Box Score

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Danielle Cooper logged 12 points and 13 rebounds, but the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team was upended by No. 4 Vanguard 61-47 on Tuesday night at MiraCosta College.

The Cougars went into the half tied 28-28, but the Lions opened the second frame with a 20-9 run over the first 10 minutes to put gain an 11-point advantage and put CSUSM (3-5) in a hole that it could not climb out of.

Sarah Jackson led the Cougars with 13 points and Michel'la Logan pitched in with nine. VU edged CSUSM in the rebound battle, 45-44, but took advantage of 17 second-chance points in the final 20 minutes.

CSUSM jumped out to an 11-4 lead 5:30 into the game after Anna Nguyen hit a three and Cooper hit a jumper in the lane. The Lions responded with a 8-0 run to take the lead, but Logan hit a three to take back the lead 14-12.

After VU (3-0) opened an eight-point advantage, the Cougars rallied with a 10-2 stretch over the final 6:35 to pull even at the break.

The Lions opened the second half with three straight three pointers and the Cougars found themselves down by nine after another layup from Alison Drennan.

Logan responded with a layup and a three on the next Cougar possessions, but Chelsea Alfarara answered with a three and Nicole Ballestero hit a jumper to hand the Lions a 48-31 lead at the 9:46 mark.
 
Cooper converted a tough layup on the right side off a pass from Cassie Damyanovich to pull CSUSM within four with 4:13 left. However, Esther Timmermans hit a pair off free throws and Drennan swished a three to put the Lions back up by nine and out of reach for good.

VU (3-0) was led by Ballestero's 20 points and Timmermans' eight points and 14 rebounds.

CSUSM looks to stop a four-game slide on Friday evening at Simpson University before taking on Menlo College on Saturday.