Box Score OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team held off a late Dakota State rally in a 76-66 victory on Friday night at MiraCosta College.

The Cougars (7-9) shot 57.1 percent in the opening frame, took a 47-38 lead into the break and saw their lead grow to as much as 14 in the second half.

However, DSU (6-8) battled back to cut CSUSM's lead to just three, 31-28, with 5:37 to play.
 
Heather Thompson stepped up, hitting two turnaround jumpers in a row to put CSUSM back up seven.

The Lady Trojans battled within two possessions, 39-34, with two minutes left.
 
But, Cassie Damyanovich answered with a 3-pointer to make the CSUSM lead eight.

DSU cut it to six, but Thompson and MacKenzie Harnett hit back-to-back layups to put the Cougars up by 11 with under a minute remaining.

Thompson recorded her fourth double-double in a row, becoming the only CSUSM player to accomplish the feat. She finished with game-highs of 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Alexandria Alvarado dished out a game-high four assists while tossing in 13 points. Cassie Damyanovich and Sherika Miller had 11 and 10 points, respectively, and each pulled down seven boards.

The Cougars received considerable contributions from its bench. Shayd Bowers scored five points, Nicole Lierly had four, and Crystal Hicks passed out a pair of assists.