Box Score The Cal State San Marcos Women's Basketball team faced another tough NCAA Division II opponent on the road Sunday, and almost came out with another victory. The Cougars hung tight in the second half, pulling to just a 73-71 deficit with 53 seconds left, but Dixie State was able to close out the game with two sets of free throws. CSUSM is now 3-4 against Division II squads, not including 2 exhibition victories, but has shown they can certainly compete at that level.

The Cougars actually led much of the first half, holding a 28-20 lead at one point. However, a 16-6 Dixie State run gave the host Red Storm a two-point haltime lead.

Dixie State came out strong again in the second half, running up a lead as high as 16 points before the Cougars whittled it back down to 2 on post player Gabrielle Munsch's jumper that brought the score to 69-67 with 2:05 remaining. The game was still within reach in the final minutes until Sheila Adams of Dixie State hit a pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining to stretch the lead to 6.

The Cougars received big games from Munsch and point guard Sidney Dobner, but were ultimately undone by 27 turnovers.  Munsch finished with a game-high 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Dobner added 17 points and 5 assists. The Cougars made 20 of 23 free throws, and shot 51.7% in the second half--two building blocks the Cougars will hope to carry over to their game tomorrow. CSUSM hosts Menlo College Monday afternoon at Box Score                                                   3:00pm at Mira Costa College in the first game of CSUSM's Holiday Game Week.