Box Score OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Heather Thompson corralled a school record 20 rebounds in the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team's 68-57 victory over Simpson University on Saturday night at MiraCosta College.

Thompson also led the Cougars with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting for her fifth double-double of the year. She matched a school record with five blocks on the night.

CSUSM snapped a five-game skid and improved to 6-8 on the season. Simpson dropped to 6-7 overall.

The Cougars out-rebounded the Red Hawks 52-48 and outscored them 38-26 in the paint. Six CSUSM players had multiple assists, led by Lindsay Uyematsu's four.

Melaya Gaines matched her career high with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting while pulling down nine boards. Cassie Damyanovich and Uyematsu scored 13 points and eight points, respectively.

The Cougars trailed by as much a seven in the opening stanza, but did a quality job of not letting the Red Hawks out of reach. Thompson's 3-point play gave the Cougars a 28-26 edge with 1:34 remaining in the half, their first lead in over 10 minutes.

CSUSM gave up a pair of cheap free throws at the end of the half which allowed Simpson to get within 30-28 at the break.

The Cougars managed just a single field goal through the first five minutes of the second stanza allowing Simpson to take a lead at the 15:18 mark. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes until a layup down the middle of the lane on a fast break by Thompson moved the Cougars' lead to 41-37.

With 9:58 remaining and up by four, the Cougars took advantage of a critical stretch.

Leading 43-39, Miller made a layup and got fouled to put the Cougars up six. She missed her free throw, but Gaines picked up the miss to earn another possession.

Damyanovich found Harnett on the low block, and Harnett drew a foul to get to the line. After making her first free shot, Harnett missed her second, but once again Gaines was quick to the offensive glass.

She laid it back up and in to make it 48-39 with 9:26 remaining. On one trip down the floor the Cougars turned a four-point advantage into a nine-point hole SU could not climb back from.

SU would get as close as six at the 2:22 mark, but a final lay in by Thompson and a pair of free throws from Uyematsu put CSUSM up 10, 62-52, with 1:45 left.

Up next for the Cougars is No. 1 Vanguard, which will come into town with a perfect 7-0 record. CSUSM and VU will play on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. on the Cougars' home floor.