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The CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Championship will remain with Cal State San Marcos after Ava Ranson hit a game-winning layup with two seconds remaining to lift the No. 1 seeded Cougars to a 61-59 win over No. 2 seed Chico State in the tournament final.
 
Jordan Vasquez was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The senior forward scored 21 points and posted 17 rebounds. She was 6-of-11 from the field and 9-of-9 at the free throw line. Those 17 rebounds are in the top 5 for single-game performances in tournament history. Charity Gallegos added 18 points and joined Vasquez on the all-tournament team.
 
It was another battle between the conference's top two teams. The previous two meetings had gone to the Wildcats, and the Cougars were hungry for revenge. After the first quarter, they built a 24-19 lead and extended it to 37-30 at the half. Chico State outscored CSUSM 17-12 in the third quarter to cut its deficit to two (49-47) with 10 minutes remaining.
 
After a Brandy Huffhines layup got Chico back within two, the Wildcats tied the game at 55-55 on a free throw by Makenzi Laporte with just over four minutes left. They made just one field goal the rest of the way (1-for-4).
 
The one basket was an and-1 layup by Duckett, which tied the game at 59-59 with 1:30 on the clock. It would stay tied over the next two possessions, with each team coming up empty. Cal State San Marcos reclaimed possession with 5.5 seconds left and took a timeout to move the ball past midcourt.
 
For the second straight day, the Cougars faced a sideline out-of-bounds play to decide the game. Again, coach Renee Jimenez had a plan. Truitt Reilly inbounded the ball to Ranson coming up the side. Ranson dribbled over the top of the key and drove with her right hand. Her scoop shot went off the glass and in with two seconds left. Chico State tried one more play, but Mina Tameilau got a hand on it to poke the ball away and prevent a possible game-tying shot.
 
Duckett led Chico State with 22 points.  She was named to the all-tournament team along with Brandy Huffhines. Jordan Allred and Huffhines each scored 14 points. Laporte led the Wildcats with seven rebounds.
 
Chico State and Cal State San Marcos are expected to continue their seasons in the NCAA West Regional next week. CSUSM will earn the automatic bid after being ranked No. 3 in the latest NCAA regional rankings. Chico State was listed at No. 6 and is hoping for an at-large bid. The teams will learn their playoff fate on the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, March 10, at 8 p.m. on NCAA.com.