (28-2).
Danyell Booker led the Toros with 17 points (7-of-10 shooting) and was selected to the CCAA All-Tournament team.
Cal State San Marcos will receive the CCAA's automatic bid to the NCAA West Regional. The Cougars and the Toros will find out their opponent and the location of the regional during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, March 5, 2023.
CCAA All-Tournament Team
Charity Gallegos, Cal State San Marcos (MVP)
Kelsey Forrester, Cal State San Marcos
Danyell Booker, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Lily Buggs, Cal State LA
Donja Payne, Cal Poly Pomona