OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Four players finished in double figures and the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team showcased its presence inside in an 80-60 victory over La Sierra on Thursday night at MiraCosta College.

Freshman point guard Lindsay Uyematsu led CSUSM (1-1) with 22 points, Cassie Damyanovich had 19 on 8-of-14 shooting, and Melaya Gaines registered a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Cougars scored 20 second-chance points on 22 offensive rebounds and outscored LSU in the paint, 50-20. Heather Thompson helped out Gaines inside with eight points and 10 boards.

Alexandria Alvarado was one of five Cougars to shoot 50-percent or better from the floor. She came in on the mark, going 5-of-10 and adding a pair from the stripe for 12 points. She also dished out a game-high six steals.

"They're really excited. The one thing they said in the locker room was that we really played as a team," said head coach Sheri Jennum. "That's where we are going to be so strong. Because of our depth, if everybody is playing together and looking for each other and contributing, we can be a dangerous team."

An Uyematsu 3-pointer saw the Cougars' lead grow to eight early in the first half, but LSU clawed back to tie it with 2:44 to go. Damyanovich answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to end the half and hand CSUSM a 34-31 advantage at the break.

After trading baskets, CSUSM ran away with a 22-3 midway through the second stanza.

The Cougars got their first double-digit lead with a quick 9-0 spurt. Alvarado started it with a runner in the lane before finding Uyematsu behind the arc for another three. Gaines then added a pair of free throws after getting fouled on a second effort to make the lead 50-40 at the 15:49 mark.

Natlaia Hawthorne temporarily stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws, but the Cougars responded with another 10-point outburst to make the lead 20 five minutes later.

Uyematsu and Damyanovich hit 3-pointers on back-to back possessions before Thompson finished an easy layup after a LSU turnover. She then stole the ensuing inbound pass and found Damyanovich for an easy layup.

Damyanovich returned the favor, finding Thompson inside for a lay-up the next time down the floor. Kimberly Kipp's free-throw made it 63-43 with 9:31 remaining.

"We went into halftime and made some adjustments. And the kids came out and looked for it. When we can get our run game going, we can get boards and get out and run. That's what we want to do, crash the boards and run," said Jennum.

The Cougars shot 50-percent (17-34) in the second half while holding the Golden Eagles to 6-of-27 (22.2%) shooting. CSUSM won the rebounding battle 49-35.

CSUSM's next game will be a part of the Twin Rivers Physical Therapy Classic, November 15-17 at Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, Idaho. The Cougars open the invite against Warner Pacific before taking on Southern Oregon and Lewis-Clark State on consecutive days.