SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Playing in its second consecutive overtime contest, the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team defeated Saint Martin's in double overtime, 83-79, in a non-conference matchup, Sunday at The Sports Center. The game went back-and-forth as it featured 18 ties and 24 lead changes.
The Cougars win their third straight and improve to a 6-3 overall record. It is the fourth straight game for CSUSM where four points or less decided the winner and loser. The Saints drop to 4-5 overall.
The Cougars went 37.9 percent (22-58) from the field and 23.8 percent (5-21) from three-point range. CSUSM attempted a school-record 52 free throws and made 34, also a school record. SMU shot 33.7 percent (28-83) from the floor and 25 percent (5-20) from behind the arc.
The Cougars had four players in double figures, led by junior forward
Savannah Camps 19 points to go along with her seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Junior guard
Raegan Lillie, senior guard
Ashley Jenkins and junior forward
Lupe Cruz added 14, 13 and 13 points, respectively. Cruz recorded her first double-double of the season and her CSUSM career with 11 rebounds to go along with her 13 points. Baylee Olsen, Elin Johansson and Mercedes Victor were the Saint's leading scorers with 21, 18 and 14 points, respectively.
After a 12-12 tie, the Cougars closed the first quarter on a 4-0 run to take a 16-12 lead over SMU. CSUSM extended its lead to seven points, twice, in the opening moments of the second quarter. The Saints fired back and grabbed a narrow 34-33 advantage at halftime.
The third quarter featured four ties as both teams were able to answer each other's baskets. The Cougars outscored SMU 7-2 in the last three minutes of the period to take a 56-51 lead entering the fourth.
A Camp layup with 35 seconds left in regulation gave CSUSM a 69-67 lead. The Saints replied seven seconds later with a basket from Johansson to force overtime. Each team scored six points in the first period to force a second overtime. Both squads had chances to close the game in the last minute of the frame, but came up empty each time.
CSUSM found itself trailing by three points one minute into the second overtime period. Three free throws, two from Lillie and one from Camp, evened the score for the final time at 79-79. A free throw from Cruz and a Jenkins successful and-one attempt sealed the deal for the Cougars.
CSUSM will take a break for the holidays and will not return to action until Thursday, Dec. 29. The Cougars will take on Cal State Dominguez Hills at home at 5:30 p.m.
