A strong start and a strong finish was all Cal State San Marcos needed to clinch a spot in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball West Region Final with a 62-56 win over Western Washington on Saturday night at Felix Event Center in Azusa, Calif.

A 7-0 run in the middle of the first quarter gave CSUSM the early advantage as the Cougars held a 12-9 lead after one. The Vikings fought back and evened it up for much of the second quarter by a three-pointer by Ava Ranson was enough to give CSUSM the 26-25 lead at the break.

Western Washington fought hard throughout the third quarter and a pair of free throws with eight ticks remaining tied the game at 44 heading into the final frame. In the fourth quarter, it was West Region Player of the Year Jordan Vasquez hitting a pair of free throws early to put the Cougars back ahead and CSU San Marcos wouldn't trail the rest of the way. After a three-pointer by Charity Gallegos with 4:39 left pushed the lead into double-digits, it proved too much for the Vikings to overcome as CSUSM earned the 62-56 win.

Ranson led the Cougars with 23 points on the night. Gallegos added 12 points and Vasquez finished with 10 points in the win. CSUSM earned the win on the transition, scoring 18 fast-break points compared with four for the Vikings.

With the win, CSUSM will play again on Monday night, taking on the winner of Saturday night's second semifinal between Montana State Billings and host Azusa Pacific.